Activities
 Relaxing at wonderful tropical beaches, snorkeling in crystalline waters, searching for shells, building sandcastles, exploring the rainforest on small trails, discovering hidden bays with the bike, taking pictures of butterflies, riding horses, observing the wildlife...
...the South Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica offers a wide range of leisure activities and tours you can join. To give you just a little impression of how you can spend your vacation, we have collected a choice of tours and excursions on this page. Our team at the reception desk is looking forward to giving you plenty of information and arranging tours for you.
Most of our tours will pick you up and return you right to your hotel (or sometimes to another Costa Rica destination!). Tours which do not include transportation are indicated below and we will be happy to assist to you in getting to the start point in those cases.
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Whitewater Rafting
Many of the rafting trips include transportation between San Jose or Arenal and Puerto Viejo so it's like getting your transport to/from Puerto Viejo for free! Your luggage is secure throughout the trip so you're free to enjoy your day on the river.
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Pacuare River: One-Day (Class III-IV)
This trip gives you the ultimate blend of wilderness exposure and invigorating excitement. The Pacuare River is world famous for its pristine beauty. A true river gorge, it is flanked by steep, green walls. Waterfalls cascade into the river from both sides as colorful, tropical birds fly right over your head. Amazing views of this virgin Tropical Rainforest appear before your eyes as you descend this true exploratory land. Includes transport to/from Puerto Viejo from/to San Jose or Arenal if you want.
Full day Cost: $99 p/p
Difficulty: Class III-IV
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Two Day Rafting Trips (Class III-IV+)
We have two overnight rafting trips. Our overnight Pacuare Adventure is a Paddle and Hike expedition. Not only will you raft a variety of exciting rapids, but you will also hike to pristine waterfalls, fun swimming holes and primary jungles. Overnight is at a lodge on the Pacuare River, the next you continue down the river. Or choose to combine our Pacuare Trip (see above) and Reventazon River - Pascua section trip (see below) with an overnight stay at a lodge near our rafting center. Both include transport to/from Puerto Viejo from/to San Jose or Arenal.
Two days Cost: $229 p/p
Difficulty: Class III-IV
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Reventazon River: Pascua Section (Class IV)
After paddling the Pascua section of the Reventazón River, adventurers agree that these are the best rapids they have conquered. Pascua is a classic big water run, guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat, literally! Amongst the fifteen solid class IV rapids you will run are: Dirty Mind, The Abyss, Indigestion and Horrendito. Includes transport to/from Puerto Viejo from/to San Jose or Arenal if you want.
Full day Cost: $99 p/p
Difficulty: Class IV+
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Reventazon River: Florida Section (Class III)
A great big water run, with moderate difficulty. The lush surroundings, abundant bird life and good amount of fun rapids makes this a great introduction to river running. This run is clearly divided in two halves. The first hour is very exciting, with big waves and long rapids. The second half is more relaxed as the river enters the true lower Caribbean, the surroundings take on a jungle character and the wildlife is more plentiful. Includes transport to/from Puerto Viejo from/to San Jose or Arenal if you want.
Full day Cost: $79 p/p
Difficulty: Class II-III
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Jungle, Nature & Wildlife
The Puerto Viejo area has some of the most spectacular natural areas in the country and are even of international importance. The area includes several protected areas including Cahuita National Park and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge.
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Caribbean Canopy and Zipline Tour
Experience the richness and diversity of the jungle close-up from this adventure that lets you experience nature close-up. This canopy adventure has 9 aerial platforms and 14 on land with a total of 2560 meters of cable. Glide through the jungle on a zipline for a bird's eye view of the jungle.
Half Day
Cost: $55 p/p
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Cahuita Boat, Snorkel and Hiking Trip
Cahuita National Park features the largest coral reefs in Southern Central America as well as great hiking trails with lots of wildlife. This trip combines a boat ride, snorkeling and hiking. First is a ride in a boat to Punta Cahuita. Once at the point, you can put on snorkel gear to explore first hand the “under water tropical forest”. You will then land for a guided rainforest hike, with comprehensive information on this particular area. Monkeys, sloth, several reptiles, frogs and beautiful insects are common sights. Round trip transportation to Cahuita with pickup/dropoff at your hotel in Puerto Viejo is included.
