Enigmatic, Forest and Active Attractions

After passing through migration and customs, you can meet your Costa Rica Travel Adventures English Speaking Guide and your Spanish Driver with a sign with your name on it.  Transfer to your San Jose hotel (driving time is 40 minutes approximately).

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After breakfast, 20 - 40 min shared land transfer will be provided to the local airstrip for your 45 minutes Sansa flight to Palmar Sur.

Upon arrival in Palmar Sur, taxi transfer to the small town of Sierpe (20-minute drive approximately). Board a motorboat to Casa Corcovado (1 - 1.5 hour). Refreshments will be served as you wind your way down the Sierpe River, through the largest mangrove wetlands system on the Pacific Coast of Central America. Your highly experienced boat captain will navigate out into the ocean through two or three sets of waves. Depending on conditions more than one attempt may have to be made to get the boat through the surf safely. You will have a beach landing at Casa Corcovado; after dipping your feet in the ocean, a tractor trailer will take you up hill and into the jungle to the lodge. The afternoon is free.

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After breakfast leave with your local guide for a hike in Corcovado National Park. The cool early morning is the best time to spot wildlife and observe the many species of birds found in the park. Animal life in this section of the park is easy to see, with frequent sighting of monkeys, coatimundis, squirrels, spiders, macaws, bats, leaf cutter ants, and more.

Along the trail, your guide will tell you about the life in the rainforest. On your walk through the forest, you will follow a river and then visit a waterfall. This will be your chance to cool off in one of the shaded pools of the rushing river. Afterwards, continue down river until reaching the Park Station at San Predrillo. Located just offshore is Picaros Island, a refuge for several species of marine birds including the Brown Bobbie, Blue Heron and Brown Pelican. At the Station, under shade trees on the beach, you will have a picnic lunch including fresh fruit and ice-cold drinks. Afterward there will be time to explore the beach or relax.

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After breakfast your local guide will help you select your snorkeling gear for the tour to Caño Island. For those who want to explore the coral reefs around the Island, this is a great opportunity to see many kinds of fish, rays and sometimes turtles. This is also one of the best diving spots in Costa Rica.

On most days there will be a chance to snorkel at the "Coral Garden," which is an excellent spot for beginners and more experienced guests. Inflatable diving vests are used so that everyone can feel safe.

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After breakfast, depart from Casa Corcovado back to Palmar Sur for your Sansa fight to San Jose (47 minutes flight approx.).

Upon arrival your Private Bilingual Naturalist Guide and Spanish speaking driver will transfer you to the area of Monteverde (3 hours’ drive).

Monteverde is a peaceful community made up of dairy farmers, naturalists and tourism service providers who have joined together to create a model for sustainable development and protection of the environment that is becoming known throughout the world. It is the home of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Children's Eternal Rain Forest, and the Santa Elena Reserve.

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Depart with your Naturalist Guide and your Driver to the Monteverde Reserve area. Hike in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve from the visitors’center. The trails at the reserve are well-kept and have moderate gradients & steps, ascending ramps, alternating flat sections and quite appropriate conditions including bridges and handrails.

With the assistance of your Naturalist Guide, try to discover elusive birds in the cloud forest, including the mythical Quetzal, the sacred bird of the Mayans! Many more birds like hummingbirds, thrushes, trogons, or toucans can be seen in the reserve.

After finishing the Monteverde Reserve hike, drive to the Private Reserve of Curi-Cancha.

Hike mostly on dirt trails with not too steep descents. Most of the path have from 10 to 15 % gradient, alternating with some flat sections. In this cloud forest area, walk on the main road with gravel cover. Also – on secondary trails-, expect muddy sections, slippery terrain in some points and just a few

<strong>Duration: </strong>5 <strong>- </strong>6 hours. From 7am –2 pm.

<strong>What to bring: </strong>long pants,<strong> </strong>closed toe shoes or hiking boots, light fleece or jacket, rain gear, hat, water bottle, binoculars (recommended) snack and sunscreen. Don’t forget your camera!

<strong>Aguti Reserve Night Tour </strong>

Depart for an approximately 5-minute drive to Aguti Private Reserve. At the reserve, take time for the facilities before starting the walk along the different trails within the reserve. This protected area is part of the great conservation complex that includes the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Children's Eternal Rainforest, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, among other conservation efforts that exist in the area.

There´re chances to observe birds while they sleep, frogs, snakes, bats, armadillos, scorpions, two-toed sloths, and porcupine, among others. Wildlife is unpredictable but your guide is well-versed on finding species as well as sharing natural history of this area.

<strong>Notes:</strong>

The total route includes 4km (2.5 miles) of trails within the property, but during the night tour they use about 1 –1.5 miles.

Temperature occasionally drops to low F 70s at night.

<strong>Duration:</strong> 1.5 hours. Departure at 5:45 pm.

