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Land Sea Services
- Tour
Information
Great adventuring and exploring is offered
here in Golfito and the Golfo Dulce area of Southern
Costa Rica. Experienced
guides can provide you with more information about this rainforest than
you ever dreamed. High impact, low impact, wild and crazy, or a
comfortable stroll...there are many ways to see and experience the Osa
Peninsula, Piedras Blancas National Park and the beauty
surrounding Golfito. Tours are generally private and the guides are
working to please you. Everyone can enjoy the nature, serenity and
adventures offered here, in the pristine Tropical Jungle.
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Jungle Hiking or Horseback Riding
There is nothing quite like hiking
through a primary forest...with monkeys and big cats, sloths,
anteaters, and birds of all kinds.
There are paths through resort that are unbelievably pristine
and wild. Thinking of
sighting monkeys? We
have four kinds here in this zone: the Cara Blanca (white face
monkey), the Colorado (spider monkey), the comical Tse Tse (squirrel
monkey) and the boisterous Black Howler monkey called the “Congo”.
But we also keep a watchful eye for Toucans, Giant Iguanas,
Parrots, Sloths, Poison Dart Frogs, Cotamundis, Bizarre and
Beautiful Butterflies and Insects, Crocodiles...... all typical
sightings on southern zone hikes. Camera buffs should bring
long lens and fast film as the lighting inside the forest is low.
For experienced hikers, some of the trails do not require a
guide. Tours with
guides vary in price.
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Explore Golfo Dulce by boat and visit Casa Orquideas botanical garden
Located at the beach called “San
Josecito” on the Golfo Dulce a surprising delight awaits you - One of
the areas most popular and enjoyable tours! You can only arrive by
boat across the Golfo Dulce.....so start your morning early with a
tranquil boat trip searching for dolphins, turtles or whales in route.
Go north through the Gulf to the remote palm studded beach.
There is a protected area for anchoring in front. Enjoy a visit
ashore at the fantastic botanical garden and farm of Casa Orquideas.
Ron and Trudy MacAllister
have lived here for over 20 years.
Self taught botanists, Ron and Trudy or their daughter Melanie
will escort you through their magnificent gardens and farm that will
spotlight the incredible diversity of tropical plants.
The two to three hour tour covers an
amazing array of botanicals and topics from the wide variety of
orchids, heliconias, bromeliads, palms, to the practical and useful
plants such as vegetables, fruits, spices, and medicinal plants to the
unusual such as miracle fruit, the gourd tree, and the
cannonball tree. They have a
bounty of information and folklore to share along the trail.
You will experience first hand that Costa Rica isn’t just
adventure and animals, birds and
sportfishing.....But an amazing living Botanical Museum with an
incomprehensible variety of fascinating plant life as well.
This is not just a looking at the
"flowers" tour. Touch, taste and smell the plants and fruits. When you come across
the ‘Ylang-ylang’, instantly recognize the famous scent of Channel #5
and a base for numerous perfumes...... There is nothing like the fresh
smells of vanilla beans
or ginger root. You will get to taste some of the unusual exotic
fruits such as star fruit, the sweet pulp around the chocolate seeds,
and the pulp around the magic seed which transforms the taste
of lemons from sour to sweet.
You will learn about the unique and various ways tropical
plants compete and reproduce.
No one will forget the pelican flower with its labyrinth
passageways that will trap insects for several days and then release
them, all in the pursuit of reproduction.
Many clients head out to the gardens
with a “luke warm” enthusiasm – possibly to merely
indulge a wife or accompany a friend. And most every time, they
return to say “it was one of the best tours of their stay”.
We highly recommend this is a half day tour.
If you are interested in an all day trip we recommend combining
this tour with
exploration up the pristine Rio Esquinas or an afternoon of swimming
and beach combing.
The Casa Orquideas Tour begins
promptly at 8:00 a,m, daily (except Friday). |
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 Sport
fishing
The Golfito area
provides world class sportfishing for the fishing enthusiast and the
weekend fisherman. The waters are perfect for off-shore and in-shore
fishing. The mighty Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado,
Wahoo and Grouper all put up a good fight off-shore. Try your luck at
in-shore fishing for Red Snapper, Roosterfish, Amber Jack and Yellow
Tail. You will be fishing with some of Golfito’s finest English
speaking captains.
Lunch, snacks and cold
beverages are all included. |
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 Jungle
River Boat Tour.
