Day 1 in Sarapiqui Rainforest

Welcome to the Sarapiqui Rainforest! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and head out to explore the region! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the region by visiting La Selva Biological Research Sation. The station is found in the tropical rainforest bordered by the Sarapiqui and Puerto Viejo Rivers, adjacent to the enormous Braulio Carrillo National Park. Spend some time here learning about the global efforts to conserve the rainforest with a guided walking tour through the reserve. Learn about the diverse ecosystems and wildlife in the forest with over 1,850 plant species, 350 tree species, 448 bird species and around 500 species of ants. On your explorations of the 31 miles of walking trails, you may come across monkeys, sloths, peccaries, iguanas and a vibrant array of birdlife.

Take a tour of the Pineapple Farm at Finca Corsicana, this is the largest organic pineapple farm in the world. The massive 3,000-acre property harvests over 38 million pineapples a year and has a partnership with Collins Street Bakery in Texas and Whole Foods, exporting pineapples to the US. Tours are offered on the farm where you can witness the harvesting process from start to finish and enjoy samples of this deliciously sweet fruit.

The Sarapiqui Neotropical Center is a research center offering visitors a unique experience for visitors with a museum, botanical gardens, archaeological park, and an education center. The Museum for Indigenous Cultures is one of Costa Rica`s most concise and complete studies of indigenous Pre-Columbian tribes.

On your first evening in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui enjoy the restaurants, cafes, and bars in town, where you can enjoy a dinner of delicious local cuisine. After dinner sip on a few drinks while listening to some local music and dancing. Another alternative is to take a cooking course with a local chef where you can learn to prepare some traditional Costa Rican dishes such as `gallo pinto` (rice and beans) which is normally served with hot and fresh tortillas.

Day 2 in Sarapiqui Rainforest

Start your day bright and early, fuel up on Costa Rican coffee and breakfast before you head out on horseback along the back country roads to the spectacularly scenic Sarapiqui River. The fast flowing river has plenty to offer with famous Whitewater rafting boasting 30 thrilling rapids with names like `The Pipeline’, `The Terminator`, and `Dos Locos` that flow for over 6 miles. The energetic river is bordered by lush vibrant rainforest, towering trees which is a rich habitat for birds, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, turtles, and caimans.

The colorful rainforest boasts many exciting activities like canopy tours, where visitors can participate in zip-lining through the verdant forest and over the river, some of the zip lining cables stretch for 2,300 feet in length.

Walking tours through the vibrant rainforest with a naturalist guide are great to discover the amazing biodiversity of the region. Find a tranquil space on your way through the forest and sit back in the shade and enjoy a picnic lunch while listening to the astounding sounds of nature.

There are many tours offered on the different plantations found in the region which is famous for producing black pepper, chocolate, pineapples, and bananas. Take an afternoon tour of one of the farms and witness the step by step process from harvest to production and enjoy delicious samples.

Spend some time in the town of Sarapiqui, where you will find many restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating. Sit back and enjoy a tasty lunch of local cuisine and take in the town`s authentic atmosphere. Walk around the town and stop in the local shops to buy some souvenirs.

The Puerto Viejo River is a great destination for a scenic boat ride along the river with plenty of opportunities to see an abundance of wildlife. The area around the river boasts a spectacular bird watching scene where hummingbirds, Dippers, Quetzals, Aracaris, Toucans and the rare and endangered Great Green Macaws can be seen.

After enjoying some dinner in town join a night time tour of the jungle. These exciting guided tours take you on a hike through the forest at night where you have the opportunity to see many of the nocturnal animals that call the forest home. Other animals that come out a night include red-eyed tree frogs, kinkajous, leaf mimicking insects and bats.

Additional Days in Sarapiqui Rainforest

If you are able to spend additional days in the Sarapiqui Rainforest make a day trip to the Braulio Carrillo, which is the country`s largest national park covering over 100,000 acres of verdant forests and rolling hills. Hiking and walking trails with different levels of difficulty and length are spread throughout the park. An abundance of wildlife including monkeys, tapirs, deer, jaguars, and anteaters can be seen. There is an aerial tram that runs through the rainforest.

The Trimbina Rainforest covers 850 acres of lush dense jungle region close to Sarapiqui. The research center is dedicated to environmental education, there are walking tours and night tours offered in the rainforest. Get up close and personal with more than 60 different species of reptiles and amphibians

Your Last Day in Sarapiqui Rainforest

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.