4 Days / 3 Nights Rainforest Hike Tour
This 4-Day tour to the lodge at La Danta, is a 3-hour hike through rugged terrain and sits on a ridge overlooking Cacho Negro, an extinct volcano, and cascading hills of the rainforest as far as the eye can see. You'll hike with our experienced guides around the reserve while learning about the delicate ecosystem, spotting wildlife, and swimming in the rivers, pools, and waterfalls.
- Total disconnection of the noise and chaos of the city.
- Daily walks through the tropical forest.
- Enjoy walks through the Costa Rican rainforest.
AVAILABILITY
Contact Us
DURATION
4 Days / 3 Nights
START LOCATION
Town of Guapiles
END LOCATION
Town of Guapiles
TOUR LANGUAGE
English and Spanish
DIFICULTY
Medium
Detailed Description
Day 1: Arrival to the lodge in La Danta
The meeting point for the excursion is the Caribbean-slope town of Guapiles. It is about an hour and 15 minutes by public bus from San Jose and an hour and a half from Puerto Limon. We meet at the bus terminal in Guapiles around 9:30 AM. Some guests prefer to arrive at Guapiles the night before the trip. For those with their own vehicles, there is a safe place to leave them for the duration of the excursion.
The day's objective is to arrive safe and sound to the lodge. If guests are arriving from San Jose or other parts of Costa Rica, the terminal is where we meet for the 4-wheel drive to the trailhead which takes about 45 minutes. Where we leave the jeep(s) (at the end of the track) is where my workers' family lives and we can safely leave any unnecessary luggage. From there it is a 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM hour hike into the lodge, mostly through primary forest. It is a fairly rigorous hike and can be muddy in spots with more uphills than downhills. We cross three rivers, one of which we use a cable "ride", especially if the river is swollen.
We usually arrive at the lodge around 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM and I provide snacks during the hike. After we get settled in we have a light meal and hang out and enjoy the solitude and beauty of the area. In the evening we have a nice, big hot meal and hot chocolate for dessert! Everyone raves about how delicious the food is at La Danta, which I and my workers and volunteers from the group prepare. We can also accommodate vegetarians. I have lots of board games, cards, backgammon and chess to play at night around the fireplace in the common room of the lodge. There is no electricity; we use lanterns and candles. Usually, we hit the sack around 10:00 PM.
Day 2: The second hike of the tour
All day hikes are optional. If someone prefers to hang out at the lodge and hike to a swimming hole with a waterfall just 25 minutes away, it's up to them. Breakfast at 7:30 AM and we leave for the "waterfall" hike. We take lunch with us on this 6-hour hike (including rest breaks, lunch and swimming) and visit three beautiful waterfalls, watching for birds and animals and talking about the flora of the forest. We return to the lodge around 3:00 PM pm, hang out, bird watch, shower, etc. and then prepare a great supper.
Day 3: The third hike of the tour
We go on another hike, this time down the "Monkey" trail to the Rio Corinto which borders on the national park, a vertical descent of over 400 meters and encompasses three eco-zones. We have lunch a great swimming hole in the river and, weather permitting, hike up a creek, again arriving back to the lodge around 3:00 PM.
Day 4: Last hike and departure to Guápiles
After a hearty breakfast, we start hiking out around 9:00 AM and arrive at the jeep(s) around noon. We drive down to the "pista" and back to Guapiles or to the bus terminal if you prefer.
Tour Tickets (may vary by date)
| Ticket | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| General P/P | 350.00 (USD) |
Included
- 4 Wheel drive transportation to/from Guápiles and the trailhead.
- Lodging for 4 days and 3 nights.
- All meals and snacks.
- Bi-lingual certified guides for all hikes.
- Rubber boots.
- Lifelong memories.
- The chance to contribute to the conservation of Costa Rica's primary rainforest.
