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CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK HIKE 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS
Corcovado National Park holds 2.5% of the global biodiversity and is described by National Geographic as one of the most biologically intense places on earth. The intensity of the biodiversity is even higher than in the Amazon region.
For all who love nature and hiking THIS IS THE TOUR FOR YOU! 3 days pure adventure hiking across Costa Rica's most famous nature reserve: CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK!
Day 1:
Option 1: from Los Patos to Sirena Ranger station
Early in the morning we start at Los Patos Ranger Station, the Eastern entrance of Corcovado National Park. An exciting and powerful day of hiking is ahead of us in the tropical rain forest of Corcovado National Park. Admire the amazing giant trees and the special atmosphere of this pure rain forest trail. You have the chance of spotting a huge variety of birds, the seldom glass frog or even snakes....
Option 2: from Carate/La Leona to Sirena Ranger Station
We enter the rain forest from the southern Pacific side and hike first in secondary rain forest and then along the Pacific with the lush primary rainforest to the right. This hike is great for watching the puma, tapir, lots of monkeys, and birds among others.
Day 2
We hike various trails around Sirena Ranger Station – here we get into the heart of Corcovado National Park. This day is a welcome mixture of hiking and relaxing in this remote place in Corcovado National Park – the atmosphere at Sirena is very special. We can see wild pigs, the tapir, or, with luck, catch a glimpse at the puma!
Day 3
We hike out via La Leona/Carate – another wonderful day of hiking is ahead of us! If you want to stay in the area of Carate we can organise further stays in the best eco lodges in the area where you can prolong your personal rain forest experiences.
Note: the Sirena tour can also be done in two days back and forth, depending on your travel schedule.
Please contact us for further information at: reservations.surcostours@gmail.com and we supply you with all the information you need for having a unique experience in the most famous and fascinating National Parks of Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park!
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CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK DAY TOUR
Corcovado National Park holds 2.5% of the global biodiversity and is described by National Geographic as one of the most biologically intense places on earth. The intensity of the biodiversity is even higher than in the Amazon region.
Everybody who doesn’t have time for the long hike to Sirena is welcome to join us for wonderful day tour into Corcovado National Park!
We start early in the morning and enter Corcovado National Park from Carate / La Leona Ranger station.
During this hike you have the chance to see anteaters, coatis, agoutis, great curassows (similar to turkey vulture), tayras, lots of birds and much more wildlife. This hike is a perfect day tour.
In the afternoon we get back to Carate and Puerto Jimenez. You are also welcome to stay in one of the eco lodges close to Corcovado National Park - we support you with information.
Please contact us for further information at: reservations.surcostours@gmail.com and we supply you with all the information you need for having a unique experience in the most famous and fascinating national park of Costa Rica: Corcovado National Park!
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BIRD WATCHING TOUR
Dear birders,
Corcovado National Park holds 2.5% of the global biodiversity and was described by National Geographic as one of the most biologically intense places on earth. The Osa Peninsula is home to more than 400 species of birds including migratory birds from the United States and Canada. Here you can find the Scarlet Macaw which is endangered to extinction but on the Osa Peninsula still widely spread.
You can also see Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, White-tipped Sicklebill, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Turquoise Cotinga, Yellow-billed Cotinga, White-crested Croquette, Marbled Wood-Quail, Mangrove Hummingbird, Panama Flycatcher, Red-throated Caracara.
Bird watching on the Osa Peninsula is especially interesting and fascinating due to the diverse habitats like primary and secondary rain forest, mature and immature pastures, lagoon and river flood plains, as well as mountain areas. The whole Osa Peninsula including Corcovado National Park, Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve and the surroundings of Puerto Jimenez is lowland tropical rainforest. Some places of the area are also steep offering good possibilities for spotting canopy birds.
This tour is not just designed for professional bird watchers but for everybody who loves nature and wants to experience the most amazing colourful world of tropical rain forest birds.
Just contact us at reservations.surcostours@gmail.com and we organize your tropical rain forest nature experience which you will not forget!
