Costa Rica Wildlife & Volcanoes by Kayak Raft Hike Bike and Horseback Adventures in Nature multisport holiday travel- Aqua-Firma

Costa Rica Wildlife & Volcanoes by Kayak Hike Bike & Horseback

Costa Rica's great outdoors offers some wonderful opportunities for experiencing wilderness and wildlife in invigorating ways. This tailor made trip explores some of the country's most inspiring locations in ways which are ideally suited for appreciating each particular environment.

The rich waterside wildlife of the Tortuguero National Park makes this Caribbean coastal rainforest wilderness an ideal target for wildlife viewing by kayak. The forest here is intersected by waterways and often flooded, which makes travel on foot almost impossible, but perfect for quiet exploration of on the water. From canoes and flat bottom boats, you can expect to see howler monkeys, capuchins, toucans, parrots and more.

Between July - Sept the Tortuguero's Caribbean beaches are the Western Hemisphere's most important egg laying zone for Green Turtles; so whilst you can explore the forest by day, you can observe the unforgettable sight of a female turtle labouring her way onto a beach and digging a metre deep hole in which to lay her eggs.

Upstream from these Caribbean locations we can find deep river gorges and white water including the Rios Pacuare and Sarapiqui. Whilst the Sarapiqui is perhaps better for wildlife, the Rio Pacuare holds Costa Rica's wildest Grade IV rapids. You will be able to join a white water rafting team on both of these rivers, surrounded by protected forests and some stunning rive scenery.

Going yet higher in altitude, we take you to explore two of Central America's most active volcanoes: Arenal and Rincon de Vieja. Arenal is famous for its regular lava flows and fuming caldera - sights which you can see from the window of your mountain lodge. Beneath the volcano we can some wonderful mountain landscapes and cloud forests which are perfect for exploration on foot, mountain bike and within the forest canopy itself. Costa Rica is famous for its canopy walkway and zip line systems and those we make use of close to Arenal are some of the most dramatic in the country.

Rincon de Vieja is in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica further north. Here you will stay at a working ranch from which we take you into the volcano national park on horseback. The landscape here is a bizarre mix of forest and ground oozing with volcanic vapours.

For the last phase of this journey we take you to perhaps the most beautiful coastal national park in Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio. This is where we take to sea kayaks, exploring on one day the park itself and on another the stunning Damas Island.

Photographs kindly provided by Natalia Lizano, the La Selva Research Station, ICT, Ralph Pannell

Central America Hike & Trek - Trekking & Hiking - White Water Rafting - Canoe Kayak - Canoeing Kayaking - Sea Kayaking - Horse riding - Horseback Equine holidays

Day 1
Arrive San Jose where you will be met and transferred privately to the Hotel Don Carlos - a once time residence for two Presidential families. The hotel has spacious and distinguished rooms and is located in the oldest and most historic part of town, close to the central plaza where the theatre, cafes and pre-Colombian Jade Museum is located.

Day 2
(B,L)
You will be collected early from your hotel and driven for a light breakfast stop within farmlands outside of the city.
From here you will descend Costa Rica's Central Highlands to the top of the Pacuare River gorge. Here you will be follow a rough path down to the river where you will receive a safety and kit briefing and embark upon several hours of rafting.
You will be able to take a shower and a late lunch at the end, before being driven back to San Jose.

Day 3
(B,L,D)
Early morning you will be collected from your hotel and driven north east to the Tortuguero Canal. Breakfast will be taken on the way just before you begin your descent through the stunning cloud forest scenery of the Braulio Carillo National Park.
Once you reach the Canal, you will be transferred to a motor launch and travel north until you reach the Tortuguero National Park. Arrive in time for lunch.
After lunch you will take to a canoe in search of wildlife along the Tortuguero's many canals and waterways.

Day 4
(B,L,D)
In the morning, you will go in search of wildlife from a small boat, and then in the afternoon you will delve further by kayak.

Day 5
(B,L)
After breakfast you will be taken by motor canoe south along the canal and then by road inland to Guapiles for lunch. You will then be taken by private transfer to the Sarapiqui area and your hotel here.

Day 6
(B)
This morning you will raft the Grade III Sarapiqui River.
Afternoon to enjoy the surroundings of your hotel which has a national Class III certificate in sustainable tourism.

Day 7
(B)
After breakfast you will be driven privately from Sarapiqui up to Arenal and an observatory lodge overlooking the volcano. The lodge is surrounded by 860 acres of rainforest and trails which you can explore for yourself, or join a guided walk.

Day 8
(B)
Today you will be taken to enjoy the rainforest canopy by an exciting zip wire flying fox and a sky tram.

Day 9
(B,L)
After breakfast, you will join a group to enjoy this area on mountain bike.
PM: You will be taken privately overland to a hacienda close to the Rincon de Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste Province. Overnight at the hacienda.

Day 10
(B,L,D)
After breakfast you will be geared up to travel by horseback into the Rincon de Vieja National Park. The Guanacaste Province is well known for its dry forest and its associated fauna and flora.

Day 11
(B)
From the hacienda you will be taken by private transport to the Central Pacific coastal area of the Manuel Antonio National Park. Here you will stay at a hotel appropriately designed to enjoy the surrounding rainforest.

Day 12
(B)
Today you will enter the sea by kayak to explore the beautiful Damas Island.

Day 13
(B)
Further sea kayaking around the stunning coast of the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Day 14
(B)
You will have the morning either to make your own way to the Manuel Antonio National Park to enjoy the trails spotting wildlife and birdlife.
At noon, a driver will collect you and drive you privately back to your hotel in San Jose.

Day 15
(B)
You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.