Osa Oddyssey
Nine day tour. Total distance: 168/188 miles
Terrain: See daily descriptions.
2005/2006 Price: $1,995.00 per person double occupancy /
$315.00 single supplement.
Your tour itinerary - Calendar of upcoming tours - Back to Bi.Costa Rica
This exciting 9D/8N biking adventure is Bi Costa Rica's finest beach tour. The tour includes our finest National Park, Corcovado, which National Geographic calls "the most biologically intense area in the world". This is truly Costa Rica's last frontier as the Osa Peninsula contains Central America's largest remaining rain forest, full of diverse flora and fauna.
In addition to the wonders of the rain forest, we also ride to some of Costa Rica's finest beaches, including Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Ballena, Bahía Drake, Matapalo and Carate. At Manuel Antonio we will enjoy a hike in the famous National Park. Further down the coast at Ballena we will exercise some different muscles with a guided sea-kayak tour of Costa Rica's first Marine Reserve with a chance to do some snorkeling as well. Our arrival at Bahía Drake will involve a wonderful boat trip down Río Sierpe, crossing through Central America's largest remaining Mangrove estuary, full of bird and animal life, concluding with a cruise across the open Pacific, often accompanied by dolphins!.
Drake Bay, at the North edge of Corcovado, is one of Costa Rica's gems. Our rustic Jungle lodge is frequented by Scarlet Macaws and Howler Monkeys, our rain forest alarm clocks!. Here we can enjoy a beautiful, private beach, swim in a crystal clear tropical river or even search for Sir Francis Drake's hidden treasure.
Departing Drake Bay, we bike through beautiful and diverse scenery on the boundary of Corcovado, a challenging ride including several fordings. Our destination, Puerto Jiménez, is the Osa Península's commercial center and enjoys a true frontier ambience. Here we enjoy a sunset kayak tour, hopefully guided by some of the Golfo Dulce's many dolphins.
Finally, on to incredible Carate at the south edge of Corcovado: truly one of the world's spectacular spots!. Our lodge here is a really special place, located in the rain forest above a pristine beach. We can enjoy the Scarlet Macaws flying by at eye-level while hump-backed whales cruise offshore!.
This tour is suitable for intermediate level and above cyclists, as there is some strenuous climbing involved. Please note that the support vehicle is generally available for those who need a break.
|
Day 1 |
||||||||||
|
Arrival at San Jose International. Greeting
by Bi Costa Rica representative for 30 minute shuttle to Atenas, located
on the Western rim of Costa Rica's Central Valley. Atenas is famed
for "The World's Best Climate" and your hotel the "Vista
Atenas", features beautiful grounds, a large pool and wonderful
views to the Poás and Barva Volcanoes on the North side of the
Valley. If you arrive hungry, Atenas has a variety of restaurants,
including typical Tico meals, as well as Chinese and Italian. We
will have a short meeting to discuss the upcoming adventure, go over maps
and get to know one another.
|
||||||||||
|
Day 2 |
||||||||||
|
Following an excellent full breakfast, we will fit bikes
and set out on our first ride. Today we climb up to the final ridge
of the Central Valley and then begin a long (10 mile) descent into the
Río Grande de Tárcoles Valley. We will actually travel on some of
the original cobble-stones placed by the Spanish Conquistadores when they
began their colonization of Costa Rica in the 16th Century. Our
route takes us through coffee and sugar plantations, several small villages,
and traverses the interesting and little-know Dry Tropical Forest.
We finish the days ride on the North edge of the Carara National Park,
home of one of the country's largest flocks of Scarlet Macaws and our first
chance to see the coastal Rain Forest. Following lunch in a typical
"Soda" we shuttle (1.5 hour) on to spectacular Manuel Antonio. Our
hotel is located near the edge of the famous National Park. We
probably will be serenaded by howler monkeys!. Mid-afternoon we set
out for our exciting hike in Manuel Antonio National Park. Although this park is the most
visited outside the Central Valley, it is full of bird and animal life,
especially one of the largest troops of Squirrel Monkeys in the country,
along with agoutis, coatis, pacas and iguanas. Late afternoon free
to stroll the beach and enjoy the wonderful sunsets the area is know
for. Again, a wide variety of restaurants is available.
|
||||||||||
|
Day 3 |
||||||||||
|
After a quick early breakfast we set out on our bikes
traveling through African Oil Palms, Rain Forest, some remove villages an
crossing the Naranjo and Savegre rivers, excellent for a quick dip
(barring crocodiles!). Our route takes us gradually South along the
coast through Dominical, Uvita and finally on to our hotel located on a
hill above Playa Tortuga. Wonderful view and nice pool to relax in!.
|
||||||||||
|
Day 4 |
||||||||||
Early breakfast (again!) so we can enjoy our kayak trip,
departing from beautiful Playa Piñuelas and paddling through the Uvita
Maritime Reserve. Here we may spot humpback whales, along with
dolphins, sea-turtles and a multitude of sea birds. If sea
conditions permit, we will also get a chance to snorkel as well!
After kayaking, we set out on our bikes for the town of Cortes, where we
will board a river boat to cross the Río Térraba, Costa Rica's longest
river. On the far side we bike through banana plantations en route to
the small town of Sierpe. Here we will eat a quick lunch and then
board a boat for our trip out to fabulous Bahía Drake. We travel
through Central America's largest Mangrove Estuary, full of bird and animal
life, including crocodiles, and then on across the open Pacific, often
escorted by dolphins. Our destination is rustic Las Caletas, a small
jungle inn overlooking Drake Bay and featuring wonderful meals, spectacular
views and superb beach.
|
||||||||||
|
Day 5 |
||||||||||
|
After an early wake-up by Scarlet Macaws and Howler
Monkeys (both very common here) and nice breakfast, you have the entire
day free to explore this incredible area. Hiking in Corcovado
National Park, horse-back riding, kayaking, scuba diving,
snorkeling: all are available!. Off shore (45 min) is Caño
Island, famous for excellent diving and also reputed to be the burial site
of Sir Francis Drake's treasure!
|
||||||||||
|
Day 6 |
||||||||||
After breakfast, a short boat ride to rejoin with our
bicycles for a beautiful and challenging ride from Bahía Drake on out to
Rincón at the North end of the scenic Golfo Dulce, reputed to be the
world's only tropical Fjord. After a lunch break in Rincón, we head
South to Puerto Jiménez, the commercial center of the Osa Península.
Our hotel here is located right on the sea, which will allow us
quick and easy access to our next adventure: a sunset sea-kayak tour!
Often the dolphins join us too; the sunsets are wonderful here!
|
||||||||||
|
Day 7 |
||||||||||
|
An easy, level ride out to Punta Matapalo where we will
take a quick swim at a remote, hidden beach, then on out to incredible
Carate. Our hotel here features outstanding meals, a nice pool and
one of the World's great views! Directly in front is a perfect
palm-shaded beach while all around us is the jungle!. Just up the beach is
the South entrance of Corcovado National Park. In the other
direction is a
mysterious fresh-water lagoon. Lots of area to explore.
|
||||||||||
|
Day 8 |
||||||||||
|
Again, a free day to enjoy the environs of Corcovado
National Park. Hike into the park, laze on the beach, kayak in the
lagoon, try fishing from shore or boat: it's your choice!
|
||||||||||
|
Day 9 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
Bi.Costa Rica