*Giving Back - We donate a percentage of profit to the Osa Conservation which is dedicated to preserving the globally significant biodiversity of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Named "one of the most biologically diverse places on earth" by National Geographic the Osa packs an unparalleled amount of land and marine species and diverse ecosystems in an incredibly small area.
Join us for an 9-Day escape kayaking and exploring one of the few tropical fjords in the world, experiencing the most abundant exotic flora & fauna in Costa Rica. You will paddle the calm, warm waters of the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) in a single or double enclosed kayak while surrounded by the tropical backdrop of rainforests and jungle mountains. You'll see dolphins, turtles and more from your kayak! We'll take rest, lunch and swim breaks in several spots over the course of the day. You’ll experience the best of super-natural Costa Rica on this tropical adventure, and taste the natural flavors of the Costa Rican cuisine; all while staying at beautiful and comfortable eco-lodges.
Trip Highlights
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Sunrise at the lodge in Rincon
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Tropical Costa Rica!!! Today has been designated as your arrival day! You will be met at the International Airport of San Jose (SJO) and brought to a very conveniently located hotel (15 min. drive) with lush gardens, pool, comfortable rooms, and an in-house restaurant. Here you’ll have the chance to relax and unwind from your International travels. Lodging for the night is at The Country Inn and Suites in San Jose. Welcome dinner provided today.
Day 2 - Enjoy waking up to the bird sounds and enjoy the local breakfast. After breakfast we’ll pick you up for your drive back to the airport for your domestic flight to the Osa Peninsula. This one hour flight takes you out of the Central Valley, flying along the Pacific coast providing spectacular vistas. At the local airstrip of Puerto Jimenez your driver will greet you and take you to your lodge in Rincon Bay (about 30 min. drive), peacefully located right on the shores of the Golfo Dulce. You’ll have time to settle down into your cozy jungle cabin, and wander around the beach before a delicious home-made lunch, carefully prepared on location using the freshest ingredients grown from local gardens. After your first meal we head out to the water for our kayaking introduction where after we’ll hop into our kayaks for some coastal paddling. Late afternoon you can rest and relax and enjoy the property’s spacious common area; a great place to rest, read, relax in a hammock, or even practice yoga. Dinner’s served after we’ve witnessed a beautiful afternoon.
Day 3 - This morning after breakfast we’ll take a short drive to the Playa Blanca to start a 6 mile trip down the coast back to the lodge. We'll set some time aside to watch the scarlet Macaws that this beach is famous for. We plan to arrive to back at the lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, after some down time (siesta), we will be visiting an organic farm. Where we will learn about its tropical flowers, trees, and fruits, with the focus on the Cacao plant. We might even be tasting some chocolate treats at the end of the tour. After the chocolate tour we will be back at the lodge for a drink accompanied by some appetizers before dinner.
Day 4 - Yet another beautiful morning on the Gulfo Dulce with its many tropical birds, and sunrise over the water. Today we will explore the gulf in search of dolphins in the morning, have a waterside lunch, and then paddle up the Esquinas River. It will be an interesting experience for all! The morning starts with a motor boat ride into the gulf to see spotted and bottle nose dolphins, followed by lunch on the beach, and then a paddle up the river to see the mangrove forest, wading birds and potentially a monkey or crocodile. After this full day, we’ve deserved some nice cold drinks on the boat ride back followed by a delicious dinner after the sun has set.
Day 5 - On this special day, we will take a break from paddling and embark on a unique journey to Corcovado National Park, the crown jewel of the Costa Rican National Park System. After a drive to Puerto Jimenez, we climb aboard a boat that will take us out of the Golfo Dulce and into the open Pacific Ocean, where we travel along the coastline for an hour until we reach the heart of Corcovado National Park. Once at the Ranger Station, your knowledgeable naturalist guide will lead you on one of the six wildlife trails surrounding Sirena Station. Your national park guide will help you spot as much flora & fauna as possible while explaining about the animals, plants, and trees you see. At noon, we'll return to the station for a delicious lunch and a break on the beautiful wooden deck looking over grassy fields, the jungle, and the ocean in the background. After lunch, we will continue the guided hike, exploring the other trails for more wildlife. Early in the afternoon we will hop back on our boat, ride back to Puerto Jimenez, and then drive back to El Chontal.
Day 6 - This is your last paddling day in the Golfo Dulce! We will paddle to ‘Playa Palma Real’, about 6 miles. This is an interesting little area in the rain forest where you will see how the locals enjoy their surroundings. We’ll take a well-deserved break to enjoy lunch on the beach here. After lunch we’ll ride back to the lodge by motorboat. The afternoon is at your leisure folowed by dinner later in the evening.
Day 7 - It’s time to say goodbye to your lovely Costa Rican family hosts at the lodge. After breakfast we’ll pack up and drive out of the Osa Peninsula up along the Pacific coast. Along the way we will make a stop to visit interesting sites before we reach a beautiful beach location where we’ll spend the night at an ocean side lodge. This is a picturesque drive along the coast and will be a relaxing day.
Day 8 - We’ll continue our drive back to San Jose and make a stop along the way for locally made souvenirs. Your final night will be spent at a hotel in San Jose. Your last Tico dinner of the trip is served at the Country Inn and Suites.
Day 9 - Enjoy your last Costa Rican breakfast of this trip, and perhaps some downtime at the pool. Your driver will pick you up and take you to the airport in time to catch your flight out.
