Tropical Sea Kayaking's eight-day sea kayaking adventure and safari in Costa Rica takes you along the tropical coastline looking for dolphins and turtles, into mangrove river estuaries for bird spotting, stopping at islands and deserted beaches for snorkeling and swimming. You will be staying at unique, family run eco-lodges perfect for hiking and wildlife spotting.
Sample daily itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and optional city tour and stay in hotel in Central Valley
Welcome to tropical Costa Rica! Today has been designated as your arrival day. A Tropical Sea Kayaking (TSK) representative will greet you at the international airport of San Jose (SJO) and take you to a very conveniently located hotel (either near the airport or in downtown San Jose). There, you’ll have the chance to relax and unwind from your International travels.
Depending on your arrival time, you have the option for a self-guided San Jose City Tour. Tropical Sea Kayaking will provide you with a TSK detailed tour document, leading you to your favorite places of interest and highlights. Please note that this is not included in the package, however, a guided tour including transportation can be arranged for on request. No meals are included today.
Day 2: Transfer to Golfo Dulce and introduction to paddling
On this second day of your Costa Rican adventure, Tropical Sea Kayaking will pick you up for your drive along the Pacific Coast and into the Osa Peninsula from where you will be taken to El Contal Ecolodge, peacefully located right on the banks of the Golfo Dulce. After your first tasteful home-made lunch, you head out to the water for your kayaking introduction where after you will hop into your sturdy enclosed kayaks for coastal paddling, leading into the mangrove estuary, while paddling back during sunset.
In the late afternoon, you can rest and relax and enjoy the property’s spacious palapa; a great place to enjoy the surroundings, read, and relax in a hammock. Dinner will be served after you have witnessed the colorful sunset! All three meals are included today.
Day 3: Coastal paddling to Playa Blanca
This morning after breakfast, you will pack up and head out, leaving the Rincon Bay to paddle along the coast of the Osa Peninsula until you reach your next destination: Playa Blanca. This is a 10-kilometer journey passing the mangroves filled Rincon River Estuary, and taking breaks at deserted beaches along the way.
This day, you will get good chances of spotting the green sea turtles, the olive ridley sea turtles, as well as the pantropic spotted dolphins, and the bottlenose dolphins. Eventually, you will reach Playa Blanca (White Beach), home to numerous scarlet macaws, and yours too for the night to come.
There, you will be staying at a classic family-owned property, offering spacious wooden cabins with private bathroom, and a restaurant area for meals, starting with lunch, then dinner, and early breakfast the following morning. This afternoon is at leisure; you can choose to take a siesta, laze in the hammocks, or go bird spotting, swimming, jungle hiking, more kayaking are among many of the options. Dinner will be served after sunset. All three meals are included for today.
Day 4: Crossing gulf and going snorkeling
You are in for an early start to cover the 14 kilometers long stretch to Saladero Ecolodge with good opportunities to spot dolphins! The reason you leave early is to take advantage of the calmest conditions, both weather and water wise. Above all, paddling the gulf at sunrise is simply magical!
Once on the other side of the gulf, you will take a welcoming break at a spectacular beach for relaxing, wildlife spotting, swimming, and snorkeling. From there it’s only a 15-minute paddle to your next destination: Saladero Ecolodge. After settling in, enjoy a delicious, home-made lunch is served where after you will take the afternoon off to relax at this beautiful place.
At 5 p.m., some light appetizers are offered in the lounge area where you can order your drink of choice. Dinner’s served after you have witnessed a colorful sunset looking over the lake! You will be glamping today for a well-deserved night rest. Glamping (which stands for glamorous camping) is really the best way to experience the Golfo Dulce jungle by night.
You will be staying in huge sturdy tents on elevated platforms, with real beds and real mattresses that allow you to enjoy the sounds of the nocturnal animals in the night, and wake up to the songs of the tropical birds, and spectacular views on the gulf! All three meals are included today.
Day 5: Hiking, snorkeling, and river paddling
You will start with a delicious breakfast at an amazing location offering awesome views. Once you’re up for it, you can pick one of the following activities or, do them all!
- Kayaking - You are in the most protected area of the Golfo Dulce and the waters are very calm.
- Snorkeling - There is a coral reef only 15 minutes away by kayak with a beautiful shaded beach.
- Birdwatching - You are surrounded by Piedras Blancas National Park, the least visited park in Costa Rica, and adjacent to the Rio Esquinas so you have the birds that normally inhabit primary rainforest, secondary rainforest, sea shore and mangrove/rivers.
- Exploring the Rio Esquinas Mangrove Estuary - It is home of the largest red mangroves in the world, explore many of the small channels leading into the mangroves.
- Swimming - The Golfo Dulce “Sweet Gulf” is salt water but with a large influence from the fresh water rivers. 83 degrees (28 Celcius), calm and crystal clear in the dry season.
Somewhere in between these marvelous nature tours, you will have to squeeze in some time for lunch, snacks and tropical drinks at 5 p.m., and dinner after yet another beautiful sunset. Pretty sure you will enjoy; this is tropical paradise! All meals are included today.
Day 6: Coastal and islands paddling
You will depart this wonderful eco-lodge and national park right after breakfast, as you will be crossing the gulf, this time along the remote coast to spot dolphins and other marine life and the Mogos islands to swim and snorkel, until you reach your take out location in Punta Rincón, at the familiar El Chontal Eco-lodge.
After today’s amazing last paddling session, you will take a rest and enjoy the last home-made lunch of the trip. If time and energy allows, you will squeeze in a visit to Tropical Sea Kayaking nearby organic farm for an educational tour along its gardens, with a focus on the cacao beans, and to learn how chocolate is made, and as a finale, enjoy a tasting of this incredible natural product.
You’ll be back at the lodge in time for some rest and relaxation, cold drinks, and story telling before dinner’s served. The evening is all yours to enjoy your last night in the tropics of the Golfo Dulce. All meals are included for the day.
Day 7: Flight to San Jose
This morning after breakfast, the lodge’s family will wave goodbye as you will leave for the airstrip in Puerto Jimenez where your pilot awaits for your domestic flight back to the Central Valley. Tropical Sea Kayaking's driver will take you to a familiar place to enjoy your last afternoon and evening in Costa Rica (unless you decide to extent your trip). Breakfast is the only meal included today.
Day 8: Transfer out to airport
Enjoy your last Costa Rican breakfast of this trip, and perhaps some downtime at the pool. Your driver will pick you up and take you to the airport in time to catch your flight out. Breakfast is the only meal included today.
Please note that the following itinerary should be seen as an approximate guide only. You are on an expedition and the weather conditions, currents, and tides can cause alterations and delays to your itinerary.
