The Guanacaste area offers an incredible
diversity of scenic natural wonders, and Papagayo Excursions has
developed a complete and unique variety of vacation activities. We
are fully equipped, licensed and insured. Our professionally trained
bilingual guides are prepared to take you on nature safaris, horse
back riding, coastal cruises, scuba diving, deep sea fishing and land
trips to the National Parks in our region. |
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See an active volcano, visit volcanic hot springs
and mud baths, float down a jungle-lined river, explore the inner chambers
of caves, watch as indigenous indians craft timeless pottery. These
are a very few of the adventures that await you here in the Guanacaste
region
of Costa
Rica.
Below are
more details
of some
of
our tours: |
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JUNGLE BOAT SAFARI:
This
is a two hour boat trip into the Baula National Park to explore
the saltwater wildlife refuge. The giant mangrove swamps provide
a natural protected habitat
for a wide variety of exotic birds, monkeys, caimans, crocodiles, iguanas
and land crabs. The tour includes an experienced bilingual guide,
refreshments and
transportation from the principal hotels in Tamarindo.
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GIANT LEATHERBACK TURTLE
NESTING SAFARI: October 15 - February 15
This is a nocturnal adventure
into the Baula National Park to witness one of the few remaining
nesting grounds for the Giant Leatherback
Sea Turtle. This
is approximately a two hour walking tour with a bi-lingual guide to watch
the world's largest reptile lay her eggs and return to the sea.
This tour is educational
as well as adventurous. The tour includes professional multi-lingual guides
from the National Parks, a video show, refreshments and transportation
from the principal
hotels in Tamarindo area.
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RINCON DE LA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK:
This is an all-day adventure tour to the active
volcano Rincon de la Vieja. We start the day by driving through the
Guanacaste countryside up to the capital
city of Liberia. There we start climbing up into the surrounding volcano
to Buena Vista Lodge. Upon arrival, we mount horses and take a
nature trail down to the
hot springs and mud pots. Here we enjoy the hot mud spa and swim in the crystal
clear springs. We then take a small hike to a spectacular waterfall. Then
we ride back to the lodge to enjoy a delicious typical lunch. In
the afternoon there
is an option of experiencing the exhilarating canopy tour over the treetops
of the jungle, sliding down a giant water slide, or going on a
nature hike into
the surrounding jungles of the volcano. This area is abundant with wildlife
and exotic tropical birds, especially toucans and white-faced monkeys.
This tour
includes bilingual guide, horseback ride, lunch, spa and nature trails. Canopy
tour and water slide are optional.
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ARTOLA CANOPY AND GUANACASTE
BEACH TOUR:
This is a half-day adventure. We drive north
to a beautiful tree-filled canyon to experience the exhilaration
of the canopy
tour over the
tree top jungle. This
tour is suitable for all ages. On the ground there is a small zoo of jungle
snakes and animals, as well as a butterfly farm. After the excitement
of the canopy
we will visit several Guanacaste Beaches and have lunch at the famous Flamingo
Marina. This tour includes bi-lingual guide, refreshments, canopy tour, and
lunch.
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SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK
- LOS INOCENTES:
This is a full day tour to The Dry Tropical
Forest of Guanacaste, one of last remaining ecosystems of grasslands
and
savannah woodlands.
You will visit Santa
Rosa National Park, one of the country's most historical parks, known for
the Battle of Santa Rosa. There is a wide variety of wildlife in
Santa Rosa: 115
species of mammals, 253 of birds, and 100 species of amphibians and reptiles.
After touring the park we will move on to Los Inocentes Hacienda for a typical
ranch style lunch. If you wish, after lunch you may relax in the Hacienda
at the pool or take a 2 hour horseback riding trip into a unique
tropical temperate
ecosystem full of monkeys, butterflies, and birds. The tour includes a bilingual
guide, air conditioned bus, horseback ride, park entrance fees, lunch and
refreshments.
