Cradled between two continents and two seas, Costa Rica is a land filled with more species of wildlife and flora than any other place on the planet. This wild and primeval land awaits with an abundance of adventure and activity, ranging from kayaking and canyoning to basking in the luxury of an eco-lodge with a drink in hand. There is no shortage of things to see and do in a country that is 1/4 designated national parks and wildlife ranges.
Cradled between two continents and two seas lies a land as wild and primeval as any on earth: Costa Rica. Protected on this tiny isthmus are more species of wildlife and flora than any other place on the planet.
Kayak the canals of Tortuguero National Park to a soundtrack of exotic birdsong, watching for manatees, caimans, crocodiles, and turtles
Paddle the exhilarating class III-IV rapids of the Pacuare River, ranked one of the Top 10 Rivers to Raft in the World by National Geographic
Rappel down thundering waterfalls and sail through the treetops on an adrenaline-inducing canyoning and zip line adventure
Marvel at the colorful corals, sea fans, and countless species of tropical reef fish on a snorkeling tour of Cahuita national Park
Saddle up for a bike ride along the beach in Puerta Viejo
Relax at the end of the day with a cold drink and a delectable local meal in the comfort of your eco-lodge
A few more reasons why you've gotta go:
01
The water activities! On this adventure, you'll kayak the canals of Tortuguero, raft the Pacuare River, and snorkel in the Caribbean!
02
The rafting experience: Paddling into and out of a remote, backcountry riverside lodge should be at the top of your bucket list.
03
The wildlife: See if you can spy the three different types of monkeys in Tortuguero National Park: White-Faced Capuchin, Howler, and Spider!
Arrive at the José International Airport and transfer to your hotel for the evening. Once you arrive, you are free to explore San José and enjoy a delectable local meal on your own.
About the Bougainvillea Hotel
Set among 10 acres of lush gardens, the unique and comfortable Hotel Bougainvillea is a place where guests can truly experience the world famous beauty of Costa Rica.
Original pieces of Costa Rican art complement the stunning landscaped tropical gardens dominated by tall trees, plentiful flowers, ponds and mountain views.
After breakfast and a brief trip orientation with your guide, we’ll make our way to Tortuguero. After a private transfer through the Costa Rican countryside to San José to La Pavona Dock (3h) we will continue by boat to Tortuguero and our accommodations for the next two nights. After lunch at the lodge, kayak the canals of Tortuguero National Park to a soundtrack of exotic birdsong, watching for manatees, caimans, crocodiles, and turtles. Return to the lodge where a buffet dinner will be waiting in the lodge’s restaurant.
About Evergreen Lodge
Evergreen is located in the northeastern corner of Tortuguero, 5 minutes by boat from the main entrance to Tortuguero National Park, and accessible only by air and water. Evergreen Lodge is the ideal location from which to explore this unique and magical area, surrounded by towering trees and exuberant vegetation and are adorned with tropical designs.
Opt to start the day bright and early with a birding walk. If you’re more inclined to sleep in, meet your traveling companions for breakfast at the lodge. Today is all about Tortuguero National Park, beginning with a private boat tour. Visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy Center, home to the largest green turtle rookery in the western hemisphere. Break for lunch at Miss Junnie’s restaurant and take in the authentic Caribbean atmosphere and entrées while watching a variety of birds in the adjacent gardens. Wander the streets of the village, taking in the brightly painted buildings and grab a cup of freshly made juice while checking out the shops. The rest of the day will be taken up by a boat tour through the canals of Tortuguero National park before returning to our lodgings for another delectable dinner.
Enjoy a quick breakfast at the Lodge before beginning our boat and then road transfer to Rios Tropicales. Our afternoon will be spent paddling the exhilarating class III-IV rapids of the Pacuare River, ranked one of the Top 10 Rivers to Raft in the World by National Geographic. Check into the Rios Tropicales Lodge, our accommodation for the next two nights, and meet for dinner in the restaurant.
About Rio Tropicales
At our ecolodge, you can relax, explore and enjoy all that Costa Rica offers on our 2,000-acre private reserve at the mouth of the Pacuare Gorge. We have more than 40 miles of hiking trails and numerous waterfalls, streams and pools. Our open-air dining pavilion and lounge let you watch the local wildlife and listen to the sounds only found in a tropical paradise.
Today boasts another beautiful morning of bird watching while sipping a cup of coffee. The pace quickly picks up from there, as our day is filled with sailing through the treetops on an adrenaline-inducing canyoning and zip line adventure. We’ll break for lunch at the Rios Tropicales Lodge before beginning our afternoon hike to a nearby waterfall. After our adventure filled day, return to Rio Tropicales for a relaxing dinner.
Today takes us on another invigorating white water rafting excursion, the best way to experience Costa Rica. Wind down from an exciting morning on our transfer to the Caribbean coast. Check in to our accommodations for the evening and then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort
The Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort faces the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea in the southern part of Costa Rica and reaches out over five acres of earth inside of a pristine forest. The resort’s modern rooms are inspired by the surrounding nature; technological comforts harmonize with local wood and stone furniture reflecting on the wonders of the land.
Explore Cahuita National Park and all it has to offer. Marvel at the colorful corals, sea fans, and countless species of tropical reef fish on a snorkeling tour and hike through Cahuita National Park. After lunch in town, kick back and relax at the resort before enjoying a local cooking class and dinner tonight.
