destination
costa rica
Z-Costa Rica Ultimate Adventure
trip specifics
price
2011 Rates Adult Child
Dec $2449 $1837
Jan $2349 $1762
Jan $2349 $1762
Feb $2449 $1837
Mar $2349 $1762
Apr $2349 $1762
May $2249 $1687
Single Supplement - $399
Guaranteed departure with 2 travelers.
Child rates apply to 12-16 yr old sharing room with two parents
Children 12 and older only, no child rates apply
duration
8 daystrip dates
Coming Soon!
Additional Dates Available Upon Request
trip level
view explanation
highlights
San JoseBahia Ballena
Cano Island
Savegre
Cerro de la Muerte
Pacuare River
accomm types
HotelLodge
Day 1 - Arrive in San Jose
Arrive at the International Airport in San José. After passing through Immigration you'll be met by a representative who will take you to your first hotel.
Accommodations: Gran Hotel de Costa Rica
Included Meals: na
Day 2 - Pacific Coast Bike & Paddle
This morning you will meet your Multisport Guide and the rest of the group at an early breakfast. Afterward the group will be driven along one of Costa Rica's most scenic roads, the old Spanish route that winds down from the Central Valley to the Pacific Coast. Upon arrival in the little town of Orotina, your guide and driver will prepare the bicycles and, after a safety talk and a refresher on biking technique, you'll be on your way to Agujas Beach. Total biking time is about three hours. Distance is 19.4 miles (31 kms).
Once at the beach, you will be introduced to your new mode of transport, the outrigger canoe, whose design is based on the original Polynesian boats. They are fast and stable, but require synchronization and group effort. The ocean here is warm and usually calm. You'll paddle under spectacular cliffs filled with pelicans and frigate birds to one of our destination beaches for snorkeling or relaxing. Lunch will be served on the beach. The quality of the snorkeling, like the weather, is a variable. Nevertheless, we will be at the best location for snorkeling on the Central Pacific Coast. After this tour, your guide and driver will take you back to the hotel, where you will have a chance to relax and freshen up before dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Villa Lapas
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3 - Canopy Tour
You will start the morning with breakfast at the hotel and then board the van for a 20 min. ride to the Jacó area for the Waterfalls Canopy Tour. The canopy tour will be in an important ecological transition zone between Costa Rica's dry northwest and the humid southern zone. Much of the Canopy's 46 hectares of protected area is covered with transitional rainforest growing on steep slopes, and studded with massive trees laden with vines and epiphytes. The Canopy Tour consists of 13 platforms, seven cables of varying lengths, a three-story tree house, a Tarzan Swing, a suspension bridge and a 90-foot rappel down at the end.
Continue on a four-hour drive south to the Pacific region of Costa Rica. The road you'll be traveling is known by locals as the "Costanera" (coastal road) and follows the Pacific coastline offering beautiful views and good possibilities of spotting a variety of birds, including wood storks, caracaras and a variety of hawks, among others. Stop about half-way at the Rancho Casa Grande for a Costa Rican-style lunch.
Accommodations: Hotel Cristal Ballena
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4 - Snorkeling and Hiking on Caño Island
Today leave early with your guide for a full day of snorkeling and hiking to what may well be mainland Costa Rica's finest diving and snorkeling spot. Not only do the waters surrounding Caño Island contain some of the most abundant and varied marine life in the world, but the island also possesses several pre-Colombian archeological artifacts. These can be explored on several hikes through the lush, tropical vegetation. The almost-perfect spherical stones are believed to have once marked an offshore burial ground and ceremonial site for the indigenous Diquis cultural group, who inhabited the Golfo Dulce area until the Spanish arrived. Along with the stone spheres, Caño Island is believed to have been a pirate hideout. Some go so far as to claim that the island was the inspiration for Robert Stevenson's book, Treasure Island. Within 15 meters (50 feet) of the beach you can explore the warm, crystal blue waters with snorkel gear and see a variety of brilliantly colored tropical fish and corals.
Accommodations: Hotel Cristal Ballena
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5 - Bike, Waterfalls, and Savegre Mountains
Today we ride early from our hotel. The ride has a mix of a slight down hill slopes with a few uphill slopes along the way and views of the forest and Pacific surf. The ride ends at the Barú River Bridge. Total Biking time is about two hours. Once the bicycles are loaded we drive for about 15 minutes to the entrance of the Nauyaca Waterfalls where we will enjoy a swim under the falls before hiking back to meet the bus. A typical lunch will be served at Don Lulo's house. After lunch we continue to Savegre (about 3 hours).
Accommodations: Savegre Mountain Lodge
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6 - Cerro de la Muerte Hike
After an early breakfast, depart by bus for the Cerro de la Muerte Hike. Accompanied by a local guide, you will walk down the mountain - first through sub-alpine meadows and then through the oak forests of Savegre Valley. This is a 5-to-7-hour hike, ending at the Savegre Lodge. Box lunch will be provided en route.
Accommodations: Savegre Mountain Lodge
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7 - Pacuare - White Water Rafting
Depart early from the Savegre Lodge and head towards Cartago, the oldest city in Costa Rica. Continue east through Turrialba, north to the entrance of Hacienda Tres Equis, which leads to the put-in location on the Pacuare River. Upon your arrival (about 3-½ hours later), the rafts will be rigged and the River Guides will welcome you to one of the most beautiful river canyons in the tropics, one of those rare pockets of wilderness still left on the planet. After orientation and a safety talk, proceed downriver for an exciting rafting adventure. Mid-afternoon take-out. Total river time about four hours. Return to San José this evening for the our farewell dinner.
Accommodations: Gran Hotel de Costa Rica
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8 - Return
Transfer to the International Airport by bus or van, arriving approx. two hours before your flight's scheduled departure.
Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast
Notes on Itinerary: This is a reasonably active itinerary. Travelers should be able to walk, hike, paddle, and bicycle for an hour at a time. Alternatives to the bicycling portion may be offered upon request. This itinerary is not suitable for children under 14 years of age. Packing a seperate smaller bag for the overnight rafting portion will be required.
Single Travelers: Single supplement added if single accommodations are requested, otherwise single travelers may request to share a same sex room. If another single traveler is assigned the single supplements will be waived.
Land Cost Includes: Seven nights lodging, all land and water transportation within Costa Rica, meals as specified in the itinerary, hotel taxes, entrance fees to National Parks, museums and places of interest in effect at the time of booking are included unless otherwise specified, guide services as specified in the itinerary, guides' expenses.
Not Included: Airfare to Costa Rica, excess baggage charges, taxes and port fees, gratuities to activity and naturalist guides, items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, and insurance of any kind. Departure tax from Costa Rica.
Arrival/Departure: The Costa Rica Ultimate adventure begins and ends in San Jose, Costa Rica. Plan flights to arrive in San Jose anytime on day 1 and depart anytime on day 8 of the itinerary.
Payment and Cancellation Policy: Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions.
Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.
Qualifications: This trip is best enjoyed by fit, active travelers with a love of nature and sense of adventure. Passengers should be comfortable in the water.
Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips to other regions of Costa Rica. We offer custom extensions to Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Corcovado National Park, Tortuguero National Park, and many other great options.
General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations 'Terms & Conditions'. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.
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