Nature and Adventure Tour Itinerary Nature and Adventure If anything characterizes Costa Rica is its natural diversity, with only 51,000 square kilometers of territory it is home of about 5% global biodiversity, making this country a magical destination for those who visit it. Our tour is inspired by adventurous people who love nature, it combines the best of natural landscapes with recreational activities and adventure. Ensuring a unique experience in harmony with the environment. Horseback riding on the edge of a beautiful white sand beach, hiking on the slopes of an imposing volcano, Zipline in the canopy of impressive cloud forest or rafting in our majestic rivers, are just some of the activities that you can perform when visiting Costa Rica. Adventure and nature is the perfect combination to have fun and enjoy the trip in Green Steps companion. 2
Arrive at International Airport, Alajuela, Costa Rica The heart of Costa Rica, the Central Valley, boasts a nearly perfect climate, excellent museums, drive-up volcanoes and fertile hillsides dotted with coffee plantations. Within this fertile temperate valley live most of the country s people. The Capital city of San Jose, is located at an altitude of 2,900 feet above sea level, giving it an idyllic climate with temperatures that vary from the mid-70 s F during the day to about 60 degrees F at night. San Jose offers visitors a wide variety of activities and a thriving nightlife with its many discos, bars, casinos, fine restaurants, shops, and some very impressive museums sprinkled throughout the city. And if you are looking for adventures, just take a look of our San José One day Tours. Things to do: Cultural tour Numismatic Museum Costa Rica Jade Museum Poas Volcano National Park Irazú Volcano National Parks Costa Rica National Museum Pre-Columbian Gold Museum Central Bank of Costa Rica Museums 3
Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica Cahuita The south Caribbean is a place where you can enjoy of beautiful beaches and several relaxing places. Exotic nature reserves, beckon adventurous travelers, while alluring southern beaches allow visitors to relax in an easy Caribbean vibe. With a mix of Tico and Afro-Caribbean culture, Cahuita displays a unique side of Costa Rica. Cahuita- is a laid back and vibrant little village in the setting of Costa Rica s unique Creole culture, brought about by its Afro-Caribbean heritage. Only 27 miles (43 km) south of Puerto Limón, Cahuita is an easy drive down Highway 36 along the Caribbean coast. Cahuita is guaranty destination for visitors who are looking for the essence of Caribbean culture. This village is a hit amongst the young and free-spirited, or those simply seeking the easy life for a few days. Things to do: Canyoning. Hiking tour. Bird watching Chocolate tour Canopy zip lining White water rafting 4
Visit Cahuita National Park Fishing on a local long boat. Horseback ride on the beach Surfing lessons and board rentals available Visit a sloth rescue center Aviarios del Caribe. A butterfly farm and many Botanical gardens You can visit a local indigenous Indian village Sarapiquí - Puerto Viejo The canton or county of Sarapiqui forms a major portion of Heredia province. Covering 85% of Heredia s total land area, Sarapiqui is known throughout Costa Rica for its amazing and rich biodiversity as well as for being an adventure seeker s dream destination. Lying in the north east of the country and bordered by Nicaragua in the north, Sarapiqui is now a very popular tourist getaway for families and thrill seekers alike. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui is surrounded by magnificent green forests and banana plantations; this main city was once just a small port town. Located at the junction of the Puerto Viejo River (Río Puerto Viejo) and Sarapiquí River (Río Sarapiquí), this growing area is quickly becoming a main destination for adventureseeking tourists and nature enthusiasts. And for good reason as this area has so much to offer. 5
Thing to do: Hiking Rafting Canopy Boat tour Horseback Riding, Bird Watching Tours at Hacienda Pozo Azul Visit la Selva Biological station or Tirimbina biological Reserve Tour at Peace Waterfall Gardens (about1 or 2 hours from Sarapiquí) San Carlos, La Fortuna This community was known by the name of the Burio, and because of the quality of the lands, the neighbors changed name and called La Fortuna. It is the district number seven of San Carlos canton. The town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. Arenal is considered Costa Rica s most beautiful volcano. Next to the volcano is the Arenal Volcano National Park with a wide variety of flora and fauna and a great view of the volcano. There is an observatory site located in the park from where you have a spectacular view of both the volcano and the Arenal Lake. There are also several hiking trails which you can explore on your own. If you want to do something more adventurous or you want to see other places of interest in the area, you can go on one of the many half day and full day trips that are being offered. These range from adventurous rafting and horseback adventure tours to a relaxing visit to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge or the La Fortuna Waterfall. 6
