Day 1:
Leave the States and fly to San Jose, Costa Rica. Our airline desk is able to assist you in making your airline reservations, and we are pleased to do so. We can book with all the major carriers and would be happy to assist you with your travel plans.
While airport transfers are not included in your trip price we will attempt to meet all arriving flights on Day 1 of your trip. Transfers are based on the availability of our staff and van at that time. If you are arriving prior to Day 1 of the trip, we will make every effort to meet your flight; again this will be dependent on staffing and van availability. Transfers can be confirmed by our Vermont office prior to your departure. Upon arrival, you will be met by a member of our staff who will greet you outside the customs and immigration area. Our first evening will be at the Hotel San Gildar in Escazu. Located just outside the capital city of San Jose, Escazu offers a quiet and relaxed setting. The Hotel San Gildar is open and airy with a refreshing swimming pool and within easy walking distance of the center of Escazu. After dinner we will gather for a brief trip orientation and welcome.
Lodging - Hotel San Gildar
Day 2:
We anticipate an early morning departure from San Jose to begin our journey. Our travels will take us through Braulio Carrillo National Park, a truly breathtaking experience. As we work our way to the Caribbean Coast, we plan a stop at the Rainforest Aerial Tram.
The aerial tram is just one of Costa Rica's many sustainable ecotourism projects. Here we will be guided through the rainforest first by foot and then on a unique tram. The tram takes us high into the forest canopy giving us a bird's-eye view of the forest and a better understanding of how all of life is interconnected -- a great way to begin our journey. While this is an optional activity, most groups choose to do it. The aerial tram is approximately $48.00 per person and is not included in the trip price.
We plan a late afternoon arrival at Aviarios near the coastal village of Cahuita. Here we will enjoy well-tended gardens and a wide array of birds. The lodge is situated along the canals of the Sixaola river where we can enjoy a paddle and birdwatching at dusk. We plan to go into Cahuita for dinner where you can choose from a wide variety of village restaurants that specialize in fresh seafood and Caribbean fare.
Lodging - Aviarios Note: Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 3:
An early morning paddle on the canals and out to the ocean is a wonderful way to start the day. The birds are very active around sunrise and it is a wonderful opportunity to view them as they begin their day also. After breakfast we continue our journey to the Bribri Indigenous Reserve and the small village of Suretka.
We plan to arrive in the village of Bribri early enough to visit the Artisani shop where we will find local crafts of baskets and carved gourds. This evening we will be staying in the village of Suretka where we will find simple accommodations at Se Yamipa. We begin to get a sense of our new surroundings and look forward to meeting and learning about the local people.
Lodging - Se Yamipa
Day 4:
Today we meet our boatman and local guides, who along with their motorized dugout canoes will transport us to one of the many tributaries of the Sixaola River. We usually choose the Uren for our first day of paddling.
The river is sweet and lively. Panoramic views abound of majestic mountains, lush rainforest, and bird life. As we paddle our way back to Suretka, we marvel at the landscape and the simplicity of life in this corner of the country.
This evening we will enjoy a simple meal while telling stories of the day and anticipating the events of tomorrow. Joining us for dinner will be the President of the Bribri Association. He will enlighten us on the people, traditions and progress of the Reserve. The interaction and exchange of ideas tends to lead to an exciting evening.
Lodging - Se Yamipa
Day 5:
After a filling breakfast, we meet our boatman down by the river for another day of exploring and paddling. Perhaps we will choose the Rio Coen which is another finger of the Sixaola River and it takes us deep into the countryside. After traveling upstream with our canoes, we may opt for a short hike near the village of Coroma before enjoying lunch in the shade of a Ceiba tree.
The Coen provides lively water as we paddle back to Suretka. We may stop along the way to enjoy a refreshing swim and soak in our surroundings. We return to Se Yampia for our final evening where Jose promises to cook up a special treat for us to enjoy.
Lodging - Se Yamipa
Day 6:
After breakfast and farewells to our host, we take a short paddle down the Sixaola to meet our boatmen from the village of Big Current on the Rio Yorkin. They will transport us, our canoes and gear up the Yorkin to their small village. The Yorkin makes up the border of Panama and Costa Rica and provides us with spectacular scenery. Steep mountains and lush vegetation tumble right down to the riverbank with open sweeping valleys occasionally mixed in. It is easy to see why rivers are the lifeblood of this area.
Once at the village we are warmly welcomed and escorted to the community house where we will settle in for the next two days. We will set up our tents in an open meadow surrounded by lush forest. We may have time for a short hike before sharing dinner at the community house.
A dinner of special fare, conversation with new friends, and a breathtaking sunset is the perfect way to end the day.
Lodging - Yorkin Village
Day 7:
Today we have some wonderful choices as we have the whole day to explore this region. Some may choose to relax down by the river, while others may enjoy a hike through the mountains to the remote thermal hot springs.
Whatever we choose, we will immerse ourselves in our surroundings and begin to understand how life is lived in this corner of the world. While enjoying our evening and visiting with village members, we are able to exchange experiences and learn firsthand about daily life in this remote village.
Lodging - Yorkin
Day 8:
This morning we find ourselves up early and ready to begin our trek back down the Yorkin. The scenery is spectacular and our senses delighted as we paddle down the river, enjoy a riverside lunch and perhaps a refreshing swim during our journey.
The Yorkin joins the Sixaola River and we will continue to paddle downriver toward the village of Chase where we will find our van awaiting us, and continue our journey to San Miguel. We will be staying at the Asacode Experimental Farm Forest Research Station. Here we will learn about the project and how it relates to the local environment and community.
The research station is located well within the forest and to get there we enjoy a walk beneath the densely wooded canopy -- a wonderful introduction to this new place.
Lodging - Asacode
Day 9:
We will spend another evening at Asacode tonight, so today is filled with choices. Some may choose to enjoy a relaxing morning at Asacode and then take a walk with a guide to learn about the different projects that are going on. Others may choose to leave early after breakfast for a day at the beach near the small village of Gandoca. Here the Caribbean is a smooth, wide sweep of isolated beach. Resting in the shade of a beach almond tree on the deserted sand is the perfect way to let the cares of the world drift away.
If we choose to get the canoes wet today, the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is the perfect place. It encompasses 5,013 hectares of land plus 4,436 hectares of sea. It beholds the country's largest and most interesting reef. Nearby is the only red mangrove swamp protecting a natural oyster bank. The variety of natural vegetation and the remote location attract many tropical birds and makes for a wonderful area to quietly paddle through and discover.
Whatever our choice during the day, we all gather back at Asacode in the evening for a simple dinner and shared stories of today's adventures. As night falls we enjoy relaxing on the open deck, being lulled by a cool breeze and enjoying a symphony of forest music. The quiet and isolation of this research station is truly both a gift and a rewarding experience.
Lodging - Asacode
Day 10:
Today we leave Asacode and begin our journey back to San Jose and another world. Along the way we may choose to stop at the Iguana Farm, another economically sustainable project undertaken by the local people. We may also decide to get the canoes wet one final time on one of the many small rivers we pass on our way back to the central valley.
Upon our return to Hotel San Gildar, we can gather in the bar for a drink and our final group dinner where we share stories of the trip and begin to prepare for our next adventure.
Lodging - Hotel San Gildar
Day 11:
Today we say our farewells and depart from San Jose to home. Or for those who want to do some exploring on their own, we can suggest/arrange some extension trips.