SEA TURTLES
Thank you for your support of Conservación de la Selva a través del Turismo S.A., “Rain Forest Conservation through Tourism, Inc.” or CONSELVATUR. Through your sponsorship you are contributing to rain forest, watershed, wildlife, sea turtle and marine conservation. Your choice makes a difference!
CONSELVATUR operates and coordinates a variety of nature and adventure itineraries through out Costa Rica and Panama which have one thing in common, namely, your stay at Selva Bananito Lodge & Reserve, which is the pivot point for all the programs we offer. We design programs with one main goal, the active support of conservation programs at Selva Bananito Lodge & Reserve and other initiatives, like sea turtle conservation at Pacuare Reserve, and marine conservation at the Bastimentos Marine National Park in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
The itineraries offered by CONSELVATUR / Selva Bananito Lodge are active programs which vary in length, anywhere from 8 days / 7 nights, 11 days / 10 nights up to 13 days / 12 nights in the case of the different La Amistad adventure programs. All programs center around the most active program at Selva Bananito, the 4 days / 3 nights extra adventure package, sometimes including an additional night at Selva Bananito.
When you take part in the extra adventure package you will have the opportunity to explore the canopy during our tree climbing or jungle tree climbing activity as well as the canopy observation platform tour with or without rappel. Ride freely on noble and sure footed horses through open fields and segments of primary forests during the horseback tour of the farm or the adventure horseback tour, and immerse yourself in natural old growth forests of unique beauty while learning about its ecological importance during our guided natural history rain forest hike or the full day waterfall tour. Our most exhilarating activity is the waterfall rappel. Additionally, you can bathe in pristine river pools or enjoy guided bird watching tours. The hammocks on your cabin’s veranda invite you to live peaceful moments or to simply absorb the beauty and peacefulness of this pristine environment seeking spiritual healing and rest.
All itineraries include the first and last over night in San Jose at a charming Bed & Breakfast and offer the experience of rafting down the Pacuare River class III / IV, or the Sarapiqui River class II / III.
The following itineraries are our recommendations for a truly memorable vacation experience with nature and adventure in mind. However, we do cater for the individual traveler and individual travel itineraries and gladly will take all of your requests into consideration.
8 days / 7 nights | mid-MARCH through mid-AUGUST
DAY 1 Arrive from your country of origin to Costa Rica. Overnight at Hotel Milvia or similar (lovely small B&B located in the suburb of San Pedro, just ten minutes away from downtown San José).
DAY 2 Early start to meet the rafting challenge of an untamed river, the world famous Pacuare River, class 3 & 4! Discover the mystical Pacuare Canyon while rafting passed a Cabecar Indian reserve. Waterfalls and wildlife will be part of the adventure. At the end of the day, and after paddling through and surviving some very exciting rapids, you will enjoy a dinner in the light of candles at Reserva Pacuare. The next two nights you will be hosted at Casa Grande, the main building of ‘Private Sea Turtles Conservation Sanctuary’.The romantic setting of this ample house built on stilts, following Caribbean style, is base for our next two days while taking an active stand in sea turtle conservation.
DAY 3 SEA TURTLES calls for active participation of our guest by patrolling the 4-mile long volcanic beach at Reserva Pacuare, to which this program has exclusive right to access. The presence of our guests and their participation in the organized night patrols on the beach together with biologists, volunteers, and private park rangers is a positive deterrent against sea turtle nest poachers. Watching a giant Leather Back turtle emerge from the waves on to the beach covered by the darkness of the night and the safety of our presence is an unforgettable sight and a very special experience. You will help relocate and hide the nests, so poachers do not find the turtle eggs they intend to sell on the street. The turtle has to be measured and tagged and escorted back into the safe ocean. By mid-June and until mid-August minute Leather Back hatchlings will squirrel off on their way to the ocean, many times not having the opportunity to do so because of their natural predators and the strong sun. During this time you will help to make sure that as many of these hatchlings as possible find their way into their natural element, the ocean. During the stay at Reserva Pacuare you will also have the opportunity to walk the natural trails of the preserve and to observe great wildlife during the boat tour of the natural canals and lagoons created by the Pacuare River when it enters the ocean.
DAY 4 Transfer to Selva Bananito Lodge & Preserve. At Selva Bananito you can choose from a number of exciting adventure activities such as hiking through the exuberant tropical rain forest of our preserve. At Selva Bananito Preserve you will find trees, over 200 feet tall, that you can climb using our special tree climbing gear and canopy exploration technique. From our canopy platform you will be overwhelmed by the wild and rich diversity in-, and absolute serene beauty of- our primary rain forest.
DAY 5 At Selva Bananito you can choose from a number of exciting adventure activities such as hiking through the exuberant tropical rain forest of our preserve. At Selva Bananito Preserve you will find trees, over 200 feet tall, that you can climb using our special tree climbing gear and canopy exploration technique. From our canopy platform you will be overwhelmed by the wild and rich diversity in-, and absolute serene beauty of- our primary rain forest. Have fun, enjoy the lovely scenery, and learn about the region’s low impact agriculture during our tour through the farm on horseback.
DAY 6 Selva Bananito Lodge & Preserve. Enjoy the beautiful hike following the Bananito River upstream, deep into the Selva Bananito Preserve. Lunch and fruit juices by the last of a series of charming waterfalls. Highly recommended for adrenaline seekers is the Waterfall Rappel!!!
DAY 7 Selva Bananito Lodge & Preserve. Adventure horseback Tour with Jungle tree climbing. Get to know the canopy in the most spectacular primary rain forest setting imaginable. Climb up a gigantic Kapok tree and become part of this unique natural cathedral at 120 feet above the ground. Optional adventure tours at Selva Bananito Lodge include canopy observation from our tree platform and / or 165 feet free rappel down a vertical rock wall. In the afternoon transfer to San Jose. Overnight at Hotel Milvia or similar.
DAY 8 Return home.
