Quetzal: Complete itinerary
Raft the Pacuare River · Sea kayak Tortuguero canals · Search for sea turtles · Hike Tortuguero Hill · Arenal Volcano · Cycle Lake Arenal · Baldi Hot Springs · Snorkel and hike Curu Nature Reserve · Sea kayak to Tortuga Island · San Jose
| quetzal |      |
11 days - costa rica | US$2099 |
| pronounced "ket-ZAAL" | currency converter | ||
While most of Costa Rica experiences heavy rain during the months we run the Quetzal, some areas are drier than during 'summer', and we’ve chosen the parts that are at their best at this time of year. On this trip we'll hike, bike and paddle into the heart of Costa Rica's exuberant green environment. This is the only time of year you can sea kayak to Tortuguero National Park to see nesting sea turtles up close. Paddling is also a real highlight on the Quetzal - increased rainfall high up in the mountains provides us with an exciting ride lower down the river! We'll hike around the constantly erupting Arenal Volcano, and cycle on the fringes of a beautiful lake at its base. We’ll hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest and visit a local coffee plantation before we make our way down to the Pacific coast, where we'll snorkel with tropical fish, and paddle a sea kayak to idyllic Tortuga Island, before returning to San Jose, Costa Rica's cosmopolitan capital city. The Quetzal is simply the best of Costa Rica! |
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Sunday - Arrive San Jose
Your trip begins in San Jose, Costa Rica's busy cosmopolitan capital city. If you arrive in the morning you'll have time to explore its beautiful town squares, quaint cafés, and bustling streets where lively street performers dot the sidewalks. With a mild, spring-like climate, San Jose sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering volcanoes, just 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. In the evening you'll meet your ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA trip leader for a full briefing and a delicious Tico dinner!
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Amistad, San Jose (D)
Monday - Raft the Pacuare River
This morning we'll drive to the rafting "put-in" on the Rio Pacuare, one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. After a safety briefing from our guides, we'll set off down the river, descending Grade III and IV rapids from Costa Rica's central highlands down through virgin rainforest to the Caribbean lowlands. Lush, green vegetation hangs down the vertical walls of this amazing river canyon - some of them hundreds of feet high! This is one of the world's classic rafting trips - along with exciting white water, the scenery is stunning, and the water is warm! After we take out, we'll continue on to the quaint Caribbean lowland town of Guapiles for the night.
ACCOMMODATION: Guapiles Accommodations, Guapiles (B,L,D)
Tuesday - Sea kayak Tortuguero, Mawamba Lodge
This morning we'll take a short drive to the calm waters of Rio Suerte, where we'll begin some of the most amazing sea kayaking you'll ever do. We'll encounter howler monkeys and tropical birds as we paddle through lush, primary rainforest down to the confluence of the Rio Penitencia. Here we'll board a motorboat that will take us to the luxurious Mawamba Lodge, where we'll have the chance to relax in our hammocks and listen to the sounds of the jungle. This afternoon you can hike the miles of beautiful beach and nature trails or relax on the deck overlooking the Caribbean sea.
Phil says:"Seeing rare wild sea turtles up close is pretty special, and arriving by sea kayak makes it an unforgettable experience. Mawamba Lodge and Tortuguero National Park are in many ways the quintessential Costa Rica - and is something I love about the Quetzal trip!"
ACCOMMODATION: Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero (B,L,D)
Wednesday - Search for sea turtles, hike Tortuguero Hill
We'll rise early this morning and take to the beach, in search of the sea turtles the area is named after. We'll have the chance to see famous Green Sea Turtles arrive on the beach and lay their eggs - an incredible experience! We'll return to the Lodge for breakfast before heading off to hike through virgin rainforest to Tortuguero Hill. The abundance of wildlife in this area will take your breath away and our guides are experts at finding the most interesting monkeys, reptiles, birds and other wildlife in the thick jungle. When we return we'll have the afternoon free to relax by the pool, or soak in the sun at the beach.
