Undiscovered Adventure | Trip Itinerary

Note:  This tour is a recommended, customized itinerary that is very flexible. We can make changes in hotels, excursions and destinations to suit your travel dates, style and budget.

Day 1 - San José.  Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door where you will meet our local representative who will transfer you to the Hotel Le Bergerac, a charming bed and breakfast inn well located in an upscale residential area of the city.  For those arriving on an afternoon flight, we suggest a special evening guided tour of San Jose--Either a "Pub Crawl" to 4 different local hot spots, or a craft beer tour, visitin gpubs specializing in local brews. A great way to start your Costa Rica Adventure!

Day 2 – Cloud forests of Talamanca Mountain Range—Cerro de la Muerte
Today you will meet your driver/guide who will transfer you to San Gerado de Dota, stopping on route at the Paraiso de Queztales lodge for a birdwatching tour and lunch; afterwards continue to Savegre lodge for overnight

A haven for birdwatchers and hikers awaits visitors around the town of San Gerardo de Dota, huddled up against the roaring Talamanca Mountain Range. Nestled in the Savegre River Valley, tourism hasn't quite hit this quaint settlement which provides quick access to the recently named Los Quetzales National Park. Around 200 bird species inhabit the misty forests, including tanagers and of course, resplendent quetzals, who mate during the first months of the year.  Also, peccaries and coyotes scurry around the beautiful, dense forests full of moss covered oaks and tropical plant species.  Innumerable insect species populate these marvelous ecosystems that await you.

The song of the Resplendet Quetzal, in its magical fly, is a sample of the exuberant biodiversity that lives in the area. A collage of green trees and mountains; a peaceful setting enhanced by the sounds of the river in its endless travel through the rocks, lets you fell nature and see it come alive, in a place where the mist of the scenery sets the mood for those searching to get away from it all.

You will stop on route at Paraiso de Quetzales- for a 2 hrs birdwatching tour- A gentle 1.5 km walk through the cloud forest will lead you to the Quetzals habitat. The hike will take approximately 2 hours, led by a professional guide equipped with spotting scope and bird guide , will provide detailed explications along the way.

Epiphytes, such as orchids and bromeliads, adorn the trees, making this tour a most gratifying experience en route to your encounter with the Quetzal. Despite its normally reticent and silent behavior, the male, during the mating season, sometimes emits a wide range of sounds to attract a nearby female and so initiate their reproductive cycle.

Paraíso Quetzal is located in one of the most prolific zones for this bird species, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Taking the Quetzal Paradise Tour will give you the highest possible chance of enjoying an unforgettable close encounter with this mystical Mesoamerican bird.
Lunch is included.
After the tour you will continue to Savegre lodge for overnight. Your driver/guide ends here.

Continuing deeper into the area of Cerro de la Muerto, you’ll arrive to the Savegre Hotel de Montana, run by the Chacon family. Check in to your Jr Suite accommodations, complete with fireplace and sitting area. The the remainder of the afternoon is free for your to explore the area at your leisure. Optional tours are available to you during your stay, including birdwatching options, hikes and horseback rides. (B, L, D)

Day 3- Savegre Lodge/Hiking Cerro Buena Vista. –One trail, which starts at 3492 meters (11,450 feet) above sea level at the highest point of Buena Vista mountain, leads down through the forest to reach the hotel at 2200 meters (7,220 feet).
After breakfast, you are driven to the top of the mountain where a stunning panorama awaits you. On a clear day, it's possible to see the central and southern Pacific and some of the volcanoes of the Central Cordillera. You feel as if you are looking down on a life-size map.
After exploring and learning about the eco-system at this elevation, the hike starts back for the hotel. At first you are surrounded by sub-Alpine forest where vegetation does not grow higher than a meter. This forest zone is also known as páramo and is only found on the high ground of the Talamanca Cordillera and in the South American Andes.
As the hike progresses, you can see how the eco-system changes until you are totally immersed in the cloud forest with its huge oaks and perpetually green vegetation … without a doubt, this is a unique experience that will stay with you forever. Total hiking time approximately 5 hours. Afternoon is free to add on horseback riding, a waterfall hike from the lodge or birdwatching tours.

Optional Horseback riding tour- Explore our riding trails leading to the most beautiful viewpoints.  (B, L, D)

Day 4- Transfer to Uvita.  Today you will have a private transfer to Uvita. For a less crowded beach vacation, Uvita may be the ideal location. Sitting 11 miles (17 km) south of Dominical along Coastal Highway 34 (Costanera Sur), this tropical hamlet possesses great charm in an unspoiled, serene atmosphere.  The beautiful 4-star boutique Hotel Cristal Ballena is located near the City of Uvita and the ‘Marino Ballena’ National Park on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, embedded on a hill between the Pacific Ocean and rainforest-covered mountains.
This unique position allows breathtaking ocean views while a cooling breeze is coming from the mountains. Especially the daily sunsets are occasions in your life you will never forget. Check-in for a -night stay/Jr. Suite. (B)

