3 day tour to Boca Tapada and Maquenque in Costa Rica

3-day Boca Tapada & Maquenque Tour

This three-day tour will show you the most unspoiled parts of the remote northern part of the northern zone: the San Carlos River basin, the largest of the Northern Plains and the Maquenque Wildlife Refuge, of 60,000 hectares, and one of the most important protective areas, as it protects important forests of one of the cantons that was most deforested in the decades of the 70s and 80s.

Day 1: RIVER SAFARI and ARRIVAL AT BOCA TAPADA

Today, at about am, you will leave La Fortuna in a private minivan with a naturalist guide. The destination: Castelmar, an idyllic and remote village nestled in the deep northern plains.

Curiously, the name of this little village was indeed inspired by Castellammare del Golfo, this famous region on the island of Sicily. And although it bears not the slightest resemblance, it's a funny story of how in the past, former Latin American colonies emulated regions of the old continent.

Rio safari to get to the hotel

Once in Castelmar, you will board an inflatable raft, with which you will begin the journey along a beautiful jungle river to the hotel in Boca Tapada.

The suitcases and other belongings will go safely by land to the hotel, so once you arrive at the hotel, your luggage will already be there.

The tour can be done by raft and also by kayak, it really depends on the taste of the client and his ability and willingness to paddle.

The river is perhaps the most natural and beautiful navigable river in the Northern Plains region in general. The lush surroundings border this river, and as you descend down the river, to where it meets the San Carlos River, you can see several species of animals that inhabit the jungles that border the river. Some species include up to three species of monkeys, three species of toucans, green macaws, scarlet macaws, agoutis, raccoons, sloths, coatis and hopefully a white-tailed deer, mountain goat or who knows, maybe a small feline.

After about 3 hours on the San Carlos River, you will arrive at the hotel. A delicious lunch awaits you at the hotel restaurant.

Evening and night free for optional activities to be booked on site, such as a night walk perhaps, together with the hotel guide. Dinner and overnight stay.

Hotel included: Maquenque Lodge ( Bungalows or Treehouses )

Food included: Breakfast, lunch

Tours Included: River safari tour

Day 2: Exploring the area with Churray, your private guide

Today, after breakfast, our private guide will come to pick you up to start the full-day adventure.

During these 8 hours, you will explore the Boca Tapada area located inside the Refugio Mixto Maquenque. An interesting attraction is undoubtedly to go in search of Green Macaws, which inhabit this area. These large birds make their nests in tree trunks, and our guide is an expert at finding them.

Many times the nests are on private estates, which is arranged in advance so that we can enter with all the required permits.

Of course, during these tours in search of the Green Macaw, you will go in search of other species of animals.

The tour is recommended to start at 8 am and return around 4 pm.

Post-return, possibility to relax in the hotel pool, tour the lagoons by canoe or walk the gardens and trails.

Dinner and lodging.

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Boca Tapada and Maquenque is a world famous area for bird species, not only the variety is impressive, but also the fact that there are unique and rare species to be seen. With luck, during the nesting season for example, it may be possible to spot the beautiful Agami herons for example. Additionally, there are several species of toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, owls and much more.

As for species of amphibians and reptiles, it is also a privileged area. One of the species that always arouses the attention of visitors for example the Red-eyed Frog, which has become an icon of the tropical rainforest.

Optional activities NOT INCLUDED:

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Boat tour on the San Carlos River to where it joins the imposing San Juan River. In this 4-hour tour you can see species such as caimans, crocodiles, the famous king vulture as well as species of birds of prey.

Optional activities INCLUDED:

Tour the hotel's lagoons by canoe. This activity is undoubtedly of great pleasure. In the hotel there are several lagoons and old river meanders which can be navigated by canoe. A very interesting, self-guided tour is to take a canoe trip before breakfast (if you don't mind waking up early). One of the lagoons goes up to 400 meters into the jungle, and early in the morning, and thanks to the absence of river for the use of the canoe, it is easy to approach the jungle trees that are in these wetlands and lagoons, and it is very possible to see some species of birds, monkeys, other mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Walk the trails in the hotel's reserve. It is extremely easy to hike the jungle trails of the hotel reserve. These trails are well marked, and are well maintained, so it is ideal to walk them especially early in the morning, or after returning from the tour with our guide. The afternoon hours, due to the absence of heat, makes the chances of seeing animals higher, as well as early in the morning.

Hotel included: Maquenque Lodge ( Bungalows or Treehouses )

Food included: Breakfast

Tours included: 8-hour private tour with Churray.