Corcovado Nat'l Park  

Osa Peninsula Trip (Rio Nuevo/Rio Tigre Hike)

Trip Description

This trip typically lasts a week and varies in composition depending on specific interests. Typically, this trip is more flexible and less "planned" than the Corcovado N.P. trip, allowing the freedom to explore different portions of the Osa depending on our mood. The trip is split between two comfortable jungle lodges! In getting to our final lodge, we hike through some of the most majestic primary forest in all of Costa Rica, traversing the interior of the peninsula via one of the primitive game trails. This hike is typically 10-12 miles in length and is recommended only for fit hikers.

We have begun exploring more of the eastern-central tip of the Osa peninsula, as these forests have been less explored. Much of the primary and secondary forest here, is very remote, and holds wildlife numbers that meet or exceed those of Corcovado National Park, without the difficulties of accessing the park. Spring 2007 will be out 6th group trip!

Due to the incredible wildlife seen on the trip in May, we plan to re-visit Bosque del Rio Tigre in 2007! For pics from the recent trip click the link below! A trip report will be posted Soon

May 2006 Photo Page

Next Trip: May 30-June 7,2007

Tentative Itinerary

Day 1 (Wednesday May 30th):

Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica. Transfer to Hotel Don Carlos in the historic Barrio Amon district of San Jose. Afternoon in San Jose taking in the amazing sites of a Latin American capital. Change U.S. dollars to Colones if needed, access the internet, use ATM’s, etc. etc.

Day 2 (Thursday, May 31st):

Morning: Breakfast at Hotel. Morning Flight to Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula. Meet with Guide, Mike Boston.
Afternoon: Lunch in Puerto Jimenez at the Gringo hangout Carolinas. After lunch depart via private taxi for the 30-minute ride to the access road to Rio Tigre Lodge. Settle in and get acquainted with the grounds.
Evening: Hike trail for reptiles, amphibians and nocturnal tropical mammals. Get familiar with trails at Rio Tigre. Overnight at Rio Tigre Lodge.

Day 3 (Friday, June 1st):

Morning: General Tropical Ecology Hike to become familiar with various types of forest and trails around Rio Tigre. Pass through various stages of forest progression from primary forest and secondary growth forest. Mornings are good to for spotting diurnal species out hunting (Cribo, Spilotes, Neo-tropical bird snakes, etc.) and basking vipers (terciopelo along streams).
Afternoon: General Tropical Ecology Hike through Rio Tigre forests. Observe unique stages of forest growth, such as epiphytic plant succession on host species, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias, anthurium. Search Heliconia leaf curls for bats and frogs. Possibly observe peccaries, tapirs or cats in higher elevations.
Evening: Herpetology hike around Rio Tigre road to search for reptiles and amphibians. Species found may include: The green and black dart frog, Dendrobates auratus, Terciopelo, Bothrops asper, Eye-lash viper, Bothriechis schlegeli, Common Boa, Boa constrictor, Tree Boa, Corallus hortulanus, Red-eyed tree frog, Agalychnis callidryas. If time permits, hike to remote areas where matabuey (Bushmaster) have been observed. Overnight at Rio Tigre Lodge.

Day 4 (Saturday, June 2nd):

Morning: Hike from Rio Tigre Lodge, up into the interior hills of the Osa, and then turning South toward the gold mining village of Piedras Blancas, following the Rio Carate to the Pacific Coast towards Carate arriving at Terrapin Lodge. Hike will pass through several eco-systems in the remote interior of the peninsula. This hike is ~10 miles and will take approximately 6-8 hours. BE PREPARED TO BE HOT AND SOAKED, as we will be crossing streams.
Afternoon: Free to relax and settle in at Terrapin Lodge.
Evening: Hike down to Laguna Pejeperrito to observe American crocodile and perform survey for Costa Rica Osa Peninsula Crocodiles Survey via kayak. Possibly hike beach for signs of nesting sea turtles and prowling jaguar. Observe fishing bat foraging behavior along shores of Laguna Pejeperrito.

Day 5 (Sunday June 3rd):

Morning: Herpetology hike along the streams or possibly exploring one of Terrapin Lodge’s trails.
Afternoon: Hike or hit the beach. Possibly Kayak in the lagoon. Carate beach has the largest concentration of Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica!
Evening: Night hike along the beach to possibly spot a nesting sea-turtle (we saw an Olive Riddley in August 2005) and spot crocs in the lagoon via eye-shine. Past trips have found Milk tree-frogs, tamandua (vested anteater), cat-eyed snakes and Smilisca tree-frogs as well as fishing bats in the lagoon, and numerous crocodiles!

Day 6 (Monday , June 4th)

Morning: Breakfast at Terrapin, catch collectivo for 45 minute ride to Bosque Verde.

Afternoon: Hike or hit the beach. Possibly Kayak in the lagoon.

Evening: Night hike along the beach to possibly spot a nesting sea-turtle (we saw an Olive Riddley in August 2005) and spot crocs in the lagoon via eye-shine. Past trips have found Milk tree-frogs, tamandua (vested anteater), cat-eyed snakes and Smilisca tree-frogs as well as fishing bats in the lagoon, and numerous crocodiles!

Day 7 ( Tuesday, June 5th )

Morning: Hike through primary forest to one of Bosque Verde vistas in the hills. Search for reptiles and amphibians

Afternoon: Hike or hit the beach. Possibly Kayak in the lagoon.

Evening: Night hike along the beach to possibly spot a nesting sea-turtle and spot crocs in the lagoon via eye-shine. Explore the various ponds for amphibians and ultimately the other predators that feed on them.

Breakfast at Terrapin Lodge. Morning return to Puerto Jimenez. Lunch in Puerto Jimenez Afternoon flight to San Jose and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon to shop downtown.

Day 8 (Wednesday June 6th)

Breakfast at Bosque Verde. Morning return to Puerto Jimenez. Lunch in Puerto Jimenez Afternoon flight to San Jose and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon to shop downtown.

Day 9 (Thursday June 7th )

Morning departure back to U.S.

What’s included in the Total Cost?
It’s easier to say what’s not: Departure tax ($26), meals in San Jose (which are very very cheap, about 4 U.S. dollars gets you a huge meal!), personal items (souvenirs, water, film, etc.) and tips. Basically everything of a group nature is included.
Total cost (not including Airfare from U.S. to San Jose) will vary depending on how many individuals choose to travel with us and current airfares. Should more persons wish to participate, the price will go down.

To give you an idea, the prices below are per person, based on double occupancy:

Cost: $1250 (based on 3ppl), $1175(4ppl), $1075 (6ppl), $1050(8ppl)

Click here for a Map of Hiking Routes

Click HERE to downloaded detailed information(requires ADOBE ACROBAT READER).

You may call or email with specific Questions. Trip is limited to 10 persons

AS OF January 1st, 2007 THERE ARE 4 spots left!!!!

Osa Peninsula

Sonoran Desert Trip

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