Cycling & Trecking Enjoy Costa Rica for 2 weeks in an activ way by feet and by bike: a one week trekking tour from the Paramo (3400 m) and a biking tour from Poás volcano to the Pacific beach of Sámara on the peninsula of Nicoya. For everbody who enjoys trekking and is looking for intensive nature experience, we offer a 1-week-tour from the Cerro de la Muerte (third highest mountain of the country: 3490 m) to the National Park of Manuel Antonio, Playa del Rey, - in total about 120 km. You will experience almost every tropical vegetation. From Páramo you come through fairytale like fog- and rainforests, you can take a swim in cristal rivers and waterfalls, and sleep right in the nature in the houses of our local hosts. In the mornings you will be woken up by an impressing bird concert, before you reach the wide Pacific beach Playa del Rey in the National Park Manuel Antonio. You will hike through an area with an enormous variety of species, in which you can find about 400 kinds of birds, you can observe the legend Quetzal and the Rainbow Tucan, and we will be accompanied by howler monkeys and Picotes. This tour is one of the products of the developing project Río Savegre – nowadays in hands of a cooperative -, which shows in a wonderful way, that tourism in harmony with nature is possible. The touroperator Cultourica accompanies this project since the beginning of 2004, and was the first one, who was marketing this project. After a stop in San José follows a one week guided bike tour, accompanied by a car, on high quality mountain-bikes on selected routes through several landscapes of the nature paradise Costa Rica. On the 2nd day you will start at 2700 m height, cross the Caribbean and Pacific Lowland, go around the biggest lake of the country, relax in thermal springs, visit national parks and ecotouristic projects, cross the gulf of Nicoya, to reach finally the dream beaches of Sámara and Puerto Carillo. That way you get to know a bunch of attractions of the country and get a view in biology und ecology, social and economic backgrounds aswell as culture and the way of living of the costarican people. Program: 1st day: Arrival in San José and transfer to the hotel EL MARAÑON in LA TRINIDAD de CIUDAD COLON, situated in a wonderful tropical garden in about 1000 m height with a view on the Poas volcano. 2nd day: University for peace – Cloud Forest Reserve El Rodeo After a tropical breakfast program description and general information; then a ride through coffee plantations to the peacemonument of the UNIVERSIDAD PARA LA PAZ: first glimpse into the history and politics of the country; after that a guided tour through the Cloud Forest Reserve EL RODEO: first view in the country`s variety of species. Afternoon to acclimatize and relaxe in the splendid garden of the hotel. 3rd day: Cerro de la Muerte – San Gerardo de Dota Early in the morning starts the transfer up to the mountains south of San Jose to the Cerro de la Muerte at 3400 m. We will start in Páramo and partly it is going steeply downhill through Cloud Forests full of bromelia at 2300m towards San Gerardo, known for its Quetzale, which nest here, and his apple production – unique in Costa Rica! (14 km, 5 hours, without luggage), Accomodation in the Suria-Lodge. 4th day: Quetzale -Providencia de Dota Before breakfast we will do a quetzal observation. After that we will go on a smooth hiking tour towards Providencia, where we come through one of the best coffee growing areas (12 km, 4-5 hours, without luggage possible). After tasting some coffee and getting settled in our new accomodation we have the opportunity to visit an ecological coffee production unit of a local cooperative that takes part in Transfair Trade (=Beneficio). 5th day: Organic Finca – La Chaqueta Today we have breakfast in the Finca Mora, which is producing 110 kinds of vegetables and fruits in an organic way and is recycling the rubbish of the village. After that we start the thoughest hiking tour to La Chaqueta with 1500 m height difference and drastic changes in the vegetation. Nowadays some parts of the rainforest consist of pasture land. We spend the night in rustic cottages made of wood in a warm climate in about 700 m height, far away from any „civilisation“, in a place of former settling of Brunca-Indians (25 km, 8 hours, with luggage). 