Your
local Tico guide will take you on a leisurely boat excursion in the
Golfo Dulce cruising close to the coastline to get the feeling of the
rainforest, then through a winding jungle river. Keep an eye
open for crocodiles, monkeys and the magnificent Rosate Spoonbill, as
they all make their homes there. You will travel through mangroves and
jungle and take a short hike looking for oranges and other tropical
fruits that are in harvest. Dolphins are a common sight on the way up
to the Esquinas river so bring your camera! |
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 Surf
Pavones!!
Take A Break Point and surf the south! Wax your boards and
bring the sunblock, the waves are waiting! Your taxi boat will be
waiting to take you to the swell. Enjoy the day riding the waves and
return refreshed and relaxed.
The boat holds up to 4 and gear.
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Pavones has the largest wave in Costa Rica. When the swell goes in
the right direction, you can connect to different sections, for an
800 meters long ride. There are some fast and solid left breaking
waves. When waves reach 4 feet high it becomes fun to ride, but by
10 feet you will have to be very careful. Make sure you are in
good health condition, and that you have the right board for big
waves.
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 Zancudo
Beach Day!
Depending on
the tides, your day starts out with a boat ride through either the
"Trocha" and across the Rio Coto or around the Island to arrive at
the Municipal Dock of the Lazy Beach town of Zancudo. Enjoy the day
Relaxing on the sandy beach, taking a long walk through town,
bodysurfing, swimming, beachcombing, or people watching. An array of
Restaurants make Breakfast and Lunch a Delight!! Have Fun!
4-5 Hours at the Beach. Includes
Transportation to and From Zancudo Beach. |
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The Beatham
Family invites you to visit their tropical garden. The
garden was started in 2001 where African Oil Palm Trees
were once planted. The trail through the garden has
wide, clean paths and plant species are well labeled.
You will see may tropical plants and flowers in the garden
such as: heliconias, bromeliads, gingers, orchids,
palms, bananas, bamboos, exotic vegetables, fruits, spices and
medicinal plants. It is a short walk to where there are
African oil palms growing and the workers will show you how
the bunches of fruit are harvested from the tall palms.
We return from our walk to a table set up with an exposition
of tropical fruits and remedies. You will get to see and
try many different tropical fruits; such as, South American
zapote, bread nut, peach palm, cassava, sugar cane, cacao,
etc., and will be shown many remedies made from tropical
plants. Normally we give a short talk covering a little
history of the United Fruit Company in Costa Rica (from Limon
to Quepos and to Golfito), why the palm oil was planted and
why the company closed the banana operation in Costa Rica.
Over an open fire called a "fogon" we cook several local foods
for you to sample: peach palms, cassava and bread nut.
We always have rice, beans, plantains, cooking bananas and
something typical "Tico" on hand to eat. |
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Rio Coto Boat Tour
Your
Costa Rican guide has
many years experience on the Rio Coto, “La Trocha” and the Golfo
Dulce.
He will help you discover the flora and fauna on a leisurely
boat ride.
As the boat leaves Golfito bay and heads south towards
Zancudo keep your eyes open for dolphins, sea turtles, pelicans and
osprey.
La Trocha (short cut) is a water trail through the surreal
beauty of the mangroves which were previously used by the employees
of the Banana Company as a quick way to get to work in Golfito from
their farms and fishing villages on the Rio Coto and Zancudo.
Vegetation along the river is a patchwork of mangroves,
rainforest and velvety pastures.
Depending on the time of day and the tide you are likely to
see alligators, otters, monkeys, many species of herons, ibis,
egrets, godwits, hawks and rosette spoonbills.
Tour takes approximately 4 hours.
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 On
this tour you will get the opportunity to experience both the
incredible power and beauty of the Costa Rican rainforest and the
gorgeous beaches of Golfo Dulce. You will be surrounded by
majestic hardwoods towering to the canopy above along with
innumerable varieties of plants and flowers. A treat for the
eyes and the nose as well, their perfume fills the jungle with a
rich sweet aroma. The jungle is their home so you can of course
expect to see birds such as the Scarlet macaws, toucans , hawks,
eagles, and a huge variety of tangers. Monkeys: howler, whiteface,
titi and spider are often seen playing in the trees. Along the river
you may see alligators and caiman. Take time to swim in refreshing
waterfalls. Hike through the rainforest and along the beaches of the
Osa Peninsula. Transportation , English speaking guide & lunch
included. |
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This tour is the best way possible to
explore the magical coastline of Golfito bay and it's estuaries.
