COSTA RICA CHALLENGE ADVENTURE
The Costa Rica Challenge:
A week of muscle stretching, surprising adrenaline and action packed adventure. Only for the young of soul and fit of body. Class IV white water rafting on the Pacuare river, mountain biking, hiking, canopy zip lines, canyoning, — in rain forest, pristine rivers, all in an amazing seven days. Limited to six participants. Come alone or with a friend, make great friends. This small group approach really allows you to move at your pace, designed to accommodate the least experienced. Want to relax afterwards? Let us know and we will gladly help you extend your vacation, a few days at the beach after all this action might be a good idea!
Itinerary
Day 1: Sunday: your first Costa Rica adventure – getting downtown by yourself!
Your first adventure is clearing customs and walking through the maze at the airport out to the taxi section. You’ll be on your own getting to the hotel in San Jose.
Day 2: Monday: Costa Rica canopy tour
We’re headed to Turrialba, one of the frontier towns of Costa Rica.
Combine waterfalls, ropes, harnesses and a lot of TRUST in yourself and your Serendipity guides
Your Challenge leader will pick everyone up at the hotel at 8:00 am to start heading toward the wilder parts of Costa Rica. It’s your first chance to use some excess adrenaline. The most famous Costa Rica adventure, a purely adrenaline rush on a canopy zip line. This is where we see how loud you can scream… everyone does it.
Tonight we are sleeping on the outskirts of the active Turrialba volcano. If you are lucky you’ll see the pure white column of steam rising, if you are luckier, you will get to witness an eruption, columns of gray ash and smoke, a once in a life time experience!
Day 3: Tuesday: Costa Rica canyoning – ropes, harnesses, jungle
Jungle canyoning is a great way to get your energy going. Waterfalls and ropes, rocks and massive trees. The canyon gets chilly under the canopy. Serendipity loans you a fleece and a warming jacket, plus some hot chocolate, bet you thought Costa Rica didn’t get cold huh?
Day 4: Wednesday: Mountain biking paradise
Turrialba holds some of the best mountain bike trails you can find. No wonder why one of the 13 toughest races in the world takes place right here. You will pass through sugar cane fields, crystal clear rivers and from time to time remember to look up, there will be colorful toucans perching on the tree branches. With the 4×4 following us we can hop aboard to avoid boring stretches, then ride again once we find an interesting off-road section.
Day 5: Thursday: Hiking
“Real” hiking requires machetes and guides who know what plants are edible, which plants can hurt you, what water is pure, while spotting interesting lizards and insects and birds or snakes. There are no trail markers, no bridges. Some people prefer to hike to a specific destination such as a waterfall.. we’ll let you decide with your guide where to hike today….
Day 6: White water rafting the Pacuare River
The final Challenge — the magnificent Pacuare, 19 miles of adrenaline filled Class IV white water rafting. You’ll be pleased with all the earlier teamwork you’ve developed over the past week, because now you can take on some of the big challenges in this river, knowing exactly how each person will react, how to look out for your team members, how they will look out for you.
And of course you will swim here, too, and of course there will be a rescue kayaker right next to you when you fall in (we sort of know the tough spots, and your safety kayaker is standing by with the right equipment to be sure you exit the water, laughing at yourself). Pure adrenaline.
After the river we’re going directly back to San José, and your last evening in the capital city will be a great time to carouse and share stories, exchange addresses and photos and promises to return next year for another week of adrenaline and sore muscles.
Day 7: Saturday: Return to civilization. Goodbye, Costa Rica adventures!
Your official CHALLENGE itinerary returns to San José. But you are half way to the Caribbean beaches at the end of the river. You can opt to head EAST 3 hours via car to Puerto Viejo or Cahuita. And Serendipity can make your hotel reservations and arrange your return to San José from the beach… just ask us!
Depending on your departure time Serendipity will arrange the most convenient hotel. If departing in the morning, we’ll leave you last night at a hotel near the airport. If departing in the afternoon, then stay in the city for sightseeing or shopping, then catch a taxi to the airport (about 2 1/2 hours before flight time). We hope to see you next year, again!
Pricing
This is a PRIVATE trip (where you will have exclusive use of Serendipity’s guide, vehicle, and activities) can start and end on ANY day requested. Private departure costs are:
Two or three people: U.S. $2,530 per person
Four or five people: $2,240 per person
Six or more people: $1,990 per person
Detailed TERMS, DIRE WARNING! – please READ this before making a reservation
The price includes all hotels (mid range). Breakfast and Lunch are included DAY 2 thru DAY 6. Also included are all adventures as listed (and some others you’ll just happen upon as you move along from place to place), transportation in robust, 4×4 full size vehicles. NOT INCLUDED are your airline tickets, meals not listed, alcoholic beverages, your exit visa for Costa Rica, and the tips and gratuities.
By the way, many people add a beach stay on the Pacific or Caribbean coast, or for a nature retreat in Corcovado or Tortuguero. We can arrange extensions for you as well.
The first step to enjoying a Serendipity adventure is to contact us.