6th day: Piedras Blancas – El Brujo After a refreshing swim in the river we drive towards El Brujo with a stop in Piedras Blancas (425 m), where we have a typical lunch at the home of family Granados. In the afternoon we hike through teak plantations and reach the village El Brujo (the magician) at 250 m, where we spend the night in a comfortable tent camp. After dinner we have the chance to enjoy a cultural performance of students of the named school (25 km, 8 hours, with luggage). 7th day: San Cristobal – El Silencio In the morning we will cover the last difficulty of our hiking tour, the crossing of the mountain range of San Cristobal (569 m). In the village of San Cristobal we can cool down under the waterfall of El Chorro, take a typical lunch and relax. Towards our accomodation, the Albergue El Silencio, the acgriculture cooperative with the same name, it is only about 45 minuts. After getting settled in our bambus cottages we can visit the wildlife-rescue-center, before having dinner in the restaurant.(15 km, 5 hours, with luggage). 8th day: Silencio – Playa El Rey – San José Being lucky we can observe, while having breakfast, the blue and red parrots. Then we hike on a 8 km long trail through oilpalm plantation, again cross the Río Savegre and get to Playa El Rey in the National Park Manuel Antonio, to rush into the Pacific (8 km, 2,5 hours, without luggage). After enjoying an extensive swim we have a farewell-picnic. With that we end the hiking tour and drive back to our hotel El Marañón close to San José to start the biking tour. 9th day: Poás Volcano – La Paz - Thermalsprings After breakfast we drive in a microbus, passing the traditional town ALAJUELA, towards the center of coffee cultivation on the fertile slopes of VULKAN POAS: hiking tour in the n ational park to the crater and lagoon and on the way back through dense cloud forest. Then we cross the Central Cordillera and reach the impressing waterfall LA PAZ. Briefly after that starts the biking tour: First downhill, we come to the Caribbean Lowland over San Miguel to AGUAS ZARCAS in our LODGE, which is located close to thermalsprings in the rainforest - ideal to relax after our first active day (30 km, 2,5-3 hours, easy) We bike with an accompanying vehicle, so that you can switch every time from bike to „taxi“. 10th day: Coconut plantation - Lavafields Today we bike through coconut-, papaya- und maniok plantations, aswell as through extended cattle pastures in the northern lowland and come to the active ARENAL Volcano, our eco-lodge is located right next to the volcano. (50 km, 4 hours, easy) The afternoon is for free disposal and offers the opportunity to visit the well known waterfall Fortuna, the lavafields of the volcano, a Canopy-Tour or hanging bridges. 11th day: Biking along the Arenal lake We are in one of the most beautiful bike- areas: Having the majestetic volcano pin right next to us we bike to the biggest lake of the country. On our first stage (37 km/4 hours – degree of middle dificulty) we will round the lake Arenal, which is surrounded by rich tropical vegetation, until briefly before Nuevo Arenal, where we can enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake or a canoetour. In the afternoon we bike into the village or we relax on the terrace or the meadow of the directly next to the lake located lodge. (9 km/2 x 1 hours - easy) 12th day: From Lake Arenal to the peninsula Nicoya into the Forest Reserve Monte Alto In the morning we will drive by microbus almost until Tilarán. From there we go by bike, while having a phantastic view at the volcanos and the Pacific Lowland, downhill until Cañas (28 km/2,5 hours, downhill with a few hills), where we have a fruit-picnic at the city park. We continue the tour via Panamericana towards the new bridge over Río Tempisque by boat. From there we bike to the peninsula Nicoya until HOJANCHA into the Forest Reserve MONTE ALTO. (30 km/4 hours, at the end uphill with few hills) There a citizen initiative protects the excisting forest and tries to grow new trees on the surrounding hills, to make sure that the water supply of the village and the diversity of the RIO NOSARA is working; Overnight stay in simple lodge, but lovely located right in between the forest. Also you have the opportunity to sleep in the halfopened first story under mosquitonets– a really special nature experience! 13th day: Vamos a la playa! In the morning introduction into the tropical rainforest on the forest teaching trails of the reserve; after that tour through woods and palmcovered hilly landscapes to the pacific towards SAMARA (50 km, 4-5 hours, middel dificulty, hills) with its wonderful palm bay; relax by having a swim in the ocean- Overnight stay 3 minuts away from the beach. 