Elife Travel - Latin America Tours - Costa Rica Tours - Costa Rica (Northern) Tours - Explorer Tours - Costa Rica - Off the beaten track

Costa Rica - Off the beaten track

Name: Costa Rica - Off the beaten track
Brand: Elife Travel
Price: 742.37 USD
Availability: InStock

Country:

Costa Rica

Flight:

Not included

Favorite

Tour id:

280625

Operator:

DERTOUR
Length:

9 days
Group size:

50 pax
Age:

1 to 99
Difficulty:
Difficulty levels:
- Relaxing
- Easy
- Moderate
- Serious
- Heart-pumping

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Itinerary

Road trip

Tour program

Day 1

San José

Welcome by a representative of our agency at Juan Santamaría International Airport and handover of travel documents. Transfer to your hotel just outside the city. The rest of the day is at your leisure. One night at the Hotel Posada El Quijote (middle class, national category 3 stars). Approx. 17 km.

Day 2

San José - Los Quetzales National Park

Pick up the rental car in the city in the morning. The drive from San José into the high mountains to San Gerardo de Dota takes you past the former capital Cartago with its pilgrimage basilica, which is well worth seeing. Further up, you have the opportunity to make a detour to the coffee mecca of Tarrazú. In addition to two large cooperatives, there are several small businesses that produce high-quality gourmet coffee. The high valley of San Gerardo de Dota lies on the edge of Los Quetzales National Park. In the cool and windy high altitudes, you will find - as in the Andes - tropical páramo vegetation with colorful mosses, lichens, mushrooms and low, bushy plants. The large black oaks form an impressive contrast to this. The star of the 180 bird species is the quetzal, the Mayan bird of the gods. One night in the Lauráceas Lodge (functional, national category, 2.5 stars). Approx. 95 km/approx. 2.5 hours (breakfast).

Day 3

Los Quetzales National Park - San Isidro - Rivas

Early in the morning, you can go on a short hike in search of the quetzal. Continue over the 3,500 m high Cordillera de Talamanca - the highest point of the Pan-American Highway in Central America - and down to the town of San Isidro, 2,800 m below. We continue to the rural village of Rivas at the foot of Cerro Chirripó, the highest mountain in the country. One night in the mountain hotel El Pelícano (functional, national category: 2.5 stars). Approx. 90 km/approx. 2 hours (breakfast).

Day 4

Rivas - Salitre indigenous community

On today's journey, the Panamericana is lined with coffee, sugar cane and pineapple plantations. The town of Buenos Aires was the first center of pineapple production in Costa Rica. The surrounding mountains, on the other hand, are designated as indigenous reserves. In the community of Salitre, you will be met by an extended family who combine an ecotourism project with nature conservation and the preservation of traditions. During a guided tour - in Spanish - on topics such as medicinal plants, reforestation and cosmovision (in a traditional round house), you will have the opportunity to get to know the indigenous community of the Bribris people. Even if you don't understand Spanish, you will be captivated by the atmosphere of the place. One night in the hostel of Bribripa Salitre (functional, national category: 1 star). Approx. 90 km/approx. 2 hours (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 5

Salitre - Dominical

After breakfast, continue through the valley of the Río Grande de Térraba. The Rey Curré reserve is home to petroglyphs and a museum of the indigenous Brunka people. Carved masks are a popular handicraft. The Panamericana and the coastal road join at Palmar Norte. Here you have the opportunity to see the man-made stone balls dating back to pre-Columbian times. The Térraba-Sierpe wetland is home to the largest mangrove forest in Central America. Continue north along the coastal road past the Bahía Ballena Marine National Park. Bahía Ballena is the Costa Rican "Whale Bay". From December to April and from July to October, the huge humpback whales come to the area of the sandy beach Playa Uvita in the Bahía Ballena Marine National Park. Dolphins can often be seen. The Hacienda Barú rainforest reserve is located near Dominical directly on the Pacific Ocean. Hiking trails invite you to explore the flora and fauna. From the 7-metre-high observation tower, you can see numerous birds. The canopy (zip-lining) provides an adrenaline rush. One night at Rafiki Beach Camp (functional, national category 2.5 stars). Approx. 165 km/approx. 3.5 hours (breakfast).

Day 6

Dominical - Carara National Park

If you wish, you can take a boat trip in the morning to watch whales and dolphins (depending on the season). Continue past Manuel Antonio to Carara National Park with its crocodiles and red macaws. This transitional region between the dry forest in the north and the rainforest in the south is home to numerous animals and surprisingly diverse vegetation. The star of the bird world is the red macaw. One night in the Cerro Lodge (middle class). Approx. 100 km/approx. 2 hours (breakfast).

Day 7

Carara National Park - La Tigra

From the village of Tárcoles, you have the opportunity to take a boat trip on the river of the same name to the mangrove forest at the mouth of the Pacific. Numerous crocodiles sunbathe on the banks. On the onward journey, you will pass the port city of Puntarenas and drive along the Panamericana to the city of San Ramón, which is nestled between sugar cane and coffee plantations. From here, the route takes you over the Central Volcanic Cordillera to La Tigra. The evergreen cattle pastures give the landscape an alpine character, while the mountain slopes are covered in tropical cloud forest. 2 nights in the La Tigra Rainforest Lodge (convenient). Approx. 120 km/approx. 3 hours (breakfast).

Day 8

La Tigra rainforest reserve

La Tigra Rainforest Lodge consists of a tented camp in the middle of the dense jungle. The tents mounted on wooden platforms with comfortable beds, private bathroom and terrace offer comfortable accommodation and the feeling of being completely immersed in the jungle. From the La Tigra rainforest lodge, you can hike along miles of trails through the rainforest. If you are interested in culinary delights, you can ask for a short tour of the permaculture garden or take a cooking course with tropical ingredients. In the evening, a night hike is worthwhile, as many animals in the rainforest only really come to life in the dark. (Breakfast).

Day 9

La Tigra

From La Tigra, it is just a stone's throw to the Arenal volcano. As soon as you reach the fertile lowlands of the north, you will be amazed by the perfect cone shape of the mountain of fire. In the national park, you can hike to the rugged, cooled lava from 1968. Then continue to San José or to the separately booked beach hotel and return the rental car depending on the booking. (Breakfast).

Tour Details

accommodation

8 nights in the mentioned or equivalent hotels (functional to middle class) (UG1X)

meals

8x breakfast, 1x lunch, 1x dinner

Round trip/free choice of rental car, Round trip/individual extensions, Round trip/daily departures, Meals/daily breakfast included

others

Road trip according to itinerary

Information material (German, on site)

travel guide

Rental car not included

Insurance, gasoline, taxes not included

transport

Airport transfer on day 1

Good to know

Currency

CRC

Costa Rican Colon

Costa Rica

Customer reviews

Operator

4.1

Faq Tour

How can I book a tour?

You can order a tour on our website by selecting the desired dates and clicking the “Confirm dates” button. You can also contact our sales department by phone or email.

Which payment options are available?

We accept credit cards, bank transfers and other popular payment methods.

Can I change or cancel my reservation?

Yes, changes or cancellations are possible, however penalties may apply depending on the time before the tour starts.

What documents are required to participate in the tour?

You will need a passport with a valid visa (if required) to visit countries along the tour route.