Dr. Jason Corosanite Costa Rica Adventure 2013

Day 1 ------ Arrive & Drive to Pacific Coast (La Cusinga Ecolodge)

Today we will meet you outside of the San Jose Airport where you will make the three hour drive to the La Cusinga Ecolodge. This is an amazing spot with breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean. The owner of La Cusinga is a pioneer in ecotourism and a true conservationist. The chance to stay at the lodge is a tour in itself just learning the different aspects of operating as an ecolodge.

Arriving on a mid-day flight would be best allowing us to get to the ecolodge around dinner time and give everyone a briefing on the trip and a chance to have a good night's sleep. (Meals: Beakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Northern Tamandua wants to say hola Jason!

Day 2 ------ Mangrove Tour & Visit Corcovado National Park (La Cusinga Lodge)

With removing the homestays there is no better option than the Corcovado National Park. Considered the most biodiverse place on the planet this is a real treat. It is a full day of adventure as we will drive for 45 minutes, travel in a boat through mangroves for an hour, and then travel around to the beach of San Pedrillo where the kids will have a nature hike like none other on the planet. Some of the largest trees you can find in the tropics and an area that is truly wild makes this place very unique. Yes, even unique for Costa Rica. We would arrive back to the La Cusinga Lodge around 5pm after a full day of fun in the sun and some great hiking in the jungle. It is easy hiking and more learning than actually trekking as our naturalist make it some of the most educational moments of the entire adventure. It is truly a special place where you don't just talk about wildlife but you see it! (Meals: Breakfast, lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------ Zipline & Hike to Cave (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Nature Hike

We will make the short drive to the nearby zipline which is located on the first mountain ridge off the coast. You'll notice the Pacific side of Costa Rica is much like California where the mountains meet the sea, yet a bit greener and probably less developed. Here you will be zipping from tree to tree on cables 400 ft above the rainforest floor with a chance to view the canopy and some of the most biodiverse areas of all of Costa Rica.

Before the zipline we will have a short chat on the physics of ziplining getting everyone in the mood to get ready to experience and feel the friction and forces behind one of ecotourism's most exciting events.

After the zipline we will make our way to get a nice big meal before we hike to the area where we sleep behind the waterfall. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ------ Rappel Waterfalls, Visit Pools, & Sunset Diamante Falls (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Sleeping behind the Waterfall

With breakfast digested we'll get everyone ready for the next big thrill, a 120 ft rappel down a waterfall. This happens to be one of the most scenic waterfalls and a chance to rappel down it is just icing on the cake. In the evening we will make a short hike to the top of the Diamante Falls,  a 600ft waterfall, to watch the sunset over the Pacific. We then head back to the sleeping area behind the waterfall you just rappelled.  After some campfire activities, we'll slumber to the oh so natural dream-machine sound of a waterfall all night.  Having a second night sleeping behind the waterfall allows us to really not be rushed on day 5 and actually spend some time in the Paramo and arrive at a reasonable hour to our next hotel with views of the Volcano. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ------ Travel to Turrialba (Turrialba Hotel)

One of the many Waterfalls

In the afternoon, we say goodbye to the magical mountain, waterfall land and cave and drive to the our next hotel where you will have excellent views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano. This takes the better half of the afternoon but that does not mean it does not have its thrills. We will be driving over what we like to call the spine of Costa Rica. It is the mountain range that has been lifted up from the plate tectonic movement causing speciation of species along with what many consider the bridge of the Americas. Because of this uplift the area we will be visiting is known as the Paramo and is a very unique ecosystem of the tropics. This is also one of the few areas of the Americas where you can see the Caribbean and the Pacific without adjusting your feet.

Huacas Falls, Pacuare River

 (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

This could be you Jason!

Day 6 ------ Enter Pacuare, Raft & Night Hike (Pacuare Camp)

Today we will enter Pacuare and have the chance to talk about many different components of the rafting adventure and river hydraulics. These are two days that you will be in it and completely surrounded by some of the finest scenery Costa Rica has to offer. The river is filled with canyons, waterfalls, and countless amounts of biodiversity.

Lets get Ready String Theory, Bellevue for Pacuare!

We will spend the first day rafting and stopping for lunch along the way. We will then get to our river camp where we'll have some more fun learning. We'll do a night hike which will give you a chance to see a number of different species of insects, frogs, sleeping birds, and maybe a JAGUAR!!! Unfortunately in all our years we have never seen a Jaguar. They are out there but because of their ability to smell us from 2 km away they would rather not deal with us. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Rafting Pacuare River

Day 7 ------ Leave Pacuare & Drive to San Jose (La Condesa Hotel)

Today we raft the most scenic and the most adventurous section of the river. This will be two hours on the river you will not forget. Once we take out we will grab some lunch and then head back to San Jose.

You will get a good night's rest in the La Condesa Hotel where you will be just 20 minutes from the San Jose Airport. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ------ Fly Home!

Today we will transfer you to the airport to catch you flight home and take begin to refelct on the amazing adventure that just happened! PURA VIDA! (Meals: Breakfast)