Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival San Jose (No meals.)
Arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport. After passing through Immigration you will be met by a Costa Rica Expeditions representative who will give you a sticker to facilitate clearing customs. When you are exiting the building, look for a Costa Rica Expeditions guide in an orange shirt holding a sign with your name on it. He or she will take you to your hotel. Overnight Hotel Presidente.

Day 2: San Jose / Tilajari Resort Hotel (B,L,D)
This morning you will meet your Multisport Guide and the rest of the group for an early breakfast. This is your opportunity to get to know everyone and resolve any questions you still might have about the trip, drive to Tilajari Resort (4 hours). After settling in and lunch, you will go out for your first bike ride. The area around Tilajari and Arenal Volcano is recognized for having some of the best conditions for biking in Costa Rica.

This afternoon's 10.4-mile ride goes through flat-to-easy rolling countryside. From the hotel pedal 1.8 miles on a lightly travelled, paved highway before turning off the pavement for 2.2 miles of easy dirt roads through cane and dairy farms. At the end of the dirt road, you will cross two hanging footbridges over the Peñas Blancas River. This means that you will be without the support vehicle for a few miles, while it goes around to meet you on the other side. You meet up with the paved road 6.4 miles from the lodge and pedal back for a well-deserved dip in the pool. Overnight at Tilajari Resort.

Day 3: Tilajari Resort / Arenal Volcano (B,L,D)
Your last day of biking takes you from the base of Arenal Volcano, 1,625 feet above sea level, back down to  211 feet above sea level. Although you will need to climb (or ride in the van) up a few steep hills, this ride is characterized by its exhilarating down hills. You start out on this 17.5-mile ride with 7.5 miles of dirt roads. There will be stops on this section to take in the views of Lake Arenal. You reach the pavement at the Arenal Dam and start a series of steep down hills and two short, steep; uphill stretches over the next four miles. For the next six miles, the terrain becomes more gently rolling. If you are lucky enough to catch Arenal out of the clouds, the views of the Volcano are spectacular on this stretch.

Having pedaled 17.5 miles in all, you will end your bike ride at the Operations Center for your canyoning tour this afternoon. After changing your cloths sit down for a typical Costa Rican Casado (rice, beans, fried sweet plantains, salad and your choice of fish, chicken or beef) for lunch. After lunch, drive 30 minutes to El Bosque where you will begin your canyoning tour. Hike into the canyon where your first rappel is over a waterfall, from there you will have another 3 waterfall rappels and one rock wall rappel. Hike back to your 4x4’s and drive to El Ceibo Hot Springs for a soak in the hot springs before dinner.  Your hosts will prepare a typical Costa Rican dinner in the tradition of Costa Rican hospitality. After dinner, drive back to your hotel.  Overnight Tilajari Resort.

Day 4: Tilajari/Tortuguero (B,L,D)
This day is the least active because we will travel from Arenal to the North Atlantic Coast. After an early breakfast drive for about five hours to the Caño Blanco dock near Siquirres, passing through banana plantations and coffee fields. In Caño Blanco, you will meet the boat and Tortuguero Guide for the 1 1?2-hour ride to the village of Tortuguero, stretch your legs exploring the village of Tortuguero with your guide, then power walk (2 hours) down the beach to the mouth of the Tortuguero River where a boat will be waiting to drive you the lodge, a 5 minute boat ride. You will arrive at Tortuga Lodge in time for a dip in the award-winning pool before dinner. Overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens.

Day 5: Tortuguero (B,L,D)
Today, leave the lodge by boat with your Tortuguero Guide and your kayaks to the entrance of Caño Chiquero or Caño Mora. These creeks are designated for non-motorized boats only, your guide will unload the kayaks and help you get your life jacket and your kayak seat adjusted so that you can paddle the back water creeks and lagoons of Tortuguero National Park in safety and comfort. Kayaking gives you a whole new perspective of the rainforest, from this position you become the river, look up to see what the rainforest canopy looks like if you’re a river otter swimming in the creek, scan the understory of the forest and imagine foraging for seeds that are hidden there.   Close your eyes and listen to the sun dried seed pod of the Gavilan tree burst making a gunshot sound and dispersing its seeds, the call of the Chestnut Mandibled toucan in the distance and the sound of Spider monkeys crashing through the trees. After two hours of paddling, you and your guide will pack up your gear and return to the lodge.  There is no need to have previous kayaking experience, your Tortuguero Guide will give you a full safety briefing and paddling instruction before your tour begins.

Tortuguero National Park was originally created to protect an important nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle. The Park is now 51,870 acres and is one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. The Park is home to the endangered Great Green Macaw, White-faced, Howler and Spider Monkeys, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, the Slatey-tailed Trogon, and many more species, which you will have the opportunity to observe.

After lunch and a siesta, leave the dock by motorized boat with your Tortuguero Guide and your fellow guests for your afternoon expedition into the creeks of Tortuguero National Park.

Early afternoon the foraging can be quite intense, but as the afternoon sun starts to go down, many creatures begin to think about bedding down for the night and others are just beginning their night time activity. If you’re lucky you might even get to see a mixed flock of Egrets coming into their rookery for the night or a pair of Tiger herons having a discussion about whose turn it is to sit on the nest. The White Faced Capuchins, ever mischievous may be the last to bed down, but as the afternoon light dims, the cacophony of the forest comes to a climax and then as if on cue… quiet. This tour is a three hour trip into the back water lagoons and creeks of Tortuguero National Park. Your boat is equipped with an ice chest with water and if you’d like to have additional beverages in the boat you can ask your guide to stock the ice chest with your favorite drinks (at additional cost).

Be sure to bring your binoculars (we highly recommend water proof 8 x 32) and your bird book. Two of the most important things to bring to Costa Rica are a pair of BINOCULARS and a field guide (we recommend Birds of Costa Rica). They are a must for getting a closer look at wildlife and are not available for rent in Costa Rica.

Return to the lodge in time for Bocas (Costa Rican hours devours) at the Bar.Overnight at Tortuga Lodge.

Day 6: Tortuguero / Pacuare River Class III-IV (B,L,D)
After an early breakfast, depart from Tortuga Lodge for a 1 1?2-hour boat ride to Puerto Caño Blanco. Here your Spanish speaking driver will be waiting to take you by van to the put-in on the Pacuare River (2-hour drive). After a safety talk and paddling instruction, you will raft the most beautiful river canyon in the tropics. Over 20 Class III and IV rapids, primary rainforest miraculously clinging to 100-foot-high vertical canyon walls, and waterfalls plunging from the canyon rim into the river will bewitch the beginner and the experienced rafter alike. Half way down the river, your guides suddenly become chefs and prepare and serve lunch on the riverbank. Finally, after more great rapids and scenery, you arrive at the take-out by mid afternoon. Return to San José (2-hour drive) for farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Departure (No meals.)
Transfer to the International Airport, arriving at least 2-3 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time.

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