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CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTING
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MATAPALO RAIN FOREST & WATERFALL DAY TOUR
Matapalo is located on the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula. It is part of the biological corridor connecting Corcovado National Park with the surrounding private nature reserves. Here you have the chance to spot all four types of monkeys of Costa Rica, sloth, toucan, coatimundi, and the endemic Golfo Dulce Poisonous Dart Frog just to name a few.
A tour to Matapalo is also perfect for all ages and families with kids. All tours can be tailored to your preferences. Enjoy pure rain forest as well as natural waterfall pools or just relax on the beach. Matapalo is THE place for a combination of all! You will love it.
We start early in the morning from Puerto Jimenez and return in the afternoon.
If you are tight on schedule but want to see the most come with us! Matapalo offers amazing flora and fauna of the rain forest.
Contact us at: reservations.surcostours@gmail.com and we organize your rain forest day tour in Matapalo!
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KAYAK TOUR
 Have fun in the warm waters of the platanares river. Watch the sun set while taking in the beautiful sights of the golfo dulce.
Mangrove swamps, where river meets ocean, are among the most important ecosystems on the planet, as so much marine life gets its start here. Mangrove trees are the only type of tree able to tolerate salt  water. Costa rica is home to 5 species of mangroves which you will see in one day, and learn just how important they are for the environment. Wildlife is abundant and diverse; white-faced (capuchin) monkeys, howler monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, alligators, marine crabs, water fowl, boas and more.
Handling a kayak is very easy and fun. You may use a one-person kayak or be accompanied /helped by a guide in a two-person kayak, if you prefer.
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CANOPY TOUR
  The kind of tourism that provides adventures in nature began in earnest a few years ago in the country, and has become a hugely popular tourist attraction.
What makes a canopy tour so attractive is this opportunity to combine adventure and adrenaline with nature. Normally a walk through the forest is quite passive, and observations are limited by view, but a canopy tour, in addition to the thrill of being at great heights, allows one to see plant life, animals and birds one could never see from ground.
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DOLPHIN TOUR
If you´ve never seen a dolphin up close this is a chance to interact with, learn about and even swim with them in their natural habitat! The golfo dulce is one of the best protected tropical gulfs of the world, and home to threes species of dolphin: whales, rays, flying fish, and the only pacific ocean snake in the world.
You will learn about costa rica’s natural history from the wonderful owners of the caña blancas animal sanctuary. Each individual animal at the sanctuary has a story to tell- relocated there by minae, abandoned by its parent/s, orphaned because of poaching (illegal hunting), or part breeding/repopulating efforts, as in the case of scarlet macaws. It is a particularly good family tours.
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LAS TABLAS TOUR
 Finca las tablas belongs to the sandi family, and is more than 1000 hectares of mostly virgin tropical forest. The las tablas reservoir, one of the largest and most important in all of Costa Rica, in the source of coto brus county’s outstanding drinking water. The area is among the best for sightings of high altitude birds such as the quetzal and the bell bird.
 Among some of the rare animals you may be lucky to see in the protected area of las tablas are jaguars, tapirs, the cacomiztle and the harpy eagle.
Also, certain amphibians can only be found here in las tablas.
Your visit supports protection, conservation and reforestation efforts in the zura forest and the greater las tablas area. The project focuses on allowing acres of pasture return to forest.
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BIRDING TOUR
If you are an amateur birdwatcher wanting to improve your skills and knowledge, this is your chance; coto brus has more than 400 species of birds, 5 unique to the region.
For more information call: 00 (506) 2773 4438
 Enjoy fresh morning air and the panoramic views of the talamanca mountain range. Designed especially for amateur birdwatchers who want to spend a good amount of time identifying birds in the wild. Birdwatching does not require any special abilities beyond patience, as many birds can be difficult to observe. Cotobrus boasts and impressive variety of  birdlife; more than 400 of the 850 species found in the country are found here, including migratory ones which breed in canada and the u.s. and winter here. Five species are unique to the area and this draws international birders to coto brus.
If you’ve never participated in a guided bird watching tour, don’t wait any longer.
Our experienced guides are eager to show you the fascinating world of birds.
