Monday December 4: San José
Long day of travel. We left home at 3:30am. Flew to Toronto, 7- ish hour layover, then a 5 hour flight to San Jose, Costa Rica
We arrived at 9pm, after the welcome meeting at any time. But we had time to get SIM cards at the airport while waiting for our luggage. gAdventure picked us up and delivered us to our hotel. We had to rush out for a last minute dinner because everything closed at 11. We found an excellent taco place across the street
Our room in the hotel, Casa Las Orquideas was nice, but the 7 am departure time felt early. Complicating the departure was the fact that we had to pre-pack a day bag for swimming/kayaking.
Tuesday December 5: San José to Quepos
We showed up in the lobby promptly at 7 and were surprised to see everyone already loading in the micro bus. We left immediately, and Victor started explanations for what was coming and what the options were. Under some pressure, we selected some options, Warren opting to go kayaking that afternoon, while Sandy and Keiran relaxed.
We stopped at a roadside cafeteria for a quick bite. Then continued on to Crocodile Bridge, which was cool. The drive took about 5 hours. We dropped off our luggage at the hotel and split up.
Kayaking included a pre-meal, an introduction to the standard Costa Riccan meal of rice and beans and picadillos and chicken/beef/fish place. The kayaking itself was a nice paddle up along a gentle river through the mangrove forest, with Dennis providing lots of info. Animal highlights were the sloths (both 2 and 3 toed), and the Jesus Christ lizard.
Dinner was a big group meal.
We stayed at the Hotel Villa Romantica.
Wednesday December 6: Quepos
Went for a walk along the Malecon, and then out to the marina, where we chose our restaurant for dinner.
Another kayaking trip for Warren, this time with Sandy and Keiran and the rest of the group.
And a nice walk out to the Marina for dinner at the Runaway Grill.
Second night at Hotel Villa Romantica.
Thursday December 7: Quepos to Monteverde
Before starting the big drive to Monteverde, we squeezed in a morning trip to Manuel Antonio National Park, Guide was excellent, and extremely adept at finding the various creatures in the tree top branches.
Next was the long drive. The road was windy and slow as we climbed up into the mountains. The drive took most of the day.
We stayed at the Hotel Holistico Monteverde, which turned out to be a pretty nice retreat in the mountains, with a slight health food/healthy mind bent.
Friday December 8: Monteverde
Enjoy a free day to explore the cloud forest region of Costa Rica. Opt to fly across canopy ziplines or tour a coffee plantation.
Get your adrenaline pumping and pre-book the Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
We enjoyed the guided nightwalk, along with hundreds of other like minded tourists. Lots of tiny little paths along the side of a mountain. The naturalists had many assistants, and communicated their discoveries amongst each other. We saw lots of creatures.
Your Discover Moment
MonteverdeFull Day
There’s plenty to see and do in Monteverde, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like ziplining, visiting the hanging bridges, and horseback riding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
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Optional Activities – Day 5Show
Accommodation
Hotel Holistico Monteverde (or similar)
Hotel
Saturday December 9: Monteverde to La Fortuna
Travel from Monteverde to La Fortuna. Enjoy free time for optional activities such as whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, or relaxing in local hot springs.
La Fortuna, the town near the foot of Arenal Volcano is an excellent base for adventure. Hike the area’s nature trails, swim in chilly La Fortuna waterfall or go canyoning (rappelling) and catch a bird’s eye view of the forest greenery.
Shared Van
Monteverde – Arenal3h30m
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Boat
Arenal1h
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Shared Van
Arenal – La Fortuna15m
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Free Time
La FortunaAfternoon
After settling in, check out some of the optional activities on offer around La Fortuna.
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Optional Activities – Day 6
Accommodation
Hotel Las Colinas (or similar)
Hotel
Sunday+Monday December 10+11: La Fortuna
Enjoy two free days in La Fortuna. Optional activities abound.
Optional activities include full-day whitewater rafting on the Toro or Arenal Rivers, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding, or a tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Like much of Costa Rica, the area is a birders’ paradise, with over 600 species as permanent residents. Finally, after a long day of exploring, you can choose to take a relaxing soak at Baldi Hot Springs.
Your Discover Moment
La FortunaFull Day
There’s plenty to see and do in La Fortuna, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like canyoneering, whitewater rafting, and paddleboarding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
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Optional Activities – Days 7–8
Accommodation
Hotel Las Colinas (or similar)
Hotel
Tuesday December 12: La Fortuna to Sarapiquí Rainforest
Enjoy an included visit to a G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative with a local lunch before heading to a jungle oasis in the Sarapiquí Rainforest.
Visit a coffee cooperative in the small village of San Miguel de Sarapiquí and take a traditional coffee tour. Enjoy a local lunch here— there’s even fresh tilapia farmed on site— and then tour the grounds of the cooperative to learn about the coffee process from bean to cup.
Accommodation is in a rustic lodge with multi-share sleeping arrangements, and shared bathroom facilities.
Private Vehicle
La Fortuna – Sarapiquí Rainforest4h
Includes a stop at the Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative with lunch.
Your G for Good Moment: Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative Tour
Find out where your cup of java comes from. Visit the Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative in San Miguel de Sarapiqui, see shade-grown coffee plants, learn about everything from harvesting, to husking, drying, and roasting the beans before enjoying the best part – a fresh cup! Enjoy a typical lunch of plantains, beans, and freshly caught tilapia fish. Feel good about all this eating and drinking knowing that you are supporting a G Adventures for Good project that helps 200 farmers and their families.
