Natural Treasures of Costa Rica

Having made your way to San Jose, you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket.  

Enjoy free time, and in the evening, dine at your leisure (dinner not included). 

Assigned accommodation: Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.  

Today we make our way to Hacienda Doka for a unique coffee experience. Discover Costa Rica's rich coffee heritage, starting at the seedbed where the journey of every coffee bean begins. Explore the diverse coffee plant varieties and their growth cycles while learning about the local history that has shaped the country’s coffee culture. Enjoy a coffee and chocolate pairing show, followed by a traditional buffet lunch featuring typical local dishes. In the early afternoon, we head to the coastal port of Puntarenas, where we will board the Sylvia Earle.  

Once onboard, there is time to settle into your cabin before attending important safety briefings. Enjoy the thrill of departure as we ‘throw the lines’ and set sail for an exciting tropical adventure.

Boasting over 100 species of mammals, 184 species of birds and an impressive variety flora, Manuel Antonio National Park understandably attracts wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. Costa Rica’s star attractions - two and three toed sloths, as well as white-faced monkeys, toucans, agoutis, armadillos and coatis are a few of the exciting animals that you may encounter within the park. We explore the park in the cool, early hours of the morning before returning to the vessel for lunch. In the afternoon, you have the option to explore Quepos town or enjoy some water activities.  

The untamed Osa Peninsula is considered by National Geographic to be ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’. We plan to hike the trails at Rio Claro Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary that encompasses 500 hectares of tropical rainforests, making it one of the most important natural preserves in Central America. Rio Claro is one of the last refuges for pumas, ocelot, jaguarundis, tapirs, white-lipped peccaries and a host of other rainforest animals. The high plateau forests, with trees towering over 43 m (140 ft), supports hundreds of species of ferns, bromeliads and orchids, and creates a biological corridor between palm swamps and mangroves. It is an extension of Corcovado National Park, the country's largest and one of the most remote parks in Costa Rica.

Punta Leona is home to one of the last remaining forests that are found in the transitional life zone between the rainforests of the Southwest and the dry forests of the Northwest. Created over 25 years ago to protect the region’s varied flora and fauna, the Punta Leona Refuge is a 300-hectare (750 acres) private nature reserve mainly consisting of lush primary and secondary forests. 

Also functioning as a centre for bird and mammal research, this reserve is the habitat of over 330 migratory and native bird species. Home to rare and endangered Scarlet Macaw, the reserve is also the dwelling place of a number of indigenous birds and animals like the Marbled Wood Quail, the Three-wattled Bellbird, Hummingbirds, Toucans, Spider Monkeys, White-faced Monkeys, White-nosed Coatimundis, iguanas and a variety of beautiful butterflies. 

Located near a pristine white sand beach, Punta Leona has three varied walking and hiking trails, all of which are easily accessible and perfect for bird watching. 

You can choose from one of the following two excursions: 

Rainforest Skywalk 

Located near the boundary of Carara National Park, the Rainforest Skywalk offers a unique opportunity to experience the rainforest canopy. After a short and easy walk, you will cross three suspended cable bridges ranging from 270 to 330 feet in length, soaring up to 126 feet above the forest floor. From these elevated walkways, enjoy views of the Tárcoles River wetlands and the distant Pacific Ocean while your guide points out wildlife such as birds, monkeys, butterflies, and other rainforest species. 

After the walk, visit the operations centre where you can step onto a glass-floor platform for a unique view of crocodiles in the Tárcoles River. You may also watch a demonstration of traditional chocolate making, sample fresh tropical fruits, enjoy Costa Rican coffee, or browse for souvenirs. 

Mangrove River Cruise 

This excursion takes place along the Tárcoles River on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, near Carara National Park. The region is known for its rich mangrove ecosystem, which includes four species: tea, black, red, and white mangroves. The river mouth is one of the most important sites for seabirds and shorebirds, particularly during the migration season from October to April. The riverbanks are also home to one of the largest crocodile populations in the area, with some reaching nearly three metres in length. Iguanas, basilisk “Jesus Christ” lizards, herons, egrets, and ducks are commonly seen along the shores. 

Following the cruise, visit the operations centre to view crocodiles from the glass-floor platform, watch a chocolate-making demonstration, sample tropical fruits, enjoy Costa Rican coffee, or browse local souvenirs. 