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THE WILSON BOTANICAL GARDEN
 Las Cruces is located at 1200 m above sea level along a spur of the Fila Cruces pacific coastal range in Coto Brus County in southern Costa Rica (8° 47' 7'' N, 82° 57' 32'' W). It is just under 300 km by road from the capital San José, and is 5 km from the Panamanian border by line of sight (10 km by road).
Ecology
The station is a mid-elevation site, and protects more than 300 hectares of Premontane Wet Forest habitat according to the Holdridge classification system, some 200 of which are primary forest. The station receives ~4 m of rainfall annually and harbors a distinct dry season from January – March; mean diurnal temperature ranges from 13-26° C. The topography is very rugged and elevation ranges from 1000-1400 m, which allows for high diversity of flora and fauna – including an estimated 2,000 species of plants, more than 400 birds and 113 mammal species.
The station is also home to the Wilson Botanical Garden – the most famous botanical garden in Central America. The garden features beautifully diverse plantings of tropical and subtropical ornamentals,  representatives of unusual plant families, and rare and endangered plants from Costa Rica and elsewhere. The garden also boasts the second largest collection of palms in the world. Particularly well represented groups include ferns, aroids, bromeliads, gingers, heliconias, marantas, and of course palms.
History
Las Cruces was founded in 1962 by Robert and Catherine Wilson, primarily as a botanical center and nursery, and as an experimental farm. It was acquired by OTS in 1973 and without losing sight of its original focus, has over the years expanded to develop a strong reputation in tropical research, particularly in applied fields such as conservation biology and restoration. More than 750 publications are attributed to research that has been conducted at the station over the last few decades.
Price per Person $22
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VALLEY OF SILENCE TOUR
The valley of silence is an oak forest in the parque la amistad in which the mosses and giant ferns impeded the growth of any other vegetation. The valley is located along the boundary between the provinces of puntarenas and limón. The ranger station of park service (minae) recently improved access somewhat by building a backcountry cabin for use by hikers at the valley of silence.
The valley of silence tour tour is a great way to see some of the vast parque la amistad, recently declared a word heritage site by unesco for its high biodiversity (several species unique to costa rica) and incredible scenary. Don’t wait any longer. Explore places where only a few have ever ventured.
Valley of Silence Tour 3 days / 2 nights
The Valley of Silence hike is 15 km and takes an average of 8 hours to reach the Refugio, a backpacker cabin at the entrance to Parque International La Amistad (PILA). The round trip tour requires a minimum of 3 days.
Trail and Difficulty
The trail is somewhat irregular with many steep sections. The route ranges from 1,370 m to 2,500 meters altitude above sea level. It is rated ‘advanced’ - for experienced hikers in good physical condition.
Day 1
We’re off! Hike begins at 5:00am to avoid the hottest hours of the day and to enjoy sunrise and birdsong. A protected Park, it is illegal to cut and collect branches, plants or flowers. We recommend that you bring a walking stick (bordon). Ask about it at the Surcostours office.
Along the trail are informational signs to orient hikers. The placement of these signs took a huge and dedicated volunteer effort. They give names of the landmarks we will pass as well as distance remaining to the Refuge.
This first leg of the hike between Altamira and Casa Coca is lined with berry bushes. We should reach Casa Coca (elevation 1900 m) in two hours, where we will rest and have a light breakfast of fruit, bread and coffee. For many years Casa Coca was the refuge of a cattleman with pastures nearby. Today, cattle grazing as well as logging are prohibited. Little by little, Casa Coca and its environs have been naturally restored to its former state and the forest has rebounded abundantly. The nearest trees are frequently visited by the gavilan tejerella. Now: on to Franztzius Peak.
Frantzius Peak (elevation 2134 m) is named for German doctor Alexander Von Frantzius who, along with associate Carl Hoffman, made a series of biology explorations in Costa Rica between 1847 and 1869. Thir scientific work formed the beginning of systematic study of Costa Rica’s biodiversity.
At Mt. Frantzius we’ll rest a while before heading for Cerro Quemado (or ‘Burnt Peak’), so named since wildfire burned the area over 20 years ago.
