COSTA RICA TRAVERSE

Moderate Grade
18 Day trip
7day trek, 2 days cycling, 4 days rafting,
3 nights hotels, 1 night cave, 13 nights camping/lodge

Welcome to World Expeditions

Thank you for enquiring about our Costa Rica Traverse. At World Expeditions we are
passionate about off the beaten track travel as it provides our travellers with the thrill of
coming face to face with untouched cultures as well as wilderness regions of great natural
beauty. We are also committed to making sure that our range of unique itineraries are well
researched, affordable & manicured for the enjoyment of our small groups – philosophies that
have been at our since 1975 when we began operating adventure holidays. Each of our
adventures is accompanied by an expert guide and a local crew– people who are dedicated
to providing you with the very best travel experience, who have incredible local knowledge
and who share our vision of authentic exchange and real exploration with a responsible
tourism approach. Whether you like your adventures to include trekking, touring, cycling,
mountaineering, kayaking or cruising, World Expeditions can make it happen for you. We
hope you will join us for a life changing experience!

The adventure in brief

An innovative traverse of the highlands of Costa Rica, by bike, on foot and in rafts from the
Pacific coast to the Caribbean Sea. An adventure high on the wish list of active naturalists as
well as seasoned hikers keen to take on the challenge of crossing Costa Rica under their own
steam. It is no wonder this trip was awarded the “best trip of the year’ in the Central America
category by leading US adventure magazine -

We cycle through the farmlands and foothills before setting out on our fully supported, week
long trek. We follow remote trails across the Cordillera de Talamanca, home to the highest
peak in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripo (3819 metres). The trails are not always easy - with
several river crossing - as we encounter indigenous settlements deep in the rainforest,
glimpse rare wildlife and a variety of warblers and birds of prey that will satisfy the most
ardent birder. Setting our sights on the Pacuare River, one of the world's classic whitewater
experiences, we undertake an exhilarating rafting trip - expect Class III-IV rapids - through a
series of spectacular canyons, punctuated with serene interludes in the pristine rainforest as
we ease our way to the Caribbean coast.

Itinerary at a glance
DAY 1 Arrive San Jose
DAY 2 Transfer to Dominical
DAY 3 Commence cycling on paved roads with night in the huge Tinamaste cave
DAY 4/11 Complete cycling, commence week long trek gradually ascending remote
trails through Indian settlements and cloud forest to Cero Chirripo (3819
metres), the countries highest mountain
DAY 12/16 Rafting on the upper reaches of the Pacuare River including a rest day,
before floating to the tidal mouth of the Caribbean Sea
DAY 17 Transfer to San Jose
DAY 18 In San Jose, trip concludes

Central America Trip Notes

COST INCLUSIONS

The tour price includes:

q Experienced Guides
q Porters on trekking section
q Private transportation
q Accommodation (on twin sharing basis)
q 16 breakfasts, 16 lunches, 15 dinners
q Group camping equipment
q Rafting gear and instruction
q Mountain Bikes and helmets
q Support vehicle on bike section

The tour price does not include:

q Meals not indicated
q Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc
q Sleeping bag & sleep mat
q Tips
q Airport and departure taxes
q Visa
q Travel Insurance

ITINERARY IN DETAIL

DAY 1 Arrive in San Jose

If you are travelling on the group flight you will be me on arrival at San Jose's international
airport and taken to your hotel. Depending on arrival time you should have some time to
explore the sights of San Jose. We will provide an information pack with full details of the trip,
including maps and suggestions for cafes, bars and restaurants in the San Jose area.

DAY 2 San Jose - Domincal

We transfer from San Jose to the quiet coastal village of Domincal which will take
approximately 4 hours. As we head south the scenery becomes steadily more dramatic.
Particularly beautiful is the valley of the Rio General where the highway suddenly turns west
towards the coast. Upon arrival we have a chance to relax either at the pool or on the beach
before your guide gives you a briefing on the trip in the evening. Dominical is a village
(pueblo) of approximately 500 people and it has various tiny cozy restaurants, sodas and
small souvenir shops. Later in the night one or two of these restaurants might change into a
small-scale discotheque where local people from the wide area like to demonstrate their
beloved merengue and salsa dancing.

