After your trek, if you would like to stay a few days longer in Costa Rica, there are several interesting and exciting attractions in the area. Our friend Johan, from Austria, first came to Costa Rica 20 years ago and he knows the best ones. He would be happy to take you around to visit the attractions of your choice, all located nearby Playa Bandera where you will be ending your trek with us. He has planned some great excursions that you are sure to enjoy. Check out the listings below and contact him directly to make your plans. Let me know how many extra days you would like to stay and I can make your hotel reservations at Pozza del Pacifico, where we will be ending the trek, or stay in one of Johan’s beach houses!
He can tell you all about it. Email him at: jollyloco@gmx.net
One of the closest excursions to Playa Bandera starts with the exciting Sky Mountain Canopy Tours and Ziplines. Johan likes to follow this by a short hike through the rain forest to a nearby waterfall and swimming hole for a refreshing swim. Your day includes a visit to Johan’s farm for refreshments of homemade Austrian cakes and delicious Costa Rican coffee.
Right in our neighbourhood, is one of the most exciting canopy tours and zipline in Costa Rica. Not just from tree to tree, like other canopy tours, these ziplines are suspended from hill to hill! You will get your adrenaline flowing as you soar through the air on all seven of the ziplines in the park (25m, 50m, 200m, 450m, 550m, 600m an 700m) You will be ”flying” above the jungle with an wonderful ocean view!
Waterfalls “Las Pilas”
You will pass ricefields, melon and teak plantatioins as you travel on a gravel-road to the little village “La Pirris”. From there, a 20 minute walk will take you to the waterfalls “Las Pilas”. Deep and cool, these pools invite you to take a refreshing swim, perfect to refresh body and soul!
$95 per person, includes all transportation and park entrance fees and refreshments.
One of Johan’s favorites is a day spent at the Rain Maker Nature Park followed by the Tilapia farm restaurant.
Park highlights are the impressive the 70 meter long suspension-bridges, suspended 60 meters above the jungle floor. The views from the bridges of the surrounding jungle will amaze you. An attentive guide will explain all about the plants and animals in the forest. You’ll have the chance to see animals like armadillos, snakes, birds and different types of Lizards.
Follow this up with lunch at a restaurant that has tilapia ponds. Catch your own fish and watch them cook it for you while you wait. How’s that for fresh!
$70 per person, includes transportation, park entrance fees and lunch.
A very interesting and educational tour is a visit to the Villa Vanilla Rain Forest Spice Plantation.
Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation is a sustainable organic spice farm in Costa Rica. They are certified organic and bio-dynamic and grow a variety of spices and essential oil plants, including vanilla, cocoa, and ceylon (true) cinnamon.
The tour is a gentle walk through the plantation and is very sensory, along their unique Epiphyte (air plant) and Rock Garden Trail. They explain the spices’ origins, their ancient history and traditional uses. You will touch, smell and taste aromatic spices, medicinal and essential oil plants in the field. The “Flavors of the World” tasting menu features the world’s three favorite flavors – vanilla, chocolate and ceylon cinnamon -, among other spices and seasonal tropical fruits at our Rainforest Viewpoint. There visitors enjoy an assortment of gourmet spice treats all grown on the plantation and prepared by their staff pastry chef.
$90 per person, includes transportation, entrance fees and ice cream.
How about a boat ride through the jungle?
“Rafa’s Monkey-Tour”
Located between Quepos/Manuel Antonio and Parrita, you will find “Isla Damas” from where this tour starts. Take a boat ride up the Rio Damas where you can see and touch the monkeys. These monkeys are very freindly and will visit you in the boat!
On your way you will make a stop at a banana plantation and see how the worlds most popular fruit is grown and processed On your way back to the beach stop for lunch and sample Costa Rican cuisine at a local rural restaurant.
$70 per person, includes transportation, entrance fees, and lunch.
Some of the more mainstream excursions are listed below. Johan can help you organize those as well.
Crocodile-Man-Tour About an hour away, you can take a boat for a 2 hour ride on the “Rio Tarcoles” to watch Crocodiles. You will be invited to witness the feeding time of the second largest crocodile in Costa Rica (80 Years old, 800 kg and about 5 Meters tall!).
Dolphin-Tour
Not far from Playa Bandaeras, on the Way to “Manuel Antonio”, there is the litte city “Quepos”. This is where your 3 hour boat tour begins.
You will have the possibility to see Dolphins in in their natural environment. You will also be invited to go snorkling and see many of colourful tropical fish that make the warm clear waters of the Pacific ocean their home.
National-Park”Manuel Antonio”
There are many National-Parks in Costa Rica. But the most popular of all is “Manuel Antonio”, because of the wonderful beaches and abundant wildlife.
About 36 acres are covered with Mangrove-Swamps, which contain Red, White and Button-Mangroves. The Beach-Vegetation is stamped by the ”Manzanillo”-Tree, the “Ocean Almond” Tree and many Cocopalm-Trees. The Park is Home for 109 Species of Mammals: including many species of Monkeys, two and three-Finger Sloths and, Racoons.
