Hidden Valleys

• Two-day Mountain biking the coffee valley of Orosi and Tapantí Wildlife Refuge

• Two-day Trekking in the heart of the rainforest in Valle Escondido

• Two-day Whitewater Rafting, Pacuare River

• Hotels: San José, backpacking and camping

• Overnight rainforest tent camp - El Nido del Tigre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1 San José (arrival)

After welcoming you at San José airport your guide will bring you to a comfortable hotel in the city and take time to answer any questions. Meet the group and prepare for your multi-activity adventure trip. The evening is free to explore San José.

Day 2 Orosi Valley

Today begins with an early departure from San José. After an hour drive southeast on the Pan-American Highway, we stop for a typical hearty Costa Rican breakfast. Here we begin our adventure. The first leg of our mountain biking ride takes us several kilometers down through rugged countryside to a small, quaint farming town from where we begin a gradual up-hill biking climb which offers us incredible “vistas” of the valley below. Abandoning civilization we trade wide dirt roads for an outrageous stretch of single track and steep mountain paths to give our bikes a good work-out. After a picnic lunch beside a mountain creek we continue biking on paved roads through the coffee-lined Orosi Valley to our resting-place for the night - cabins overlooking the Orosi Valley. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Tapanti

This morning we lick our wounds and get back on our bikes for another full day of mountain biking. The day begins with a steep climb. At the top we are treated to an incredible view of the rainforest covered mountains of the Talamanca Range. The rest of the day our adventure takes us biking downhill on rough dirt roads through cloud and rainforest, plantations of sugar cane and macadamia trees, and quaint villages and towns. The day ends with a biking climb up to our home for the night - a mountain top lodge near Turrialba. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Valle Escondido

After a bumpy 4X4 drive to the small village of Bajo Pacuare, we begin trekking to Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley). We are hiking for a challenging six hours which takes us deep into the Talamanca mountains to an isolated settlement. Valle Escondido is inhabited by a group of about 25 indigenous people, living in traditional palenque lodges in this idyllic valley, completely self-sufficient. We camp beside a creek near the settlement. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Valle Escondido

Today we add one member to our group - an indigenous guide who joins our adventure from the nearby settlement, equipped with a sharp machete. The day is spent trekking with the guide through an incredible maze of hunting and transport trails covered by dense tropical rainforest. The sheer amount of life, both plant and animal will astound you. At the end of the day’s trekking we camp beside a tributary of the Pacuare River in the Temible Valley. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Valle Temible/Pacuare River

After a refreshing swim in the creek we continue hiking up a steep valley and down the other side, right to the whitewater rafting 'put-in' of the Pacuare River. Here we begin our two days of whitewater adventure. We will run a total of 27 kilometers of Class III-IV rapids exploring the magnificent river valley. This afternoon we arrive at our comfortable riverside camp, “El Nido del Tigre.” Nestled between the sounds of the rainforest and the hum of the river, take time to explore the lush environment first hand, looking out for toucans overhead or simply relaxing in a hammock to the sounds of the river. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Pacuare River/return to San José

Today our whitewater rafting on the Pacuare takes us through virgin rainforest, cascading waterfalls and river carved canyons. We maneuver through the exhilarating rapids and point out the intricacies of the rainforest at the river’s edge. Along the way we take time-out to do some hiking to spectacular waterfalls and have lunch on the shore. Nearing the end of our adventure we “Take out” near the town of Siquirres and return to San José taking time to appreciate the breathtaking views as we pass through Braulio Carrillo National Park. (B, L)

Day 8 San José (departure)

A representative will drive you to the airport for your return flight home (B)

Do you fit the client profile for this trip?

You need to be reasonably fit and have a good stamina as the Hidden Valleys Trip is a real challenge. Good understanding and experience of mountain biking will make the trip more enjoyable and keep the pace even. Experience of whitewater rating is not necessary but you will be paddling all the time you are on the raft, so fitness and stamina are a must.