Located on the southeast tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, the Curu Wildlife Refuge is known for its pristine, white-sand beaches and impressive variety of species ranging from monkeys to sand crabs. In total the refuge covers 3,707 total acres and 656 feet of coastline. Travelers to the Curu Wildlife Refuge will quickly notice that they are in the minority at the site, with only a few people in the area among the abundance of animals and sea creatures. All of your senses will be captivated by this overwhelming amount of wildlife at the reserve, which offers some of the best eco-tourism in Costa Rica. Curu officially received support from the Costa Rican government to protect its wildlife in 1981 and the area officially became known as the Curu Wildlife Refuge in 1983. Today, the refuge is privately owned, extremely-well cared for and even more exclusive than many of the national parks in the country. If you're looking to participate in some of the vast eco-tourism opportunities in Costa Rica, the refuge should be a top priority because of its exclusivity and the ability of visitors to personally interact with the diverse animal population. The refuge also features 17 peaceful trails, where travellers can check out this abundant wildlife in a number of different ecosystems, including mangrove swamps and both dry and wet tropical forests.

Curú National Wildlife Refuge is a privately-owned nature reserve offering visitors outstanding eco-tourism experiences. The refuge is the first privately-owned refuge in Costa Rica, encompassing more than 3,700 acres of tropical forests, mangroves, and well-marked paths. 17 hiking trails wind through the varied terrain within the reserve, where you may see white-tail deer, armadillos and iguanas. Various monkey species are prolific within refuge including native capuchin, spider, and howler monkeys. Located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of north-western Costa Rica, the refuge is brimming with wildlife and hosts one of the most beautiful beaches and protected bays on the Nicoya Peninsula, a great place to enjoy water activities. 

Afterwards, enjoy lunch on board as you sail to nearby Isla Tortuga (Turtle Island), where you can snorkel, swim, paddle or relax. The water is teeming with a dizzying array of tropical fish, big pufferfish, turtles, sting rays, white tip reef sharks, and occasionally dolphins.  

This evening, celebrate a memorable journey at Captain’s Farewell reception.   

Named after its turtle-shaped volcanic rock formations, Isla Tortuga is a small island set just off the tip of Nicoya Peninsula’s southern coast. The island offers a unique combination of white pristine beaches, palm trees, red volcanic rocks, verdant jungles and sparkling crystals that line the shores. Sunlight reaches right through the crystal clear waters at Isla Tortuga, making it a sought-after destination for snorkelers and scuba divers. Just east of the island is the Curu Wildlife Refuge offers some of the region’s best wildlife watching, including sightings of capuchin and howler monkeys, river otters, and deer on the ground, and a diverse ecology of underwater wildlife that can be accessed via snorkeling. Most commonly seen species are mantarays, reef sharks, octupus, stingrays, angle fish and spinner dolphins.

This town is not on the Nicoya Peninsula, but rather on Costa Rica's mainland. It is best known as a cruise-ship port and launching pad for ferries heading southeast to the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula and for cruises sailing out on the Gulf of Nicoya. Puntarenas is also a major fishing port with a lively fish market. The town’s reputation suffers from the unimpressive parts you see from your car as you roll through town on the way to the ferry dock. But the town has a lot of character off the main drag, thanks to its illustrious past as an affluent port town and principal vacation spot for San José's wealthy, who arrived by train in the last century. Once the port was moved and roads opened to other beaches, Puntarenas's economy crashed, but it's making a comeback. Sitting on a narrow spit of sand—punta de arenas literally means "point of sand"—that protrudes into the Gulf of Nicoya, the town boasts a beautifully groomed, wide Blue Flag beach with views of the Nicoya Peninsula and spectacular sunsets, along with a public swimming pool, the San Lucas Beach Club, and a marine-life museum. Ticos arrive by bus and car to enjoy the beach and stroll the Paseo de los Turistas, a beachfront promenade lined with tree-shaded concrete benches and seafood restaurants. Crowds of locals, called porteños, cruise by on bicycles, the town’s most popular form of transport.

Disembark in Puntarenas, where you'll farewell your expedition team before transferring to San Jose airport.

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing San Jose prior to 12.00 pm. Please advise your departure flight information to your reservations consultant.