While kayaking in the bay watch for sea turtles, dolphins, schools
of fish, sting rays and a multitude of marine birds. Travel down the
river surrounded by beautiful mangroves. You will see several
species of birds including parrots, eagles, hawks, falcons, ospreys,
a variety of water foul including: blue herons, green back and tiger
herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, rosette spoonbills, pigmy and
Amazon kingfishers. Some of the mammals that live in the estuary
include: alligators, otters and three species of monkeys: White
faced, Howler and Titi. The wildlife comes remarkably close
because the kayaks are so quiet. The best time for sighting wildlife
is sunrise or sunset, but any time of day is quite enjoyable.
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"The most biologically intense place on earth" --National
Geographic—
Corcovado is home to Costa Rica's largest population of the
beautiful Scarlet Macaw. Many of the other important or endangered
rainforest species are protected here: Tapirs, five cat species,
crocodiles, peccaries, giant anteaters, sloths and monkeys. The rare
harpy eagle, which is almost extinct in Costa Rica, may still breed
in remote parts of Corcovado. Almost 400 species of birds have been
seen here, as well as about 140 mammals and over 500 species of
trees. For travelers wanting to spend a few days hiking through a
lowland tropical rainforest, Corcovado is the best choice in Costa
Rica. The park provides a bunkhouse type lodging. Breakfast
and dinner are served at the park stations.
Depart Puerto Jimenez by taxi at 6:00 a.m. arrive in Carate at 8:30
a.m. The walk to La Leona is approximately 45 minutes. After a tour
of the park, we then start off for Sirena Biological Station
(approx. 6 hours at a comfortable pace, stopping often to experience
the wonders of this tropical rainforest). 70% of this day's hiking
will be along the beautiful coastline of the Osa peninsula, where
you may see a variety of monkeys: white face, howler, spider, and
titi. Also macaws, green parrots, pelicans and other sea birds.
Picnic lunch served around noon. Dinner will be served at the
ranger station about 6:00 p.m. After dinner tour the park, see
alligators and other nocturnal animals.
Breakfast at 6:00 a.m. Hike through the secondary rainforest to Los
Patos (a 7 to 8 hour leisurely walk, taking time to identify and
enjoy the wonders of this magnificent Rainforest.) See monkeys,
toucans, turkeys, wild pigs such as peccaries and tapir. Learn about
the many species of trees, vegetation and insects. Picnic lunch
about noon. Walk along the Rio Sirena looking for alligators,
lizards, egrets. Ibis, monkeys and more. Tour the park, take time to
swim in a refreshing waterfall. Dinner served at 6:00 p.m.
Breakfast 6:00 a.m. Walk to the River Rincon (45 min.) where you
will meet the taxi that delivers you to La Palma to catch a bus to
your next destination (taxi ride 45 min.), or back to Puerto Jimenez
for your next Costa Rican adventure. Depending on tide and weather,
tours are subject to change. *Of course there is no guarantee you
will see all the wildlife mentioned, every trip to Corcovado is
different.
***Four days: one night
accommodations at Agua Luna, two nights Corcovado, all meals,
lodging, transportation, park fees and English
speaking guide included. |
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20 minute 4
wheel drive taxi ride to the Avellan Waterfalls. This is a
family owned and operated ranch surrounded by the Piedras Blancas
National Park and the Golfito Wildlife Refuge. The owner will
accompany the chaperon and clients on a loop hike that takes 2 ˝
hours through the rainforest ending at a crystalline waterfall.
Although the guides are not accredited naturalists they are very
knowledgeable about both the flora and the fauna. There are
several refreshing pools to swim in. The women are excellent
cooks and after the hike you are sure to enjoy the typical Costa
Rican lunch prepared by the family. Fruits and vegetables are
grown on the farm and they make their own cheese.
What to take: shoes you can get
wet, swimming suit, towel, bug repellent, sun screen. |
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Land
Sea Services is proud of advances made in Golfito to further the
humane treatment of dogs and cats. Community groups such as ZAPPA
and McKee are reaching out to give low and no-cost care to 'under privileged'
and street critters, greatly reducing the population of homeless
animals in our area. Your contributions make possible the Low Cost
and Free Clinics being sponsored by area volunteers and veterinarians.
Each contribution of $10.00 sponsors a dog or cat that wouldn't
otherwise be able to receive vaccinations and spaying - and
wouldn't have been considered adoptable! Your generous
contribution of $200.00 will sponsor a neighborhood clinic with
free services to 20 needy animals. That's a potential
reduction of over 100 unwanted births in a neighborhood in the
first year alone. Do
the math?! It's a loving and needed investment. Please consider
supporting our "pet project" by bringing a donation to
our office when you visit Golfito. Receipts will be given along
with our THANKS! Volunteers for Clinic Days are always
welcome.