Overview:
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Departure date: September 1-7, 2021
Meeting point: Best Western Irazu Hotel, San Jose
Tour group size: 20 people
Price:
- $999 per person, double occupancy (Standard room in Arenal Springs Resort and Spa)
- Single supplement: $467 (excluded at Rios Tropicales Lodge, single occupancy is not available)
Pricing based on 20 full paying participants for the main trip.
**Rooms with bunk beds and shared bathroom for 2 nights at Rios Tropicales Lodge Private Deluxe Rooms at Rios Tropicales on request.
Your trip package includes:
- Scheduled round trip airport shuttle service from 4:30AM until 10:30PM (every hour)
- 1-night lodging in Standard Room at Best Western Irazu Hotel & Casino, San Jose
- Full Buffet Breakfast at Club Lounge
- Welcome drink per stay and per person (includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)
- One-way coach transfer Best Western Irazu Hotel & Casino – Rios Tropicales Operations Center
- 2 days white water rafting on Pacuare River including transportation, lodging (hostel-style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathroom), meals for 2 days except for the dinner on the last day, hikes, river equipment, and professional guides.
- One way coach transfer El Cairo to Arenal Springs Resort and Spa (La Fortuna-Lake Arenal)
- 4 nights lodging at Arenal Springs Resort and Spa (Breakfast and taxes are included)
- One way coach transfer Los Lagos (La Fortuna) – San Jose AP or Hotel in San Jose
Not included in the package and can be booked at additional cost:
- Airline ticket from your gateway to San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport.
Please contact Alpine Adventures for the airfare details. If booking on your own, please book flights with arrival in San Jose after 12PM (check in time 2PM) and departure from San Jose after 11:30AM for your return flight.
Deposit and Payment Policy:
Alpine Adventures will collect all deposits, fees and final payments per the schedule below:
- Initial Deposit: $300 due to confirm program
- Final Payment: 65 days prior to departure
Prices apply with a minimum of 10 participants per option. If there are less than 10 people signed up for this trip, the total price will be adjusted accordingly and there is a possibility of trip cancellation.
Travel Cancellation and Refunds:
Original Cancellation policy:
- Cancellation outside 65 days = $100 cancelation fee
- Cancellation inside 65 days: nonrefundable
COVID-19 policy:
In case of another trip cancellation due to COVID-19, the trip package is fully non refundable as per terms and conditions of the contract for original travel dates but Alpine Adventures will certainly look into rescheduling the trip to future travel dates along with all service providers included in this program.
Please review full terms and conditions on our website:
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Introduction
Costa Rica offers some of the world’s finest whitewater rafting and kayaking rivers.
Wild and untamed, these big, brash rivers plunge through the spectacularly beautiful, largely unexplored tropical wilderness. Enjoy a tropical river with a skilled and reputable guide service, organized in 1985 to share the beauty and abundant whitewater of Costa Rica with the rest of the world.
The owners and guides have explored numerous rivers and participated in the Olympic Games as well as several rafting and kayaking World Championships. A commitment to high quality, safety, and exceptional service has helped them become the largest whitewater rafting and sea-kayaking outfitter in Latin America. Our outfitter has been recognized internationally for its efforts in conservation, reforestation, and education of the local population.
The Pacuare River is rated one of the top rivers in the world for a host of reasons. You’ll get to explore the intimate nature of the rainforest from the river perspective. The warm water, cascading waterfalls, and opulently lush rainforest with its brilliantly colored plants, animals, and birds make this trip exquisite for your senses. Add in the exciting Class III and IV whitewater rapids and you have a tropical adventure packed with rich experiences that last long after you’ve returned home.
Lake Arenal, lying adjacent to the Arenal Volcano in the Northern Lowlands of Costa Rica, is the country’s most spectacular lake. With the magnificent Arenal Volcano to the east and rolling hills and forested slopes all around, the scenery couldn’t be better. Add to that a number of activities that include world-class windsurfing and sailboarding, fishing, kayaking, bird watching, and more, and you have the makings for a spectacular destination.
Requirements
- Prepared to learn to paddle a raft.
- Ready to get out of rafts (if necessary) for short walks.
- Willing to share a room/tent and bathroom in rustic settings.
