Costa Rica. Into the Wilds of the Osa Peninsula

Day 1: San Jose

Arrive at San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport and transfer to the charming Hotel Grano de Oro, a renovated stately mansion built at the turn of the century. Hotel Grano de Oro is located on a quiet street near many fine restaurants, theaters and shops. Enjoy a tropical beverage in their open-air Jacuzzi and be sure to try the chocolate cake!

Accommodations: Hotel Grano de Oro

Day 2: Northern Osa Peninsula - Nocturnal Walk

Transfer to the airport for a short flight to the Osa Peninsula (50 min) where you travel by boat down the Agujitas River to the remote La Paloma rainforest ecolodge perched on a jungle hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Immerse yourself in the tropics exploring Cocalito Beach, kayaking along the Agujitas River or zip-lining through the rainforest (zip-line at additional cost). You may also choose to join the amazing ‘Bug Lady’ and ‘Reptile Man’ on a nocturnal walk in search of amazing spiders, snakes, and frogs. Overnight in one of seven deluxe thatched roof bungalows with expansive balconies and ocean views at La Paloma Lodge.

Accommodations: La Paloma Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Caño Island

Enjoy a delicious local breakfast before departing on a 45-minute boat ride to Caño Island. Keep an eye out for whales, dolphins, tuna, marlin, manta rays, sea turtles, sailfish and more are drawn here year-round by these rich protected waters. Pack your sunscreen and underwater camera for a snorkeling adventure where starfish, octopus, conch, and moray eels can be found traveling through the underwater rock and coral formations. This excursion is perfect for first-time and experienced snorkelers alike. Take a break from snorkeling to wander up island trails to indigenous burial sites. Enjoy a picnic lunch with time for a swim or quick siesta on the beach before heading back to the lodge. Overnight at La Paloma Lodge.

Accommodations: La Paloma Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Corcovado National Park - San Pedrillo or La Sirena

Option I, San Pedrillo Ranger Station: Depart on a short boat trip to the San Pedrillo Ranger Station at the northern boundary of Corcovado National Park. Hike along beach trails through mangrove to montane forests with a naturalist Costa Rica guide. Keep a keen eye out for coatis, sloths, anteaters, four species of monkeys, and beautiful birds including colorful tanagers, scarlet macaws, and toucans. Enjoy lunch at the ranger station before taking a short hike to a beautiful waterfall for a refreshing swim. Spend the evening at La Paloma Lodge.

Option II, La Sirena Ranger Station: Intrepid hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers willing to rough it for a night at the La Sirena Ranger Station can ride the boat farther down the coast and spend the full day and overnight exploring the multitude of trails there when viewing is best in the late afternoon and early morning. This is one of the best places to see wildlife in Costa Rica. Dine with your guide, park staff, and other adventurous travelers in the park kitchen, linger on the covered deck in the evening under the stars, then retire for the night in screened rooms with bunk beds (2-4 persons per room). Overnight at La Sirena Ranger Station.

Accommodations: La Paloma Lodge, Sirena Ranger Station

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Hike From Sirena to La Leona Station or 4WD Transfer to Lapa Rios

If you spent the night at La Paloma, catch an early morning boat ride to the La Sirena Ranger Station. Explore local trails around the station and then get an early start on the six hour hike to La Leona Ranger Station weaving in and out of the forest along white sand beaches. Keep an eye out for monkeys and macaws in the trees overhead. With luck you may see a harpy eagle, bull shark in the surf, tapir wallowing in a water hole, or even a fleeting puma or tracks of a jaguar! Stop for a picnic lunch under the shade of a palm tree served with fresh coconut water courtesy of your machete-wielding jungle guide.

From La Leona Ranger Station it's a short walk to the end of the road in Carate where a 4WD vehicle transports you to Lapa Rios Ecolodge. Spend the next 3 nights in this award-winning, world class ecolodge perched on a hilltop with stunning views of the wild Pacific coast. Lapa Rios Ecolodge offers 16 spacious open-air thatched-roof bungalows with canopy beds, built from stone and local hardwoods, with indoor and private outdoor showers and tranquil private balconies where you watch monkeys, toucans, macaws, and pizotes (member of raccoon family) from the comfort of your hammock. Those who decide not do the hike are picked up after breakfast at the Lodge for an approx 3 hour scenic drive to Lapa Rios, an optional charter flight is also available.

Accommodations: Lapa Rios Ecolodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6-7: Lapa Rios Rainforest Reserve

Start your two days at Lapa Rios with fresh Costa Rican coffee delivered to your bungalow before choosing from an array of activities geared to your mood, interests, and abilities. There are full or half day hikes exploring miles of wilderness trails winding through the private rainforest reserve teeming with wildlife, or easier hikes to waterfalls and swimming holes. Ask for the specialist guide if you want to arise early for bird watching. The resident naturalist guides will amaze you as they identify birds and mammals of the forest and share their knowledge about tropical ecosystems and the complex symbiotic relationships between animals and plants in the tropics. You can also take it easy by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, take a walk to the beach where surfing lessons are available, or just watch the wildlife from your private veranda. The ‘Twigs, Pigs, and Garbage’ tour gives you a behind-the-scenes expose of the recycling and sustainability practices of the lodge.

Accommodations: Lapa Rios Ecolodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: San Jose - Depart or Extend Your Trip

Transfer to Puerto Jimenez airstrip (45 min) for a scheduled Nature Air flight back to San Jose (50 min). Assistance is provided for transfer to the international terminal or extend your Wildland Adventure in Costa Rica.

Meals Included: Breakfast