14th day: Return to San José In the morning you can take a swim, snorkle, scuba dive, surf, paraglide, go horseback riding, hiking or go canoeing in the river or ocean (turtleobservation). In the afternoon return towards San Jose into the hotel EL MARANON (guests, who want to stay at the pacific, travel back later and then can stay another night (breakfast included) in the hotel Maranón). 15th day: Breakfast and departure or extension Dates 2006: 24.11., 8.12. 2007: 16 .1., 24.3., 26.5., 28.7., 29.9., 8.12. – in dividual trips possible all time! SERVICES INCLUDED: 1st week: 7 overnight stays breakfast included in hotels/boarding-houses and ecotouristic projects in double or singlerooms (on 3rd.-5th.day possible depending on the groupsize!), full board from 3rd.-7th. day, englishspeaking hiking guide, named program, transfers. 2nd week: 7 overnight stays breakfast included in hotels/boarding-houses and ecotouristic projects in doublerooms (singlerooms for extra money), picnics 2nd.-5th.day, bycicles with helmet, gloves and waterbottles from 2nd.-6th.day, englishspeaking tourguide during biking tour, on 1st., 2nd., 6th.(in Sámara), 7th.+8th.day germanspeaking care, guided tours of the program and admission costs, accompanying vehicle/ garage vehicle, named transfers, return Samara-San José in public bus. (With 2-3 participants the biking tour without accompanying vehicle, but with luggage transport). The optional activities are not included in the price. Price per person: 1 week Trekking Tour: 2 pers. € 1000 3-4 pers. € 850 5-6 pers. € 650 from 7 pers. € 499 1 week Cycle Tour: 2 pers. € 850 3-4 pers. € 800 5-6 pers. € 700 from 7 pers. € 499 Bike rent (for 1 week cycling): € 99,– 1 week Cycling & Trekking Tour: 2 pers. € 1699 3-4 pers. € 1499 5-6 pers. € 1099 from 7 pers. € 999 single room supplement: € 10 per day Prolongation at the south of Caribbean – PUERTO VIEJO 15th day: Transfer through the National Park BRAULIO CARILLO into the Caribbean Lowland, passing exctended banana plantations, towards PUERTO LIMON, the capital of the Caribbean; Riding along palm beaches towards PUERTO VIEJO into the COSTA DE PAPITO LODGE: You are staying in tasteful designed bungalows made of wood with terrace in tropical gardens right in between jungle treegiants, just 100 m away from the beach of dreams and during your stay a simple bike is at your disposal. The lodge is renting snorkle- and surfing equipment and you can enjoy a nice treatment in the spa. 16th–20th day: Days for free disposal: the touristic infrastructure of the near surrounding consits of: 2 national parks, Cahuita und Gandoca-Manzanillo, aswell as a few forest reserves, in which you can hike and observe flora und fauna, the Indians Reservation Këköldi, where you can learn everything about medical plants and a little bit about the mythology of the Bribri –Indians, aswell as a botanical garden, Canopy Tour, Horse renting and only 1,5 km away you can find the popular fishing village Puerto Viejo, where you can enjoy a Piña Colada at night. 21th day: After e refreshing swim in the caribbean ocean we drive back through the National Park Braulio Carillo towards San José in our hotel. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to go shopping or to visit a museum in San José. 22th day: Breakfast and departure or prolongation Price (only extensionweek ): € 299,– Incl. Bed & Breakfast & Transfer Single room extra money per day: € 10,– CYCLE-TOUR to the Pacific (2 weeks) 2006-7 Are you interested in getting to know Costa Rica by bicycle? In this Cycle-Tour you will take carefuly selected routes which lead to the most beautiful landscapes, hidden biological reserves, and fantastic tropical beaches. We can observe crocodiles, visit the National Park of Carara or enjoy a Canopy tour. Our lodges are small family-run places inmid nature, where you will meet typical Costarican hostility. In the eco-touristic projects of farmer asociations you will learn a lot about real life in the country: We cross mountains and rivers, the Gulf of Nicoya and in some of the destinations we will enjoy guided walks and visit interesting projects, and there is also enough time left for individual activities. You will get to know many of the attractions of our country, especially you will get an inside view of biodiversity, ecology and social and economic backgrounds as well as of the ticos’ culture and way of life. After the two-weeks-tour to the Pacific, you have the opportunity of prolongation, adding one week to enjoy the Caribbean site on your lkand. We’ll be glad to arrange hotel bookings and transfers, and you