- Able to swim in river conditions.
Itinerary
Arrive in San Jose, and transfer to Best Western Irazu Hotel & Casino, San Jose. Day and evening free to relax by the pool or explore the colorful city with its outdoor markets and many museums. Everyone has the option of meeting for happy hour and a restaurant will be suggested for your evening meal. If you decide to book your flights on your own, please make sure to arrive in San Jose after 12 PM as your check-in time at the Hotel starts at 2 PM. You can also arrive days earlier if you prefer and we can arrange your stay for that portion. We will be meeting and have a drink at the hotel’s bar between 4 PM and 6 PM. The exact time will be provided with your final trip itinerary.
Early in the morning, you will be transferred to Rios Tropicales Operations Center for a hearty “Tico” traditional Costa Rica breakfast, and with time to change into clothing for rafting, and shop for any last-minute needs in a handy outfitter’s store. You’ll then depart for private rafting put-in on the Pacuare River in San Martin. There your professional guides will load your gear into dry bags, prepare all the rafting equipment, give you complete safety and paddle instruction.
The first day’s Class III rapids welcome you to the Pacuare gorge’s charm as you raft deep in the heart of the primary rainforest. While your guides prepare a hearty picnic lunch on the riverbank, you’ll enjoy a walk through the jungle to an enchanting waterfall and pool to swim.
Before you know it, you’ll arrive at the unique Rios Tropicales Lodge where you can spend the afternoon relaxing, hiking, or soaking in waterfalls and pools. Nestled in the jungle on a 1,500-acre private reserve, the lodge offers you all the comforts you need in “Cabecar Indian” style bungalows. You’ll get the chance to settle into your rooms, then come down to the open-air dining area, where guides prepare fresh appetizers and guest-acclaimed “famous jungle punch”. As the sun dips behind the hills and the twilight fades, you will be treated to a delicious freshly prepared dinner with candlelight and wine. Ahh, this is adventure vacationing at its best!
After yet another serving of Costa Rica’s tastiest coffee and a hearty breakfast, your guides will pack up and load the rafts in preparation for paddling down the Pacuare gorge past gushing waterfalls, serene pools, and pounding rapids. A snack stop by the riverside lets you explore more waterfalls and natural waterslides. An adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montañas, and many more, will have you cheering ecstatically. You will have transportation waiting for you at the take-out in the town of Siquirres, where you will be whisked away to the Operations Center just a few miles up the road. You will have a hearty hot lunch waiting for you upon arrival. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks, snacks, a bar, and souvenirs are all available. When you are finished with lunch, you will be transferred to La Fortuna Arenal where your trip continues. Check-in at Arenal Springs Resort and Spa.
This is a great addition to the rafting trip. This four-night extension to the Arenal Volcano and hot springs is a great reward after rafting. The day can be spent soaking weary muscles in the hot springs or partaking in the many spa services. And don’t forget the volcano! It will entertain you with shows of hot lava, steam, and explosions.
Enjoy the most plentiful breakfast, including Costa Rican “gallo pinto”, you may ever have. You can find pleasure and fun at the pool & hot springs hotel facilities; and relax, health & beauty at the Spa Resort. So be happy and let the natural hot springs by the Arenal volcano’s internal healthy energy & minerals complement all of your optional activities, such as those into nature or adventure tours.
The rest of the afternoon at leisure (hot springs relaxation)
Dinner at your own arrangement
Daily Breakfast at the Hotel
During your stay in the Lake Arenal area, you can choose one of the tours listed below at an additional cost.
Early morning breakfast at the Hotel
This morning transfer to San Jose Airport for your return flight home. Departure time will be scheduled for 7 AM. The transfer to the airport takes 3 hours. If booking the flights on your own, please make sure to book flights with departure after 11:30 AM. There will be only one coach transfer provided and the entire group will leave at the same time at 7 AM. If your flight departure is before 11:30 AM, you will be provided with a private transfer at an additional cost.
END OF THE TRIP!
Activities in Lake Arenal area
Duration: 3 hours
$69 per person
Soar over the canyons, through lush forests, above waterfalls, beside Arenal Volcano, and experience the adrenaline rush of observing this truly breathtaking landscape from the canopies.
