Costa Rica River & Rain Forest Tour


	Costa Rica Guided Tour Package

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Costa Rica River & Rain Forest
9 days/8 nights

Featuring Corcovado National Park with day trip to Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp's Canopy Tree Platform, a hike through a 600-year-old Primary Oak Forest, and a two-day white water rafting trip on the Pacuare River. The Costa Rica River and Rain Forest is an affordably priced adventure for the wilderness traveler

Location Avg Temperature Altitude

San José 69°F 3,500 ft.

Cerro de la Muerte 50°F 11,000 ft.

Savegre Mountain 70°F 7,200 ft.

Corcovado Lodge 81°F 10 ft.

Pacuare River 74°F 950-1,900 ft.

Letter Codes

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

SG=Service Guide

PG=Platform Guide

RG=River Guide

CG=Corcovado Guide

ITINERARY:

DAY 1-Arrive San José

Arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José. 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 a bright orange or yellow shirt holding a sign with your name on it. He or she will take you to the Hotel Don Carlos or similar. (No meals.)

DAY 2-San José / Corcovado

After a welcome orientation breakfast with your guide, depart for the 30- to 60-minute transfer to Pavas Airport for a one-hour light charter flight (single engine Cessna 206) to Carate (one mile southeast of Corcovado Lodge). Upon arrival at Carate, walk 30–45 minutes with a Corcovado guide to the Lodge (luggage will be transported by horse cart).

After lunch at the Corcovado Tent Camp, walk the Lodge's loop trail with your guide. The Loop Trail winds its way through the Lodge property and illustrates different types of lowland tropical rainforest, including overgrown pasture, second growth forest and lowland primary rainforest (virgin jungle, if you will). There are views of the Pacific Ocean through vegetation that has never felt a frost. Possible wildlife encounters include Coatimundis (a relative of the raccoon), Tayras (a dark, bushy-tailed weasel), Amazon Parrots, Parrotlets, Poison Dart Frogs, Scarlet-Rumped Tanagers, several species of snakes, Agoutis (which look like a large, long-legged guinea pig), and Hermit Hummingbirds, to name a few.

Because this piece of land adjoins the larger protected Corcovado National Park, occasionally you may encounter a sign of some of the larger mammals: Tapir, Peccaries or felines such as Jaguar, Ocelot or Cougar. You also may come face to face with the monkeys common to the Osa Península: Spider, White-Face and Howler. Dinner and overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. (B,L,D)

DAY 3-Corcovado

Today, in groups of up to six participants at a time you will visit the Tree Canopy Platform. The adventure begins with a one-hour guided hike through the Corcovado Lodge Private Nature Reserve to the Canopy Platform. The platform is located in an emergent tree 120 feet above the forest floor. From here, you will have the opportunity to view the rainforest from a seldom-seen perspective. White Hawks, Howler Monkeys, Anole Lizards and Pygmy Squirrels may be sighted. Meals and overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. (B,L,D)

DAY 4-Corcovado

After breakfast start off on the six-hour, round-trip hike through the park to Salsipuedes Bay. Corcovado National Park covers 136,347 acres and is considered to be the most biologically diverse rainforest in Central America. Walking northwest you pass through primary and secondary forests, a small stretch of mangrove and stretches of beach. This walk is renowned for sighting large flocks of Scarlet Macaws of 20 or more individuals feeding in almond trees. While by no means probable, it is possible to see Tapir at Salsipuedes. Many of our guests have had this thrilling reward for this strenuous hike. Overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. (B,L,D)

DAY 5-Corcovado / San José / Savegre

Walk 30–45 minutes to the Carate airstrip with a Corcovado Guide for the one–hour flight to San José. Upon arrival in San José, we will stop for lunch and then depart for the three-hour drive to Savegre Mountain Lodge. Upon arrival you will have the rest of the afternoon free to take a horseback-riding trip, go trout fishing, or relax. (Afternoon tours are at additional cost.) Overnight at Savegre Mountain Lodge. (B,L,D)

DAY 6-Cerro de la Muerte

After an early breakfast, depart by bus for the Cerro de la Muerte Hike. With a local guide, you will walk down the mountain, first through sub-alpine meadows then through the oak forests of the Savegre Valley. This is a 5-6 hour hike, which ends at Savegre Mountain Lodge. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight at Savegre Mountain Lodge. (B,L,D)

DAY 7-Savegre / Pacuare

Depart early from Savegre Mountain Lodge to San Chirí Restaurant, located in the town of Paraíso in the Cartago Province. Here your White Water Rafting Guides will be waiting to take you on the next leg of your adventure. After a quick change of luggage and breakfast, you will depart heading east to the entrance to Hacienda Tres Equis, which will take you to the put-in location on the Pacuare River. After an orientation and safety talk, proceed down river. River time: approximately 1–1/2 hours. Dinner and overnight camping on the riverbank. (B,L,D)

DAY 8-Pacuare

The most beautiful river canyon in the tropics, the Pacuare River cuts through one of those rare pockets of wilderness left on the planet. Today you will wake to the sounds of the Pacuare River canyon and the smells of your River Guides' cooking. After an early morning breakfast, you will go on a two-hour guided hike. Upon your return to camp the rafts will be rigged and ready to continue your adventure down the Pacuare River to take-out. River time: approximately four hours. Mid-afternoon take-out. Return to San José for the Farewell Dinner (two hours driving time). Overnight at hotel Don Carlos or similar. (B,L,D)

DAY 9-Depart San José

Transfer to the international airport approximately two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. (No meals.)