choose your itinerary. THE PROGRAM Day 1 Arrival to San José and transfer to the hotel EL MARAÑON in LA TRINIDAD, CIUDAD COLÖN, located at an altitude of 1000 meters. The Marañón is surrounded by a magnificent tropical garden with a beautiful view on the Poás Volcano. In the restaurant “El Aguacate” you can enjoy a varied menu of New Costa Rican Cuisine. We are about 20 minutes away from the international airport and the capital San José. Day 2 Tropical breakfast, general information and discussion of the program. Then we start to bike: We go to Santa Ana (where you can buy things you need and/or change money) and bike to SALITRAL, so you can get a first impression of how it is to go by bike in Costa Rica. (15 + 15 km, 2-3 hours) In the afternoon you can relax in the tropical garden of the hotel or if you wish, just enjoy in a pool, located at 200m from the hotel. Day 3 Today we start our 11-day-tour to the Pacific: The fist part through an impressing landscape towards to SANTIAGO DE PURISCAL we´ll go by bus or jeep – if you like we could stop at a Cigar factory. From here we cycle downwards through SAN PABLO DE TURRABARES to the Río Tárcoles (38 km, 3 hours), where we cross a Hanging bridge. After a while we cross again the same river where we can watch crocodiles for sure. We pass by the National Park CARARA and get to PLAYA AGUJAS, a small Pacific beach. (23 km, 1-1,5 hours). We will stay on the wide Hacienda BOSQUE TROPICAL half a mile from the beach. Day 4 Today you can choose between different activities: A visit of the beaches of HERRADURA and JACO (15 + 15 Km. 3 hours) – where you can go through the rain forest by an Aerial Tram and/or do a Canopy-Tour. Visiting the National Park of Carara or passing the suspension bridges and a huge waterfull located in the rainforest nearby is also worthwile. Day 5 We continue our tour towards the north, passing by the coast until we reach PUNTARENAS, the old port and bath of the Ticos (Bus transfer). From here we will take the ferry and cross the Gulf of Nicoya to get to PLAYA NARANJO located on the Peninsula of Nicoya. For one hour we relax on the boat and we can watch the beautiful islands located in the gulf. We continue by bike until we reach JICARAL and will get at lunch time to the rainforest reserve KAREN MOGENSEN (29 km, 4 hours). This Reserve is managed by the ecological association ASEPALECO and was founded in honour of a well-known Swedish conservationist. We leave the bicycles at the entrance of the reserve, before starting to walk to the lodge. We will cross several times Río Blanco, one of the country’s most wonderful rivers, with a lot of natural pools and waterfalls inviting you to take a bath. The lodge, located at an altitude of 800 metres, offers a spectacular view. Dinner is prepared on a firewood stove and the light is produced by solar panels. We will spend the night in the middle of nature and will enjoy the exotic sounds of the night. www.asepaleco.com (Single rooms cannot be garantied in this lodge.) Day 6 After an incredible bird concert at dawn we enjoy the typical breakfast in the middle of the forest. On this cycle-free day we can explore the biodiversity of the tropical rainforest, walk up to a viewpoint or/and to a beautiful waterfall to have a refreshing bath in the crystal clear water. Day 7 Today we have to choose between two alternatives: to stay in the Reserve and explore even more the rain forest or cycle to an Orchid farm pasing through wonderful cattle farms. And of course we can refresh us again in the waterfall and natural pools of Río Blanco. Day 8 In the morning we will walk back to the entrance of the reserve, where we pick up our bikes to continue the tour. We will pass by the Gulf, reaching SAN PABLO, then MANSIÓN (50 km, 4 hours); from here our bus will take us to HOJANCHA to visit the coffee plant MATAMBU of the local Coffee Cooperative. Here you will learn a lot about ecological coffee production. Then we get to Pilangosta and into the forest reserve MONTE ALTO (7 km, 0,5 hours). Here a citizens’ initiative saves existing forest stocks by reforesting surrounding hills. Doing this, they secure the water supply of the area as well as the biodiversity of the river NOSARA. We will have dinner and spend the night in a simple but fascinating lodge in the middle of the forest. You also have the opportunity to spend the night on the first floor under mosquito nets outside – a very special nature adventure! (www.montealto.cultourica.com) Day 9 After waking up by the sound of the howler monkeys, we enjoy a guided