ACCOMMODATION: Mawamba Lodge (B,L,D)
Thursday - Sea kayak Tortuguero, Baldi Hot Springs
This morning we'll leave Tortuguero in our sea kayaks. Then it's back to conventional transport for the drive to Fortuna - a small town at the foot of the mighty Arenal Volcano, which has been constantly erupting for over a decade! We'll spend this afternoon at the incredible Thermo Minenal Baldi. This lavish complex of 16 hot pools and amazing landscaped gardens will be the backdrop to a typical Tico dinner, and spectacular night- time views of the volcano.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Los Guayabos, Fortuna (B,L,D)
Friday - Hike Arenal National Park, Catarata La Fortuna
This morning we'll set off for a day of hiking through the pristine rainforest of Arenal National Park. After a short time hiking through the typical Tico farmland, we'll enter stunning virgin rainforest canopy, as it flanks the trail. Cascading waterfalls, brilliant rainforest flowers and the call of howler monkeys in the treetops are only some of the characteristics that make this area a hiking paradise.
Our hike ends with a well-deserved swim at spectacular Catarata de La Fortuna. The waterfall and surrounding rainforest are gorgeous, and the plunge pool is the perfect place to cool off!
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Los Guayabos (B,L,D)
Saturday - Cycle around Lake Arenal, Monteverde
This morning we’ll take an amazing cycle trip around the edge of Lake Arenal. After an early breakfast, we'll begin riding under the rainforest canopy as we follow the shores of the lake. You'll be amazed at the cacophony of Tucan calls, howler monkeys and other wildlife sounds you’ll hear. Later, we’ll head to Monteverde Cloudforest. Nestled in the heart of one of the most beautiful valleys in the Americas, in the cloudy heights of the Tilaran mountain range, Monteverde is our base for the next two nights. We’ll enjoy spectacular views of the sun setting over the Caribbean from our cosy lodging in the hills just outside Santa Elena township.
ACCOMMODATION: Sunset Hotel, Monteverde (B,L,D)
Sunday - Hike Monteverde Cloudforest, free afternoon
Today we'll explore some of the most intriguing forest trails in Central America - the Monteverde Cloudforest. Laden with native flora and fauna, and tucked in a highland valley of the Costa Rican mountains, Monteverde offers a peaceful hiking experience with stunning waterfalls, lush forest canopy, and plenty of native animals ducking in and out of the trails!
Monteverde offers a wide range of optional activities to choose from this afternoon - everything from canopy tours to horse riding or even a cheese factory! If you'd like an adrenalin-pumping view of the forest canopy from above, there's an option to take a zipline canopy tour, high above the trees. It's an unforgettable ride with magical views of the rainforest and the valleys below!
ACCOMMODATION: Sunset Hotel (B,L,D)
Monday - Hike Curu Nature Reserve
Today we'll continue down to the tropical warmth of the Pacific lowlands where we'll hit the Pacific Ocean for the first time on the trip. This afternoon we'll explore the extensive nature trails of the Curu Nature Reserve - which is rich with life of its own. There are 200 species of birds, native deer, and numerous troops of howler and capuchin monkeys, all inhabiting the low-level canopy environment of the reserve. The animals of the reserve are renowned for their bold and friendly nature, which makes for great close up viewing and photos. The Capuchin monkeys will even sleep outside your room!
