Treasures of Costa Rica
(La Paz Waterfall Garden & Sarapiquí River Rafting)

You're invited to join us for an unforgettable day of adventure and discovery on our "Treasures of Costa Rica" tour. This full-day tour is the perfect blend of free-spirited adventure and awe-inspiring discovery. You will explore three of Costa Rica's most unique regions - the vast Central Valley, the meandering Sarapiquí River, and the densely forested Braulio Carillo National Park.

Throughout this busy day you'll be inspired and moved by Natures' unspoiled beauty as you explore the diverse ecosystems that contribute to Costa Rica's unequaled beauty.

Your day of excitement begins from the moment you're picked up at your San José hotel by one of our knowledgeable and entertaining bilingual guides. While rolling through the hills of Alajuela Province in our comfortable minibus, your guide will explain the customs and culture of the people who live in the quaint pueblos that dot the countryside.

You'll pass coffee plantations where the harvesting methods have not changed in hundreds of years. After a short while we'll pause for a refreshing breakfast at the La Paz Waterfall Garden. Here you can enjoy a robust cup of Costa Rican coffee and a hearty breakfast while admiring the verdant rain forest covered with lush tropical vegetation.

After breakfast you'll explore the gardens and learn about the life of the butterfly in the world's largest Butterfly Garden.

 You'll be able to observe many different species of butterflies in their natural habitats, including the strikingly beautiful Blue Morph, with its vibrant color in a backdrop of rain forest greenery.

Next you'll visit the Hummingbird Gallery where you will be serenaded by the hum of tiny wings lightly brushing the air as dozens of these colorful creatures buzz around you in search of food and a quiet resting spot. We'll then embark on a short walk through dense rain forest in search of magical waterfalls.

This short 20-minute hike winds past four different waterfalls, each one appearing to fall from the sky into a river of sparklingly water below.

Once we have emerged from the depths of the rain forest, you'll be transported to the banks of the Sarapiquí River where a two-hour Class III white water rafting experience awaits you.

A professional, bilingual guide will accompany each raft for your security and safety. The first order of business is to don your helmets and life vests and practice your paddling techniques as a team. Then, from the moment you head your sturdy raft down river, your senses will be engaged in high gear as you scan the rapids ahead and follow the directions shouted out by your guide.

Excitement abounds on this trip but you'll still have plenty of time to observe several different species of mammals and birds, including the brightly colored and raucously noisy Toucan, Costa Rica's most popular bird.

You'll be treated to a scrumptious picnic lunch along the riverbank. At the end of this memorable day you'll have time to shower and change into dry clothes in our private facilities before we return to San José.

Note: Please bring appropriate shoes and apparel for hiking and rafting (shoes or sandals that can get wet and will not slip off), light jacket, bathing suit or swim trunks, change of clothes, towel, waterproof camera, and your "sense of adventure"!