T21aw Rainforest Adventure Week / Esquinas Lodge - 7 days
The biodiversity of Costa Rica‘s
newest, remotest and least known national park, Piedras Blancas
(part of the Osa conservation area), is one of the highest
in all of Central America. Esquinas Rainforest Lodge is the
ideal base for excursions into the dense jungle, which has
hardly been explored or researched.
The rainforest adventure week is an all-inclusive
program full of variety for sporty, adventurous persons wishing
to experience the rainforest without having to forfeit a high
standard of comfort. The excursions are not extremely long,
strenuous,or dangerous, although a certain amount of fitness
and adaptability to the tropics is recommended. Mornings are
devoted to exploring the rainforest with an experienced guide
- on foot, on horseback, on mountain bikes, by kayak, or by
boat. Afternoons allow ample time for hiking the well-marked
trails, relaxing by the pool, or birdwatching.
Each of the ten
cozy rooms of Esquinas Lodge has a private bath, hot
water shower, tiled floor and ceiling fan. While relaxing
on the shady veranda, guests can enjoy a close-up view of
the forest. The array of exotic birds, including parrots and
toucans, is stunning (over 200 species have been counted).
The large main building has a spacious, open living room,
library, bar, and a restaurant offering high-standard cuisine
only a stone‘s throw from the dense jungle.
A crystal-clear jungle stream flows through the naturally-filtered
swimming pool and the beautifully landscaped tropical garden,
which attracts a great variety of wildlife such as monkeys,
sloths, caymans and colorful butterflies. A 10-mile long network
of well-marked trails departs directly behind the lodge.
Day 1
Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner
Morning flight from San José to
Golfito and transfer (30 Min.) to Esquinas Rainforest Lodge.
Our adventure week begins with an introductory hike through
secondary forest to the nearby biological station of the organisation
"Rainforest of the Austrians" and a tour through it‘s botanical
garden, home to 80 kinds of fruits and vegetables and 80 kinds
of orchids. Overnight stay Esquinas Lodge.
Day 2
Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner
Guided excursion (approx. 3 hrs.)
through untouched primary rainforest, that is home to approx.
2500 species of plants and trees. We can observe heliconias,
orchids, prop and butressed roots,
butterflies, lizards, leave cutter
ants, and with some luck also monkeys, sloths or poison
dart frogs.
Overnight stay Esquinas Lodge.
Day 3
Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner
We ride our
mountain bikes to the village of La Gamba (4 Km.) and hike
to the Chorro Waterfall (30 Min.), under which we can swim
in a deep, crystal clear pool. The courageous can continue
canyoning up the riverbed, climbing over small waterfalls
until they reach a large waterfall in the middle of the rainforest.
An optional night hike gives us the opportunity to track down
nocturnal animals such as snakes, bats, or possibly a rare
margay. Overnight stay Esquinas
Lodge.
Day 4
Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner
After a drive
to Golfito, a motor boat takes us to enchanting, palm-fringed
Playa Cacao, where we begin kayaking along the pristine, steep
coast. The waters of Golfo Dulce are calm in the morning,
and often dolphins and a large variety of water–birds can
be seen. The rainforest reaches all the way down to the many
uninhabited coves and bays, where we have the opportunity
to disembark for swimming and snorkeling. The motorboat follows
at a discreet distance, ready to pick us up after around 3
hours (or when we give a sign).
Overnight stay Esquinas Lodge.
Day 5
Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner
Our horseback
ride takes us towards Golfito. After around 1 1/2 hours we
enter the Quebrada Gamba for a trailless riverbed hike which
leads to a beautiful jungle waterfall. After a refreshing
dip in the natural pool, we descend to the valley, where our
horses already await us for the ride back to the lodge. (Alternative
in case of bad weather: Valle Bonito)
Overnight stay Esquinas Lodge.
Day 6
Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner
This free day gives
us the opportunity for more mountain-biking or more hiking.
Also, the following optional excursions can be arranged:
Full-day trip
by light plane to the center of Corcovado National Park,
including a 5- hour stopover to explore the rainforest of
Costa Rica‘s most famous reserve.
40-min. circular
flight over Golfo Dulce, Corcovado- and Piedras Blancas
National Parks
Excursion to
famous Wilson Botanical Garden in Las Cruces and to San
Vito
Boat trip through
the remote, untouched mangrove swamps of the Rio Coto
Overnight
stay Esquinas Lodge.
Day 7
Breakfast
Morning transfer
to Golfito and flight back to San José.
Note:
The order of excursions can be changed
on short notice depending on weather or other reasons
