Costa Rica Dolphin Package



Swim with Dolphins- Costa Rica When people think of Costa Rica, it is usually of her incredible biologically rich rainforests. What is not yet widely known is that Costa Rica's waters are equally rich with marine life....... We are honored to be offering Wild Dolphin and Whale Encounters combined with Rainforest tours in Drake Bay, Costa Rica. Drake Bay is located on the Osa Peninsula, which is on the Pacific (west) side of Costa Rica, on the southern most tip. In this very remote area (accessible only by boat), we find Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins and Common Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Orcas, Pilot Whales, Sperm Whales, Sei Whales, Psuedorcas (False Killer Whales), giant manta rays, sea turtles and much, much more. It is a virtual marine playground! We often find ourselves surrounded by hundreds and even thousands of dolphins in our warm, clear, blue waters. Costa Rica enjoys one of the most biologically diverse ocean ecosystems in the world. This is mainly because the heart of a vast habitat known as the Costa Rican Thermal Convection Dome (named for its proximity to this country), lies here. Shallow, warm waters lie on top of low-oxygen cold water, creating the perfect ecosystem for a vast variety of marine life. The dome off the coast of Costa Rica is the only one in the world that is constant. Whales, dolphins, tuna, marlin, manta rays, sea turtles, sailfish and more all congregate near the Costa Rican coasts, taking advantage of this year-round dome of ecologically rich waters. Drake Bay is named after Sir Francis Drake who legend has it, has buried rich treasure here on the coast. It is at the base of the Osa Peninsula, and the area, according to National Geographic, is the most biologically intense place on earth. We have found this to be true not only at land, but also at sea. The natural beauty found here is unsurpassed. Our tours, which combine the rich rainforests and incredible sea life in this area, make an ecological wild adventure beyond your wildest dreams! Day 1 - Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. We will pick you up at the airport (one of our agents will be waiting as you exit the airport holding a sign with your name on it) and bring you to a San Jose hotel for the evening. Unless otherwise specified, most of our guests stay at Pura Vida Bed and Breakfast. Sleep well and get ready for your wild adventure. Day 2 - You will be transported to the airport and board a small plane for the short (40 minutes) and amazingly beautiful ride over the coast and rainforest to Palmar Sur. Palmar Sur is one of the places in Costa Rica where you can find the mysterious spheres that ancient civilizations built. Be sure to look for them in the park next to the airport. From Palmar Sur our taxi driver will give you a bumpy ride through the banana plantations to the town of Sierpe. Here in Sierpe is your last chance to buy anything you might need while in Drake as there are no stores or restaurants there. Go to the little green store, El Fenix, where you can buy those things you might have forgot such as suntan lotion, flashlights, film, etc. Either our boat will be there to pick you up or we will make arrangements with another boat for you. You then travel down the Sierpe River for about an hour to the Pacific Ocean, go through the river mouth (which can be an exciting experience in itself!), and cross the bay to Delfin Amor Eco Lodge, your rainforest/ocean home for the next week. After settling in and a wonderful lunch, you have the afternoon to relax, get accquainted with your beautiful surroundings and practice your snorkeling in our tropical fish laden front yard. Day 3 - Our day is spent out on the ocean, observing the great amount of dolphins, whales and other sea life in our warm waters. Often we find ourselves surrounded by hundreds of dolphins, many times thousands of dolphins. We see the Pantropic Spotted dolphins most often, and they display amazing aerial behaviors such as jumping, spyhopping and leaping, much to our delight. When it is safe, and when they are willing, we get into the water with them, or we might just watch as they jump, glide and play as they feed. We also often encounter Rough Toothed Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Orcas, Psuedo Orcas and more. We cannot guarantee interactions at any time. These animals are all wild and free to come and go as they choose. Due to the large amounts of marine life in the area, chances are very great of coming upon dolphins and whales. Lunch is served on the boat. Return home for dinner and relaxation. PLEASE NOTE: We encounter dolphins and/or whales on 99% of our outings (we have only not seen dolphins three times since we have been here!) We highly recommend that you plan at least three days of dolphin and whale encounters with us to better your odds of seeing more dolphins and whales, including the big groups. The dolphins are wild and are sometimes are off doing other things.....!!!! More outings also allow you to see different behaviors and different pods of dolphins and whales. Day 4 - After an early breakfast, you leave for Corcovado National Park. The crown jewel of Costa Rica's rainforests and the most biologically intense place on earth, Corcovado is home to 400 species of birds, 140 mammals, 116 species of amphibians and reptiles, 500 species of trees and 6000 species of insects. Corcovado National Park protects several endangered species including