Tortuguero Rainforest & Pacuare Rafting Adventure
3 Days / 2 Nights
Drive from you San Jose hotel to the Pacuare River. Soak up the natural beauty of the pristine Pacuare River Canyon in between exhilarating Class III-IV rapids. You are the special guest of Costa Rica Expeditions' River Guides, who will share with you the history of the Pacuare and the culture of the people of the mountainous Turrialba region. Continue by bus and boat to Tortuga Lodge & Gardens. Explore Tortuguero National Park with your Tortuguero Naturalist Guide. Return to San Jose by domestic flight. (Minimum age for rafting 12 years.)
Meal codes: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner.
Day 1: San Jose / Pacuare River / Tortuguero (L,D)
Meet your River Guide at the lobby of your San Jose hotel. There will be no more than one other stop en route to a deluxe Costa Rican breakfast on the way to the river. Upon arrival at the put-in, your professional guides will give an orientation and safety talk. You will then proceed down river on continuous Class III-IV rapids. This trip runs with a maximum of three rafts, compared to other groups that operate with as many as 25 rafts.
As you are swept down the Pacuare Gorge by the currents, soak in the natural beauty of the primary and secondary rainforests surrounding you. Water level permitting, a guide will lead you on a hike up one of the many creeks that spill into the Pacuare. Upon your return to the riverbank, you will find a gourmet lunch prepared by your guides turned white-gloved waiters.
Float and paddle downriver to the take-out in the Caribbean town of Siquirres where towels and a victory cocktail await (Photo CD included).
After saying goodbye to your Rafting Guides, drive one hour in an air conditioned van with your Spanish Speaking driver (shared with other guests) to the Caño Blanco dock. Late afternoon, board a boat with your local Naturalist Guide and depart on the 2 hour trip to Tortuguero (shared with other guests). Arrive at the Lodge at dusk. Overnight at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, River View Downstairs Terrace Room.
Day 2: Tortuguero National Park (B,L,D)
After breakfast at the Lodge, depart with your local Naturalist Guide for a boat tour into Tortuguero National Park (shared with other guests). Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, the Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America.
Eleven habitats are found in the park. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler, and White-faced), Three-toed Sloths, and river otter are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, Basilisk Lizards, and Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates) inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds including all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin and Purple-throated Fruitcrow. You will have the opportunity to observe many more species during your boat ride through the backwater creeks of Tortuguero National Park.
Return to the Lodge for lunch. The rest of the day is free for optional excursions (at additional cost). Overnight at Tortuga Lodge, River View Deluxe Room.
Day 3: Tortuguero / San Jose (B)
After breakfast board a boat to cross the river to the Tortuguero airstrip. Here you will meet your pilot, for the 35 minute flight (one seat in plane) to San Jose. Upon arrival at the light aviation airport, transfer to your San Jose hotel. Transfers are included to hotels in the Metropolitan Area; there is a surcharge for hotels outside of this radius.
IMPORTANT NOTE LUGGAGE LIMITATION: When flying or traveling by boat within Costa Rica a maximum of 25 pounds of luggage is allowed per person. The 25 lb weight limit for flights or boat trips within Costa Rica does not mean that you need to limit yourself to 25 lbs of baggage for your entire trip to Costa Rica. While it always makes sense to travel light, you can bring more than 25 lbs of luggage. We are happy to store your excess luggage in San Jose, and catch it up to you as soon as your return from your excursion. Arrangements can be made to permit more luggage per person at considerable extra cost.