This zip line tour is an authentic adventure through the rainforest. A cart pulled by a tractor will pick you up and drive you 3 kilometers down a dirt road. You will arrive at a lookout point where you can see the rushing waters of the Pino Blanco waterfall. You are surrounded by lush, green vegetation in all directions. The mere experience of observing the panoramic views is incredible and soaring through it is truly breathtaking. You will receive your equipment which is high quality and regularly examined to ensure it is in perfect condition. A guide will lead you on a 15-minute walk deeper into the forest while explaining the natural history of our county. Our guides have a deep respect for the rainforest but also enjoy joking and having fun. Once you arrive at the first platform, your adrenaline will be pumping. The guides put safety first and are incredibly reassuring. They demonstrate exactly what you need to do while you zip line.
There is nothing like the feeling of jumping off a platform and flying across canyons, through the treetops, and over waterfalls with the Arenal Volcano and Chato Hill in the backdrop. You may see many species of animals that inhabit this area such as toucans, monkeys, and frogs. We have one of the longest cables in the country (1000 meters) and one of the fastest (65-70 km/hr).
After the canopy tour, you will visit a representation of a Maleku Village that is located nearby. Members of the tribe dressed in traditional clothes greet you with a refreshing beverage and teach you about their culture, language, and traditions. They share stories about animals and the environment, expressing their appreciation for nature. Their intricate paintings on masks, bowls, and drums are available to purchase as a souvenir. You will return to the starting point on horseback. Near the entrance, there is a butterfly garden and a frog room which we encourage you to explore. If you put some fruit juice on your finger, the butterflies will land on you and exhibit the vibrant colors of their wings. We recommend that you wear long pants, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent, and sunblock. Pregnant women, people with heart problems, back problems, or recent surgeries cannot participate in this activity.
MORE THAN A TOUR!
IT IS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!
$60 per person
Tour Includes:
- 4 rappels (3 waterfalls and one rock wall)
- Monkey Drop (zipline and rappel)
- Rock Climb
- Hiking on beautiful trails in the canyon between rappels
- Professionally trained bilingual guides
- Waterproof Jackets
- Delicious Costa Rican Lunch (Vegetarian option available)
- High-quality gear used in canyoneering and rock climbing
- Photographer (Photos for purchase after the tour)
You will be picked up at your hotel Los Lagos and be taken on an exciting 4×4 ride on a mountain road to our first ranch house. The guides will put your gear on, give you a short safety and rappelling explanation, and then a short trek on a beautiful rainforest trail to the first waterfall rappel where you will descend into the canyon! 5 rappels range in heights of 13 meters (25 ft ) to 55 meters (165 ft). The Monkey Drop Zip Line is approx. 25 meters (82 ft) long.
After rappelling down the first waterfall you will climb up the side of the canyon wall, 10 meters (20 ft ), to a short trail. Then zip line across the canyon and rappel down from the cable 25 meters (82 ft) to the canyon floor again. Then continue on short trails from waterfall to waterfall through the canyon, it’s like being in a National Rainforest Park! Then a short trek out of the canyon to the second ranch house where you meet up with the 4×4 vehicles and then back to base offices for a delicious Costa Rican style lunch just outside La Fortuna with a view of the famous Arenal Volcano. You will find their good installations with changing rooms, towels, and hot showers. You can also stroll through organic tropical gardens, spot birds and tropical plants and flowers as well. All food is organic and grown in their own gardens.
Activity: Hiking
Duration: 02-03 hours
Season: All Year
Nº of participants with/without minimum: 02 clients without maximum
Meals Included: water
Recommended Gear: Repellent, sunblock, comfortable clothes, Camera, and hiking shoes.
Geographical position of the activity: Hanging bridges Arenal
Minimum age: 02 years.
Means of transportation by land: Van
$70 per person
Trip Details: Looking for a new perspective? Join us as we walk among the exuberant primary rainforest canopy through trails and bridges varying in length and height. On this three kilometers walk, with our expert naturalist guide, you will be able to appreciate the great diversity of flora & fauna, such as birds, mammals, reptiles, different types of plants and trees, combined with breathtaking views of both Arenal Volcano & Arenal Lake.
