Rain Forest tour

Fantastic River Tour of Costa Rica!

This tour gives the visitor an opportunity to know the N.E. 1/3 of Costa Rica in two delightful days and one restful night. We'll get an early start and head for the scenic slopes of Poas Volcano, going north. With panoramic vistas at every turn, our luxury tour bus will pass fields of strawberries and ornamental plants grown for export and climb to approximately 8,000 feet, from where, on a clear day, one can see the Atlantic Ocean. We'll stop for a hearty, typical breakfast before descending into the densely vegetated lowlands of northern Costa Rica, a region known for its many rivers. At Puerto Viejo, Sarapiqui, the oldest port serving the east coast, you'll board our 34 foot, specially designed tour launch, the Colorado Queen for a 3 1/2 hour cruise through the mighty waterways of the North.

As we traverse the jungle draped Sarapiqui River, dropping more than 600 feet in the 55 mile journey to the sea, we see citrus orchards and fields of pineapple and cocoa bordering the river.

Suddenly, we merge with the San Juan River, separating Costa Rica from Nicaragua, and one of the largest rivers between north at Lake Nicaragua and termination at the Caribbean Sea.

As pass we by picturesque thatched roofed huts of local farmers which dot the shoreline, we make a brief stop of approximately 20 minutes to check in with Nicaraguan border guards where a fee usually charged. Then continuing on, down The Colorado River, and while having a delicious picnic on the boat, we will arrive at Archie Fields RIO COLORADO LODGE, a world class fishing resort.

Experience a Carribean Beach or Explore the Jungle

We'll stay overnight at this remote lodge, accessible only by boat or plane, and after lunch there will be plenty of time for a short rest in your own comfortable room with hot water shower, electric fan, etc. You can also pay a leisurely visit to the little village of Barra del Colorado, with its descendants of Jamaicans, enjoy the adjacent long, wide Caribbean beach on which you will be the only folks other than a possible local resident or two, for miles, or explore the jungle, only a few steps from the Lodge which is located in the midst of a National Wildlife Refuge. You will also time to enjoy the Lodge itself, with its very have interesting private menagerie and aviary of tropical birds. The entire Lodge is built on stilts with covered walkways connecting the various sections. There will be time for mixing with the fisherfolks, who have traveled thousands of miles to fish at this famous Lodge, and enjoy the Happy Hour when all rum drinks are "on the house," before dinner is served. The food at this Lodge is so good it has been written up in international publications! There's a recreation room, video room with satellite TV, and plenty of space for lounging around after dinner and before turning in to your spacious room, cooled by soft, caressing Caribbean breezes.

The morning of the 2nd day, and after a delicious breakfast at the Lodge, we board the launch again for the exciting experience of a leisurely journey down our famous inland, canals, paralleling the Caribbean coast, through the tropical rain forest and jungle.

See Spectacular Costa Rica in Person

Here we won't be surprised to see alligators basking in the sun, maybe a sloth in the overhanging trees, several varieties of birds, and flora species by the hundreds.

Continuing our trip south through the canals, we will arrive at the port of Hamburgo, where it is likely you'll see bananas being loaded on their way to distant markets.

We'll lunch at Guacimo, one of the Atlantic zone growing towns, and afterwards continue with our trip on board of our first class bus, to San Jose.

During the trip we'll cross the Reventazon and Pacuare Reivers, see spacious banana plantations, pass by the agriculturally rich towns of Siquirres and Guapiles, and as we climb again to the central plateau, we'll pass through famous Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of our least explored cloud forests, and upon leaving it, we'll emerge to a spectacular view of Heredia.

On occasion our tour is reserved, climbing to and through Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Tortuguero canals on the first day and returning the second day via Sarapiqui River and Puerto Viejo.

Sea Turtles and the Tortuguero National Park

During the months of July, August and September, the itinerary of the tour will vary to take advantage of the annual phenomenon of thousands of sea turtles returning to the area of Colorado, each to lay 100's of eggs in the warm sand. During these months, after a delicious dinner in the evening, we'll board the Colorado Queen for a trip down the canals to disembark at famous Tortuguero National Park. Here there is a very high probability that we will see one or more giant sea turtles, weighing up to 600 pounds, ending their trip from distant unknown origins, arduously climbing the beach, preparing a deep hole which will be protection and at the same time incubator for its offspring. One cannot imagine the emotion of witnessing such an event. It has to be seen!