1266 66th Street, Suite 4
Emeryville, California
94608-1117
T: +1 510 594 6000
1 888 MTSOBEK (687 6235)
F: +1 510 594 6001
info@mtsobek.com
www.mtsobek.com
Adventures in Costa Rica
Kayaking, rafting, rainforest hikes, ziplines and wildlife viewing!
9 days ~ Costa Rica
5 days easy to moderate kayaking (no previous experience required); 2 days rafting (Class III/IV rapids); easy to moderate hikes
DATES There are multiple departures available! See below.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Raft the Río Pacuare, considered by many to be one of the top 10 most beautiful whitewater rivers in the world!
- Kayak in Tortuguero National Park, exploring secluded channels that larger boats can't visit-we're the only U.S. company that offers this experience!
- Enjoy close encounters with a variety of wildlife: sea turtles, monkeys, iguanas, and more!
- Hike near Arenal Volcano, kayak in Lake Arenal, and enjoy a spectacular twilight safari on the Peñas Blancas River!
- Try our new SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) available by request
Adventures in Costa RicaKayaking, rafting, rainforest hikes, ziplines and wildlife viewing!
Overview
If you love water sports, this is the trip for you! Our unique water-based multi-sport adventure awaits you under Costa Rica’s warm tropical sun.
You’ll start off in Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, a major seasonal spawning ground for many varieties of sea turtles during the summer months. Here you’ll explore its jungle waterways and hidden lagoons by sea kayak, an adventurous and unique way to discover rainforest denizens such as howler monkeys, basilisk lizards, morpho butterflies, and tropical birds. Mountain Travel Sobek is the only U.S. company with a sea kayaking operation in Tortuguero, and these silent, easy-to-maneuver craft are a wonderful way to approach jungle areas inaccessible by any other means (you may see wildlife no one else has ever seen before!). Lodgings are at a beautiful resort right at the beach and the Tortuguero Lagoon, where you can view early morning sea turtle hatchings and spend the afternoons hanging out at the pool. The lodge also supports a red-eyed tree frog rehabilitation project, which is a great way to relate to these wonderful creatures.
More paddling adventures await on the Río Pacuare, Costa Rica’s most remarkable river corridor. Pounding its way from one whitewater rapid to another, the Pacuare serves up one of the world’s best roller coaster rides (a bonus: cascading waterfalls that drench you as you pass!). It’s no wonder the Pacuare is ranked among the top ten rivers in the world. Your guides are not only experts in whitewater rafting but great naturalists, too, and provide insight into the marvels of nature’s rainforest masterpiece. “Base camp” is a rustic jungle lodge, an ideal setting for a back to nature experience.
Then go kayaking in the shadow of Arenal Volcano. Kayak across the mystic waters of Arenal Lake, Costa Ricas’s largest and most breathtaking lake, while enjoying a spectacular view of the powerful volcano. If you’re lucky, you’ll see it spewing lava while you paddle (there are eruptions daily)! Then soak your paddling muscles in a mineral hotsprings set deep in the jungle. Hike the surroundings of the volcano, looking for monkeys, sloths, and toucans in the primary and secondary forests here. And the highlight of the Arenal area: a spectacular twilight safari on the Peñas Blancas River, watching for Costa Rica’s mammals to awaken (over 60% of Costa Rica’s mammals are nocturnal).
We were the forerunners of adventure travel in Costa Rica back in the late ’70s and are especially known for our river and kayaking programs. This adventure is designed to include the most exciting elements of Costa Rica with phenomenal leadership, comfortable accommodations, and super-fun activities. Pura Vida!, the ubiquitous Costa Rican catchall phrase that—literally translated—means “pure life,” but in the vernacular, means “what could be better than this?”
Note—This trip is great for families with kids 10 and up. Private departures can be operated anytime of the year. Call for details.
Day 1: Arrive in San José, Costa Rica.
Arrive in San José, Costa Rica's capital city. Your trip leader (or a Mountain Travel Sobek representative) will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport, where he or she will answer questions, brief you on the immediate arrangements, and escort you to your hotel.