tour through the forest reserve. During this walk you will see not only a lot of birds, but also local Orchids on a special trail. In the afternoon we bike to the typical town of Hojancha or relax in the swimming pool located nearby. Another option is to do horseback riding to a waterfall or to have a walk to a magnificent viewpoint. Day 10 Today we ll´get to the Pacific Coast. First we will cycle through forest, then pass by the hilly landscape covered by palm trees to the coast where we finally reach SÁMARA (40 km, 4 hours), a touristic fishermens’ village with a beautiful palm tree bay. Here we will stay for the next three nights at the Hotel Belvedere (www.belvederesamara.com), located at the edge of Sámara in a quiet surrounding with a pool inmid a tropical garden. From the hotel it is just a 3-minute’s distance to the beach. Day 11 Again we offer two alternatives of day tours: to the beaches of Carrillo, a classical palm bay and a small fisher port, and Camaronal, a nature reserve, where (in case of luck) we can watch turtles lying their eggs in the sand. (2 x 15 km, 2-3 Stunden) or to the picturesque beach of BARIGONA, lonely and unspoiled without any building development. Furthermore we will cycle to the bay and fishermens’ village GARZA (2 x 18 km, 4 hours), where we will spend the afternoon. Day 12 Our last day at the Pacific can be spent individually. There are many possibilities for recreation: swimming, snorckeling, diving, surfing, paragliding, horseback riding, walking… or maybe a canoa tour on the ocean to a little island or in the river close by. Fishermen offer as well tours to observe Dolphins. A Canopy Tour is available as well. Day 13 On our way back to the Cemtral Valley we have a surprise for you: We will do an amazing boat trip on the Gulf of Nicoya getting to know mangroves with a lot of wildlife and the Island of Chira: Here a fisherwomens initiative will be our partner getting to know an island where Costa Rica seems to be in the fifties. After lunch we will cross the Gulf and get to Manzanillo, where our bus is waiting for us to bring us back to hotel EL MARAÑON in CIUDAD COLÓN. Day 14 This day can be used for individual activities, for example to visit the capital, SAN JOSE (Markets, Museums, Parks), the Butterfly Farm LA GUACIMA, InBioParque, VOLCANO POÁS or IRAZÚ. Day15 Breakfast and departure (transfer to the airport) or additional week in the South Caribbean. DATES 2006: December 8 th – individual trips at any time! 2007: February 10 th, April 29 th, July 29 th , December 9 th Or special individual groups on convenience dates. SERVICES Lodging including breakfast in double room (extra charge for single room), Dinner the following days: 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th, 6 th 7 th and 8 th day, lunch at 13 th day . Guided tours (English speaking) and entrance fees for activities according to the program, transfers and transport of the luggage. The activities mentioned as “optional” are not included. COSTS Per person (2 weeks): € 1150 (minimum 6 participants) 2-3 pers.: € 2300 4-5 pers.: € 1500 Bike rental (2 weeks): € 199 (doesn’t include the additional week) Additional week: € 299 Extra charge for single room per day: € 140 Additional week: SOUTH CARIBBEAN - CAHUITA Day 15 Transfer to San José. Here you start your voyage in bus, passing by the National Park BRAULIO CARILLO. After that, extensive banana plantations announce the arrival to PUERTO LIMON, the capital of the Caribbean county. Sightseeing per bike and further journey by bike along the beaches with palm trees, until reaching CAHUITA to stay in the SIATAMI Lodge: You will live in spacious, tastefully equipped bungalows with kitchen and terrace surrounded by a tropical garden. Downtown can be reached within a 10-minute’s-walk – an ideal place for having a week of individually organized vacation by bike. (www.siatami.com) Days 16 to 19/ 20 You can choose your own activities. Possibilities: Walks trough the forest, swimming/ diving/snorkelling in the beautiful ocean of the marvellous beaches of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Punta Uva and Manzanillo, visiting the National Parks Hitoy Cerere and Gandoca-Manzanillo, turtle watching in Gandoca from March to August, as well as the botanical garden, boat tour to observe dolphins. Another option would be to visit the city Bribri or to make a trip to Panama. Day 20 or 21 Departure to San José from Cahuita or Puerto Limon by Bus, Transfer in Taxi to the Hotel Marañón. Day 22 Breakfast and Departue - Transfer to the Airport.