DAY 3 Domincal - Tinamaste Cave

Today we head inland from the Pacific coast on our first day crossing Costa Rica. The day
starts with cycling uphill on paved roads to the first ridge which will take approximately 2-3
hours. Here we leave our bikes and set off hiking across the mountain range amid cloud and
rain forest, pasture lands and river valleys. We are heading for Tinamaste Cave which is set
within this majestic mountain range, where we will spend the night. On the mountain there
are 10 spectacular waterfalls including Costa Rica's tallest at 600ft. Surrounding the cave are
waterfalls with diving and swimming areas. The cave is very large and open set behind two
90ft waterfalls with kitchen and sleeping facilities.

DAY 4 Tinamaste Cave - Chirripo River

A mixture of walking and biking today as we leave the cave trekking up and over the ridge
leaving the Pacific coast behind and heading to the Caribbean side of the country. The last
section is a short bike ride to our hotel. We will be staying in a tranquil 12-acre oasis located
on the Chirripo River, between the villages of San Gerardo and Canaan. It is situated in a
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natural setting surrounded by green hills and small farms which is the perfect ending to what
will be a tough day, but good training for the days to come.

DAY 5 Canaan - Rio Blanco Cabin

Porters join us for the next 7 days and will carry the bulk of the food and camping gear. You
will be carrying a small pack with sleeping bag and pad and your personal gear. The hike to
the top of Chirripo is a commercial hike on marked trails and so we have chosen a much less
used route which will prove much more challenging. The highest crossing is 3,400 metres.
For the first 7-8 km the hike is on the road to the town of Herradura from where we take a little
used trail entering the Chirripo mountain range from the west side. The remainder of the day
is uphill until we reach our campsite.

DAY 6-11 Rio Blanco - Pacuare Ariba

Day 6 is likely to be the toughest day of the trip with the trek as we reach the summit of the
hike at Paso de Los Indios, where we will camp overnight. Throughout the coming days, we
are trekking in Costa Rica's main mountain park at 50,150 hectares. The mountains are part
of the Cordillera de Talamanca and most are protected. There are three peaks of over 3,800
metres including Cero Chirripo itself which, at 3,819 metres is the highest mountain in the
country, and in most of Central America. We will pass through several Indian reservations
whose people use the route to cross the Continental Divide to pick coffee on the Pacific side
(complete with their families and dogs), risking their lives negotiating major river crossings
along the way, which they do without the use of ropes (our crossings will be rope assisted).
From San Gerardo at 1,350 metres the elevation gain is about 2km to the highest point of our
trek. The climb goes through constantly changing scenery, vegetation, wildlife and evergreen
forests with heavy epiphytic growths in the trees and thick fern and with bamboo
understoreys. These highland forests are home to such birds as the flame-throated warbler
and buffy tufted-cheek to name but two. Blue and green frogs and lime-colored caterpillars
thickly covered with stinging hairs make their way across the trail and Biard's tapir lurks in the
thick vegetation - though you are much more likely to see squirrels than tapirs.

DAY 12 Pacuare River

With the main trekking section finished we continue our journey across Costa Rica by water.
The start of our rafting days sees us on the upper section of the Pacuare River. The Pacuare
is the most scenic rafting river in Costa Rica and one the world's classic whitewater
experiences. The upper section of the Pacuare River is not often commercially run. Some of
the rapids may need to be portaged where there are big rocks that block all views of the rapid.
The last 300 metres before the take out are very technical rapids filled with boulders.
Tomorrow morning your main luggage will be stored until you take out in Siquirres so you
need to pack a small overnight bag with essentials for the next two nights (3 days).

