Group Tours

Wild Costa Rica: Osa and Caribbean Adventure

Costa Rica Photo Workshop Tour

July Educator's Journey

Customized Group Tours

Home > EcoVacations > Group Tours > Osa and Caribbean Adventure

Announcing Our NEW Osa Peninsula & Caribbean Tour!

July, 2011

This EcoVacation adventure will delight all seekers of verdant wilderness and eco-adventure! Snorkeling, hiking, and kayaking are just a few of the amazing activities planned for this journey. The itinerary will span two fun-filled weeks of travel from the pristine rainforests of the Osa Peninsula to the azure shores of the Caribbean.

**This trip is family-friendly! Please see the FAQs below for more information.

Who joins this group?
How do I get to Costa Rica?
What is the cost?

July, 2011
	Click to register for this tour

Be sure to read, sign & return!

Wild Costa Rica Itinerary:

Day 1:
Arrive into Costa Rica any time today. Transfer to your downtown hotel and enjoy the museums, shops and sights of this bustling capital city.
Overnight: Hotel Don Carlos, San Jose

Day 2:
Early in the morning, your driver will take you to the airport where, after a short flight, you will arrive on the Osa Peninsula. In the afternoon, explore the lush surroundings or choose from a myriad of activities.
Overnight: Corcovado Adventures Tent Camp, Osa Peninsula

Green Violetear Hummingbird

Day 3:
Wake up in paradise! After breakfast we will hike with a local guide in Corcovado National Park. The 54,539 acre Corcovado National Park encompasses at least eight distinct habitats, making it the most unique and pristine Pacific coastal rainforest in Central America! National Geographic describes it as "the most biologically intense place on the earth." Wildlife is abundant and the park is home to Costa Rica's largest population of scarlet macaws. Many important and endangered species are protected here, including five big cat species, crocodiles, peccaries, tapirs, anteaters, sloth and monkeys.
Overnight: Corcovado Tent Camp, Osa Peninsula

Day 4:
We spend the morning snorkeling near Caño Island. Only 45 minutes by boat, Caño Island is well known for the snorkeling and scuba diving. Along the way, we might have a chance to see whales or dolphins. At Caño Island we discover the brilliantly colored wonders of the underwater world, from beautiful parrot fish to sea stars to corals to moray eels or explore the island by foot. Return to the station in the afternoon, and enjoy some free time, more hiking, reading, or just relaxing.
Overnight: Corcovado Tent Camp, Osa Peninsula

Capuchin Monkeys

Day 5:
An early yet scenic departure from the lodge makes for the world’s most beautiful ‘ride to the airport’-a combination of kayak, boat and bus. Fly back to San Jose where you will meet your guide and driver ready to drive you up to the misty cloud forests of Monteverde.
Overnight: El Establo, Monteverde

Day 6:
This morning, fly through the air on at the Selvatura Ziplines, a unique way to experience the canopy. Sail over the trails and through the treetops, traversing the canopy on a zip-line! Expert guides assist you in this exciting journey through the different layers of the pristine cloud forests from the time you leave the ground until you rappel back down to the forest floor. After lunch, visit the Monteverde Butterfly Garden, home to many of the most beautiful butterflies and the most ugly bugs! The hilarious tour gives wonderful insight into the world of insects.
Overnight: El Establo, Monteverde

Tiger Longwing Butterfly

Day 7:
Depart Monteverde this morning for the Arenal Volcano. You will travel down the mountain while seeing some of the most beautiful views of the Pacific side of the country. Stop for lunch, then travel around Lake Arenal and past the windmills to the town of La Fortuna. Once in La Fortuna, take a short hike to the beautiful Catarata de la Fortuna which pours out of the rainforest. After a short hike you will arrive at the base of the falls where you can swim in river pools.
Overnight: Hotel Lomas del Volcan, La Fortuna

Day 8:
Spend the morning with Don Juan, a former school teacher turned organic farm, who will take us on a tour of his incredible compact farm. Don Juan has incredible insight into what it takes to live and produce food in a sustainable fashion. You’ll have lunch with Don Juan and help harvest some of the food you’ll be eating right from the farm itself. In the afternoon, hike to the La Fortuna waterfall, which pours out of the rainforest high above and into beautiful pools perfect for a swim. In the evening visit the EcoTermales Hot Springs and soak in the geothermal pools that are heated by the volcano itself! The grounds are covered in beautiful natural gardens which blend seamlessly into the surrounding rainforest. Visitors are often treated to the sight of White-Faced or Howler monkeys playing in the trees above the steaming pools. Then hope the night is clear to witness lava exploding out of the volcano against the backdrop of night. A rare sight to behold!
Overnight: Hotel Lomas del Volcan, La Fortuna

