Corcovado Jungle Adventure
4 days / 3 nights

The plane ride itself is impressive. You’ll fly through towering mountain passes, passing over cloud-enveloped forests and leafy groves of tropical plants, touching down on the Pacific coast in less than an hour. You’ll be transported from the airstrip to Drake Bay by motor launch along the mangrove-lined Sierpe River while the captain guides the boat into the clear blue waters of Drake Bay.

Your lodge is evocative of a perfect jungle oasis. The rustic hotel blends seamlessly into the surrounding jungle without sacrificing elegance and style. Once there, what you do is up to you. You can enjoy lavish meals, restful naps, rejuvenating swims in the spring-fed pool, or simply unwind amid the sounds of the jungle.

Day two offers you a chance to visit dreamy Caño Island. In the morning you can snorkel, watching in awe as schools of colorful fish simultaneously change direction. Later, you can jump on a boat and learn about Corcovado’s mangroves. If you have a bit of luck, you’ll catch a glimpse of some of the creatures that make the park their home. The park is home to more than 400 species of birds and more than 100 species of amphibians and mammals. Some visitors are lucky enough to catch sight of a jaguar, tapir, ocelot, giant anteater, a flock of scarlet macaws or colorful toucans. Four kinds of monkeys inhabit this jungle, as well as poison dart frogs and crocodiles in the swamps.

The next two days offer adventure and relaxation. You can meander through well-maintained trails that parallel the beach, or wind deep into the jungle. The timeless rainforests are soul soothing, relaxing havens that inspire you to be at peace with nature. In the jungle, you may run across groups of coatimundis, cute mammals that travel in families within the low-lying brush. If you startle them, they’ll scamper to the nearest tree. A two-hour hike from the lodge brings you to a natural spring-fed cascade, where cool water and an enticing pool might tempt you to stay a while, convinced that you’ve discovered a true jungle paradise.

Above itinerary includes: Round-trip air transportation from San José, land and motor launch transportation to the lodge, 3 nights lodging at Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge; all meals; tour of Corcovado National Park and Caño Island. Snorkeling gear is provided at the island.

Optional Tours: Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and canoeing.

Scuba Diving Adventures: Costa Rica’s best diving can be found near Caño Island, close to Corcovado National Park. Gorgeous coral reefs and hundreds of species of dazzling fish lie just under the surface. Guests with no prior experience, but who wish to learn to scuba dive, can contact the expert instructors at Costa Rica Adventure Divers. Adventure Divers is a professional company that offers a wide range of lessons, from beginner (called Discover Scuba) all the way to PADI certification. Instructors will demonstrate how easy it is to learn to dive, and more importantly, they illustrate the amazing underwater world that is overlooked by those who have never experienced deep-sea diving. Guests who sign up for beginner lessons can go diving within hours. Experts and beginners alike will find be struck by the amazing diving conditions in these waters, which are so clear that visibility reaches nearly a hundred feet. Recently, several beginning divers came upon what they thought was a huge, yellow coral reef.
Suddenly, the entire reef moved in unison and it became apparent it was a school of bright yellow fish, so tightly packed together it appeared one solid mass. Giant manta rays will sometimes pass within inches of a diver's outstretched arm. Divers also frequently see enormous schools of barracudas, large stingrays and sleek reef sharks wandering curiously by them. The waters are warm and comfortable, with temperatures ranging in the low 80's throughout the year.
With the fantastic diversity of tropical marine life, year-round warm waters, excellent visibility and first-rate dive outfitters, it's no wonder more and more divers are discovering the incredible beauty that lies beneath the waters off southern Costa Rica.