DRAFT ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, meet at airport & transfer to your hotel near San Jose. (*No meals*)
Day 2: Transfer to the trail-head by Turrubares river bank where you will meet your horses. After the horse presentation, you will ride from Lagunas lowlands towards Carara National Park to Galan (12 Km). Overnight at local Guest House (B,L,D)
Day 3: Explore the trails neighbouring the Carara National Park. Overnight at local Guest House (B,L,D)
Day 4: Ride from our farm base on a trail along the South Eastern side of Carara National Park to the community of Sur de Turrubares and then ascend to Cerro Galán. Overnight at Finca Galán (B,L,D)
Day 5: Ride through premontane and Oak Forest higher up the Turrubares and Pontenciana Mountains or to Lanas Community & Aguas Calientes river basin. Overnight at Finca Galán (B,L,D)
Day 6: Rest day for our horses. You may choose to take a guided nature walk through the Rainforest, help with farm work or just relax on the hammock! Overnight in Finca Cerro Galan. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Ride from Galan to Delicias through San Gabriel and along the Turrubares river towards Mata de PLatano. Overnight at Palenque Mata de Platano (B,L,D)
Day 8: Ride up through Fila Negra and then down on the lowlands to end at PLaya Hermosa on the Pacific Coast. After riding along the beach, we farewell our equine friends and return to San Jose. Overnight in San Jose (B,L)
Day 9: Transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). (B)
KEYS: (B) Breakfast, (S) Picnic Lunch / (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner, (LG) Local Horse Guide (where the horse guide may not speak English, an additional bilingual guide will be provided)
PRELIMINARY DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival & Transfer-In
Arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José. Upon arrival you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel near the airport. Overnight in San Jose.
Day 2: Presentation & Build-up ride (Approx. 3-4 hours in the saddle)
This morning at 8:30 a.m. your guide will meet you at the Lobby and accompany you during the duration of this ride. As your horses are trucked to the starting point of the ride on the Turrubares river in the community of Lagunas at the foot of the Turrubares Mountains, you will visit the local town of Orotina for any last-minute purchases (e.g. insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks) or to get local cash before you arrive at the location where your Tropical adventure begins. After meeting your equine companions and packing up, there will be a riding presentation to introduce you to your horses and ensure you feel comfortable with your assigned horse. The first part of the trail ride is on flat terrain and easier trails which will provide an opportunity to get used to the local riding style and commands. You will set off riding following a local road following a route adjacent to Carara National Park to Galan (12 Km) which will soon turn into more off-the-beaten path trails. Overnight at local Guest House (B,L,D)
Important Note: For your main luggage piece, we recommend bringing a holdall-type luggage which can be more easily handled, as well as another small rucksack (8 Kilo maximum) so you can pack the clothes you will need for the two nights at Hacienda Rio Carara and the night at Palenque Mata de Platano. All small rucksacks will be carried on the spare horse while your main luggage will be transported on 4x4 and will be waiting for you at Finca Galan (on day 4) and then delivered again to you on day 8.
