Costa Rica Caribbean Adventure Itin

Day 1 ------------- Drive to Turrialba (Casa Turire)

Pacuare River Camping Adventure

Today we will meet you at the airport and take you to the Casa Turire Hotel. This happens to be one of our favorite spots and you will have great views of the smoking volcano of Turrialba. (Meals: None)

Day 2 ------------- Enter Pacuare River Rafting Adventure (Camp Pacuare River)


Here we will be entering what National Geographic has listed as one of the top 5 rivers on the planet for it's scenery. The famous Pacuare river is in our opinion the best tour Costa Rica has. It has some great rapids and when it is this good why not spend 2 days on it. We will be camping on the river and this is not roughing it by anymeans. You will be surrounded by jungle with the sound of the river but we do the cooking and everything is set up for you and even a bathroom and shower made from bambu. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------------- Raft Canyon & Drive to Caribbean (Beach Hotel)

Pacuare River Canyon

Today we will raft the Pacuare Canyon and hit the big class IV rapids. This is a great day of around 3 hours of rafting. After we take out we will get some lunch and then make the drive to the Caribbean coast. We have a great little spot on the coast that we use and the caribbean has some of the best snorkeling spots in the country. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 4 ------------- Snorkel Uvita (Beach Hotel)

Today we will be visiting one of the best snorkel spots as we take a boat out to the island of Uvita and we get the chance to snorkel around the reef. It is a great day in the and then time to relax in the afternoon at the beach. (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 5 ------------- Drive to Arenal Volcano & Chocolate Tour (Arenal Hotel)

Canyoneering Adventure

Today is a travel day and we will split it up by visiting a chocolate plantation and going on a short little tour with plenty of samples of chocolate. Here we will learn where chocolate came from and the different facts about it along with how it is harvested and then turned into the chocolate bar. After the tour we will then arrive to the famous Arenal Volcano. This is perfectly cone-shaped volcano and happens to be one of the ten most active on the planet. You stay in a great place with views from each room of the volcano.  (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 6 ------------- Zipline & La Fortuna Falls (Arenal Hotel)

This is the best zipline in Costa Rica. Although this does not have the tarzan swing it does have some of the best views around. You get to see the perfectly coneshaped volcano and the lake as you zip from mountain top to mountain top above primary rainforest. After the best zipline in Costa Rica we will then make our way to the La Fortuna Falls where you will get the chance to visit one of the most beautiful falls in all of Costa Rica.  (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 7 ------------- Canyoneering & HotSprings (Arenal Hotel)

Arenal Voclano

Today you will take part in another great adventure. This is called the canyoneering and it is becoming more and more popular. There is only one day down this narrow canyon and that is using all fours and then when we get to the waterfalls you gear up and rappel down. After the canyoneering adventure we will take you to the hotsprings where you can relax and enjoy a very nice meal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ------------- Fly Home!


Today we will make the drive to the airport. If you leave in an afternoon flight it is better today. (Meals: Breakfast)

Klein Nature-Adventure 2011

Hacienda Tayutic

Day 1 ------------- Arrive and Drive to Hacienda Tayutic (Hacienda Tayutic)

We will meet you at the airport and drive you out to Hacienda Tayutic. You already know what we think of this place and our thoughts have not changed since the last itinerary we wrote. Since you have the JetBlue flight you will have plenty of time and make some stops along the way to get to the Hacienda Tayutic. (Meals: None)

Day 2 ------------ Raft Pacuare River (Hacienda Tayutic)

Today will be your rafting day. It is the same river we had you on before and you will have all day to enjoy the famous river Pacuare. In the evening you will head back to the Hacienda Tayutic where you will relax for the evening. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Pacuare River

Day 3 ------------ Drive to Arenal Volcano & Chocolate Tour (Kioro)

Today you will leave in the morning and make your way out to the Arenal Volcano where you will break the drive up and stop for the Chocolate Tour as planned in the last itinerary. When you arrive you will be staying at the Tabacon Resort. With rooms available this is really the only place we have found. We have been playing with dates and trying to work things in but the four star places seem full.  Tabacon is one of the nicest places in the area and has the nicest hotsprings to relax in. I know you asked for 4 star and this is rated at 5 and we can keep working on this itinerary if you feel this does not fit. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 4 ------------  Zipline & Danaus Reserve (Kioro)

Arenal Volcano

Today you will zipline through the canopy and then take the hike through the Danaus Reserve. This is a  small private reserve but absolutely filled with different species from the rainforest. I know you mentioned birds in the original list and you will get plenty of different species of birds. In the evening enjoy the hotsprings at Tabacon.  (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 5 ------------ Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Falls (Kioro)

Today we will walk through the canopy on hanging bridges. This is a great way to see all the different species that live in the canopy of the rainforest.  We can also do the La Fortuna Falls today which is one of the most beautiful falls in all of the country and a nice little hike.  (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 6 ------------ Drive to Villa Blanca & Night Hike (Villa Blanca Hotel)