jaguar, puma, scarlet macaw, crocodiles, tapir, poison dart and golden frogs and the harpy eagle. Turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. Our experienced guide will help you to see and identify the amazing amount of animals, trees and plants found here. Hike through the rich rainforest and see for yourself what Costa Rica is most famous for. Lunch is served on the trail. Back for dinner and sharing of sightseeing stories. Day 5 - Dolphin/Whale Watch and Interaction. See Day 3. Day 6 - Today we go to mystical, magical Cano Island. Cano Island is a marine biological reserve famous for mysterious pre-Columbian spheres and world class scuba diving and snorkeling. Walking on the trails you will see Indian artifacts, and the snorkeling here is amazing. Another interesting fact about Cano Island is that it gets more lightening strikes than any other place in the world, there is actually a burn spot where the lightening has hit so many times. It served as an Indian burial ground for VIPs (Very Important Persons!). Here is where you will spend the day with an experienced guide who can point out items of interest to you. Lunch is served on the island. Return home for another night of fun and relaxation, and of course, more great homemade Costa Rican food. Day 7 - Dolphin/Whale Watch and Interaction. See Day 3. Day 8 - Today we have reserved as a free day for you. You can hike the trials and see a waterfall, swim on the beach or pay additional fees for SCUBA, horseback riding, kayaking or mountain biking. For the activities that are extra, you must let us know one day in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements for you. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served at Delfin Amor (unless you choose an all day activity, in which case, lunch will be served wherever you are.) Day 9 - Early breakfast. After breakfast, you will travel by boat back up the Sierpe River to the small town of Sierpe. This is a great adventure that allows you to view a jungle river and the wildlife around it from the boat. From Sierpe you take a taxi to Palmar Sur, where you catch a plane back to San Jose. If your flight is later in the day, we can arrange a city tour of San Jose or a trip to the famous Central Marketplace for an additional fee. Otherwise, you go to the main airport for your trip home. PLEASE NOTE: YOU DO NOT ARRIVE BACK IN SAN JOSE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM. IF YOUR FLIGHT IS BEFORE 1:00 PM, YOU WILL NEED TO LEAVE DRAKE BAY THE DAY BEFORE AND SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT IN SAN JOSE IN ORDER TO CATCH YOUR FLIGHT. FLIGHTS AFTER 1:00 PM ALLOW YOU TO STAY IN DRAKE FOR YOUR LAST DAY AND NIGHT. Weather and other factors may slightly alter the itinerary on any given trip. The above recommended tour includes all meals (except your first day in San Jose), lodging, tours and transfers. Not included is airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica. Dates We offer our tours in Costa Rica at any time you would like to travel. You can put together your own package, choosing your additional tours and dates to what suits you! Rates For the itinerary detailed above, which is 9 days and 8 nights, cost is approximately $1200 per person double occupancy and $1400 for single occupancy. This itinerary includes all airport transportation, one night at San Jose hotel, air/boat transportion to/from and lodging at Delfin Amor Eco Lodge, three full dolphin/whale encounters, Cano Island, Corcovado National Park and all meals (except while in San Jose). Your price will vary depending on hotel stayed in in San Jose, additional tours and airline to fly down to our area. Cost does not include travel to Costa Rica. Prices for other packages vary according to the amount of days you wish to stay and which tours you would like to take. Please see our Rates page below indidivual pricing if you want to plan your own tour. If you would like to extend your trip in Costa Rica, we can make those arrangements for you. We offer additional tours such as an aerial tram ride through the tree tops of the cloud forest, a day visit to Arenal Volcano where you soak in the warm healing waters of the hot springs at the base of the volcano, trips to Tortuga Island on the Calypso tour and much more! Lodging We are extremely proud to offer lodging and tours in the most beautiful place on earth, Drake Bay, Costa Rica. Called the most biologically intense place in the world by National Geographic, Drake Bay has everything the true eco-adventurer could ask for. Our beautiful lodge sits on a point, giving panoramic ocean views of Drake Bay and Cano Island with waves crashing on two sides for stereophonic ocean sounds. Whether you are into dolphin and whale interactions, SCUBA, bird watching, hiking, or just hanging out in a hammock, Delfin Amor Eco Lodge has something for everyone. On our property you will see plants and animals you have only seen on TV. A large group of white faced monkeys live here with us. Macaws and Toucans fly through the air. At DELFIN AMOR ECO LODGE, we offer the DISCOVERY CHANNEL LIVE!!! Delfin Amor Eco Lodge offers lodging in our screened-in cabinas. All have ocean and jungle views and offer comfort and privacy. Each cabina has either two double beds or a double and a single bed and can sleep 2-4 persons. We have only five cabinas, keeping our lodge private and secluded. In addition to our amazing ocean view, our land is set in the rainforest, where you can view