Hotel Bounganvillea - Heredia, Costa Rica
Day 2: Tortuguero National Park
Drive 2½ hours to the put-in on the Río Suerte for a two- to three-hour paddle by sea kayak to the confluence of the Río Penitencia. Here we can board a motorboat that will take us to Mawamba Lodge (if you wish, you can paddle the additional two hours to the lodge). Mawamba is a wonderful lodge located on the beach in Tortuguero National Park. A walk on the beach or on nature trails, a swim in the pool, and cocktails on the sunset deck await us. You can also walk with a guide to the Caribbean Conservation Center, which was established to save and protect the local sea turtles.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Mawamba Lodge - Tortuguero
Day 3: Tortuguero National Park
Optional early morning search for sea turtles with the guide (best viewing is during the July and August trips). After breakfast we take a motorboat loaded with our kayaks and head to a secondary channel in the national park. We'll board the kayaks and paddle through a narrow waterway to look for wildlife. After lunch back at Mawamba, we can paddle to some more areas only accessible by kayak, or simply relax at the pool.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Mawamba Lodge - Tortuguero
Day 4: Pacuare River
Early morning sea turtle viewing. After breakfast we take a boat to Matina (1½-hour ride), then drive about two hours to our put-in on the beautiful but endangered Pacuare River (it’s threatened by a proposed hydroelectric plant). Once at the river we paddle downstream about eight miles to our riverside accommodation, a rustic, thatched-roof jungle lodge. This is a good opportunity to get familiar with the steep, technical drops typical of the Pacuare. Along its course lie several densely vegetated gorges sheltering many animals, including sloths, river otters, and anteaters, and an incredible variety of birds—toucans, egrets, herons, kingfishers, sunbirds, and trogons.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Rios Tropicales Lodge - San Jose
Day 5: A full day in Paradise
Enjoy a full day at Rios Tropicales Lodge! Take an optional early morning bird-watching hike with your guides to see toucans and many other species. Upon return, breakfast will be served and then after a little rest, a full day of adventures; like enjoying a 4-platform canopy tour thru the forest of our Private Reserve or visiting the lodge conservation project “Plant for the Planet” where you will plant a native tree and receive a certificate that indicates that you participated in the program which is part of the United Nations Environmental Program “Billion Tree Campaign” or hike to "wake up" waterfall and a experience the new canyoing tour.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Rios Tropicales Lodge - San Jose
Day 6: More Pacuare River
This morning continue our whitewater rafting adventure, entering the lush, magical gorge of the Pacuare. The rapids become more powerful and technical in nature, and we’ll power through “Bobo,” “Huacas Arriba,” “Huacas Abajo,” “Cimarrones,” and “Dos Montañas” rapids. Gorgeous waterfalls tumble into the river, and we might even be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of some of the exotic birds and animals inhabiting the jungle area. We take out near the town of Siquirres and drive 2½ hours to the beautiful Arenal volcano area. Late in the afternoon, Ecotermales hot springs awaits—relax and enjoy the hot, mineral pools with temperatures that go from 90-150°F. Dinner will be served at the hot springs restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Mountain Paradise Lodge - La Fortuna de San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park
Day 7: Arenal and the Peñas Blancas River
After breakfast, we’ll hike the surroundings of the Arenal Volcano, enjoying the beauty of primary and secondary forests, where you will be able to see a wide variety of wildlife including howler monkeys, sloths, and toucans. This hike lasts about 3 hours. We’ll drive to a local restaurant for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to enjoy and relax at the hotel.
Late afternoon (around 4:00 p.m.), you will experience the ultimate river trip and truly one of a kind: the Twilight River Safari. As the sun is just starting to set, you will raft and enjoy the mystic way the light disappears from the sky at dusk, leaving you in the peaceful darkness of the jungle. This is one of the best ways to experience Costa Rica, as more than 60% of the mammals here are nocturnal! Our specially designed lighting system will make this a magical journey. At the end of our float, the Hidalgo family will be waiting for us to enjoy a delicious, traditional Costa Rican dinner at their home.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Mountain Paradise Lodge - La Fortuna de San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park
Day 8: Arenal
After breakfast you will embark in first class touring kayaks and enjoy a day paddling in the lake’s calm waters while the beauty and energy of this amazing volcano penetrates your soul. After lunch in town, we’ll say goodbye to the powerful mountain and drive back to San Jose. Farewell dinner with the group.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Hotel Bounganvillea - Heredia, Costa Rica
Day 9: Depart
Transfer to the airport and depart on homeward-bound flights, or join one of our extensions in Costa Rica. Ask our Regional Specialist for details!
