Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Costa Rica Coast to Coast Hiking
Day 1 Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica
Arrive at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Meet your guide and transfer to your charming hotel, surrounded by lush gardens. Recover from your travels with a dip in the pool or soak in the sights and sounds of the gardens. End the day with a delicious welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea
(D)
Day 2 Journey to the Caribbean Coast, Cruise Rainforest Canals & Hike the Pacuare Reserve
3-hour private van transfer; 45-minute private motorboat cruise plus shorter motorboat transfer
3 hours/4.5 miles easy hiking with 50' elevation gain & loss
Depart San Jose and head for the Caribbean Coast town of Barra de Pacuare. Set out by boat on local channels, similar to Tortuguero, scanning the shores for toucanets and crocodiles. Arrive at the Goshen Pier, the official start (Stage 1) of the new Coast to Coast Trail. After a relatively easy first day of walking through the Pacuare Reserve, home to howler monkeys, poison dart frogs, and rare jaguars and ocelots, take a final short boat trip to your lodge, surrounded by tropical forests and canals just a short distance from the Caribbean Sea.
Accommodation: Lirio Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Hike to Tsiobata Village & Raft the Pacuare River
30-minute motorboat cruise; 4-hour private van transfer
4 hours/4 miles hiking with 1,519' elevation gain & 981' elevation loss; 3 hours rafting
Return by motorboat this morning to Goshen Pier, then transfer by private van to the Linda Vista de Tres Equis trailhead for a short but challenging hike uphill on Stage 4 of the Coast to Coast Trail, to the traditional indigenous village of Tsiobata. After meeting the villagers and learning about their lifestyle, hike down to the Pacuare River and set out for an exciting rafting trip on class II, III, and IV rapids to Siquirres. Arrive at Casa Turire for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Casa Turire
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Spy Tropical Birds on a Hike to Tapanti National Park
40-minute private van transfer
5 hours/7 miles hiking with 3,668' elevation gain & 1,837' elevation loss
Hike Stage 8 of the Coast to Coast Trail, climbing steeply uphill from Pejibaye to the highlands of Taus and the entrance of Tapanti National Park. There is a rich variety of tropical birds along the trail, including resplendent quetzals and trogons. You may also spot capuchin monkeys, tapirs, or kinkajous. Your private van is waiting to take you to Hacienda Orosi for an overnight stay. Enjoy a self-guided coffee tour on the estate, as well as free time to take a soothing soak in hot spring baths (four pools with different temperatures).
Accommodation: Coffee Pickers Village at Hacienda Orosi
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Climb to the Palo Verde Cloud Forest Reserve
1.5-hour private van transfer
5 hours/7 miles hiking with 2,241' elevation gain & 935' elevation loss
From the trailhead at Navarro de Muñeco, hike Stage 10 of the Coast to Coast Trail, climbing uphill to the Palo Verde Cloud Forest Reserve. Join a local mycologist to discover the diversity of mushrooms and other fascinating fungi, and the vital role they play in forest ecology. Following lunch in the reserve, transfer to a nearby lodge for an overnight stay. Birdwatchers won't want to miss the opportunity to seek out the elusive quetzal in some of their last remaining habitat, found on the trails around the lodge.
Accommodation: Mirador de Quetzales
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Descend to the Valley of the Saints & Sip Locally Grown Coffee
1.5-hour private van transfer
4 hours/7 miles hiking with 1,165' elevation gain & 3,271' elevation loss
After a short drive to Jardin de Dota, and from the highest point in your journey (7,671' above sea level), hike down into the Valley of the Saints (Stage 12 of the Coast to Coast Trail) passing rural villages in this fertile coffee producing region. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then meet the private van for a transfer to Toucanet Lodge, where you spend the night. Here, savor the aromas and flavors of freshly roasted local coffee, considered some of the finest in Costa Rica, and learn about the deep traditions of this culinary delight. Also enjoy the pristine beauty of the lodge, surrounded by an exuberant cloud forest and its centennial oak trees covered in moss and bromeliads, and over 200 species of birds, including brilliantly colored hummingbirds.
Accommodation: Toucanet Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Hike through the Esquipulas Rainforest
45-minute private van transfer
4 hours/7 miles hiking with 1,276' elevation gain & 3,087' elevation loss
After a short drive to the cross of Santa Juan Pito de Tarrazu, hike Stages 14 & 15 of the Coast to Coast Trail through Fila Brunqueña and the Esquipulas Rainforest, with chances to see scarlet macaws, trogans, and even king vultures. Stay overnight in rustic but comfortable "tipis" in the rainforest, with elevated wooden floors and thatched roofs, outfitted with electricity and real mattresses with pillows and linens.
Accommodation: Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Hike the Final Stage to the Pacific Ocean
1-hour private van transfer
4 hours/7 miles hiking with 456' elevation gain & 1,198' elevation loss
The final Stage 16 of the Coast to Coast Trail culminates in an exhilarating encounter with the majestic Pacific Ocean. After a short van transfer to Villa Nueva for an eye-opening spice tour where you'll see how vanilla, cinnamon, cacao, black pepper, allspice, and other exotic crops are grown and be treated to a tasting. Set out on a hike to Finca Anita, a journey full of challenges and discoveries, where hikers are rewarded with the breathtaking view of the sea glittering on the horizon. From Finca Anita, a short van takes you to Quepos for a photo op at the end point of the Coast to Coast Trail, then transfer to your lodge. Check in at Si Como No Hotel in Manuel Antonio to indulge yourself after your amazing journey from coast to coast.
Accommodation: Si Como No Hotel
(B, L)
Day 9 Beach Relaxation at Manuel Antonio
Spend the day unwinding on the palm-fringed pristine beaches of Costa Rica, soaking up the sun and reflecting on the incredible journey you've experienced. Watch for capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees. Gather for a festive farewell dinner this evening.
Accommodation: Si Como No Hotel
(B, D)
Day 10 Return to San Jose & Depart
3-hour private van transfer
This morning, transfer back to the San Jose airport and depart for home.
(B)