From Burnt Peak to the next stop we will pass through a spectacular roble (oak) forest where we are likely to spy quetzals by walking slowly, carefully and silently. They are often spotted among the oldest trees. We’ll hear and observe jiglgueros and pajaros campana, a host of hummingbirds and very likely troops of spider monkeys. Danta and jaguar prints are often encountered here. The hardest part of the hike is the next 2.4 km, rising steeply 300 m, with no good place to rest until we reach Cuesta Divisoria de Aguas.
At 2250 meters above sea level we have arrived at what we would call in English the Great Divide; where waters run west to the Pacific or east to the Caribbean. It is one of the most interesting parts of the hike., for here we also note a microclimate change. The ground is a bit wetter on the Caribbean side. Further on is the Terbi River part of PILA’s watershed.
Rio Terbi
This leg of our Valley of Silence tour will take us along and across the Terbi River, an indication we are nearing our final destination. The river originates in the forest. Rainwater accumulates in leaves, mosses, and, drop by drop, forms the headwaters. It is a living example of how important undisturbed forest is in the hydrologic cycle. We will cross on a suspension bridge, rather than risk crossing on slippery river rocks. This place provides our best opportunity to see quetzals.
The Refuge (Final Destination, 2500 m altitude)
After approximately 8 hours of hiking we’ll arrive at the Refuge and enjoy a delicious lunch. We are privileged to be in such wild, undisturbed, isolated forest. At night we’ll hear many kinds of animals, especially frogs. Remember that the Refuge is located in a humid zone. We can spend the afternoon out birdwatching, or perhaps you’d rather take a nap, read a book, or play some cards or games. Here we’ll have dinner and sleep.
 Day 2
6:30am Breakfast
7:30 am Walk to the Garden
Just 4 km away is the Garden, a turbera zone ecosystem with grasses and matorrales predominant, and prone to flooding. It’s name was inspired by the colors and forms of plantlife. The vegetation is very different and seldom observed. We will have a picnic lunch here. Enjoy the whole afternoon here, birdwatching or taking photos.. We’ll return to our lodging and dinner at the Refuge.
Day 3
7:00am Breakfast
8:00am Return Hike
All good things must come to an end. The third day we return by the same route, but descending, with more time to simply enjoy the views and Silence of the Valley.
What to Bring
-Comfortable hiking boots and extra pair of boots or sneakers, should these get wet.
-Some warm clothes. It can get cold at 2500m high.
-Water/Drinks sufficient for 15 km hike. (There is excellent drinking water at the Refuge.)
-Bug repellent and sunscreen. Mountain sun is particularly strong.
-Reguge has no electric lights, so bring a lantern or flashlight.
Includes:
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San Vito transfers
- Lodging
- Breakfasts
- Private guide and driver
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COFFEE TOUR
 The coffee farm is located near the La Amistad National park 1200 meters above sea level. The Trejos family understands the importance of protecting our environment and shows this with their practices. Within the plantation they reforest with Amarillon, Pine, and Nogal Cedar trees. They also have a primary forest conservation area. They use a minimum amount of water for the process which is recycled, pre-dry the coffee using the natural power of the sun, use the pulp as organic fertilizer, and use the coffee shells as fuel for the final drying process. Not only do they believe in ecological responsibility, but also social sustainability. Not only is it run by a local family, but they provide environmental education to their wo rkers and the local elementary school which is located right in front of the farm. They also donated a parcel of land to build a church and community health center.
Tours of Don Ramon’s coffee farm in the village of el Roble of San Vito takeapproximately 4 hours. On the way you will enjoy gorgeous scenery of rural Costa Rica. Once there you will visit different areas of the farm and see all the different stages of plant growth and bean processing (actually fruit processing). The tour ends with a delicious cup of coto brus coffee! With strict quality standards they produce Costa Rican sun dried Arabica coffee of the strictly hard bean (SHB) caturra variety with a smooth sweetness, strong body and acidity, and fruity taste.
Price
$15 pp Guided tour of plant.
$30 pp Guided tour of plant, snack and visit to the coffee farm.
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