Costa Rica hike, bike and raft adventure
Description of Costa Rica hike, bike and raft adventure
There’s no better way to explore the wonderful diversity of Costa Rica’s rich landscapes than by taking a multi-activity approach. Our Costa Rica hike, bike and raft adventure does exactly that. The accommodation is varied too – you won’t just stay in hotels, but cool campsites along the way, too.
Start with biking and trekking: the adventure begins near Manuel Antonio National Park, where you can relax on the beach or look out for the park’s abundant wildlife before setting off. From Quepos, the route heads inland by bike through the dramatic Pacific hills.
Over the following days, you alternate between trekking and mountain biking, tackling challenging climbs, crossing the Continental Divide at 2,330 metres and descending into fertile valleys carpeted with coffee plantations and forest.
The rafting comes in the form of an action-packed time on the Pacuare river. You’ll paddle through rainforest, stay at a riverside camp, and tackle rapids en route.
You’ll toast the end of the trip with a glass of bubbly served in the surf of the Caribbean coast, having traversed the country over your 15 day adventure – now, it’s time for a few days relaxing in a beach town to celebrate your success.
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Responsible Travel
Planet
A true 248 km multi-activity adventure includes mountain biking, hiking, white water rafting, and sea kayaking. No motors, engines or even animal packs to help, just human power from start to finish, so zero transport Co2 emissions on the ground! It is not easy to talk about one element of this trip that makes a difference with regards to responsible practices, as our partners have been trailblazing the way with active eco trips since 1994.The route traverses mountain villages, coffee and sugar plantations, riverside communities and small villages. Arriving by bike into remote mountain villages and supporting communities by buying supplies or helping to release hatchling turtles on the coast, there can be few trips in the world that use a range of activities to cross from one side of a continent to the other whilst learning and embracing the natural elements of the country.
Many of the staff have worked with our partners for over 20 years. Most are Costa Rican, and all have recycling and reusing in their DNA! If it can be fixed or reused, it will be whether an ageing mountain bike or family truck. Food is sourced from local providers and prepared under the stars on campsites where the impact on the natural environment is kept to a bare minimum.
People
In addition to our adventure, there are specialist responsible travel adventures that can and have been arranged, including group charity trips of numbers over 50. Building a school in an indigenous village with a group of UK students and courses for doctors who want to work in jungle environments.The difference made cannot be counted in replanted trees or the number of community projects affected by the work of our partners, as the process takes place ongoing and organically. Nothing much has changed since they started, and nothing needs to change as best practices have always been second nature.
The trip visits several communities where guides are known well and groups always receive a warm welcome. Places like Orosi in Cartargo rarely feature on a main stream itinerary but the beautiful hills and temperate climate make this the ideal place to grow coffee. We camp in a local b and b lodge interacting and learning about the local community – and of course drinking plenty of coffee to keep us going. We always buy locally whether we are on the trip. Community produced products tend to make better gifts too whether hibiscus honey or shade grown coffee.
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