DAY 13 Pacuare River

Your luggage will be transported on the support vehicle to the put in, from where the main
luggage will be taken to storage until the take out at Siquirres. Your overnight bags will
accompany you on the river in an Oar Boat which is transporting all the food for the coming
days on the river. From the Los Cristianos camp we will be hiking on back roads and through
farms to the put-in. It is a reasonably long day hiking before we reach the river. The Pacuare
River plunges down the Caribbean slope through a series of spectacular canyons clothed in
virgin rainforest. The savage beauty of the surroundings is humbling as we negotiate Class III
and IV rapids, meandering through pristine rainforest spotted with waterfalls. Overnight is at
our camp on the banks of the river. Spacious tents on fixed platforms board the edge of the
river and nestle in the surrounding forest. The camp is fully functional with its own supply of
pure spring water, shower and sanitary facilities. The name of the camp, El Nido del Tigre,
comes from the giant patches of ginger plants that carpet the main floor of the main area of
the camp. When the ginger reaches a certain height it falls over creating flattened areas in
the shape of a tiger's paw - hence its name, which translates to "the nest of the tiger". From
the center of the nest, trails radiate throughout the forest and along the river. There is an open
area for those who like the odd game of ball or Frisbee. If this is too much after a day on the
river, seek out one of our quiet reading areas, set yourself down with a refreshing drink and
just 'be' for a while.

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DAY 14 Pacuare River
This a well earned rest for a day although you can make it as active as you like. Your guides
will be with you and so make the most of this free day at the camp by spending it enjoying El
Nido del Tigre and the surrounding area. Hiking through the rainforest to a waterfall, floating
down a rapid with just a life jacket, or relaxing in a hammock around the camp, are all
possible activities.

DAY 15 Pacuare River

Today the Pacuare takes us through virgin rainforest, cascading waterfalls and river carved
canyons. We maneuver through the exhilarating Class III and IV rapids and point out the
intricacies of the rainforest at the river’s edge. The Class IV rapids are exciting and separated
by calm stretches which enable you to stare at the near vertical green walls towering
hundreds of metres above the river, which make this a magnificent and unique river trip.
Along the way we take time out to do some hiking to spectacular waterfalls and have lunch on
the shore. “Taking out” near the town of Siquirres we hike to a nearby hotel and rest for the
night before an early start in the morning. Your main luggage is delivered to the hotel so you
have a chance to re-pack for the last section of the trip.

DAY 16 Pacuare River

THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS... For the final leg of the crossing we continue
whitewater rafting down the Pacuare and ease into the Caribbean lowlands where banana
plantations gradually swallow the receding rainforest. The river slows to a tranquil pace as we
are rafting the last mile of the river, completing the mosaic of the landscapes we have passed.
At the end of the adventure, we reach the mouth of the Pacuare as it meets the Caribbean
Sea. It is then just a short paddle further for our campsite for the night and our last night in
the wilderness.

DAY 17 Pacuare River - San Jose

Today we journey back to San Jose by motorboat to the mainland where we will meet our
transportation and main luggage. The transfer back to San Jose is about 4 hours.

DAY 18 Trip Concludes San Jose

You will picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your return flight.

Note: this itinerary is a guide and may be influenced by weather conditions, group fitness and
other factors outside our control.

CONVERSION FORMULAS

These trip notes are prepared in our World Expeditions head office, based in Sydney,
Australia. For the benefit of our US customers, we have provided some useful
conversion formulas below:

To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8 and add 32

To convert meters to feet multiply by 3.28
To convert kilometers into miles multiply by 0.62
To convert kilograms to pounds multiply by 2.21
To convert liters to US gallons multiply by 0.26

