You've read about Costa Rica Expeditions, that pace-setting outfit that was one of the first eco-tourism companies, in this space before. For the rest of the summer and into the fall they have a completely new kind of adventure, they say, with Multisports, on which package they have reduced prices by $200 to $300 per person. The price can be as low as $1,496, depending on the date.
The Multisport Adventure trip includes mountain biking, jungle creek paddling and river rafting. You have two days of biking around the foothills of the Tilaran Mountains and Arenal rain forest in Costa Rica, a motorized riverboat trip to the Caribbean coastal rain forests of the Tortuguero National Park, where you use hydro-bikes, canoes or kayaks, then rafting on the Pacuare River, shooting Class III and IV rapids. The trip is rated easy to moderate, and you are accompanied throughout by CRE's trained bicycle and river guides.
Prices for the September 14 and October 12 departures out of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, are $1,496 per person. During other times of the year, the cost ranges from $1,696 to $1,996 depending on the season. You have to find and pay your own international airfare. Every trip requires a minimum of two participants and a maximum of 16.
After one night in San Jose, you shuttle 80 miles northwest to stay at the deluxe Titajari Hotel (pool, horseback riding, tennis, etc.). On your 21-speed mountain bike, you'll spend 2 days on 20- to 30-mile rides exploring dirt tracks, hanging bridges, sugar cane fields, dairy farms, natural hot springs and an active volcano. You lunch one day at a private farm and enjoy the owner's hot springs pool.
Later you travel into Nicaragua briefly on the San Juan River, then back to Costa Rica to the rain forests and miles of beaches (with giant sea turtle nests). Here, you stay at the Tortuga Lodge, on the river. Each room has patio or balcony, private bath and views of the river and gardens. There's an optional bird walk, but then you enter the rain forest. Here you might spy four kinds of monkeys, as well as sloths, caimans, iguanas and more. The park has 320 species of birds.
Included in the package deal is lodging (double occupancy) for 6 nights, most meals, transport within Costa Rica, airport/hotel transfers, park entrance fees, use of kayaks, hydro-bikes, 21-speed mountain bikes, white water rafting equipment, and guides' services. Not included: international airfare, alcoholic beverages, hotel extras (such as laundry), and tips.
The company also has a late August departure (August 23-31) for its new Family Adventure package, costing (after a $200 reduction) just $1,098 for adults, $798 for children up to 16 sharing with parents. Included in the price are lodging, meals, guide service, national park and other entrance fees, all transport within Costa Rica, airport/hotel transfers, beverages and snacks on long transfers and tours, and equipment as specified. International airfare is additional.
You visit San Jose, Biodiversity's INBioparque, then spend most of your time in the Tortuguero rain forest at the beautiful Tortuga Lodge. There are excursions through the rain forest's canals, using canoes, kayaks or hydro-bikes (a bicycle mounted on plastic pontoons). Meals are served family style on the verandah of the Lodge, which has a huge swimming pool. Among fauna you might see are the Great Green Macaw, the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, four species of monkeys and white owls that feast on bats.
Single supplements run between $250-$300. For more information or to book, contact Costa Rica Expeditions at www.costaricaexpeditions.com, e-mail ecotur@expeditions.co.cr, or telephone 011-506/257-0766, fax 800/886-2609.