Half day
Cost: $49 p/p
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Manzanillo Rainforest Hike
At the southeast corner of Costa Rica lies the unspoiled Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, stretching to the border of Panama. Home to monkeys, sloths, a great variety of birds and much more; the area is rich with wildlife. It is also spectacularly scenic with cliffs and hidden beaches along the water. You can choose to meet your local naturist guide in Manzanillo town or we can pick you up at your hotel. Your guide will take you on a hike where you will learn much about the rainforest and its inhabitants and see its hidden wonders which take a trained eye to spot.
Half Day
Cost: $44 p/p without transport, $55 p/p with hotel pickup
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River and Sea Kayaking with Rainforest Hike
We will drive to the most beautiful location in the area, Punta Uva. This trip consists of three sections. After a safety briefing we will first embark in a magical sea kayaking journey paralleling a coast full of cliffs, caves, and the most amazing rainforest. Then we will paddle our way up river though gorgeous rainforest where you can expect to spot monkeys, sloth, colorful birds, river turtles, bats and iguanas. Your professional guide will deliver a lot of interesting insights on this wonderful eco system. Back at the beach we will take a nice break to relax, swim and enjoy some nicely presented fresh fruit and snacks before hiking to the great over view at Grape Point.
Half Day
Cost: $59 p/p
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Sloth Santuary, Chocolate House and Waterfall
This trip combines three of our most popular activities: a visit to the Sloth Sanctuary and Rescue Centre, a visit to an indigenous family that shows you how they make chocolate right from the Cacao trees in their yard and a visit to a local waterfall and swimming hole. The Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary is a recovery project that rescues injured and orphaned sloths and you visit there will give you a first hand learning experience about these amazing creatures; a lecture will be given followed by a interaction time with Buttercup and the other sloths. For more info on the chocolate and waterfall click more info or see the full description in the Indigenous Communities section.
Half day
Cost: $90.00 for 1 person
Cost: $60.00 for 2 persons
$45.00 for 3 or more persons
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Full Day Jungle Adventure
Looking for the maximum in adventure? This full day adventure combines our canopy and zipline tour with a ATV ride, tarzan swing and much more in an action packed day you'll not soon forget!
Full Day Cost: $110-140 p/p
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Aiko-logi Reserve
The Aiko-logi Reserve is a 135ha (335 acre) farm and reserve in the Talamanca mountains a short distance from Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. Spend a day or an overnight in the jungle. Guided hikes to see the amazing diversity of birds, animals and amphibians. Tours include pickup in Puerto Viejo or Cahuita and can include a specialized focus in birds, amphibians & reptiles or medicinal plants if you like.
Day tour Cost $60 p/p
2 days/1 night cost $99 p/p
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Dolphin watching and snorkeling
Take a beautiful ride along the coast past Manzanillo deep into the Gandoca National park. Near the Panamanian border, atlantic and bottlenose dolphins come in to feed in the brackish waters near the Sixaola river. After seeing the dolphins, we cruise back to Mona island for snorkelling and/or diving! Then we continue back up the coast to Punta Uva for our second dive and second snorkelling site.
Tour with snorkeling Cost $65 p/p
Tour with scuba diving Cost $110 p/p
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Bird Watching
Thanks to our rich biodiversity, I will find and delight in pointing out and sharing my knowledge on the various bird species of the area, this is definitely a superb bird watching tour! Some of the species you could see in this area are the Red-capped Manikin, crested owl, the olive throated parakeet; pale vented pigeon, masked tityra, Collared Aracari, slaty ant shrike, keel-billed and chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Magnificent Frigate-bird, common black hawk, passerini’s tanager, and the black-cowled oriole, among others.
Half day Cost: $50 p/p
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Nighttime Turtle Watching
Take the opportunity to travel through time and go back to the beginning of evolution, represented by the nesting of these live fossils. The leatherback turtle is the biggest turtle in the world; it can be as large as 2 meters long and 650 kg of weight. We will have an unforgettable night walk along the Gandoca Beach; I will show you a different perspective of this spectacular experience. You will observe these mothers in the important work of laying eggs and at the same time you will learn important things about the natural history of these special animals in danger of extinction. Help us with the protection of sea turtles! Pickup and dropoff at your hotel is now included in our price.