THE COUNTRY & ITS PEOPLE

The population of Costa Rica is around 3.8 million, and over 300,00 live in San Jose. The
small fertile valley of Meseta Central (Central Valley) holds around two-thirds of the
population who reside in the cities of San Jose, Alajuela and Heredia and the surrounding
small towns and settlements. The official language is Spanish and more than 76% are
Catholic. Unlike the nations to its north and south, the Costa Rican civilization did not develop
until after colonisation in 1562. Prior to that it’s indigenous population were hunters and
gatherers, with few fixed settlements. Agricultural development was slow, however by the late
18th century exports of wheat and tobacco allowed conditions in the colony to improve. Whilst
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Central America gained independence from the Spanish in September 1821, Costa Rica did
not find out until a month later! Following a brief civil war, Costa Rica joined the confederation
of Central American States, rather than the newly independent Mexico. Unlike other Central
American nations, Costa Rica has largely enjoyed a stable political system based on a
democratic republic government. The economy depends on tourism, agriculture (coffee,
bananas, tobacco) and electronics exports. Costa Rica is just 240 kilometres (150 miles)
wide, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, and 400 kilometres (250 miles) long from
Nicaragua to the Panama border. The country is divided by a series of mountains and
volcanoes, with the Pacific coastal plain being a lot narrower than the Caribbean side where
San Jose is situated. With a national territory of around 51,000 square kilometres (19,700
square miles), Costa Rica is slightly larger than Switzerland. Within its borders are more than
a dozen volcanoes, dry savannas, tropical dry and lush rain forests, cool cloud forests,
several mountain ranges, countless streams and rivers and over 1,200 kilometres (755 miles)
of coastline stretched along two oceans. There are four major mountain ranges; Guanacaste
and Tilaran in the north, and Central and Talamanca in the South. Within these mountain
ranges are a series of active, dormant and extinct volcanoes. The highest peak is Mt Chirripo
(3797m). Nearly a quarter of Costa Rica’s territory is within national parks, biological
reserves, wildlife refuges and other protected areas. The nation’s twelve distinct ecological
zones are home to an vast array of flora and fauna which includes four percent of all known
species on Earth. 850 species of birds, 600 species of butterflies, 1,200 species of orchids
and 237 species of mammals, (including three-toed sloths, giant anteaters, coatimundis,
peccaries and four species of monkeys) are found in Costa Rica.

TRIP GRADING
To determine the grade of a particular adventure we consider a number of factors. These
include the condition of the walking terrain, the altitude, the number of passes crossings and
the length of the trek.

The Costa Rica Traverse trip is graded moderate and some days will be on the high side of
this grading category. This is primarily due to the terrain and demanding nature of the trail
which will test your resolve on some stages. The rafting is also a factor of this grading with up
to class IV rapids.

In order to complete a moderate trip we advise that you undertake regular exercise –
swimming, cycling, jogging, three or four times a week for at least three months prior to your
departure.

DAILY ROUTINE
The sun sets at around 6pm every day and so our schedule is factored around this to ensure
that we are in camp well before dark. As a result the day starts very early as the light comes
up at about 5-5.30 am and we always aim to get going as early as possible.
During the trekking section you will be required to carry a small pack (around 45-65 litres
would be appropriate) which will likely weigh between 10-12 kgs depending on your personal
requirements. A full list of clothing and equipment required for this trip will be provided to you
following confirmation of your booking.
We are usually on the trail by 7:00 am and will stop for a picnic lunch during the days walk.
Once we have reached camp and the tents and kitchen is set up, there is generally time to
explore the surrounding area or rest. Dinner is usually served around 7:00 pm. Trekking
evenings afford some of the best memories of your trip, whether it is sitting around talking,
playing cards, chatting with the crew or visiting the local people, it is always a very special
time.

LEADER AND CREW

Our local leaders are professional guides dedicated to providing the best experience possible.
They have a high level of competence in wilderness and emergency medicine. We travel as a
self-contained expedition ensuring that we do not deplete limited local food resources and
provide valuable employment for the local people.

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CLIMATE
There are several distinct climatic zones in Costa Rica and as it is a tropical country there is
no winter or summer. Most regions experience a rainy season from May to November and a
dry season from December to April. In the rainy season, short afternoon showers are
common, although not daily. In Corcovado, there is considerable rain from October to
November, which is why we do not have departures at that time. In the central valley the
temperature averages 22ºC (72ºF) while the coastal regions experience averages of 28 –
32ºC (82 – 89ºF). In the mountain regions it is considerably cooler.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
It has always been our motto that "we take only photographs and leave only footprints"; and
we therefore ask that all travellers thoughtfully dispose of wrappers and toilet paper by
burying or burning or placing in the proper receptacle. It is also a good idea during the day to
carry a small plastic bag - in which to store any refuse, sweet wrappers, tissues etc., and
dispose of it in the correct receptacle when available.
A detailed guide to responsible travel is provided to all World Expeditions clients before travel.
Please ask your consultant if you have not received your copy.

Important Note:
These trip notes represent the most current information available for this itinerary, and
supersede any information detailed in the current brochure, including but not limited to the
itinerary and price.

IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

YOUR NEAREST WORLD EXPEDITIONS OFFICE

ENJOY THE ADVENTURE OF BEING ALIVE!

LM05/05, KB02/06
©Australian World Expeditions Pty Limited

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