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. 

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.