Costa Rica - Rivers, Rainforests & Wildlife Reserves Adventure Itinerary

(Host City: San Jose, Costa Rica)

Day 1: San José, evening welcome reception
Day 2: Fly to Palmar Sur, mysterious stone spheres
Day 3: Sierpe River wildlife excursion
Day 4: Cerro de la Muerte Highlands, Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge
Day 5: Travel by air and ground to Savegre
Day 6: Pacuare River rafting, canopy zip line tour
Day 7: Hike and horseback ride along Pacuare River
Day 8: River rafting, return to San José
Day 9: San José/Departure

From the Field: Costa Rica Tours

"In Costa Rica, our guide Marco helped me discover that I can sit for hours on a cool morning and wait for the exotic birds and monkeys to come. I loved learning something new about myself and the patience I didn't know I had."

~ Carol Austin, ALA Trip Expert

Read more about our Costa Rica vacations and our Costa Rica vacation packages >>

Distinctive Accommodations

9 days/8 nights

Nights 1 & 8: Hotel Grano de Oro
This tropical hotel, once a Victorian Mansion, blends the cozy qualities of home and the exotic Costa Rican locale.  Tropical plants, Italian tile, and cascading waterfalls are just some of the luxurious touches you'll find in this hotel.  Restaurante Hotel Grano de Oro, located on premises, is one of San Jose's finest dining establishments and serves Costa Rican and European fusion cuisine.  Unwind in the rooftop garden Jacuzzi or indulge in a spa treatment or massage.

Nights 2 & 3: Hotel Cristal Ballena
The elegant Mediterranean style Cristal Ballena is located on 30 acres of private tropical garden atop a hill between the Pacific Ocean and rainforest-covered mountains.  Enjoy breathtaking ocean views and picture-perfect sunsets in the cool mountain breeze.  Rainforest hiking paths, a fitness trail, a pool table, and a 13,000 square foot pool with a bar ensure that you'll never be at a loss for entertainment.  Opt for a beauty treatment in the full-service spa or take a stroll to the nearby �Marino Ballena� Marine National Park.

Nights 4 & 5: Savegre Mountain Lodge
Savegre Mountain Lodge boats 20 cabins at 7,200 feet above sea level. Perched on a family farm with a clear trout stream running through it, the Lodge is surrounded by one of the finest examples of highland cloud forest on the planet and is set in a valley so spectacular that a postcard photographer might pass it up because nobody would believe it was true. Cabinas Chacon and the surrounding private nature reserve provide all the basic comforts.

Night 7: Pacuare Eco-Lodge
Pacuare Eco-Lodge, nestled into a rainforest, clinging to the banks of the Pacuare River, offers endless outdoor options from hiking and rafting to canopy tours, this is an adventure lovers paradise.  You can also choose to take it easy, relaxing in a hammock at the end of your action-packed day.  Meals are an exquisite affair of gourmet cuisine served by candlelight in an exotic, stress-free environment.  At night, relax in your private wooden bungalow with thatched palm roof, rustic furnishings, a comfortable bed, and private bathroom with shower. A private veranda offers delightful views of the surrounding rainforest and nearby Pacuare River.  The Pacuare Lodge, designed and constructed to blend with the surrounding environment, has been recognized by the World Tourism Organization as an example of good practice in sustainability and ecotourism.