Costa Rica's Beaches and Rain Forest Trail
2008 Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival at Tamarindo or Liberia International Airport or by microbus from San José to Junquillal’s beautiful seaside Lodge Hotel. The view of the estuary and the beach offer a spectacular sunset. At dinner time the group will have a tour meeting with the guide.
DAY 2
After breakfast, walk across the street to begin your ride north along the beach to the popular Golf Course Hacienda Pinilla. On the way you pass several peaks on the cliffs to have an amazing view to the coastline, and you will visit the beaches Playa Negra and Avellanas which are famous for their surf. This is the best opportunity to collect shells and sand dollars as a memoir to take home. After the lunch in the golf clubhouse you will ride back to Junquillal where you will relax and have a drink at the hotel.
DAY 3
After breakfast the group will ride to La Florida in the mountains. The ride starts along the beach and rides past the village of Venado, where afterwards you will climb the hilly backland with the horses to have an impressive view of the coastline. You ride through rivers and ravines, you will see the famous huge trees of Costa Rica while monkeys, iguanas, and butterflies will keep you company. You will enjoy lunch in a typical Soda in La Florida. On the way back you cross the estuary of Junquillal then on to a beach gallop at the end of the day.
DAY 4
A day to relax or explore. You can enjoy sun bathing at the pool or the beach or other activities. The guide can help you to organize trips to the mangroves by kayak or motorboat, canopy tours, sportfishing, golf, diving and much more. Or with a picnic basket for your lunch, you will leave in the early morning to head to the National Park Rincon de la Vieja. In the two hours, hike to the highlights of the national parks you will see little volcanoes, geysers, waterfalls, mud holes and a variety of wildlife. Living here are three kinds of monkeys, many tropical birds like the famous quetzal, the tucan and others, as well as mammals such as deer, anteaters, porcupines or agoutis. After lunch, you will have a chance to experience a canopy tour and ride to one of the hot springs to give everyone a chance to have a bath in the thermal water. In the afternoon you head back to Junquillal.
DAY 5
This is a day to see the Guanacaste as cattle country. The group will visit the working cattle farm Casagua and take a ride on their horses in the countryside. Lunch will be served under a typical Rancho, and after you will delight in a Working Finca Show that presents the famous Brama bulls and cows, as well as different breeds of horses with different gaits, and demonstrations on how they are trained. After returning to Junquillal, your horse is waiting and you ride across the estuary.
DAY 6
You start in the morning and ride along the wonderful beach of Junquillal, crossing the estuary and heading to the fishing village of Lagarto. You pass the long sandy beach of Marbella and cross many hidden lonely bays and beaches on your way to San Juanillo. Lunch will be in Marbella or San Juanillo. After lunch, mount your steed for a nice ride to the beautiful Luna Azul hotel where you will spend your last two evenings in Costa Rica.
DAY 7
Free day to relax by the pool, see the turtles, kayak or just enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica.
DAY 8
After the final breakfast transfer to the airports or other destinations.
NOTE: The order of the days may be changed according to the tide.
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