Places and Things of Interest Near Us |
There are many wonderful things to see and to do in our part of the world. The following is a list of a few tours that we can assist you in scheduling. Please let us know what you are interested in, and we will do our best to help. |
Matapalo Tour
Leaving from Rancho Agujas in the morning and going to Matapalo Community. Matapalo is located 29 Kilometers south of Puerto Jimenez. Wildlife is ubiquitous throughout the cape, 
and easy to encounter without long, hot hikes through the jungle. Over 315 species of birds inhabit the area, and common sightings include scarlet macaws, eagles, hummingbirds and toucans. Keep an eye out for green and black poison dart frogs along the forest floor. Because of the area’s extreme isolation, monkeys, sloths, anteaters, coatis and agoutis are also commonly seen.
A short half-mile hike from Matapalo beach leads to the beautiful King Louis Waterfall. Don’t forget to bring a camera, as wildlife encounters are inevitable.
DIFFICULTY: Easy
TIME: Half Day
COST: $55 per person (minimum 2 people) or $40 per person (more that 3 people). Includes bilingual guide and transport.
Mangrove Kayak Tour
This is a guided tour through the Preciosa Platanares Wild Life Refuge. The mangrove is both relaxing and amazing. You will learn about the ecosystem while
paddling through the bird’s habitat, and find coatis, ant eaters and monkeys hiding in the canopy. The trip is guided by an experienced local guide who will briefly interrupt the peace and wild silence with explanations of the interrelationships that exist here between plants and animals at different levels. You may see any of the hundreds of species of fish and wildlife which inhabit the Platanares River.
Immerse yourself in indescribable wild and silent beauty, where nature reveals its life.
Your mangrove kayak tour leaves one or two hours before high tide. This trip explores the mangrove estuaries near of Platanares River in the the Preciosa Platanares Wild Life Refuge. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you up and down a river under the canopy of 70-foot tall mangrove trees. Learn about the mangroves and look for all types of wildlife -- monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, Jesus Christ lizards, crabs, crocodiles, caimans, snakes, all types of birds, and butterflies!
The natural canals lead you on a ride through an unforgettable learning experience! We will then use a short cut to go to the Golfo Dulce, experiencing two atmospheres; mangrove forest kayaking and sea kayaking.
DIFFICULTY: Medium
TIME: 3 hours
COST: $30 per person, minimum 2 people. Transport $35 round trip, maximum 4 people in the car.
Sunset Kayaking, Dolphins & Turtles Sight Seeing:
May we all be blessed with seeing wild Dolphins in their natural home swimming, jumping, feeding and enjoying as you, the wonders of one of the only four tropical fiords in the world. There are several families of dolphins that live all year long in Golfo Dulce, including the Spinner, Bottle nose and the Spotted Dolphins.
This tour will bring you to see other sea life as well in their natural habitat. Different species of turtles, fish, and even manta rays jumping out of the water are common sights. The warm waters of our area host a large variety of fish, mollusk, and ocean birds along with the majestic dolphins. 
February and August are the best months to see Humpback Whales. They come into the Gulf to give birth. Come enjoy the peace and soul filling energy from the sound of the waves, sea birds and silence that power boats tend to miss. Every day is special in its own way and we love it that way. Nature makes every tour unique. The tropical sunset is a gift that makes your padling a great experience. The fresh breeze in the gulf usually provides the perfect temperature for your comfort.
As the dark comes and we head back to the beach, the photoluminescence (noctiluca) lights up the water, produced by living organisms. Without any doubt this privileged Gulf will provide an unforgettable afternoon, surrounded by nature and peace.
This tour is made every day during the dry season and it takes three hours, from 3 pm to 6 pm. The tour includes seasonal tropical fruits, bilingual tour guide and all the safety gear.
For you comfort we recommend to bring mosquito repellent, sun screen, water, cap or hat, sandals and light clothes.
DIFFICULTY: Medium
TIME: 3 hours
COST: $30 per person, minimum 2 people. Transport $35 round trip, maximum 4 people in the car.
Canopy Tour:
5 zip-lines that run through secondary and primary forests. Enjoy the experience and the amazing views. Shortest cable: 120 meters; longest cable: 500 meters. Distance: 1300 meters.
DIFFICULTY: Medium
TIME: 1.5 hours
COST: $35 per person, minimum 2 people. Transport $65 round trip, maximum 4 people in the car.
Corcovado National Park By Plane (One Day)
Recommended in dry season.
Starting at 7:00 am you will fly in a small plane to the main station for Corcovado National Park, Sirena Biological Station. This wild area is considered an excellent life laboratory in which you can study the structure and function of the tropical ecosystems and the relationships between them. 
The very humid forests of Corcovado are some of the last places that still maintain the ecosystem of the very humid tropical forests in the American pacific, with precipitation over 5.000mm annual. This park helps with investigation and scientific studies and supports environmental education. There are close to 500 species of trees in the whole park, which is equivalent to a fourth of all the tree species in Costa Rica. The tropical rain forests protected in the area no only constitute the best ecosystem in the pacific, but the last of them in Central America.
The flora of the park is that of a very humid tropical forest with the following habitats: The mountain forest, the cloudy forest, the prairie forest, the swamp forest, the "Yolillal", the herbaceous swamp, the mangle, the sheer flora and the coast flora.
The park protects several endangered species such as cats and big reptiles, as well as species of birds of restricted distribution. We know of the existence of 104 mammal species, 367 birds, 117 amphibian and reptiles and 40 species of fresh water fish. Some wild life we might see include the tapir, the jaguar, the puma, the white face monkey, squirrel, howler monkeys, and others. This park is also one of the most important conservation areas for the protection of lizards and crocodiles.
This is the real jungle! Closed-toed shoes and sandals are recommended.
DIFFICULTY: Medium
TIME: Full day .
COST: $845 1 or 2 persons – $220 per additional person with 4 persons max (air transfers, a bilingual guide, entrance fees and a box lunch included)