ACCOMMODATION: Curu Nature Reserve Lodge (B,L,D)
Tuesday - Sea kayak Tortuga Island, return to San Jose
This morning we'll paddle our sea kayaks across to Tortuga Island, a short distance offshore from the Curu Nature Reserve. After a familiarization briefing from our guides we'll set off across the warm, clear waters of the Golfo de Nicoya. This beautiful stretch of water is frequented by whales, so bring your camera! When we arrive on the island, we'll have lunch on a picture-postcard white sand beach. Tortuga Island is a stunning place, with pristine beaches laden with coconut palms, clear water and a green rainforest interior. This afternoon we'll set off with our masks and snorkels into the warm Pacific waters surrounding Tortuga Island, to spot sea turtles, iguanas, lobsters and hundreds of varieties of fish in crystal clear waters. Later we’ll head back to San Jose for our final dinner together in Costa Rica.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Amistad, San Jose (B,L,D)
Wednesday - San Jose, depart
Today is the last of your 11 magical days in Costa Rica with us! If you have some time before your flight or you're staying on for a few days, we'll be happy to make some suggestions on how to make the most of it. If you're flying out today, we'll send you home refreshed, relaxed and invigorated, after experiencing the best that Costa Rica has to offer – great activities, fantastic scenery and friendly people. Pura Vida! (B)
Important Information
ACCOMMODATIONS: The Quetzal is an active adventure-oriented trip around Costa Rica. As with all ACTIVE trips, we've chosen accommodations for their comfort and cleanliness - not the number of channels available on the television! Most of the places we stay are off the beaten track and truly spectacular. For example, Curu Nature Reserve Lodge isn’t known for its glamorous rooms - but it is known for its stunning location, abundance of monkeys in the trees outside the rooms, and rustic charm!
RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS: You can fly into San Jose any time on the first day of the trip. On the last day of the trip you can fly out at any time. If you want to arrive earlier or leave later, we’re happy to help out with extra hotel accommodation bookings.
PICK-UP INFORMATION: Regardless of when you arrive, an ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA representative will meet you off your flight and take you to your accommodation. You’ll meet your trip leader and the rest of your group at the trip start briefing and dinner at 6pm.
DROP OFF INFORMATION: You’ll wake up in San Jose on the last day of your trip, so you can book a flight home departing any time that day – we’ll be happy to drop you off at the airport.
FITNESS: You only need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself on the Quetzal trip. You don't have to be young nor extremely fit (although if you are, you won't be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing at least some exercise. Age and experience is not important. We would rather have an older person with a good attitude than a 22-year-old couch potato!
EXPERIENCE: You don't have to have any outdoor experience to do one of our trips. We offer trips that enable you to make the most of Latin America's awesome outdoor environment, culture and history. Our staff are highly trained and very experienced outdoor guides, and we'll look after you! You don't need any experience in snorkeling, rafting or sea kayaking on the Quetzal. All you need is to be energetic and in reasonable shape - and we guarantee you'll have a wonderful time. But if you like a challenge we will certainly give you one! We can offer activities to suit people who only do a little exercise, and those who have a very high level of fitness and experience in all our activities. We manage the level of commitment to suit your experience, and we have an impeccable safety record.
FLEXIBILITY: Costa Rica is in a developing part of the world, and we can't tell you that everything runs like clockwork in Latin America. What we can tell you as that we are experienced adventure travel leaders, and we know how to keep things operating as smoothly as possible, even when conditions are challenging. That's why we are here! If you bring flexibility and a sense of humor you'll find your trip goes even smoother!
INCLUDED: The trip fare is US$2099. The trip fare includes just about everything, specifically:
- All guiding services. We always have an experienced trip leader with every trip and will usually have a local guide on many of our excursions for extra local knowledge.
- Comfortable accommodation for the entire trip. We can also organize pre and post trip accommodation for you if you let us know.
- All your meals and all drinking water. Alcohol and other drinks are not included.
- All snorkeling, rafting, sea kayaking, hiking and biking as described in the itinerary, excluding optional activities as noted. No activities are compulsory, and nor will your trip be less awesome if you chose to sit out any of the activities.
- Tips for local activity guides and drivers are taken care of by ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA.
NOT INCLUDED: This is your holiday, and we are serious about not nickel-and-diming you! You’ll have a few meals and drinks to cover, extra activities if you choose them, and you’ll probably feel like tipping your guide at the end of a fabulous time, but you won’t be pulling out your wallet every few minutes on your ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA trip!
Pura Vida!
Itinerary valid through April 2008
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