* A couple of things to keep in mind. We will be travelling in remote areas where schedules can't always be strictly adhered to but we do our best to stick with the itinerary. Also, the Osa Peninsula is normally hot! The showers are not heated in the cabins (something you will get used to and cherish). Finally, afternoon siesta time is not only recommended but a regular part of the day.
Day 2 - Enjoy waking up to the bird sounds and enjoy the local breakfast. After breakfast we’ll pick you up for your drive back to the airport for your domestic flight to the Osa Peninsula. This one hour flight takes you out of the Central Valley, flying along the Pacific coast providing spectacular vistas. At the local airstrip of Puerto Jimenez your driver will greet you and take you to your lodge in Rincon Bay (about 30 min. drive), peacefully located right on the shores of the Golfo Dulce. You’ll have time to settle down into your cozy jungle cabin, and wander around the beach before a delicious home-made lunch, carefully prepared on location using the freshest ingredients grown from local gardens. After your first meal we head out to the water for our kayaking introduction where after we’ll hop into our kayaks for some coastal paddling. Late afternoon you can rest and relax and enjoy the property’s spacious common area; a great place to rest, read, relax in a hammock, or even practice yoga. Dinner’s served after we’ve witnessed a beautiful afternoon.
Day 3 - This morning after breakfast we’ll take a short drive to the Playa Blanca to start a 6 mile trip down the coast back to the lodge. We'll set some time aside to watch the scarlet Macaws that this beach is famous for. We plan to arrive to back at the lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, after some down time (siesta), we will be visiting an organic farm. Where we will learn about its tropical flowers, trees, and fruits, with the focus on the Cacao plant. We might even be tasting some chocolate treats at the end of the tour. After the chocolate tour we will be back at the lodge for a drink accompanied by some appetizers before dinner.
Day 4 - Yet another beautiful morning on the Gulfo Dulce with its many tropical birds, and sunrise over the water. Today we will explore the gulf in search of dolphins in the morning, have a waterside lunch, and then paddle up the Esquinas River. It will be an interesting experience for all! The morning starts with a motor boat ride into the gulf to see spotted and bottle nose dolphins, followed by lunch on the beach, and then a paddle up the river to see the mangrove forest, wading birds and potentially a monkey or crocodile. After this full day, we’ve deserved some nice cold drinks on the boat ride back followed by a delicious dinner after the sun has set.
Day 5 - On this special day, we will take a break from paddling and embark on a unique journey to Corcovado National Park, the crown jewel of the Costa Rican National Park System. After a drive to Puerto Jimenez, we climb aboard a boat that will take us out of the Golfo Dulce and into the open Pacific Ocean, where we travel along the coastline for an hour until we reach the heart of Corcovado National Park. Once at the Ranger Station, your knowledgeable naturalist guide will lead you on one of the six wildlife trails surrounding Sirena Station. Your national park guide will help you spot as much flora & fauna as possible while explaining about the animals, plants, and trees you see. At noon, we'll return to the station for a delicious lunch and a break on the beautiful wooden deck looking over grassy fields, the jungle, and the ocean in the background. After lunch, we will continue the guided hike, exploring the other trails for more wildlife. Early in the afternoon we will hop back on our boat, ride back to Puerto Jimenez, and then drive back to El Chontal.
Day 6 - This is your last paddling day in the Golfo Dulce! We will paddle to ‘Playa Palma Real’, about 6 miles. This is an interesting little area in the rain forest where you will see how the locals enjoy their surroundings. We’ll take a well-deserved break to enjoy lunch on the beach here. After lunch we’ll ride back to the lodge by motorboat. The afternoon is at your leisure folowed by dinner later in the evening.
Day 7 - It’s time to say goodbye to your lovely Costa Rican family hosts at the lodge. After breakfast we’ll pack up and drive out of the Osa Peninsula up along the Pacific coast. Along the way we will make a stop to visit interesting sites before we reach a beautiful beach location where we’ll spend the night at an ocean side lodge. This is a picturesque drive along the coast and will be a relaxing day.
Day 8 - We’ll continue our drive back to San Jose and make a stop along the way for locally made souvenirs. Your final night will be spent at a hotel in San Jose. Your last Tico dinner of the trip is served at the Country Inn and Suites.
Day 9 - Enjoy your last Costa Rican breakfast of this trip, and perhaps some downtime at the pool. Your driver will pick you up and take you to the airport in time to catch your flight out.
* A couple of things to keep in mind. We will be travelling in remote areas where schedules can't always be strictly adhered to but we do our best to stick with the itinerary. Also, the Osa Peninsula is normally hot! The showers are not heated in the cabins (something you will get used to and cherish). Finally, afternoon siesta time is not only recommended but a regular part of the day.
What's Included and Trip Price
- All lodging, hotels in San Jose and Lodges on the Gulfo Dulce and Pacific Coast
- Domestic transfers, flights and taxis, once you arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica.
- All meals except for breakfast and lunch on day 1
- All paddling equipment
- Scott Locorini and a local as your on and off water guides.
- $3895 per person - Share a room and save $250
There are a minimum number of participants required to confirm the trips. Therefore please do not make any travel arrangements (airline flights, train) until you have received confirmation from us that the trip has fully booked. A 50% deposit is due at time of reservation, with payment in full due 60 days prior to the trip’s start date. Email us, call or text (315) 316-1125 with questions.