Breakfast
Adventures in Costa Rica
Departures & Land Costs
Departures
May 26, 2012 - Jun 3, 2012 Memorial weekend!
Jun 30, 2012 - Jul 8, 2012 Special Family Departure—Get Itinerary
Jul 28, 2012 - Aug 5, 2012
Sep 1 - 9, 2012 Labor Day week!
Nov 17 - 25, 2012 Thanksgiving week!
Nov 21 - 29, 2012 Thanksgiving week!
Dec 22 - 30, 2012 Christmas week!
Dec 29, 2012 - Jan 6, 2013 New Year's week!
2012 Prices
$2,495 per person (4-16 members)
$550 single supplement
Rates quoted are per person, based on sharing double accommodations.
If you prefer single accommodations, you must pay the Single Supplement Fee. If you’re traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we’ll try our best to find you a roommate. If that’s not possible, you will need to pay a reduced Single Supplement of $300.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
Payment
| At time of reservation | $400 |
| 120 days prior to departure | $800 |
| 60 days prior to departure | Balance |
Cancellation
| If written cancellation is received: | Cancellation fee will be: |
| 90 days prior to departure | $150 |
| 89 to 60 days prior to departure | $400 |
| 59 to 30 days prior to departure | 50% of Land Cost |
| 29 days or fewer prior to departure | 100% of Land Cost |
What’s Included
- expert leadership
- accommodations
- tent accommodations and all trek arrangements in the field, including camp and cook staffs, comfortable and roomy two-person tents, kitchen and dining tents, and other community equipment
- meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- airport transfers
- sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
- ground transportation
- additional guides and porters where necessary
- entrance fees and permits
- basic medical and evacuation insurance
What’s Not
International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; airport taxes (international—varies by location); cost of medical immunizations; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).
Note—The trip leader will give guidelines to those trip members who wish to contribute to a group tip for the local staff and mule drivers at the end of the trek. This tip is totally voluntary and is a nominal sum (about $30 per trip member for entire staff).
Air Travel
Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their “frequent flyer” miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets. We need to verify your arrival and departure schedule and ensure we have enough participants to operate the trip.
What you can expect
Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.
Jorge Calderon
Jorge “Loco” Calderón is a whitewater rafting guide in his thirties who has led trips in Costa Rica for over a decade. He was part of the Costa Rica whitewater rafting team that won the fourth place in the World Championships in Brazil in 1997, and this year he guide sea kayaking trips in Greenland. Jorge loves the outdoors and is eager to share with you the natural beauty of his country.
The end of November through April is the “dry” season (usually less than two inches per month of rain), while May through October is wetter (about nine inches per month). June, July, and August are called “the second spring” as birds start courting, flowers bloom, sea turtles come ashore to breed, and showers refresh the day. Average daytime temperatures range in the 70s and 80s; nighttime temperatures can get down to the 60s.
The Next Step
Ready to go? Signing up is easy!
Just call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) and reserve your spot! If you prefer to use a travel agent, he or she can book your trip at no extra cost and provide other helpful assistance.
Then Leave the Rest to Us
Before you go, we provide you with extensive pre-departure information, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, up-to-date health advice prepared by our consulting physician (an expert in wilderness medicine), and other details.
Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure
Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers.
References
Don’t take our word for how great our trips are. We’ll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers.
Questions?
Feel free to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you still have any questions or concerns. We’re here to help you. You can also check out our website at www.mtsobek.com.
Note on Itinerary
Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website at www.mtsobek.com/faq and the form itself at www.mtsobek.com/pdf/participant_info.pdf.
Terms & Conditions
Once you have made a deposit for a trip, you agree to be bound by all our terms and conditions including the Limitation of Liability Clause. The full Terms and Conditions can be found at www.mtsobek.com/faq/#liability or call 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) for a copy. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form (www.mtsobek.com/pdf/participant_info.pdf). Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to the Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law (but not procedural law) without regard to the California Arbitration Act.