<strong>What to bring:</strong> comfortable close-toed shoes, light jacket, and raingear.

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After breakfast, depart with your Naturalist Guide and driver to the embarkation site in Rio Chiquito. You will drive along rural roads toward the Board the Lake Crossing Boat that will take you to Arenal debarkation site, at the section of the lake. While you cross, there’re opportunities to observe birds like cormorants, herons, egrets and more. When you arrive to Arenal, and depending on your location, you´ll drive for a few minutes to your hotel in Fortuna-Arenal.

<strong>Notes:</strong> The road between Monteverde and Rio Chiquito is quite steep, bumpy, and muddy. The boats have a canopy, but rain can still get in occasionally. The boat ride can be windy and rough during rainy days. (There’re no docks at the embarkation sites)

<strong>Duration:</strong> app. 4 hours. Departs between 07:00 & 07:30 AM<strong>, </strong>depending on your lodge in Monteverde

<strong>Includes:</strong> boat and land transportation, driver, and pilot.

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Early morning transfer (7:00 AM) to the ATV Tour in Arenal. The Quads Adventure <strong>ATV tour</strong> not only gives you the opportunity for <strong>adventure</strong> and fun but also includes <strong>nature</strong> and unique <strong>views</strong> of the <strong>majestic Arenal Volcano</strong>. The <strong>trail</strong> you will traverse goes through pastureland at the base of the <strong>volcano</strong> from which you will have numerous opportunities to<strong> see </strong>the<strong> volcano</strong> before eventually arriving at <strong>Lago</strong> de Los Lirios (Lilly Lake) which has distinction of being the only lake in the area that contains sulfur residues from the volcano.

From there you will continue the trail passing through <strong>Tropical Humid Forest </strong>giving you the opportunity to observe the area’s <em>flora and fauna</em> before arriving at lookout point where we will have drinks and fruit for you. From this lookout point you will enjoy one of the best <strong>views </strong>of the <em>volcano </em>and some of its most recent flows as your expert <em>naturalist guide</em> tell you about the <strong>volcano’s history</strong> and characteristics.

After two hours of combining a<strong>drenaline</strong> with nature you will return to where you started on the <strong>ATVs</strong>. Here you will get to see and learn about <strong>crocodiles</strong>, <strong>frogs,</strong> and the area’s beautiful butterflies.
<h3>Duration:</h3>
2.5 Hours. Times: 7:30 am, 11:00 am and 2:30 pm
<h3>What does this tour includes?</h3>
Roundtrip transportation, naturalist bilingual guide (English & Spanish), drinks and snacks.

<strong>What to bring</strong>:  Sunscreen, extra clothe, camera, repellent and closed shoes.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-3128" src="https://www.costaricatraveladventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/atv-tours-in-costa-rica1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="184" height="138" /> <img class="alignnone wp-image-3129" src="https://www.costaricatraveladventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ATV-tours-300x206.jpg" alt="" width="192" height="132" /> <img class="alignnone wp-image-3131" src="https://www.costaricatraveladventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cuadraciclos_5-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="182" height="137" />

You will meet your Adventure Guides that run the activity. This area offers volcano views that can be observed from the aerial Sky Tram that rises 236 meters (780 feet) in 1250 meters (4125 feet) ride.

Before leaving the main building to start your activity, you will be fitted with all the necessary safety equipment: harness, helmet, gloves, and guides will take care of correct adjustment. Once you are all gear up, you will be accompanied by a guide in the sky tram to point out and explain more about the wild species found in the preserve. The tram stops at some points on the way, allowing the visitors to take photographs or spotting native wildlife.

The Canopy Zip Line starts from the observation platform. The guides will deliver a safety speech stressing safety and the braking system tips. The experience offers panoramic views of the volcano and lake from a whole new perspective. As you step out of the Canopy Zip Line, one of the Adventure Guides will continue with you to enter the Canopy Walkway.

This walk consists of a rainforest trail which connects a series of suspension bridges located over the treetops. The trail ascends along some ravines and hills, permitting the visitor opportunities to spot wildlife while crossing through dense forest as well as light gaps.

<strong>Duration:</strong> 3.5 to 4.5 hours in the park.

<strong>Includes:</strong> Adventure Guide, Zip lines, gear, and safety equipment, use of lockers for personal belongings. Canopy Walkway experience with hanging bridges and Sky Tram.

<strong>What to bring:</strong> Camera, binoculars, water bottle, close toed sturdy footwear, and old shirt or jacket that may get dirty during the zip line ride, comfortable clothes, poncho, or raingear & insect repellent.

<strong>Important Note: </strong>You can't use your own camera during the Zip Line activity.

Ground transfer back to San José downtown.

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Transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) at least three hours prior to the departure time for your flight out of the country (20 - 40 min drive).

Please keep in mind that you must be at the airport at least three hours prior to your departure time.