La Fortuna Falls

This place was not on the last itinerary and in my opinion I have to say I like your thinking Susie. I would trade the beach any day for cloud-forest. I know you mentioned Monteverde (which we could do but this is more convenient for travel and much less going on and our clients really enjoy it when it comes to cloud-forest) and it is a nice spot but if you want relaxation there is non other like Villa Blanca. The restaurant is excellent and it better be it is all that is out there. This is the perfect place to end the trip and relax. Your guide will keep the kids interested with the different nature activities in the area. We will have a night hik planned for today or day 7 you can decide. (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 7 ------------ Day to relax at Villa Blanca Hotel (Villa Blanca Hotel)

This is your day to relax and enjoy the cloud-forest around. You will have your guide with you and can take some hikes into the cloud-forest and enjoy the areas of the hotel.
 (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 8 ------------ Fly Home!

Homestay & Arenal Volcano Adventure

Day 1 ------------- Arrive and Drive to Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Sitio de Mata Homestays

We will meet you at the airport and then make the two hour drive out to the village. When we arrive to the village it should only take a few seconds for you to feel welcome. We will be in the mountains with a view of the smoking Turrialba Volcano but the people of Sitio de Mata is what brings this village to life. (Meals: Dinner)

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE HOMESTAYS FAMILIES!!!

Day 2 ------------ Community Service Project & Soccer Game with Locals in Sitio de Mata Village (Homestays)

After a good night's rest we will start off the week by showing the village that we are worth the visit. We plan on taking part in a community service project which will involve doing some work needed in the area. This could involve a number of different things. We have a recycle program organized and many groups help with that. If you are interested in painting or making small repairs to schools or many other needed things in the area we can arrange that. When those types of projects come into play it is funding that depends on how much we can do. If a school group can fundraise back in the states or get donations of a couple hundred dollars for paint and/or things of such then we can plan projects that involve using the funds. After the community service project we will spend time with the families and keep working on our Spanish. Each evenings we will organize the group in one of the main homes that has an open area. Here we usually do a salsa class to get us ready for the last night. All of the homes are within walking distance of each other. We will also plan a soccer game with the kids from the village and we usually lose but it is good fun. Take a Look CLICK HERE.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------------  Day Trip to the Beach Cahuita National Park (Homestays)

Today we will make the day trip to the beach. This will be an early morning and we will have all day to just relax. It is a long drive but nice and worth it. We will plan on doing an early dinner at the beach after a long day of playing in the sand and snorkeling if anyone is up for renting some gear. We will then drive back to the homestay where we can enjoy the night with our homestay families.

Breakfast at Aranza's House

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ------------ Craft Class, Cooking Class, visit local school, & farewell party (Homestays)

This is a great day. We will get another full day in the community with our families. Today we will learn everything we will need to know if anyone from the group ever decides to retire in a mountain village in Costa Rica. These things are making tortillas, making some crafts, and we will even squeeze in some more dance classes because that is about as necessary as eating here in Costa Rica. Today we will also visit a school and just socialize with some of the younger kids.

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ------------ Enter Pacuare River (Pacuare River Camp Site)

Today we get to do one of the more fun adventures in all of Costa Rica. This is the overnight Pacuare River trip. You will get to see the beautiful Pacaure River at night and early in the morning which is just amazing to be near the river during these hours hearing nature take a nap and then get back up with the light of day. We will have all of your meals prepared for you as it is camping but not roughing it. All will have their shower, towels, and sleeping gear. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 ------------- River Rafting and Drive to Arenal Volcano (Arenal Hotel)

River Rafting Adventure

Arenal Volcano

Today we will make our way out of the River Rafting Adventure. This is the best way to get surrounded by the rainforest. This will be a half day adventure and everyone will get soaked. The day two of rafting is where the big rapids happen and it is fun for all to go through the famous Pacuare canyon. We will be on the river for around 2 1/2 hours today and everyone will have to row. The surrounding area is beautiful giving everyone a chance to see more mountains and plenty of jungle from start to finish. We have two rivers we raft in the area. One is class II & III and the other is the famous Pacuare River which is class IV. The Pacuare River, National Geographic has listed as one of the top five on the planet for scenery. After the rafting we will make our way to the Arenal Volcano. This is one of the 10 most active volcanoes on the planet. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Canyoneering

Day 7 ------------ Zipline y Canyoneering Adventure (Arenal Hotel)

We are going to celebrate the end to this trip with some amazing adventures. We will visit the zipline at Arenal which happens to be on the best zipline in the country. This will give you views of the boulders rolling down the side of the volcano. We will be zipping through the rainforest and make our way up on a gandola ride where we will make it very educational giving the kids an idea about the rainforest. After the zipline we will make our way to the canyoneering adventure. This is quite the way to end the trip. The canyon you will be going down will is beautiful and you will be rappeling 5 different waterfalls in the canyon. Take a look at this video to get a better idea of the adventure of Canyoneering CLICK HERE.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ------------- Drive to Airport and Fly Home!