Costa Rica Wildcat Conservation Safari

Upon arrival into San Jose International Airport, you will be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel, a Victorian-style mansion in the heart of the city. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to relax or explore the city.

Overnight: Grano de Oro

Today marks the start of your adrenaline-packed adventure, as you are picked up early this morning and transferred to the entry point of the famous Pacuare River, enjoying a traditional Costa Rican breakfast en route. Don your life jacket and set off white water rafting down the river towards your eco-lodge, nestled within the tropical rainforest.

Overnight: Pacuare Lodge(B, L, D)

Awake each morning to the soothing sounds of the jungle and nearby river, as you spend the next two days exploring the pristine rainforests of Costa Rica. If you wish, you can head out into the forest on your wildcat camera trap expedition. By placing your camera trap here, you are helping to monitor and protect wildcat populations in the region.

Overnight: Pacuare Lodge(B, L, D)

Prepare for another exhilarating day on the water, rafting the Class III rapids of the Pacuare River. Travel along the river as it meanders through primary rainforest and steep gorges which provide a habitat to a diverse variety of birds and mammals. Make a landing near the town of Siquirres, where you will enjoy a hearty lunch before continuing for another three hours by road to Selva Bananito Lodge, located in a pristine area of forest on the Caribbean Coast.

Overnight: Selva Bananito(B, L, D)

Nestled in a virtually untouched region of the Talamanca Mountains, Selva Bananito is one of Costa Rica's leading examples of ecotourism and a leader in the region's conservation efforts, as evidenced by their work to protect wildcats and other animals in the area. Their private reserve acts as an important buffer zone for the International Park La Amistad and is brimming with biodiverse flora and fauna. Over the next two days you will get the opportunity to contribute directly to these efforts by placing your own camera trap in this primary rainforest, and therefore helping the team to monitor and protect the reserves populations of jaguar, ocelot and other felines.

Overnight: Selva Bananito(B, L, D)

Today you will be transferred by road to the city of Limon, from where you will continue on towards La Pavona, the gateway to Tortuguero National Park. Board a boat from La Pavona to your lodge, where upon arrival you will be met with a welcome cocktail. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight: Tortuga Lodge(B, L, D)

Spend your final few days in Costa Rica exploring the wildlife-rich Tortuguero region with your guide. Tortuguero is one of the country's best-known national parks, protecting a 22-mile stretch of beach that is an important nesting site for endangered green sea turtles. The parks rainforest and winding canal networks are also home to jaguars, manatees, tapirs and sloths.

Overnight: Tortuga Lodge(B, L, D)

This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip for your short flight back to San Jose, where you will board your international flight home. Once you have arrived home, you can start looking forward to receiving updates and photos taken directly by your very own camera trap!