Things to do: Canopy Hiking Rafting Bird Watching Hinging Bridges Horseback Riding, Safari tour at the river Thermals Hot spring Visit Arenal National Park Guanacaste Liberia Guanacaste is one of the largest however is the least populated province of Costa Rica and is by far the driest province all year round. Guanacaste is primarily known for its cattle production and is also known for its spectacular Pacific coast beaches. Liberia is the capital city and as such acts as a gateway for the entire province; It was built in the second half of the 18 century and is located approximately 4 hours from San José, Costa Rica. Guanacaste stands out because of its folklore, its beaches, volcanoes and the hospitality of its inhabitants. One of the main attractions of this area is the vicinity to the beaches and mountains where you will find many 7
hotels for every type of tourist and budget. You can visit places like the Golfo de Papagayo, Volcán Rincón de La Vieja, Playas del Coco, Playa Ocotal, playa Ostional, playa Samara, playa Tamarindo, and the Palo Verde and Santa Rosa National Parks, just to mention a few. Things to do: Golf Hiking Diving Boating Canopy Surfing Beaches Snorkeling Sea Kayaking Sport- Fishing Bird- watching Horseback Riding Cultural Activities National parks: Rincon de la Viaja and Palo Verde 8
Middle Elevations - The Cloud Forest, Monteverde Set on Costa Rica s continental divide, Monteverde is a world in the clouds. It is a place of cloud forests and coffee plantations, monkeys, mist, and friendly locals. The main town in the area is Santa Elena, it is small and quaint, filled with tasty restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby cloudforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Due to its high altitude, some 4,662 ft above sea level, Monteverde is privileged to receive a steady supply of clouds and the life-giving moisture that they contain. This moisture, often in the form of fog, catches on the branches of the tallest trees and drips down to the other organisms below. This helps to support a complex and far-reaching ecosystem, one that harbors a great variety species of mammals, birds, insect, plants including 420 of which are orchids. Visitors can explore this internationally recognized environment from trails and trams, along canopy tours or inside museums. It s wise to plan on spending at least a few days to adventure through this verdant and mountainous world. 9
Things to do: Canopy tour Orchid garden Hanging bridges Horseback riding Chocolate and coffee tour Visit and hiking in all different reserves (Monteverde y Santa Elena) Night walks Visit to frogs and butterfly green houses, hummingbirds garden, insects and reptiles exhibition Central Pacific - Manuel Antonio The Central Pacific is one of the most easily accessible regions in Costa Rica. It is no wonder the region remains one of the country s most frequented destinations. Along Coastal Highway 34, the incredible landscape features beaches, national parks, nature reserves, and exotic flora and fauna. World-renowned Manuel Antonio National Park is just one of the region s many points of natural interest. Additionally, ocean stretches along the Central Pacific provide the ultimate setting for water activities such as surfing, sport fishing, and scuba diving. There are very few places on earth that have the dazzling beauty Manuel Antonio National Park has. The Manuel Antonio Beach was declared recently one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. Lush jungles enfolding beautiful small bays with turquoise water. Manuel Antonio National Park holds an incredible biodiversity. Visitors can expect to see Families of White Face monkeys (Squirrel Monkeys) playing and feeding on swarms of green and black grasshoppers. 10
Things to do: Hiking Canopy Beaches Sea Kayaking Sport- Fishing Bird- watching Horseback Riding Mangrove Boat Tour National park: Manuel Antonio Snorkeling tour and a cataraman cruise Back to San Jose or start with the Extension The South Pacific What is the Extension? After two great weeks enjoying the nature and going in adventures you might feel like you want to keep doing and see more of Costa Rica, so you might be wondering if there is more to see, well the answer is YES! a lot more, one area you wouldn t visit during the regular trip is South Pacific region, and there is just great. Places like Uvita, Marino Ballena National Park, Bahia Drake, Isla del Caño or the magnificent Corcovado National Park home of the 3% of the biodiversity of the whole world, are some of the most recommendable places in the south pacific of Costa Rica. We offer you the opportunity to stay for longer in an incredible ecolodge, in front of the ocean, next to Marino Ballena National Park, this eco-lodge is a strategic place to make one day tours to the most beautiful places of the south Pacific. 11
Map of Costa Rica Nature and Adventure Tour 12