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COROBICI RIVER FLOAT:
This
trip is an all-day adventure of floating down the beautiful
Corobici River leading into the Tempisque River Basin. You
will start off early in the morning
and travel through the Guanacaste countryside to the town of Cañas. Here
you will ride a raft down the gentle Corobici River and float for two hours,
seeing a great variety of exotic birds and tropical wildlife. The float is safe
for all ages. You will then have a delicious lunch. After lunch there is an interesting
stop to see the wild cats on a private reserve. On the way back you will pass
through the "White City" of Liberia and view the unique adobe construction
of the capital city of Guanacaste. The tour includes a bi-lingual guide, air
conditioned bus, riverboat, lunch, fees for the wild cat preserve.
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PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK / GUAITIL:
This
is a visit to the Palo Verde National Park, which is part of
the basin of the Tempisque River. The lowlands and marshes
create the perfect conditions
for the largest concentration of waterfowl and wading birds in all of Central
America. This is a birdwatcher's paradise as well as a perfect spot to see
lots of big crocodiles. There are three different species of monkeys hanging
from surrounding trees. The tour starts with a drive through the beautiful
countryside of Guanacaste. We will arrive at a local port and take a boat
trip to the National Park of Palo Verde. After exploring the park
you will have
a delicious typical lunch. On our return, we will pass by the famous artisan
village of Guatil and learn how the Chorotega Indians make their pottery
using the same techniques that were used by their Pre-Columbian
ancestors. In the
late afternoon we will visit the folkloric Capital of Santa Cruz and have
coffee at the famous tortilla factory. The tour includes a bi-lingual
guide, an air
conditioned bus, lunch, river tour, park fees and refreshments.
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RIDLEY TURTLE NESTING SAFARI
IN OSTIONAL BEACH:
Experience the unbelievable phenomenon of
thousands of Ridley turtles coming into shore to lay their eggs.
This protected
beach has a
surplus of turtle eggs,
so that they are actually harvested to allow baby turtles to have an area
to be hatched in without being disturbed by surplus eggs. The "arribada " of
turtles is distinctly unique and their arrival is based on the phase of the
moon. You will leave in the afternoon, and drive the coastal highway to the
south to
Ostional Beach where you will await the arrival of this awe-inspiring event.
This tour includes a bi-lingual guide, air conditioned bus, refreshments, and
local turtle guide.
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SANTA CRUZ AND GUAITIL TOUR:
This
is a half-day tour of The Folkloric Capital of Costa Rica,
Santa Cruz, and
Guaitil to see first hand the indigenous "Chorotega" Indians making
pottery. The day will start with a trip driving through the Guanacaste countryside
and seeing numerous small villages, melon farms, and cattle ranches. In Guaitil
village you will learn how the artisans manufacture and color Indian pottery
with the same techniques used by their Pre-Columbian ancestors. There are
numerous beautiful pots available for purchase as souvenirs. Then you will
visit the
historic town of Santa Cruz, where there is time to shop for local crafts
and souvenirs.
Here you will eat a typical lunch in a local restaurant and enjoy the culinary
arts of Guanacaste cooking. The tour includes a bilingual guide, an air conditioned
bus, refreshments and lunch.
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BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK:
This is a tour for the adventurous into the caverns of Barra Honda National Park.
The park protects a vast system of caves of pitted limestone that are renowned
for their pristine condition. We start the day driving through the Guanacaste
countryside by melon fields and cattle ranches to the Tempisque River Basin.
Here the park guides who will take us down into the caves with special equipment
meet us. We will explore the caves for an hour and a half. After this excitement
we will hike to Barra Honda Peak that was created out of an ancient coral reef
60 million years ago. There is a spectacular view from the top of the peak. In
the afternoon we will have a relaxed typical lunch. There are monkeys, anteaters,
and scarlet macaws in the open dry forest. In the caves there are blindfish and
salamanders. The tour includes a bilingual guide, an air conditioned bus, guide
and equipment into the caves, park entrance fee, refreshments and lunch.
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