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Jaguar Trails - Overland Trip

1 ½ weeks: San Jose to San Jose (IMT-LAJT)

Intro

The jaguar is so elusive it has often been credited with magical powers, but if you want to stand a chance of seeing a real one in the wild, Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is probably the best place. On this tropical adventure we\'ll explore this isolated park before heading to the Valley of the Flowers in northern Panama, ending with a stay on a beautiful Caribbean archipelago.

Group Size

Max 18

Activities

Hiking in National Parks, optional snorkelling

Accommodation

8 nights hotels, 2 nights eco-lodge

Transport

Private and public bus, 4WD jeeps, boat

Fully Escorted

By Imaginative Traveller tour leader

Itineraries (San Jose - San Jose)

Day 1,SAN JOSE

Arrival day.

Day 2,SAN JOSE - PUERTO JIMENEZ

We take a bus to Golfito and then a boat to Puerto Jimenez, gateway to Corcovado National Park and the coastal villages of Cabo Matapalo and Carate.

Day 3,PUERTO JIMENEZ - CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

We board our 4WD jeeps to drive to one of the wildest and most isolated areas of Central America, Corcovado National Park, the wild frontier of Costa Rica. Our lodge is located on Carate Beach, at the edge of the park, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The wildlife knows no boundaries, so animals can be spotted while hiking on the lodge’s trails. The tents are set amidst tall shade trees overlooking the ocean and a black sandy beach - often totally deserted as far as the eye can see.

Day 4,CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

A full day to explore Corcovado. This park protects 41,788 hectares of rainforest, swamps, rivers, lagoons, marshes and beaches. Because of its isolated location, Corcovado has a wealth of animals that are scarce in other areas, such as tapir, crocodile, ocelot, giant anteater, and of course jaguar. Marine turtles such as the leatherback, the olive ridley and the green turtles arrive to nest at Llorona Beach, within the park.

Day 5,CORCOVADO - GOLFITO - BOQUETE

Transfer by boat to Golfito from where we drive to the border with Panama. We travel through Boquete, the known as "Valley of the Flowers and Eternal Spring" for its natural beauty. Boquete is a coffee producing area, and it's possible to take a coffee tour from the town.

Day 6,BOQUETE

Drive to Almirante to take a water taxi to the islands of Bocas del Toro. The Bocas del Toro archipelago is made up of six large islands and many smaller ones. Sometimes called "Bocas Isla", charming Isla Colón is the main base for visiting the archipelago.

Day 7,BOQUETE - BOCAS DEL TORO

A full free day to enjoy the beaches, diving, hiking and lifestyle of the islands. It is possible to do an optional day trip on a catamaran, cruising the archipelago past densely forested islands and coral reefs, stopping along the way for snorkelling.

Day 8 to Day 9,BOCAS DEL TORO

Two full free days to enjoy the beaches, diving, hiking and lifestyle of the islands. It is possible to take an optional day trip on a catamaran, cruising the archipelago and stopping along the way to snorkel around the beautiful coral reefs.

Day 10,BOCAS DEL TORO - SAN JOSE

After breakfast, we leave Bocas and head back to the Costa Rican border following the Caribbean coast. We continue to San Jose.

Day 11,SAN JOSE

Tour ends. (B)

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