Day 9:
Early in the morning we go to the banks of the nearby Pacuare River for an unforgettable day of white water rafting on class III and IV rapids. This scenic and famous river runs through lush jungle and majestic gorges; beautiful waterfalls cascade into the river alongside the rafts. We stop on the riverside for an excellent lunch and appreciate the fact that this is still a thriving ecosystem thanks to strong local advocates who stopped a dam project here in 2004. After a thrilling day of rafting, drive along the Caribbean coast to the culturally diverse area of Puerto Viejo.
Overnight: Hotel La Perla Negra, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limon

In the Rainforest

Day 10:
Learn about the culture and customs of the Bribri People, the indigenous inhabitants of this region, while hiking through the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve with a native guide. After this exhilarating hike through secondary rainforest, arrive at the village community center and see how the Bribri make everything from crafts to chocolate. A native lunch is served in typical Bribri style with many ingredients harvested from their understory gardens. The afternoon is spent exploring the town of Puerto Viejo or relaxing on the beach. You may choose to visit Punta Uva, one of Costa Rica’s most breathtaking beaches where the rainforest practically pours into the sea.
Overnight: Cariblue Bungalows, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Day 11: Begin the day by hiking along the coast through the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge where you can see monkeys, parrots, sloth and toucans. Traveling on the beach path and up into the jungle, observe an abundance of both tropical flora and fauna. Visit our organic farm & sustainable education center, Punta Mona. Tour the extensive organic gardens with a member of the permaculture team to learn about and taste some of the 180 different fruits and vegetables being grown here. Lunch is created from the gardens’ harvest. Hang out on the beach or the hammocks at this picturesque and remote slice of paradise. Return to the town of Manzanillo by boat and search for some of the three species of dolphins that live off shore.
Overnight: Cariblue Bungalows, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Day 12: Enjoy a day at your leisure to explore the beaches, jungles and cultures of this area.
Overnight: Cariblue Bungalows, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Day 13:
In the morning, leave the beautiful Caribbean coast and make your way back to the city. Stop at Cahuita National Park for a final experience in a coastal wet tropical rainforest. Hike the easy trails along the shore looking for sloth and monkeys in their natural habitat. After a final Caribbean lunch, drive through the port city of Limon and pass a veritable ocean of banana plantations before you head into Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica’s largest. Enjoy your final exposure to the rainforest between the giant elephant ear plants and the waterfalls that occur regularly alongside the road. Visit one of San Jose’s excellent restaurants for a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Hotel Don Carlos, San Jose

Day 14:
Board your plane with warm memories of your Costa Rican adventures that will surely last a lifetime!

Wild Costa Rica: Jungles, Rivers & Beaches FAQs

Q. Who joins this group?
A. This adventure is perfect for anyone who is looking for a longer, active adventure in Costa Rica while traveling in a community setting. Open to interested people of all ages, it is great for families with children. For white water rafting, the minimum age is 12 years, while the minimum age for the zip lines is 4. Alternative activities for young children are available. Travelers should be in reasonably good shape, and should anticipate a mild to moderately challenging outdoor experience. Each trip will accept no more than 20 travelers.

Q. How do I get to Costa Rica?
A. You will need to book your flights to arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) by 12:00 noon on the first day of the tour. Most people plan to arrive the day or two beforehand. If you do this, we would be happy to make a reservation for you at the Hotel Don Carlos with the rest of the early arrivals. The cost of the hotel is not included in the price of the tour. You can depart anytime on the last day of the tour. Whether you arrive early or not, we will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Transfers back to the airport are also included.

Q. What is the cost?
A. The land package cost will fall between $1,900 and $2,175 per person depending on the number of participants. Based on double-occupancy, this includes all accommodations, most meals, ground transportation, activities & entrance fees, and a full-time naturalist guide. It does not include airfare to Costa Rica, alcoholic beverages, incidentals, souvenirs, tips and gratuities to drivers and guides, and the $26 airport departure tax.

Quetzal