Evening (Seasonal: Mar-July)
$85 p/p for 2 persons
$70 p/p for 3 persons
$60 p/p for 4+ persons
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Indigenous Communities
Costa Rica's South Caribbean (along with Panama) is home to the Bri Bri people. Many of these communities had no exposure to the modern world until recently. These tours not only give you a glimpse into a unique life but they support these communities in their effort at economic diversification. The Caribbean is also home to a unique Afro-Caribe culture. Many of our tours take place within the protected areas of the Kèköldi Indigenous Reserve or the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
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Uatsi Waterfall and Indigenous Reservation
This combo tour includes transportation to/from your hotel as well as visits to the waterfall, to the Sixoala River (the border between Costa Rica and Panama), an indigenous reservation and an indigenous chocolate "factory" where the whole process from the growing of the Cacao plant to the making of this unique organic handmade chocolate is explained.
Half Day Cost: please inquire
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Indigenous Cultural Centre and Medicine Man Tour
This tour will give you the opportunity to learn more about the culture of the indigenous peoples of Talamanca and meet with Don Cándido, a famed local healer who will teach you about local healing plants and methods. We will visit Centro Cultural Indigena and meet Don Cándido, the last in a long line of indigenous medicine men. At the centre there are more than 1500 plants used to cure different illnesses. There is a walking trail where you can see many of these medicinal plants and enjoy close contact with jungle birds and small animals. Also while you are here you can take a treatment with Don Cándido for any illness using nature's own botanical healing system. You can also learn about traditional foods, massage, history and science.
Half Day Cost: please inquire
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Local Activities
There are many local activities we can help you arrange. Many of these do book up so if you want to experience horseback riding along the beach or learning to surf in one of the best spots in the world, then have us book these activities for you.
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Scuba Diving
Our scuba trips have full access to Costa Rica’s only pristine coral reef ecosystem. 50 miles from the nearest city and largely unexplored, our barrier reef stretches from the town of Puerto Viejo to the Panamanian border and offers you more than 25 fixed dive locations ranging from shallow coral gardens to deep, fringing reefs and vertical walls dropping to over 140 feet!
We offer both a variety of trips for certified divers as well as discover scuba and scuba lessons for those wanting to experience the underwater world for the first time.
2 Tank Dive for Certified Divers $90 per person or Non-Certified Divers (includes 2 hour course before your dive) $155 per person
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Pure Jungle Spa: Massage, Facials & Treatments
The Pure Jungle Spa has been featured in many travel articles about Puerto Viejo including articles in USA Today and Conde Nast Traveler. It can feature as a highlight of your vacation too! Services offered include the Rainforest Immersion Massage, the Jungle Chocolate Facial, the Moka Rico 100% Pure Body Treatment, and the Exotic Foot Ritual. Click the link for many more options and information.
1 hour / 1 ½ hours, $65 / $90
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ATV Jungle Tour
This tour takes you through the jungle and mountain trails of Talamanca where you will observe wildlife and arrive at a waterfall of singular beauty. Here we will take a break and enjoy a snack of fresh tropical fruit. Next, we will visit an indigenous community where you will learn about medicinal plants and how the Indian people use them.
Half day
$80 each on own quad
$55 with 2 sharing quad
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Horseback Riding
You pick up your guide and horse at Playa Negra (Puerto Viejo) and we take you on a guided ride of the local beaches. There is only 1 guide and a few horses available at each location so advance booking is recommended.
2 or 4 hours Cost: $50-70 p/p
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Fishing Expeditions
Our experienced captain will take you and your friends on a unforgettable day on the Caribbean Sea with the chance to land some amazing catches!
We have half day trips for fish such as Tarpon, King Mackerel or Red Snapper and full-day deep sea trips for Tuna, Maui Maui and other big game fish.
All day
$120 p/p half day, $220 p/p full day
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Multi-day day tours
We offer multi-day tour packages from our hotel to Arenal Volcano, Bocas del Toro, Tortuguero or Monteverde. For more information, please [contact us]. |