monkeys, toucans, macaws, other amazing birds, iguanas, and beautiful trees and foilage. A jungle trail runs through the property and our own private beaches, straight out of a postcard, are yours for sunning, swimming and relaxing. If you want to truly connect with nature, look through our telescope at millions of stars, see plants and animals you have only dreamed about and have the most beautiful view imaginable, come stay with us!! The Delfin Amor Marine Education Center and Fundacion Delfin de Costa Rica, researching dolphins and whales, are based at Delfin Amor Eco Lodge and when you stay here, you have the opportunity to interact with the people who are conducting the research and learn more about marine life at our education center. We like our guests to feel as if they are part of the family and we enjoy lots of good conversation. However, if you want privacy and solitude, we offer that too!! Drake Bay is truly one of the last wild frontiers. There are no restaurants, shops, or other tourist conveniences and is only accessible by boat. That is why it is so pristine and beautiful! We provide three delicious meals per day, with fresh fruits, vegetables for our vegetarian guests. If you have particular food needs, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you, but remember, we are very remote and cannot always provide certain things. But we try!!! Delfin Amor Eco Lodge provides you with a affordable and comfortable way to be in the midst of one of the most pristine virgin tropical rain forests in the world. Peninsula de Osa is located on the tropical south western Pacific coastal zone of Costa Rica. Surrounded by untouched virgin rain forest flora and fauna, this paradise is a combination of tropical wilderness and beaches catalogued by the "National Geographic Society" as one of the best biological spots on earth! Share this retreat with over 300 species of birds, scarlet macaws, toucans, monkeys, blue morphis butterflies, sloths and many other exotic animal species and reptiles indigenous to the Corcovado Area. We're not sure why this is called a Solitary Eagle, as there is a pair that live here! The Delfin Amor Eco Lodge offers a variety of tours in the Drake Bay area, including dolphin and whale encounters, tours to Cano Island and Corcovado National Park, kayaking, SCUBA, and more! For birdwatching, you only need to sit back and relax right here!!!! You will pay Delfin Amor directly for the boat from Sierpe and back, lodging and accommodations and all tours conducted in Drake Bay. In other words, if you are following our recommended itinerary and are traveling with another person (double occupancy), you would pay to Delfin Amor the amount of $980 per person which includes boat from Sierpe, 7 nights at Delfin Amor including meals, 3 dolphin/whale tours, Cano Island, Corcovado National Park and boat back to Sierpe. Everything else. Prices for other packages vary according to the amount of days you wish to stay and which tours you would like to take. Use the chart below to plan your trip if you are not taking our full tour: Tour/Accommodation Price Accommodations at Delfin Amor Eco Lodge Cost number of people per night $130 single per night $75 per person, per night double $60 per person triple $50 per night for four person occupancy (includes three meals) Dolphin/Whale Encounters $95 per person for full day Cano Island $65 per person Corcovado National Park $65 per person SCUBA $120 for two tank dive (full day), $150 for three tank dive (full day) equipment rental $10 per day (BCD, Regulator w/ computer, gauges, wetsuit) Roundtrip airfare from San Jose to Palmar Sur $180 (approx. according to airline) Taxi to/from Palmar Sur/Sierpe $15 per person each way Boat to/from Delfin Amor Eco Lodge/Sierpe $20 per person each way Our Cancellation Policy More than 30 days prior to departure: Your Deposits are non-refundable. However, if our office is notified in writing 60 days or more before departure, your deposits, less a $75.00 service charge per person, can be credited to the same trip, if rescheduled and taken within a 12 month period from the time we receive written notice of cancellation. Less than 30 days prior to departure: Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to departure forfeits all payments. If Delfin Amor is able to fill your vacancy, you will receive a refund less a $100 service charge after completion of the trip. Or if you should find someone to fill your space, it will be at the approval of Delfin Amor and there will be a $100 service charge. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance! Cancellation on our part is highly unlikely, however, we do reserve the right to cancel your total package tour (this means your whole tour, hotel lodging, flights, individual tours, etc.) due to conditions beyond our control. In such case, a full refund will be issued within ten days after cancellation and the financial liability of Delfin Amor shall be limited to the amount paid to Delfin Amor and shall not be extended to cover any other costs incurred. "No shows" will not receive any refund. No partial refunds or credits will be given for unused services and tours due to circumstances beyond our control, such as bad weather, sickness, change of mind, etc. We realize that our cancellation policy is strict, however, we have a small capacity and often have to turn down reservations. Therefore, we have found it necessary to invoke this policy. To avoid losing your money in the event you need to cancel at the last