Activity: Hiking.
Duration: 02-03 hours
Season: All Year
Nº of participants with/without minimum: 02 clients without maximum Meals Included: Water
Recommended Gear: Repellent, sunblock, comfortable clothes, Camera, and hiking shoes.
Geographical position of the activity: Volcano Area.
Minimum age: 02 years.
Means of transportation by land: Van
$65 per person
Trip Details: Set out on a journey to experience and discover the history and environment surrounding the great Arenal Volcano. Depart on your 2-3 hour hike with one of our naturalist guides on the west side of the volcano where you will recognize the devastation and rebirth of the environment from past eruptions. Along with your excursion, you will come across different wildlife such as toucans, monkeys, reptiles, and different types of tropical flowers.
Activity: Floating.
Duration: 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Season: All Year
Nº of participants with/without minimum: 02 clients without maximum Meals Included: Costa Rican Style Snacks
Recommended Gear: Repellent, water bottle, sun block, comfortable clothes, Cameraand Shoes (you may get wet up to your uncles) better bring kind of water shoes.
Geographical position of the activity: Peñas Blancas River.
Minimum age: 02 years.
Means of transportation by land and nautical: Van and Raft
$66 per person
Trip Details: Enjoy the abundant wildlife and undeniable beauty surrounding the Peñas Blancas River as you drift downstream for an enchanting and unforgettable experience. Our expert naturalist guides will do the rowing leaving you relaxed and eyes wide open examining the lush rainforest canopy in search of monkeys, sloths, reptiles, and other species. You’ll be hands-free to take pictures of the nearby iguanas sunning themselves on the passing branches or grab your binoculars to catch a closer look at a tropical bird.
Upon exiting the river we’ll visit “The Hidalgo Family Home” where you will have the opportunity to experience and appreciate a piece of Costa Rican culture and get a taste of a traditional Costa Rican snack.
Activity: Biking and Kayaking
Duration: 03-4.5 hours
Season: All Year
Nº of participants with/without minimum: 02 clients without maximum Meals Included: Fruits and water
Recommended Gear: Repellent, sun block, comfortable clothes, Camera.
Geographical position of the activity: Arenal Lake and surroundings.
Minimum age: 08 years.
Means of transportation by land and nautical: Van and kayak /bikes
$90 per person
Trip Details: Explore and discover Costa Rica by water and land enjoying the unique experience of mountain biking through the lush forest surrounding the lake at the base of the volcano, and gliding across the mystic waters of the Arenal lake all while reveling in the extraordinary beauty of the Arenal Volcano.
You will set out on your kayak for a 2-hour exploration of the lake and islands in the quest for local birds such as; Ospreys, Kingfishers, Neotropical Cormorants, Aningas and mammals such as; howler monkeys, spider monkeys, white-nosed coatis, or sloths. Once you are finished kayaking you will relax lakeside and enjoy a light picnic before setting out on your mountain biking adventure through natural paths, traditional Costa Rican neighborhoods, and small rivers.
Hanging Bridges/Volcano Hike/Safari Float: $170 per person
Canoeing/ Canopy Tour: $169 per person
Trekking Arenal/Twilight Safari: $135 per person
Biking/Kayaking: $90 per person
Chocolate Tour/Waterfall/La Fortuna Town Tour: $98 per person
Accommodations and meals
While in San Jose a comfortable, clean, and centrally located hotel is utilized. Each of the rooms has a private bathroom, telephone, and satellite television. There is a restaurant, bar, pool, and Internet access available. On the rafting expedition, you will spend the night camping in the hostel-style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathroom bungalows. While staying in the bungalows you will share bathrooms and showering rooms with the other guests. This place provides a relaxing and authentic slumber environment. While staying in La Fortuna Arenal, Lomas del Volcan Lodge itself is set within a tropical garden, watching over the fiery activity of the Arenal volcano and close to the thrills of a canopy adventure and the calm relaxation of some of the most beautiful hot springs in the world. Each room is tastefully decorated to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
Meals are casual and there is plenty of food to go around. Highlights of the meals are fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms. Bottled water is available with every meal and at stops along the way. Special dietary needs can be accommodated only with advance notice.