Today is all about enjoying the town of Puerto Viejo and squeezing in one last day of relaxation in paradise. A morning bike ride brings us to a scenic beach and afterwards we’ll enjoy lunch in town. This afternoon, spend time relaxing at the resort pool or take advantage of the walkable beach access from the hotel.Tonight, we get together for a farewell dinner and toast to wonderful trip: Pura Vida!
Depart Puerto Viejo and drive to Limon (1 hour) for your forty-minute charter flight back to San José. You will be dropped off at the San José Airport at least 3 hours prior to your international flight.
* Talk to your Adventure Consultant if you are interested in adding an extra night(s) at Xandari Resort & Spa near the San José International Airport for the ultimate way to end your vacation.
**Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, trail, weather and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures.
Meals Included
B
Overnight
No overnight
Departure Dates
Start Date
End Date
Status
December 26, 2019
January 3, 2020
Space Available
Depart on Your Own Schedule / Custom Trip
Contact us for custom itineraries and departure dates
Your trip begins with your arrival in San José at Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport. After passing through Immigration, take the right hand side exit door and look for the Sun Tours representative who will direct you to customs. When you leave the building after clearing customs, look for a Sun Tours representative, who will be holding a sign that says “Costa Rica Sun Tours” with your name on it. Your guide will take you to the Hotel Bougainvillea. On Day 9, you will transfer one hour from your hotel to Limon Airport for a short charter flight to San José where you may choose to extend your stay in Costa Rica or fly out of the international airport in the afternoon.
Activities
Hiking: Easy to moderately strenuous hikes ranging from 1 to 5 miles (1 to 4 hours) on birding excursions, village/city tours, national park treks and more.
River rafting: Class III and IV rapids on the Pacuare River. You will raft into the Rios Tropicales Lodge on Day 4 (1.5 hour trip) and raft out on Day 6 (3 hour trip).
Kayaking: Calm waters through Tortuguero canals, no experience necessary.
Canyoning: Rappelling down waterfalls. No experience necessary, guides inspect all equipment and provide detailed instruction.
Zip Line: No experience necessary, gear and instruction provided.
Snorkeling: No experience necessary, gear and instruction provided.
Biking: Easygoing ride with cruiser bikes on the roads near Puerto Viejo.
Sun Tours guides are experienced facilitators and regional experts. They will take the time to explain the details of each activity, answer any questions and demonstrate the use of all equipment. Each activity has been carefully planned to include options for all levels. Most importantly, your guides will help you select the distance that’s right for you.
Cultural Discoveries
Costa Rica, a tiny country that forms the land bridge between North and South America, is almost too good to believe. Although slightly smaller than West Virginia, it boasts a world famous National Park system, unmatched flora (including over 3,000 species of wild orchids), world-class rivers, active volcanoes and more species of mammals and birds than the continental United States and Canada combined! Explore the gardens of Hotel Bougainvillea in search of over 50 species of bromeliads, Costa Rican native trees, and numerous species of orchids, herb and cacti gardens; and radiant humming birds typical of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Did you know that the area protected by Tortuguero National Park was an archipelago of volcanic islands until alluvial sediments from the interior mountains, filled in the spaces and formed a network of marshy islands? Raft the Pacuare River spanning some of the country’s most diverse terrain, passing through densely vegetated primary rainforest, lowland tropical rainforest and towering waterfalls. Come discover “The Crossroads of the Americas!”
Meals
The hallmark of an Austin Adventures vacation is our exceptional dining. All meals: breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, refreshments and receptions are included as indicated by itinerary. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities are not included in the trip price.
Pre-departure Information
After receiving your reservation and deposit, we’ll send you a pre-trip planner with general information about the area you’ll be visiting, a packing list, exercise guidelines, a guest information questionnaire and a liability release agreement for you to sign and return within 10 days.
What's Included
Included in Trip Price
Double occupancy rooms with private baths.
All breakfasts. Lunches and dinners as listed by day. Snacks along the route.
Fully trained, first-aid certified, bilingual professional guides and knowledgeable local partners.
Vehicle support and land transportation during the trip.
Austin Adventures T-shirt & luggage tags.
Pre-departure and packing information.
Incidental expenses such as taxes, dining and housekeeping gratuities, local guide and expert gratuities.
Not Included in Trip Price
Gratuities to Austin Adventures guides.
Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities.
Pre-and post-trip accommodations and associated expenses.
Air and land transportation to/from host cities.
Airport departure taxes.
Extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service, etc.)
All types of personal insurance.
Personal expenses.
View the "Wow Factor" Included in Each Austin Adventure
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
1Easy (1)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
2Moderately Easy (2)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
3Moderate (3)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
4Moderate to Challenging (4)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
5Challenging (5)
Costa Rica Expert
Kasey Austin
As Vice President of Operations at Austin Adventures, Kasey Austin can tell you the logistical ins and outs of every single trip. More than that, though, Kasey has lived and breathed most of the company’s featured destinations and will eagerly share her contagious passion for the transformational power of active travel. Kasey grew up in the adventure travel business; she knows the positive, lifelong impact of family travel, a quality that earned her the distinction of being named top family travel guide by Outside Magazine in 2014.
