Caribbean Safari

Day 1:  Upon arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, you will transfer to the Hotel Grano de Oro for overnight. Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colón, San José's main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city.  Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the recently renovated 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Guests delight in the tranquil ambience of tropical plants and flowers found throughout the hotel. Italian tile fountains grace intimate atriums, ensuring that one is never far from the soothing melody of falling water. Additionally a rooftop garden terrace offers relaxing Jacuzzis and a blissful, secluded spot for lounging, sunbathing and stargazing. Once a simple café, the restaurant at Grano de Oro has evolved into one or San Jose’s finest dining establishments, frequented by locals and visitors alike.

Day 2:    Pacuare River Overnight (Class III-IV rapids): You'll depart San José early in the morning, stopping for a delicious breakfast, at the Ríos Tropicales Operations Center, before arriving at the river. Once at the river friendly and professional guides will load your gear into dry bags, prepare the equipment and give you complete safety and paddle instruction. The first day's Class III rapids welcome you to the Pacuare gorge's charm as you raft deep in the heart of primary rainforest. While your guides prepare you a hearty picnic lunch on the riverbank, you'll be led through the jungle to an enchanting waterfall and pool to swim.  Before you know it, you'll arrive at the award-winning Ríos Tropicales Lodge where you can spend the afternoon relaxing, hiking or soaking in the waterfalls and pools. As an exciting new addition you can brave the Canopy Ziplines for unparalleled views of the stunning forest.  The lodge is nestled in the jungle on a 1,000-acre private reserve and offers basic but comfortable accommodations.  Private single and double rooms are spacious offering beds with clean linens and private bathrooms with showers. Electricity is generated by a self-sufficient hydro-plant. Happy Hour will put you in the mood for a tropical evening, followed by a luscious candlelight dinner with wine served by your guides.  Then fall asleep to the roar of the river.

Day 3:  Pacuare River Rafting (Continued): After a hearty breakfast and loading the rafts, you'll prepare to paddle down the Pacuare gorge past gushing waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids. A snack stop by the riverside lets you explore more waterfalls and natural waterslides. An adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montañas and many more, will have you cheering ecstatically. Hot lunch will be served at the Ríos Tropicales Operations Center. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks and snacks are also available. On the return drive to San José, you'll enjoy remarkable views of Braulio Carrillo National Park and Irazú Volcano. 

This afternoon, you will transfer approximately 3 hours to Almonds & Corals Hotel, located in the heart of the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, for overnight. This Costa Rica hotel is a delightful relaxing place full of the magic touch of Nature; a unique idea for jungle beach accommodations. Staying at Almonds and Corals hotel offers you the opportunity to get a feeling of the jungle while having luxury accommodations in the middle of the wild rainforest. The hotel consists of 24 tent style bungalows that lie under giant trees in a forest so dense that the sunrays hardly touch the ground. Each tent is placed over a platform lifted on stilts, with orchids hanging from the branches. The furnished tents, covered by large canvas roofs, are complete with mosquito netting, lamps, fan, hammock, sofa and private bathroom. Be serenaded by frogs as you walk along raised boardwalks to the restaurant, bar and white sand beach.

To reach the beach you will walk a few steps over a trail that goes between the tall trees and exuberant vegetation of the rainforest to be met by a beach of golden fine sand and dark turquoise waters. The beach at Manzanillo Limon is almost pristine and unspoiled; perfect to find the peace and quiet needed to relinquish all your stress and worries. The sounds of the rainforest behind you, combined with the soft roar of the waves splashing over the shore, are just glorifying. The beach in front of the hotel has a beach hut with wooden chairs and hammocks, just like in a fairy tale, you find yourself in front of the magnificent Caribbean sea with your feet on golden sand, coconuts and the bay of Manzanillo where you can almost hear the rhythm of the Calypso music.

Day 4 – 6:  Today a prime option to consider would be a guided walking tour of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. This trail - that penetrates the jungle - is teeming with monkeys, parrots, sloth and snakes. Right in the middle of the rainforest there is a big bungalow with a message table and a Jacuzzi available to all guests. Perfect to enjoy a drink while listening to the sounds of nature. Inside the reception there is a souvenir shop where you will find local handcrafts in wood and clay, handmade jewelry, indigenous arrows, masks, wood chimes, t-shirts with Costa Rican motives, among many other nice and original souvenirs that you can take home to decorate your house or as presents for your friends.  Other optional activities include kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, snorkeling and diving, and tours into Cahuita and Puerto Vargas National as well as the Indian ranch of Volio. Overnight Almonds & Corals Hotel.

Day 7:   This morning, you will transfer approximately 4 hours to the private dock for a scenic 2-hour boat ride to Tortuguero on the Northern Caribbean Coast. Arrive at the Mawamba Lodge, located on a sand bar between Tortuguero Lagoon and primitive beaches of the Caribbean, for overnight. Nestled in the lush rainforest this is the ideal hideaway for nature lovers and the perfect place to discover the wonders of the Tortuguero National Park.

Upon arrival enjoy a delicious lunch at the pool restaurant and then depart by boat for a hike on a nearby private trail adjacent to Tortuguero National Park.  After a comfortable and safe walk you may choose to visit the local village with your guide or return to Mawamba Lodge by boat.  If you visit the local village your guide will give you a walking tour of Tortuguero and then you will continue walking by the beach back to Mawamba Lodge.  This evening enjoy dinner at the restaurant by the beach.  Overnight Mawamba Lodge.   

Day 8:   This morning you will take a boat tour through the Tortuguero Canals.  This tour introduces visitors to the rich rainforest and its array of wildlife.  In the early morning hours you will witness the awakening of the forest.  Coffee is readily available before departing on the tour in the coffee room.  After the tour you will return to the lodge for breakfast. 

After breakfast your guide will take you on a visit to the “Mawamba Park” which includes butterfly farms, a frog farm and garden, an iguana farm, a bio-digester and lush gardens. 

In the afternoon tour the canals by boat with local guides to observe the flora and fauna of the area. Look for beautiful shore birds, lizards, toucans, monkeys, caimans, and sloth. Optional evening turtle tours are available at additional cost (turtle nesting is from July to October). Overnight Mawamba Lodge.

Day 9:   This morning enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then transfer to the local airstrip for a short flight back to San Jose. Upon arrival, you will transfer to the international airport for departure.

Price valid through October 31, 2012