Tour S:
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1st day: Arrival at the airport, transfer to the guesthouse EL MARAÑON in CIUDAD COLON, situated wonderfully in a tropical garden with view over the central valley on the Poás volcano.
4th day: In the morning we visit the Indian reservation QUITIRRISI and let us show the typical basket weaving by the HUETAR-Indians. From SANTIAGO DE PURISCAL we go down to the Pacific. At the TARCOLES river we can observe crocodiles and visit the CARARA national park: guided tour with introduction in the tropical rainforest. We go on through rice fields and oil palm plantations – with a break at one of the beaches – and come to the lodge of the farmers’ cooperative SILENCIO; after dinner video about the interesting history of this cooperative.
5th day: Day trip to QUEBRADA ARROYO into the Los Campesinos reservation: short drive to the enormous SAVEGRE river. We cross the river with the help of a cable railway and hike (optionally ride on horseback) up to the village where a local action group of former vanilla farmers runs a fantastic reserve with a suspension bridge, a gondola between two tree tops and two uniquely lovely waterfalls. Overnight stay again in CoopeSilencio. |
6th day: Guided tour through the village in CoopeSilencio (school, health station, kindergarten, eco-education center) and through oil palm plantations (Palmin!) and forestry plantations which also host a wildlife rescue center: Many parrots have been ausgewildert (=re-introduced?) here that one can often observe near the lodge. Afternoon free for individual activities: You have the possibility for a hike or a horseback ride to the waterfall EL CHORRO and refresh in its water or possibility to visit the seaside resort and national park MANUEL ANTONIO which is 45 min. away.
7th day: Visit of Palmar Sur and of the pre-columbian stone spheres the secret of which still is unrevealed. Afterwards TERRABA-SIERPE delta, the largest mangrove area of Central America. From Sierpe boat trip through the endless mangroves (observation of crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas and aquatic birds) and via the open sea to DRAKE bay. Overnight stay in the MIRADOR DRAKE LODGE, located above the bay with a fantastic view over the Pacific Ocean. 8th day: Boat trip on the Pacific to the ISLA DEL CAÑO (see dolphins with a bit of luck); very good possibility for snorkeling, diving and swimming or to hike to rests of archaelogical excavations on the island; late afternoon walk through the village of the DRAKE BAY. 9th day: Transfer (by horse or pickup) to PLANES DE DRAKE to the TESORO VERDE project near the CORCOVADO national park: A local action group runs a nice lodge and a private forest reserve here and takes care of environmental education and conservation; in the afternoon guided naturkundl.=biological? tour in the reserve and talk with the members of this project. 10th day: Full day guided trip in the CORCOVADO national park, the last tropical rainforest at the Central American Pacific coast with an incredible variety of species. 11th day: Depending on the weather we either go by land to the GOLFO DULCE or by boat to Sierpe and from there in the TERRABA valley to the Indian reservation REY CURRE; lunch with a women organization and talk about the largest dam project which is planned here. Then we go up to BORUCA where we can get to know the culture and the today’s situation of the Indians in Costa Rica: visit of the textile and wood workshops – the Boruca are famous for their masks and textiles. If we have time left, we will walk to the waterfall; in the late afternoon we continue to the BAHIA BALLENA national park, one of the most beautiful beaches of the country. Overnight stay in the CANTO DE BALLENA (=song of the whales) lodge, run by the local cooperative. 12th day: Day free for individual activities: From August to October and from December to April we recommend a boat trip on the sea for whale (=ballenas) watching: Furthermore the beach and a near forest reserve offer excellent relaxing possibilities. 13th day: In the early morning we go on a wonderful panorama street to SAN ISIDRO DE EL GENERAL, the economic center of the South. From there we continue through Paramo (=Oedland) vegetation on the 3491m high mountain pass MACIZO DE LA MUERTE and on to the MIRADOR DE LOS QUETZALES, a farm on 2900m (bei CR Autentica steht 2700m) above sea level, which produces milk, blackberries and trouts. The legendary Quetzal bird that belongs to the most beautiful birds of the world lives in the surrounding Aguacatillo cloud forest. We go on a guided tour through the cloud forest and with a bit of luck can watch Quetzals. We will enjoy the fantastic view to the ocean and have the possibility to have a trout in the rustic lodge. Further to CARTAGO to the architectonically interesting pilgrim church VIRGEN DE LOS ANGELES. Back to SAN JOSÉ to the guesthouse EL MARAÑON. 14th day: Visit of the capital SAN JOSÉ, city tour to the MERCADO CENTRAL, to the OLD POST OFFICE, through the cultural center CENAC, to the NATIONAL MUSEUM and to the NATIONAL THEATER; afternoon free for individual activities like shopping. 15th day: Departure or extension days, e.g. in the Caribbean |
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Extension days: You go by public direct bus or private transfer to PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA, situated in the South Caribbean with its tremendous beaches, tropical rainforest and the former fishers’ village Puerto Viejo which is surrounded by the ocean on two sides and which is one of the best places to go out at night and to have a Piña Colada at a bar. We recommend: - The COSTA DE PAPITO lodge, consisting of spacious, beautifully equipped wooden bungalows in a tropical park 100 m from the tremendous Caribbean beach B&B double occupancy $83/69 (Christmas/ New Year’s Eve $10 extra charge)
Possible Activities: swimming, diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, hiking in the GANDOCA-MANZANILLO and CAHUITA national parks, botanical garden, Indian reservation Keköldi, leatherback turtles watching (February-August!) |
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