3rd Annual Costa Rica River Adventure!

A Special 11 Day Adventure of Paddling and Exploration with
SOAR Inflatables

3 Winter trip dates will be offered in 2008:

January 15th - 25th 2008
February 5th - 15th 2008
February 26th - March 7th 2008

Costa Rica Itinerary

Day 1 Upon arrival in Costa Rica, you will be met by Rodolfo Campos-Montero, SOAR's Costa Rican guide and naturalist. You will be whisked away in our comfortable bus to begin our journey deep into the fabric of Costa Rica. We'll travel through rugged mountains, lush coffee plantations and small villages on our way to the Puerto Viejo and Sarapiqui River. (L, D)

Day 2 Puerto Viejo River (Class I-II) Today we'll float the Puerto Viejo River, a remote flat-water river that rarely sees any other paddlers. Its slower moving water offers ideal conditions for wildlife viewing, revealing 400 species of birds including great green macaws, parrots, laughing falcons and great jacomars, as well as two species of monkeys, iguana and caiman. (B,L,D)

Day 3 In the morning we'll hike La Selva Biological Preserve with biologists or researchers studying the rainforest. La Selva is part of OTS, a group of 68 universities around the world studying the rainforest. This biological preserve features dense, old-growth rainforest and is home to three species of monkeys, sloth, iguana, peccaries, coatimundi, agouti, paca, and 400 species of birds including extremely colorful mot mots, honeycreepers, and the enchanting calls of montezumas oropendulas.

Rio Sarapiqui (Class I-II with a couple of class III's) Flowing freely from two Costa Rican volcanic national parks and lined by dense Caribbean lowlands primary rainforest, the Sarapiquí is one of the most pristine and cleanest rivers in Costa Rica. It passes directly through La Selva Biological Reserve, known for its extreme biodiversity and abundance of wildlife. An excellent choice for beginners to experts, the Sarapiqui offers easy class I-II to intermediate class III, perfect to highlight the versatility of our SOAR inflatables. This wildlife lover's paradise is your first chance to spot monkeys, sloth, rare rainforest poison-dart frogs, sunbitterns, river otter, toucans and more! (B,L,D)

This evening we'll transfer to the Arenal Volcano, where we'll experience its intermittent rumblings, and perhaps catch a glimpse of lava escaping from Costa Rica's most active volcano. (B,L,D)

Day 4. Rios Peñas Blancas /Arenal (Class I-II), Hot Springs The water level will determine which of these rivers we'll run.Surrounded by lush rainforest and vibrantly colored birds, these isolated rivers each feature overhanging trees filled with bromeliads, orchids and easily spotted monkeys. Paddling at a leisurely pace allows us to soak in the exuberance of life in the rainforest.

Later in the afternoon, we'll take time to explore the town of La Fortuna and then relax with a soak in Tabacon Hot Springs, a hot river with cascading pools and waterfalls. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Rio Celeste In the morning we will head north a short distance towards the Nicaraguan border to spend several days in a lightly visited region of the Tenorio Volcano.

Hiking through a montane rainforest to the Rio Celeste, we'll discover one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Falling 150 feet into a travertine pool, the waterfall will invite us to swim and explore.

After our descent to the bus, we will head to a wonderful eco-lodge on the flank of the volcano. In Costa Rica, the motto is "la pura vida"..."the sweet life", and at our lodge, we will have the time to experience and understand "la pura vida". The lodge is run by three ticas who cook all meals on a wood stove or wood grill in their immaculate kitchen. All food, vegetables and coffee are grown on or near the farm... Candle-lit at night and without electricity, it doesn't get more organic than this!

Day 6 Corobici & Tenorio Rivers and Las Pumas Rescue Center(Class I-II) Early this morning we'll drive to Canas and run both the Corobicí and Tenorio Rivers. Originating from Lake Arenal, the upper section of the Corobici river is fast and full of excitement. Nearly continuous Class I - III white water and occasional strainers will keep you on your toes and test your paddling skills. Later, the gentle Tenorio River, an intimate tributary of the Corobici, offers a chance to see rare boat-billed and agami herons roosting as well as an abundance of other wildlife.

After a fun day on the river, we will visit Las Pumas Rescue Center. Over 40 years ago, wild animals were captured during the deforestation of northern Costa Rica. Many wild cats were captured by locals and made into pets. The Rescue Center was set up to welcome the cats into natural surroundings. Here we have a chance to see some of the most elusive wild cats in the world up close and personal.

Day 7 La Pura Vida! Experience the slow life of the Costa Rican countryside. Today offers numerous options, from hanging in hammock, swimming in a creekside swimming hole, lounging in a wonderful creekside hotsprings, hiking the surrounding hills, or taking a leisurely horseback ride with our tico vacquero guide. After this day, you will understand the meaning of La Pura Vida!

Day 8 Carara Biological Preserve, Scarlet Macaw Migration Today we will leave early and head south to Dominical, with several exciting stops along the way, including Tarcoles and Carara Biological Preserve. This area is where the eco-systems of the Northern Hemisphere meet the eco-systems of the Southern Hemisphere, so there is an unusual mix of flora and fauna. An old-growth forest of striking complexity and density, Carara's giant trees include 10 of the rarest hardwoods in Costa Rica. This unique combination of ecosystems is habitat for many rare and endangered species, including one of the largest populations of scarlet macaws in the country, which migrate twice daily from the inland rainforest to the coastal mangrove swamps. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Savegre River (Couple of class III & then I-II ) Located north of Manuel Antonio, the Savegre is a beautiful, boulder-filled white water river with scenery that rivals that of the Sarapiqui, yet features the entirely different ecosystems of the Pacific coast. (B,L,D)

Day 10 Baru and Dominical Begin the day in the rainforest, either ascending a rope into the rainforest canopy to take a famous zip-line ride through the trees. In the afternoon, walk just eight minutes from your cabin in the rainforest onto miles of uninhabited beach. Swim, sun, walk... it's all yours. The end of the day will find us in the small surf town of Dominical enjoying another beautiful Costa Rican sunset. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Return to San Jose by mid-day, in time for your flight back home. (B)

Day 12 (optional whitewater extension) Rio Pejibaye. Waking up in Turrialba, we will eat a hearty breakfast and then head to the Rio Pejibaye for a fun boulder-strewn, exciting, action-packed Class III+ run. Depending on water levels and conditions, we might be able to run it twice! This river is a lot of fun in SOARs!! (B,L,D)

Day 13 (optional whitewater extension) Rio Pacuare Possibly the greatest whitewater river in Costa Rica. Passing through a spectacular rainforest canyon, we will spend the day in large paddle rafts negotiating some very exciting rapids in one of the most beautiful environments ever! At the end of the day, we will return to San Jose for your early flight the next morning. (B,L,D)

Day 14 Departure day.

Reservations and Additional Information:
Call Larry @ SOAR Inflatables 800-280-SOAR (7627) 707-433-5599.
Email: larry@soar1.com