DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME : Our text files and message bases are for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. DO NOT undertake any project based upon any information obtained from this or any other web site.We are not responsible for, nor do we assume any liability for, damages resulting from the use of any information on this site.
(37 votes) Published: Viewed 363 times
LETTER CODES: (B)= Breakfast, (L)= Lunch, (D)= Dinner. (NG)= Bilingual Naturalist Guide, (SG)= Transfer meet and assist guide, (CHG)=Chirripo Guide, (RG)=Bilingual River Guide.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:
Day 01: Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport, where the group will be met at the ramp, helped through immigration and customs, and transferred to the hotel. Welcome Orientation Dinner. Overnight at Hotel Milvia, Don Fadrique or similar. (D)
Day 02: Early morning pickup by your river guide at your hotel. Drive for 1 hr, and pass through Cartago, the old capital of Costa Rica. Stop to enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast. Continue another 1-1/2 hrs to our put-in on the Tucurrique section of the Reventazón. Driving Time to the put-in: 2-1/2 hrs. After an orientation and safety talk, proceed down the river. River time: approximately 3 hrs depending on the water level. Mid-afternoon take-out and drive for 30 minutes to our lunch stop. Return to San José late afternoon. Driving time: 2 hrs. Overnight at Hotel Milvia, Don Fadrique or similar.(BLD) (RG)
Day 03: At dawn, depart south from San Jose, on the Pan-American Highway to the town of San Isidro Del General. A stop will be made on the way for breakfast. Continue to the San Gerardo de Rivas village, the starting point for the 10 miles hike up to the National Park base camp, located at 11150 feet above sea level. Ascending to the refuge will take approx. 8 to 9 hours. Overnight at the Park shelter. (BLD) (CHG)
Day 04: After breakfast, trek to the majestic valleys covered by paramo and surrounded by rocky mountains until you reach Chirripo Peak (12550 feet high). Enjoy the fantastic view of the nearby mountain ranges and peaks. If you are lucky, on a clear day the Atlantic and Pacific oceans may be seen from here. Hike to San Juan Lagoon and return to camp for lunch. Overnight at the Park shelter.(BLD)
Day 05: Descend from Chirripo to San Gerardo De Rivas (approx. 4 hour hike). Upon arrival, take lunch and rest for a while before returning to San Jose. Overnight at Hotel Milvia, Don Fadrique or similar. (BLD) (CHG)
DAY 06: After an early morning breakfast, depart from San Jose to the Arenal Volcano area. Arenal Volcano fulfills the volcano stereotype. Its perfectly conical shape emerges from Alajuela’s gentle green hills. From time to time, loud explosions are heard and a mushroom cloud of gray, brown, orange or blue smoke billows out of the top. Although the volcano is capable of inspiring intense fright and awe in visitors, inhabitants of nearby Fortuna de San Carlos and the dairy farms at its base seem to live with relative peace of mind. If you ask, they will tell you with surprising tranquillity about the time it erupted.
Since Arenal was dormant until 1968, the only people who suspected it was a volcano were those who had scaled it and found a crater and steam vents at the top. But few listened to them, until an earthquake shook the area on July 29, 1968. Twelve hours later, Arenal blew, sending out shock waves that were recorded as far away as the Boulder, CO nuclear explosion monitoring center. All damage was 5 km west of the volcano, where people were knocked down by shock waves, poisoned by gases and struck by falling rocks. Three new craters formed during the eruption sending down lava flows which eradicated the town of Pueblo Nuevo. In the end, 78 people had died. Since then, the volcano hasn’t erupted; it just rumbles and explodes, and shoots out rocks, soot and smoke. Arenal is most impressive at night. In the dark on a clear night you can see bursts of fire and red-hot rocks shoot hundreds of feet into the sky. In the day you only see smoke and hear the volcano’s roar. Incandescent material cascades down the sides, especially on the north. Explosions happen every few hours. Overnight at Arenal Observatory Lodge. (BLD) (NG)
DAY 07: After breakfast, drive to Caño Negro area for your boat trip through Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge. The forest, grasslands, waters and marshes provide shelter for jaguars, caiman, kingfishers, roseate spoonbills, white ibis, American anhingas, Neotropic cormorants, Jesus Christ lizards, and much more. Overnight at Arenal Observatory Lodge. (BLD) (NG)
DAY 08: After breakfast, at mid morning, return to San Jose. Evening Farewell dinner. Overnight at Hotel Milvia, Don Fadrique or similar. (BLD) (NG)
Day 09: Transfer to the International Airport and depart. (SG)
Edit Page
Message left_hand
Add Comment
Add to Favorites
Email to Friend