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Hidden Valleys:Mountain Biking / Trekking / Whitewater Rafting
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Hidden Valleys
Mountain Biking / Trekking / Whitewater Rafting
Join us for our most challenging one-week adventure as we journey through some of Costa Rica’s seldom-seen valleys. The trip involves two days of mountain biking on dirt roads and single track mountain trails, three days of hiking through remote tropical rainforest with a local indigenous guide and two days of whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River.
1 SAN JOSE
(Arrival) A Coast to Coast Adventures representative will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Our representative will go over your trip and answer any questions you may have. The evening is free to explore San Jose.
2 OROSI VALLEY
(Biking) The first full day of your trip begins with an early departure from San Jose. After an hour drive southeast on the Pan-American Highway, we stop for a typical hearty Costa Rican breakfast. Here we begin our adventure. The first leg of the ride takes us several kilometers down through rugged countryside to a small, quaint farming town from where we begin a gradual up-hill climb which offers us incredible “vistas” of the valley below. Abandoning civilization we trade wide dirt roads for an outrageous stretch of single track and steep mountain paths. After a picnic lunch beside a mountain creek we continue on paved roads through the coffee-lined Orosi Valley to our resting-place for the night - cabins overlooking the Orosi Valley. (B,L,D)
3 TAPANTI
(Biking) This morning we lick our wounds and get back on our bikes for another full day of mountain biking. The day begins with a steep climb. At the top we are treated to an incredible view of the rainforest covered mountains of the Talamanca Range. The rest of the day is down hill on rough dirt roads through cloud and rainforest, plantations of sugar cane and macadamia trees, and quaint villages and towns. The day ends with a climb up to our home for the night - a mountain top lodge near Turrialba.(B,L,D)
4 VALLE ESCONDIDO
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Trekking) After a bumpy 4X4 drive to the small village of Bajo Pacuare, we begin our trek to Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley). This challenging six-hour hike takes us deep into the Talamanca mountains to the isolated settlement. Valle Escondido is inhabited by a group of about 25 indigenous people, living in traditional palenque lodges in this idyllic valley, completely self-sufficient. We camp beside a creek near the settlement. (B,L,D)
5 VALLE ESCONDIDO
(Trekking) Today we add one member to our group - an indigenous guide from the settlement equipped with a sharp machete. The day is spent following the guide through an incredible maze of hunting and transport trails covered by dense tropical rainforest. The sheer amount of life, both plant and animal will astound you. Tonight we camp beside a tributary of the Pacuare River in the Temible Valley. (B,L,D)
6 VALLE TEMIBLE/
PACUARE RIVER
(Trekking & Rafting) After a refreshing swim in the creek we continue hiking up a steep valley and down the other side, right to the whitewater rafting 'put-in' of the Pacuare River. Here we begin our two days of whitewater adventure. We will run a total of 27 kilometers of Class III-IV rapids exploring the magnificent river valley. This afternoon we arrive at our comfortable riverside camp, “El Nido del Tigre.” Nestled between the sounds of the rainforest and the hum of the river, take time to explore the lush environment first hand, looking out for toucans overhead or simply relaxing in a hammock to the sounds of the river. (B,L,D)
7 PACUARE RIVER
(Rafting) Today the Pacuare takes us through virgin rainforest, cascading waterfalls and river carved canyons. We maneuver through the exhilarating rapids and point out the intricacies of the rainforest at the river’s edge. Along the way we take time-out to do a side hike to some waterfalls and have lunch on the shore. “Taking out” near the town of Siquirres, we return to San Jose appreciating the breathtaking views as we pass through Braulio Carrillo National Park.(B,L)
8 SAN JOSE
(Departure) A Coast to Coast Adventures representative will drive you to the airport for your return flight home (B)
Price: Contact us for rates and space we will open a new date with a minimum of 4 people)
Price includes: Transportation, accommodation, meals where indicated and experienced, bilingual & fun guides.
Hidden Valleys (HV) - Trip notes
No experience is required as long as participants are in good physical condition and have a healthy sense of adventure. The trip is not advisable for children under 14 years of age, people with medical conditions for which strenuous physical exercise is not recommended or those who will be upset if they get sweaty, wet and dirty.
1 Arrival in Costa Rica San Jose C to C representative will meet guest(s) at the airport - transfer to hotel in San Jose - representative will provide next morning’s pick up time. Hotel in San Jose
2 Mountain Biking Orosi Valley Pick up at determined time (6:30 to 7:30 am) - 1 to 1 ˝ hour drive to start of bike route - scenic ride with some steep downhill, 4 to 5 hours riding. B, L, D Hotel in Orosi Valley
3 Mountain Biking Tapanti Hard morning’s climb to top of Tapanti pass, then all downhill on rough road into neighboring valley - 5 to 6 hours riding - lunch at scenic riverside location. B, L, D Hotel near Turrialba
4 Trekking Valle Escondido Challenging 6-hour trek into isolated region - first two hours all uphill - remainder in canopied tropical forest - good creeks for swimming - camp near Cabecar native settlement - traditional palenque houses. B, L, D Camping
Valle Escondido
5 Trekking Valle Temible Easier hike today, 4 to 5 hours - no big hills - indigenous guide to lead through local trail network - creekside lunch, good swimming hole - camp at small settlement of Temible (2 families). B, L, D Camping
Valle Temible
6 Trekking Whitewater Rafting Pacuare River 3 ˝ hour hike to Pacuare River put in - cross river and start rafting right there - 1 ˝ to 2 hours of rafting (10 kms, Class II - III) - time at the camp to explore the area - hikes to waterfalls, playing in the river, relaxing in hammocks. B, L, D El Nido del Tigre
7 Whitewater Rafting Pacuare River 3 - 5 hours of rafting (17 kms, Class III - IV) - awesome rapids amidst breathtaking rainforest - time in the morning to enjoy the area - relaxing buffet breakfast - lunch on the side of the river - side hike up a creek to great swimming hole - scenic drive back to San Jose (2 hours) via Braulio Carillo National Park. Approx. arrival in SJ 6:00 pm B & L Hotel in San Jose
8 Departure San Jose Transfer to the airport. B
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