Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Costa Rica Rainforest & Rivers Multi-Adventure
Day 1 Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica
45-minute private van transfer
Welcome to Costa Rica! You will be picked up at the airport in San Jose and transferred to your comfortable hotel in town. Relax after your travels then meet your guide this evening for a delicious welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Grano de Oro
(D)
Day 2 Kayak the Jungle Canals of Tortuguero National Park
3-hour private van transfer, 1-hour private motorboat transfer
2 hours kayaking
Depart early this morning for a scenic drive across the Continental Divide to the remote north Caribbean coast. Continue by motorboat into the leafy depths of Tortuguero National Park, considered "the little Amazon in Costa Rica" and accessible only by water or by air. Arrive at your lodge, a beautiful resort on a strip of land between the beaches of the Caribbean and the canals of the Tortuguero Lagoon. Set out by kayak this afternoon to explore a maze of jungle waterways and hidden lagoons, and see howler monkeys, basilisk lizards, morpho butterflies, and tropical birds.
Accommodation: Mawamba Lodge—Tortuguero
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Experience the Wildlife of Tortuguero National Park
2-hour canal cruise by motorboat
1-hour easy walk, 2 hours kayaking
Set out on an optional early morning exploration of the wildlife-rich canals by motorboat, for a different perspective on these rich waterways and the chance to spot birds and other creatures when they're most active, with the help of your eagle-eyed guide. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then discover more native flora and fauna on a guided hike around the beautiful tropical gardens surrounding the lodge. After lunch, look for wildlife as you paddle through narrow waterways only accessible by kayak, eventually reaching the town of Tortuguero, for some free time to explore. For the late June departure: conditions permitting, rise early to search for the Atlantic sea turtles that return here around this time each year to nest, a migration that dates back millions of years.
Accommodation: Mawamba Lodge—Tortuguero
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Raft Pacuare River Rapids to Rios Lodge
1-hour canal cruise by motorboat, 2.5-hour private van transfer
1.5 hours/8 miles rafting (Class II and III) or 30-45 minutes/1 mile hiking
After breakfast, board a motorboat to navigate canals out of the jungle to La Pavona and then drive south to your put-in on the stunning Pacuare River, Costa Rica's most remarkable river corridor and one of the world's top whitewater rafting destinations. Raft eight miles of exciting Class II and III rapids down this beautiful river, past cascading waterfalls, and through lush rainforest. Keep an eye out for sloths, river otters, monkeys, and an incredible variety of birds, such as toucans, egrets, herons, kingfishers, sun bitterns, and trogons. Paddle downstream to Rios Lodge, a riverside eco-lodge situated in a 2,400-acre private rainforest reserve. Guests who prefer can instead take a short 4x4 ride, then cross the river using a cable and basket system and hike a short distance along a scenic trail to the lodge. In the evening, exceptional cuisine accompanies the vibrant sounds of the jungle and river. After dinner, join an optional night hike to discover the jungle's nocturnal wildlife.
Accommodation: Rios Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Zipline through the Canopy & Hike Rainforest Trails
Nature walk, waterfall hike, ziplining
Immerse yourself in the brilliant colors and sounds of the Costa Rican rainforest on a flexible schedule with room for relaxation and adventure. Rise early for a guided birdwatching hike to see toucans and many other species, before returning for breakfast and gearing up for a day of adventure. Zipline through the canopy, zigzagging across the Pacuare River on every zip, with breathtaking views of the rainforest, the Pacuare River Gorge, and the lodge as you soar through the jungle with a birds' eye view. After lunch, explore some of the property's 40 miles of trails, stopping to enjoy magical waterfalls and turquoise swimming holes. Activities described for today and tomorrow are a sample schedule, and the sequence of activities may be adjusted depending on weather conditions. Note that you are always welcome to skip an activity and chill on the lounge deck watching toucans fly across the river.
Accommodation: Rios Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Continue Active Adventures & Relaxation in the Rainforest
Nature walk, creek hike, river tubing
Kick off your second day in this rainforest wilderness with an exhilarating morning hike up Matsu Creek, winding your way amid the countless cascading waterfalls feeding into the creek. In the cool mists of the falls and shade of the tropical canopy, slowly climb up the creek bed passing cliff ledges and the natural swimming holes formed at the base of spectacular falls. After a refueling lunch, prepare for your next adventure. Conditions permitting, spend the afternoon walking upriver to the put-in for a refreshing and fun innertube float over Class I and II rapids back to your lodge, bobbing and swirling as you scan the treetops for tropical birds. Relax after dinner as night descends in the forest.
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Raft Downstream & Discover San Gerardo de Dota’s Cloud Forest
4-hour private van transfer
3 hours/12 miles rafting (Class III and IV) or 30-45 minutes/1 mile hiking
Continue your whitewater rafting adventure through Class III and IV rapids down the lush, magical gorge of the Pacuare River to Siquirres. Paddle through Huacas Arriba, Huacas Abajo, and Dos Montañas rapids as you journey downstream, finding yourself surrounded by exotic wildlife, jungle, and waterfalls tumbling into the river. Guests who prefer to skip the rafting today can instead hike a short distance out of Rios Lodge, cross the river using a cable and basket system, then journey by 4x4 to meet the van and the rest of the group. Upon reaching the rafting takeout in Siquirres, enjoy a shower and lunch before transferring to San Gerardo de Dota. Your secluded lodge sits alongside the Savegre River on an 85-acre private reserve, with primary and secondary tropical cloud forest filled with wild avocado, oak, and cypress trees, adorned with epiphytic plants. More than 175 different species of birds have been identified here and you will hear their calls as you settle in for a peaceful night after an exciting morning of rafting.
Accommodation: Trogon Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Quest for the Quetzal & Hike Cerro de la Muerte
45-minute private van transfer
2 hours early morning wildlife walk; 4 hours/6.5 miles hiking with 2,000' elevation loss
Wake up early and hike into the cloud forest to encounter a wide spectrum of wildlife, including, with luck, the resplendent quetzal. The region around San Gerardo de Dota is the year-round home to a large population of this rare endemic species. With its metallic green plumage, crimson breast and bell and its incredible streamer-like feathers, watching a male quetzal in flight is breathtaking experience, and the early morning hours are best for sightings. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then drive up to the spellbinding mountain highlands (called the paramo) of Cerro de la Muerte. At approximately 10,800 feet, hit the trail for a challenging downhill hike to the Savegre Valley, passing through a range of habitats and observing diverse plant and bird species all along the way. Gather for a festive farewell dinner at the lodge this evening.
Accommodation: Trogon Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Transfer to San Jose for Flights Home
3-hour private van transfer
Transfer this morning to San Jose International Airport for flights departing at 2:00 pm or later, carrying memories of amazing wildlife and thrilling adventure along with you.
(B)