Day 3: Explore Carara National Park (4-5 hours in the saddle)
Today we will explore the neighbouring Rainforest adjacent to Carara National Park, which in indigenous Huetar language means "River of lizards". Carara is considered a must destination amongst wildlife enthusiasts and professional birdwatchers. Created as a biological reserve in 1978 and considered nowadays to be a biological island because of the dense agriculture and livestock operations around it which go back to the Pre-Columbus era. The 4,700 ha. Carara Biological Reserve occupies a unique position at the transition zone between tropical moist forest and tropical wet forest in the Pacific lowlands. Though most of the vegetation in the reserve remains evergreen and is characteristic of the wet forest life zone, there are a number of species that lose their leaves during the dry season, showing their affinity to the drier climate found north of the reserve. Overnight at local Guest House (B,L,D)
Day 4: Carara National Park - Sur de Turrubares - Monte Galán (4-5 hours)
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we will continue following the South Eastern trail adjacent to Carara National Park towards the remote village of Sur de Turrubares - a charming rural community tucked in a hidden Valley surrounded by an amazing tropical forest and beautiful mountains. A area where one can really unplug oneself from the rest of the world. During school time, we may visit the local school and bring some school supplies (guests are welcome to any school materials). After a visit to the local bar (if opened), we will start to ride up towards our next destination Finca Galán. En route, there will be a few rivers to cross as we continue to gain altitude. As we head towards the Turrubares mountains the views become more and more astounding and the breeze cooler, reaching 640 mts of elevation at the end of the day. Tucked away on a hill foot lays Finca Galán where we will spend the next three nights. During clear days, it is possible to see the Ocean surf hit the coastline. Overnight at Finca Galán (B,L,D)
Day 5: Ride on the Pontenciana Mountains or Lanas & Aguas Calientes (3-4 hours)
Today we have the option to ride toward the Potenciana Mountains – a ride will be filled with spectacular mountain and distant Pacific Ocean views at the end of the rolling mountains and vallers, as we ride towards the Potenciana Mountains, we will reach higher altitudes which will reveal spectacular views at every turn. We will ride through farm lands and along a mountain trail through premontane and Oak Forest higher up the Turrubares and Potentiana mountains, the only high coastal mountain range of Central-America. As we continue the ascend we will be able to notice the changes in the forest constitution and its characteristics as the lower temperatures allow for more ferns, moss and bromeliads - a day to enjoy unparalled views of the valleys and Pacific coast line. Depending on weather conditons, if it was rainy and cloudy, we may do a country side ride visiting Lanas Community which sits amongst the Lanas and Tulín river basins. This area is mainly dedicated to cattle raising and the little town is made up by houses dotted along a rural road, with a catholic temple, football field, a primary and secondary school. Overnight at Finca Galán (B,L,D)
Day 6: Non-riding Day (Day at Leisure or to join optional activities)
Today will be a rest day for our horses and will also be a great opportunity to experience the real and rural Costa Rica! You may choose to take a guided nature walk through the Rainforest, help with farm work activities or just relax on the hammock! You can part take in our farm work and learn about the seasonal crops produced, the cultivating techniques and challenges local farmers need to endure to grow, harvest and sell their produce. Amongst the crops produced in this area are corn, sweet potato, cacao, beans, yucca and sugar canes. Overnight at Finca Galán (B,L,D)
Day 7: Ride from Galan through Delicias & San Gabriel to Mata de Platano (4-5 hours riding)
After a hearty breakfast, we will start to descend the Turrubares mountains and head towards the Pacific coast lowlands, following a dirt road through we reach the cattle raising lands in the villages of Delicias and San Gabriel and then on mountain farm trails to finally reaching the Turrubaritos river which we cross on a few ocassions and ride along as it meanders its ways down towards the coastline and into the Pacific Ocean, we stay spend the night on the river edge in the village of Mata de Platano. Brind some swimming clothes at hand to enjoy a dip in the river swim holes and cool off! Overnight at Palenque Mata de Platano (B,L,D)
Day 8: Ride from Mata de Platano – through Fila Negra to Playa Hermosa on the Pacific Coast (4-5 hours)
Our final ride will take us across the Turrubaritos river which joins with the Tulín river before finally folking into the Pacifci Ocean, we will ride up through Fila Negra mountain ridge with incredible views of the coastline and then down on the lowlands ending at PLaya Hermosa on the Central Pacific Coast which is about 3 miles (5km) south of Jaco and is one of the best surf destinations in the country for its consistent wave break throughout the year. After riding along the beach, we farewell our equine friends, enjoy sometime by the beach under the shade of the Wild Almond trees where we will meet our vehicle to head back to San Jose or alternatively continue to Manuel Antonio for your beach extension (at extra cost). Our equine friends will be trucked to our ranch. Note: Should you want to extend your trip in Costa Rica we are happy to tailor-make the rest of your vacation or suggest some great add-on such as 3D/2N Tortuguero Jungle Canals, 3D/2 N Arenal Volcano or some nights at the beach at leisure in the Central Pacific coast. Overnight in San Jose (B,L)
Day 9: Transfer-out & Departure / Flight Home
Morning at your leisure and transferred to the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in time for your flight back home and we say our farewells. Meals included: B