Day 5-Cano Island Tour. With turquoise blue waters and colorful coral reefs, Caño Island Biological Reserve is one of the best places for snorkeling in the South Pacific. This tour combines two magnificent jewels of Costa Rica: Caño Island Biological Reserve and Violines Island. The Cano Island tour departs from Punta Uvita at 7:30am and arrives at Cano Island 1.5 hours later. It is a magical trip and when fortunate you can watch whales, dolphins, and other marine animals while in transit to and from the island. Arriving at the island you will be able to appreciate the healthiest coral reefs on this Costa Rica snorkeling adventure and observe a great variety of marine species, many of which are in danger of extinction. After this, you will head by boat to VIOLINES ISLAND (30 minutes) arriving to the north side of the this beautiful small Island with lush vegetation. Upon arrival the guides will prepare a picnic lunch Then the rest of the time will be spent on the beach or swimming on its safe bay and hiking on the beach. During your stay at Violines Island you might see a lot of birds and a wonderful tropical vegetation. The boat will head back to Uvita beach at 2.30-3.00 pm surrounding the coast were you will be able to see from the boat the largest Magrove forest under protection in Central America ; Terraba Mangrove Forest. The boat will arrive to Uvita around 4.00 pm. Note this is a shared tour that operates with a minimum of 4 passengers and includes snorkeling equipment, picnic lunch and park entrance fees.

We offer an optional Dolphin & Whale watching boat tour. (please consult us for pricing).  Southern humpback whales can generally be seen August-November, while Northern humpbacks are active December to March (but not as concentrated as the August-November season) . Dolphins are in the area year round. They come to this rich feeding ground to breed and give birth. (B, L)

Day 6-Kayaking Waves & Caves/Marino Ballena National Park.  The Marino Ballena National Park was created in 1990 to preserve and protect the 4500 ha of coral reef that surround Ballena & Las Tres Hermanas Islands, the very beautiful beaches and the exuberant flora and fauna of its coasts. This park also protects 13 km of coastline including the most scenic beaches of the area such as: Playa Ventanas, Playa Piñuelas, Playa Ballena, Playa Hermosa and Playa Bahía. Starting with 30 minutes drive from Dominical to the put in section in Piñuelas. During this 24 kilometer road trip, we will stop, if we get to spot some of the wildlife such as: birds, monkeys, sloth’s etc. You will see all this, along the most beautiful scenery of the Pacific Ocean and the exuberant vegetation of the coast.

At the put in section we provide you the most professional and safe equipment a safety speech by a professional and bilingual tour guide. The guide will illustrate the ½ hour easy paddling to where the caves are, with natural history of the park, than you will witness one of the most scenic places in the area, over 30 different caves and 2 of them are accessible -depending of the oceans condition- by kayak. After that we will go back to one of the most beautiful beaches of the area, Playa Ventanas, where we will set you up in a tropical way, with fruits and drinks. Steps away from our fruit stop, there are 2 caves for you to explore hiking through during the low tide, you can also enjoy and have fun surfing the waves at this beach on your kayak. Start time for this activity depends on tidal tables, and ideally we do this tour in the morning, return to your hotel with time for lunch before you are picked up for your transfer north. Head into the rainforest along the Savegre River where you arrive to the Rafiki Jungle lodge.  Time to settle in to your “tent” with the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the lodge & surroundings.. Your home for the next two  nights is actually a luxury safari tent set on top of a wooden platform, complete with spacious private baths with hot water, electricity and sky light. A fan is provided, and there are plenty of screens to allow for cross ventilation. A large deck area looks out over the valley, complete with rocking chairs and hammock.  The lodge also has a fresh water swimming pool, hiking trails, and a small lake that attracts a variety of bird life. Truly a paradise in the jungle!

Your stay includes all meals and one full day raft trip (Hiking or horseback riding substitution can be made on request).   Additional tours such as bird-watching can be added during your stay for an extra fee. (B, D)

Day 7-Rafiki Safari Lodge.  Today you'll discover the thrills of white water rafting on the Savegre River. Enjoy this pristine and scenic rainforest river and its class III'ish rapids (waterflow depends on the time of year).  Stops are make along the way for swimming, to enjoy waterfalls and explore the local terrain. This is a full day trip, including lunch stop, all equipment, guides and transportation. 

For the truly hardy & adventurous—you can combine the raft trip day with a horseback ride to the put-in.  This is the “super lekker” offered by the lodge. A surcharge of approximately $60 applies.

Return to the lodge in the late after with free time to enjoy the peace and solitude of the area. With your free time at Rafiki you can hike the trails of the lodge, enjoy the pool, or arrange for more rafting, kayaking, fishing, or relaxing time.  (B, L, D)

Day 8-Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge. Transfer overland approximately one hour to the Quepos airport, where you board your flights to San Jose.  (Please note that all flights with-in Costa Rica have a 40-pound weight limit for 1 piece of checked baggage + 10 pound weight limit for one small carry-on not to exceed 33" L x W x H. (If your luggage is overweight, additional charges may apply, and your luggage may not travel on the same flight).  On arrival to San Jose’s domestic airport, you are met and transferred to your select hotel, where you check in for one night stay. We can suggest optional afternoon activities to do on your own or with a guide and depending on your hotel selection.. (B)

Day 9-You will be picked up at your hotel at the pre-arranged time, and transferred to the international airport for your international flight. (B) 
B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner

Option to add 3 nights in Manuel Antonio/Quepos are including a Canopy Safari Zip-Line tour, and a guided tour of the Manuel Antonio National park will increase this program to 13 days/12 nights.