Departure Dates for Package #130 Costa Rica River & Rain Forest Tour

2008
A Season		B Season	Peak Season
Jan 5 – Jan 13 Jan 19 – Jan 27 Feb 1 – Feb 9 Mar 1 – Mar 9	Abr 5 – Abr 13 Jul 5 – Jul 13 Jul 19 – Jul 27 Aug 16 – Aug 24	May 17 – May 25 Jun 07 – Jun 15 Nov 22 – Nov 30	Feb 16 – Feb 24 Mar 15 – Mar 22 Dec 20 – Dec 27 Dec 27 – Jan 03 /09
$1,738 pp		$1,638 pp	$1,838 pp

Important Information for Explorer Participants

What to Bring

Contact CentralAmerica.Com For Information & Reservations

E-mail ExpPkg130@CentralAmerica.Com
For reservations use our e-mail Reservation Form
Call us toll free from US or Canada 1-888-535-8832 / 1-800-948-3770

ITINERARY:
DAY 1-Arrive San José
Arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José. 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 a bright orange or yellow shirt holding a sign with your name on it. He or she will take you to the Hotel Don Carlos or similar. (No meals.)
DAY 2-San José / Corcovado
After a welcome orientation breakfast with your guide, depart for the 30- to 60-minute transfer to Pavas Airport for a one-hour light charter flight (single engine Cessna 206) to Carate (one mile southeast of Corcovado Lodge). Upon arrival at Carate, walk 30–45 minutes with a Corcovado guide to the Lodge (luggage will be transported by horse cart). After lunch at the Corcovado Tent Camp, walk the Lodge's loop trail with your guide. The Loop Trail winds its way through the Lodge property and illustrates different types of lowland tropical rainforest, including overgrown pasture, second growth forest and lowland primary rainforest (virgin jungle, if you will). There are views of the Pacific Ocean through vegetation that has never felt a frost. Possible wildlife encounters include Coatimundis (a relative of the raccoon), Tayras (a dark, bushy-tailed weasel), Amazon Parrots, Parrotlets, Poison Dart Frogs, Scarlet-Rumped Tanagers, several species of snakes, Agoutis (which look like a large, long-legged guinea pig), and Hermit Hummingbirds, to name a few. Because this piece of land adjoins the larger protected Corcovado National Park, occasionally you may encounter a sign of some of the larger mammals: Tapir, Peccaries or felines such as Jaguar, Ocelot or Cougar. You also may come face to face with the monkeys common to the Osa Península: Spider, White-Face and Howler. Dinner and overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 3-Corcovado
Today, in groups of up to six participants at a time you will visit the Tree Canopy Platform. The adventure begins with a one-hour guided hike through the Corcovado Lodge Private Nature Reserve to the Canopy Platform. The platform is located in an emergent tree 120 feet above the forest floor. From here, you will have the opportunity to view the rainforest from a seldom-seen perspective. White Hawks, Howler Monkeys, Anole Lizards and Pygmy Squirrels may be sighted. Meals and overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 4-Corcovado
After breakfast start off on the six-hour, round-trip hike through the park to Salsipuedes Bay. Corcovado National Park covers 136,347 acres and is considered to be the most biologically diverse rainforest in Central America. Walking northwest you pass through primary and secondary forests, a small stretch of mangrove and stretches of beach. This walk is renowned for sighting large flocks of Scarlet Macaws of 20 or more individuals feeding in almond trees. While by no means probable, it is possible to see Tapir at Salsipuedes. Many of our guests have had this thrilling reward for this strenuous hike. Overnight at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 5-Corcovado / San José / Savegre
Walk 30–45 minutes to the Carate airstrip with a Corcovado Guide for the one–hour flight to San José. Upon arrival in San José, we will stop for lunch and then depart for the three-hour drive to Savegre Mountain Lodge. Upon arrival you will have the rest of the afternoon free to take a horseback-riding trip, go trout fishing, or relax. (Afternoon tours are at additional cost.) Overnight at Savegre Mountain Lodge. (B,L,D)
DAY 6-Cerro de la Muerte
After an early breakfast, depart by bus for the Cerro de la Muerte Hike. With a local guide, you will walk down the mountain, first through sub-alpine meadows then through the oak forests of the Savegre Valley. This is a 5-6 hour hike, which ends at Savegre Mountain Lodge. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight at Savegre Mountain Lodge. (B,L,D)
DAY 7-Savegre / Pacuare
Depart early from Savegre Mountain Lodge to San Chirí Restaurant, located in the town of Paraíso in the Cartago Province. Here your White Water Rafting Guides will be waiting to take you on the next leg of your adventure. After a quick change of luggage and breakfast, you will depart heading east to the entrance to Hacienda Tres Equis, which will take you to the put-in location on the Pacuare River. After an orientation and safety talk, proceed down river. River time: approximately 1–1/2 hours. Dinner and overnight camping on the riverbank. (B,L,D)
DAY 8-Pacuare
The most beautiful river canyon in the tropics, the Pacuare River cuts through one of those rare pockets of wilderness left on the planet. Today you will wake to the sounds of the Pacuare River canyon and the smells of your River Guides' cooking. After an early morning breakfast, you will go on a two-hour guided hike. Upon your return to camp the rafts will be rigged and ready to continue your adventure down the Pacuare River to take-out. River time: approximately four hours. Mid-afternoon take-out. Return to San José for the Farewell Dinner (two hours driving time). Overnight at hotel Don Carlos or similar. (B,L,D)
DAY 9-Depart San José
Transfer to the international airport approximately two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. (No meals.)