Sarapiquí Jungle Lodge Stay
Sarapiquí Rainforest
Spend the night immersed in the rainforest at a unique jungle oasis. The Sarapiquí Valley is home to hundreds of species of animals, birds, and butterflies, and our jungle lodge brings us into the heart of it all. With a variety of included activities offered by the lodge, spend time hiking, swimming in the river, learning to make empanadas, or just lounging in a hammock surrounded by the stunning Costa Rican countryside.
Accommodation
Pozo Azul (or similar)
Hotel
Meals included:
Lunch | Dinner
Wednesday December 13: Sarapiquí Rainforest
Enjoy a day in the beautiful Sarapiquí Valley. Optional activities (all included in our overnight package, weather-depending) include swimming in the river, night walks, an empanada-making lesson or relax and listen to the sounds of the surrounding rainforest.
Free Time
Sarapiquí RainforestFull Day
Enjoy time in this beautiful location.
Sarapiquí Jungle Lodge Stay
Sarapiquí Rainforest
Spend the night immersed in the rainforest at a unique jungle oasis. The Sarapiquí Valley is home to hundreds of species of animals, birds, and butterflies, and our jungle lodge brings us into the heart of it all. With a variety of included activities offered by the lodge, spend time hiking, swimming in the river, learning to make empanadas, or just lounging in a hammock surrounded by the stunning Costa Rican countryside.
Swimming
Grab your bathing suit and go for a refreshing swim.
Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Demonstration
Get your hands covered in corn flour and learn to make tasty tortillas, tamales or empanadas, staples of most Latin American cuisine.
Sunrise Birding Hike
Sarapiquí Rainforest
Wake up and head into the Sarapiquí Rainforest on the search for some of the 400 plus birds that call this region home. Led by a local guide, keep your eyes peeled for rare species and learn tricks to spot birds that are hiding in plain sight.
Accommodation
Pozo Azul (or similar)
Hotel
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Thursday December 14: Sarapiquí Rainforest to Tortuguero
Up early, quick breakfast and on the bus by 7. 4-ish hours of driving got us to La Pavonah where we exited the bus in driving rain. And viewed the river in flood. Packing and transferring the bags and people to boat was a challenge for Vicotor et al. The boat ride down the flooded river was an adventure, and our captain insisted on passing everything in sight.
Our room at the Baula Ladge is quite nice, in spite of the lack of AC. After lunch, we took the water taxi into the town of Tortuguero and wandered around in the rain. Many birds in the trees. The rain changed to a downpour, and our group reunited in the Budda Cafe for cappucinos.
Dinner back at Bualla Lodge was excellent.
Private Vehicle
Sarapiquí Rainforest – La Pavona4h-5h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Boat
La Pavona – Tortuguero1h30m
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Accommodation
Baula Lodge (or similar)
Hotel
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Friday December 15: Tortuguero
After the included breakfast, the water taxi took us out for kayaking. Navigating through the tiny gaps in the jungle was fun. Then back to the hotel for lunch, then another water taxi for a hike up Cerro del Tortuguero. A great view, and lots of spider monkeys. Back to the hotel and a swim in the pool and then dinner.
Saturday December 16: Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
A long day of travel, this time starting with the boat ride up the Suerte River, which was fun. We pulled in to our hotel, the Hotel Escape Caribeño ahead of schedule, so relaxed then walked in to town to explore for a bit. A neat beach town, with a definite Caribean vibe. That evening we all went back into town for a goup dinner at the Salsa Brava, a beach side restaurant/bar.
Sunday December 17: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Breakfast at Bread and Chocolate, followed by a bike ride to the beach. Dan and I stopped off halfway there to go surfing. We paid for an hour, but only lasted 30 minutes. When we continued our bike ride, we discovered that the jaguar tour was going to be much later than expected, so I was able to join our group. It was excellent.
At the end of that, I was ready to head back to our hotel to get the sand and salt off. Sandy and Christina continued on to Arrecife Beach.
Back at the Hotel Escape Caribeño, the hotel staff had decided that the black debris on our bed was caused by termites in the ceiling. They will be replacing parts of the roof, but in the meantime, we will have to live with it. The bed is back in right place, but we will move it again if necessary.
The group dinner was at Stashu’s con Fusion, and was the best meal of our trip. We walked back to our hotel in a downpour. Nobody really minded.
Monday December 18: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to San José
We all got on the bus at 9 in some nice warm rain. I got a cappucino and croissant from Gustibus, so was ready for anything.
The drive up and over and through the mountains was cool, lots of fog and rain and traffic and elevation. Arrived San Jose late afternoon and several of us wandered downtown to the market. Quite an experiance. The Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas was just as remembered, and it was nice to settle back in to something sort of familiar.
The group went out for a final group meal at Agüizotes Gastro Pub where we celebrated Christina’s birthday. The walk along the railway tracks to the pub was a little ghetto-ish, but safe enough in a large group.
Monday December 19: San José
We got picked up and taken to the airport at 5 am. Too early for us, but pleasant enough when everything is arranged. Flight to Toronto was fine, but once we got to the airport, after 6 hours of hanging around, our second flight was delayed, and delayed and delayed. Eventually, we got to Saskatoon two hour and 45 minutes late, just 15 minutes short of free money from Air Canada.