minute, we highly recommend travel insurance. Thank you for your understanding. Q. Is it guaranteed that I swim with the dolphins? A. We could never guarantee that you will swim with wild dolphins. They are just that, wild and free to come and go as they choose. However, we are located in one of the most cetacean-rich areas in the world. No where else do you have the opportunity to see so many different species, sometimes in great numbers, all in one place, sometimes on the same day! Some days we encounter the dolphins when they are feeding or traveling and do not want to stop to swim with us. However, this provides an amazing opportunity to see dolphins doing what they do out in the wild. Other times, they are more than willing to stop and play. We recommend you plan for at least three outings to see the widest range of behaviors, species and opportunities to swim. Q. Do I need SCUBA certification? A. No, you do not need to SCUBA dive to go on our tours. We snorkel with the dolphins, not SCUBA. We do recommend that you practice snorkeling before you come so that you feel comfortable in the water. If you have little or no snorkeling experience, we will be happy to give you some instruction. Q. How do your tours in Costa Rica compare with your tours in the Bahamas? A. The first major difference is that the tours in Costa Rica are land-based (you sleep in our rainforest setting) and in the Bahamas, you stay on the boat for the whole week. As for the dolphins, here in Costa Rica you will see dolphins much more often, a wider variety of species (including whales) and in bigger groups. In the Bahamas we usually interact with groups of 2-10, while in Costa Rica it is usually groups of 30 to thousands. The dolphins in the Bahamas have been swimming with people for many, many years, while the interactions here are fairly new. However, the dolphins have warmed up to us pretty quickly and we now regularly experience "Bahamas-like" encounters here in Costa Rica. Besides, you can't miss when you get into the water with hundreds and hundreds of dolphins! The tours in Costa Rica also allow you to experience the world-renowned rainforests, in fact you will be living in one! We feel that our tour in Costa Rica offers a better opportunity to experience more of nature at her very finest. Q. What is the water and air temperature? A. The water temperature is always between 82-85 degrees (perfect!) and air temperature stays in the low to mid 80's. Q. When is the best time to come? A. The "high tourist season" is considered to be mid-November through April due to little or no rain. However, our tours continue year-round, even in the "low seaon" as the rain usually only comes in the late afternoons/evenings, giving us mostly beautiful sunny days. As for the dolphins and whales, they are always here, we have had spectacular tours this "low season," through October. Many people enjoy the low season as there are less people, there are more animals out and everything is green and blooming. However, if you want guaranteed (well, almost guaranteed) sunshine and no rain, we suggest you come in the high season. Q. Should I bring sea sickness medication? A. If you tend to get seasick, then yes, please bring seasickness medication with you as we cannot dispense any type of drugs to guests (including aspirin). Our boat is stable and the seas are generally calm, however if you have any doubts, bring it, so that you and the other guests on the boat can fully enjoy the dolphins and whales! Q. Do I need immunizations? A. Malaria and other diseases often found in tropical climates are not common in this area. This is something that we leave up to the visitor. If you feel more comfortable getting preventive shots, then get them. However, they are not required. Q. What is the bug situation? A. Most people's vision of coming to the rainforest includes being swarmed by bugs. While there are many kinds of insects here, our position on the point gives us enough ocean breeze to keep away the biting insects such as no-seeums and mosquitos. However, do bring repellant for your tour to Corcovado National Park or if you are one of those persons who bugs just love. Q. How many can sleep in each cabina? A.Each cabina holds two double beds. We recommend no more than three or four per cabina. Q. Can we bring the kids? A. We are happy to share this paradise with your kids, and leave it up to your best judgment. However, we ask that kids are instructed to respect nature and other guests, so all can enjoy harmonious living in paradise! Q. How much money should I bring? A. Again, this is up to you. If you have pre-paid for your whole tour, most of your needs are taken care of, less meals in San Jose, souveniers, $17 exit tax at the airport and tips for our staff. Q. How much is proper to leave for tips? A. Costa Rica is a poor country and your tips are very much appreciated by our staff. It is common to tip our cook, housekeeper, boat captain, and other workers from whom you feel you have received good service. Depending on the length of your stay, anywhere from $10 up per person is considered a nice tip. Q. Are there private baths? A. While there are not bathrooms directly connected to your cabina, they are located directly behind, only a few steps away. Q. What is the electrical situation? Can I bring my blowdryer? Can I charge camera batteries? A. We run on a battery/solar powered system supplemented with a generator. Blow dryers cannot be run, however, we can charge your camera batteries for you.