  |
||||||
|
 |
|
||||
| Mountain biking in the shadow of majestic Volcan Arenal, kayaking silently through the wildlife-rich lagoons of Tortuguero, rafting the rainforested canyon of the Rio Pacuare-what a perfect way to appreciate the spectacular tropical landscapes and wild beauty of Costa Rica. We pedal scenic backroads through rolling farmlands with views of Volcán Arenal, famous for its symmetry and smoking summit, and while we're kayaking at Tortuguero, we'll see how easy it is to get close to wildlife in the serpentine channels of this famous coastal reserve. For a grand finale, we enjoy stunning beauty and a whitewater thrill on the wild Pacuare, with its profusion of toucans, monkeys, and fabulous waterfalls. No previous biking or kayaking experience necessary-just a spirit of adventure! |
 |
|
1-3 San Jose, Costa Rica / Volcan Arenal
We meet in San Jose and head for the lush San Carlos valley to bike on gently rolling dirt roads among farms and sugarcane fields around spectacular Lake Arenal. Our second day of biking leads downhill from the base of Arenal, with lunch at a local farm and a chance for a relaxing soak in natural hot springs (with great volcano views in clear weather.)
4-5 Tortuguero National Park
After a day's journey by private boat along the San Juan River, with its rich human history of pirates and colonial battles, we head for Tortuguero and the luxurious Tortuga Lodge, set on 50 private acres on the Caribbean coast. With our choice of canoes, Kayaks, or pedal-powered hydrobikes, we explore tranquil canals and journey into small waterways where motorboats can't go. Beautiful Tortuguero protects a major nesting beach of the Atlantic green sea turtle and is home to three species of monkeys (spider, howler, and white-faced), three-toed sloths, river otters, caiman, iguanas, river turtles, and over 320 species of birds, including three species of toucans and eight species of parrots.
6-7 Rio Pacuare/Depart
There's nothing like the combination of wilderness and whitewater-we raft the most beautiful river canyon in the tropics, the Rio Pacuare, with its 100-foot-high granite walls festooned with waterfalls and rainforest vegetation. We depart from San Jose on Day 7.