Degree of Difficulty: 4 (difficult)
Activities Involved:
Mountain Biking, Sea Kayaking, Canopy Tour, White-Water Rafting,
Horseback Riding, Camping, Hot Springs,
Swimming, Jungle Hikes
What’s Included:
– World-class athletes serving as your Primary Guides
– All meals and beverages (except for alcoholic ones)
– All tolls, taxes and gratuities
– All admission fees and rental charges
– All equipment for posted activities (except personal items)
– All in-country transfers and accommodations (9 days/8 nights)
– Safety training and instructions for all activities
Day 1:
Upon your arrival in Costa Rica you will be greeted by your Costa Rica Extreme primary guide, who is a resident expert on all the flora and fauna of Costa Rica as well as the many activities that await you. Your primary guide will accompany you throughout your excursion, serving as your Trip Leader, companion, and facilitator.
Your first night in our magical country will be at one of our favorite colonial style hotels. Available activities are dependent upon your arrival time.
Day 2:
Your day begins early with a private motor coach journey high above the Central Valley, where the clouds are so close that you will swear that you could reach out and touch them. Saddling up on fine horses, we will ride along the Continental Divide down the same historical paths traveled by the soldiers of the Liberacion Nacional during the 1948 Civil War. Galloping through the fields, farms, and primary forest, you will appreciate the feel of the wind blowing past you as you experience the most beautiful vistas in the Central Valley. After our exhilarating ride, we will enjoy a delectable lunch with a panoramic view of San Jose and its surrounding communities.
Your afternoon is free to spend as you wish at the resort hotel that is your home for the night: hiking, swimming in the indoor pool, playing tennis or basketball – it is all here for you to enjoy. We will select and prepare your mountain biking and safety equipment for you to enjoy a brief sunset ride. A sumptuous dinner, a relaxing evening, and a comfortable villa will prepare you for the demanding ride tomorrow.
Day 3:
Today we face our most extreme challenge yet. After a hearty Costa Rican style breakfast, we mount our bicycles and begin the vigorous ride from Aserri to Quepos (approximately 70 Km.). During our journey you will encounter diverse communities and wildlife as we traverse the intimate back roads of rural Costa Rica. While the majority of our ride will be a brisk descent on gravel roads, there will be significant uphill climbs and single-track paths. We stop for lunch in a picturesque village along the way to rest our weary muscles and gather our strength for the miles ahead. Luckily, our support vehicle will provide much needed refreshments, spare parts and an occasional respite. Our reward after so many kilometers will be an incredible panorama of the magnificent Pacific Ocean as we arrive at our destination, the quaint seaside towns of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Our home for the next two days will be a 180 acre private ranch with personal bungalows and lush gardens.
Day 4:
We will gather early in the morning for a filling breakfast at a local café along the shore as we await the rising tides. After being fully trained in the operation of our ocean kayaks, we will head across the bay to the tranquil waters of Isla Damas. Silently gliding along the water, the sun at our backs, we will paddle our way through the mangrove canals. The Manuel Antonio area is home to 184 species of birds, 78 types of fish, and over 100 mammals. Without much effort, we will see sloths, monkeys, crabs, egrets, iguanas and maybe even dolphins and whales. A deserted beach provides a well-deserved opportunity to stretch our legs and enjoy lunch – topped off by milk from the fresh coconuts harvested by our guide from the nearby trees.
Our kayaking excursion will end at Playa Manuel Antonio, where we will spend the rest of the day hiking in nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, body-surfing, swimming, joining in on a spirited beach soccer game or just relaxing on the warm white sand.
Day 5:
Early in the morning, we depart from Quepos sinking happily into our comfortable seats on our air-conditioned motor coach for the scenic drive to the Arenal region. We will stop along the way to enjoy the many views of the Central Mountain Range and a delectable Costa Rican lunch. Once at the resort, a working horse ranch, your afternoon is free to enjoy the abundant and luxurious amenities.
Alternatively, grab your guide and head to the Peñas Blancas River for a picturesque and peaceful 2 1/2-hour float trip, but be sure to avoid the crocodiles along the banks.
Day 6:
Arise at sunrise to take pleasure in seeing and hearing nature come to life all around you. A delicious all-you-can-eat buffet will provide us with the energy for yet another ambitious day. The Arenal Volcano, looming majestically a stone’s throw away, will serve as a backdrop for an early morning hike through the Arenal National Park. The Volcano last erupted in 1998; however its continuous lava flows, deep rumbling, and falling boulders are a constant reminder of the power and presence of this sleeping giant. Hiking through the Park we will encounter many local species: white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, vipers, tropical birds and occasionally ocelots and coatis, to name a few.
After lunch, a short drive past the town of La Fortuna will bring us to the sure-footed horses to carry us to the base platform for our canopy tour. Strapped into your rappelling harness, helmet on, clipped via pulley to a braided steel cable, and 100 feet above the ground, you will be lunged into the air. Tree to tree, you will fly effortlessly, slowing down only to appreciate the variety of animals that live high above the ground in the canopies of the rainforest. Exhausted after our thrilling zip-line adventure, we will soak our weary bodies in the warmth of lava heated hot springs in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano. Costa Rica Extreme has exclusive use of a beautiful facility far from the tourist crowd. Thermal pools, steamy waterfalls, streams, and a verdant landscape will enhance your escape as you melt away your day’s aches.
Day 7:
After an early breakfast at the resort, we will set off for the Pacuare River. Long regarded as the most scenic and best white-water rafting river in Costa Rica, the Pacuare is also considered one of the top five rafting rivers in the world.
After being properly outfitted with your safety equipment and paddle, you will be provided with comprehensive rafting and safety instruction by our world-class guides. Once our team is ready, we will begin our exhilarating trek down the powerful and mystical Class II, III, and IV rapids. We will stop during our journey to hike to incredible cascading waterfalls and through dense jungle flora in the primary rain forest.
After several hours of invigorating rafting, we will arrive at the Costa Rica Extreme Tent Camp (our private 85 acre reserve). Relax during happy hour with hors d’oeuvres and Guaro punch (native Costa Rican sugarcane rum blended with fresh tropical fruits), while we prepare you a delicious dinner. Your personal platform tent will serve as your home for the night as you fall asleep to the roar of the river and the endless songs of the jungle’s countless inhabitants.
