Transfer and Other Options:

Day 1:
Leave the States and fly to San Jose, Costa Rica. Your air itinerary can be coordinated by one of our staff membersif you would like. Our first evening we will be staying at Hotel SanGildar in Escazu just outside of San Jose. San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and is located in the Central Valley where we will find rolling hills with coffee fields dotting the countryside. After dinner we will gather for a brief trip orientation. Welcome.
Lodging - Hotel SanGildar
Day 2:
We will be up early to begin our journey to Nicaragua. As we travel our of the fertile central valley we will pass lush coffee plantations, fields of plantains, pineapples and oranges. Once we arrive in Los Chiles we will say good-bye to oru van, as the rest of our trip will be done in motorized boats and canoes. We will take the local water bus from Los Chiles down the rio Frio to Lake Nicaragua and the bustling border town of San Carlos Nicaragua. This small town sits on the banks of Lake Nicaragua and the confluences of the Rio Frio and Rio San Juan. Her we can wander through the small market and pick up an last minute supplies, fresh fruit and begetables and anything else that catches our eye.
We will meet our local guide and boatman who will take us into Lake Nicaragua an the Solentiname Islands. Once there we will be able to stretch our legs and go for a walk to get familiar with our surroundings and home for the next several evenings. Albergue Celentiname is a comfortable family run lodge, which offers comfortable cabins with small decks overlooking the lake. Home cooked meals are a treat with creamy avocados being an island favorite.
Lodging -- Albergue Celentiname
Day 3-5:
We settle into Solentiname for the next three days, giving us plenty of time to really descover this magical place. The canoe is a great way to explore the islands. We will circimnavigate Isla San Fernando, gaining a different Perspective of the island. Shore birds fee quietly in the shallow waters while iguanas warm themselves in the trees overhead.
A boat trip to the west side of Lake Niecaragua brings us to the rio Papaturro and the Guatusos wildlife refuge. Our boatman will take us upstream a s far as we would like and then it is time to get in our canoes and fully immerse ourselves in our surroundings. We will look for several species of monkey, reptiles and a large array of tropical birds. There is a wonderful orchid project going on that is also worth a visit.
Other islands to explore by canoe and foot include Isla Padre, with the archipelagos only population of howler monkeys, the local museum anda some pre Colunbian sites which contain petroglyphs and other signs of early inhabitants.
Although our days are full there is still time to relax in a hammock, practice yoru sapanish with some of the locals, or enjoy the sunset from the quiet of a canoe out on the lake.
Lodging -- Albergue Celentiname
Day 6:
We say goodbye to our hosts this morning and journey back to San Carlos where we will begin our trip down the rio San Juan. We have about a 3 hour boat trip from San Carlos to El Castillo. We may choose to explore some of the smaller tributaries by canoe along the way.
The Rio San Juan flows 180 km through deep virgin rainforest from Lago de Nicaragua to the Caribbean.
The cloud and rain forests in the northwest contain abundant wildlife including ocelots, wart hogs, pumas, jaguars, sloths and spider monkeys. Birdlife in the forests is particularly rich: the cinnamon hummingbird, ruddy woodpecker, stripe-breasted wren, elegant trogon, shining hawk and even the quetzal, the holy bird of the Maya, can all be seen.
Maybe, the most amazing natural history fact is that is possible on a single trip along the San Juan to see all six species of kingfishers found in the New World. There may be no other place on Earth where this is possible.
We continue our journey on the San Juan and its imposing nature is put into perpective by the beauty of the trees adn vegetation that seem almost endless and probably untouched by human hand. We know that is not the case, but the majesty of the river is imposing. Big sanctuary-islands protected by the Environmental Ministry, resist the river's dashing and divide its course. We will explore the quiet backwaters of the Sabalo river on our way to El Castillo.
Dinner is usually a special treat of large fresh water shrimp, which come from the rio Frio and are very tasty.
Lodging -- Hotel Victoria
Note -- Dinner is on your own this evening
Day 7:
We meet our local guide for a tour of the village, butterfly garden, village museum and ruins of El Castillo. This ruined fortress stands high above the village and offers strategic views up and down the river. With out roads in the village the river plays a vital role to the community. River taxis and fisherman are active all day and the canoe is a wonderful way to explore the smaller tributaries of the San Juan.
These small rivers are havens for birds and mammals. The trees canopy hangs over the river providing welcoming shade and brilliant shades of green. All too soon we are back in El Castillo enjoying the light breeze and relaxing on the porch.
Lodging -- Hotel Victoria
Note -- Dinner is on your own this evening
Day 8:
After a filling breakfast of gallo pinto, eggs and fresh fruit we don our paddling gear and head to the river. This morning we will have about a three hour paddle down the rio San Juan to Bartola . The river is lively right from the start as we dance through the rapids at El Castillo. We will take a moment to watch the fisherman as they cast their nets into the rapids and marvel how they can maneuver their heavy wooden dugouts with grace and ease.
Our journey down river takes us past some wonderful forest. The biggest threat to rainforests in Central America is the continual invasion of land-hungry farmers who cut and burn the forest to plants survival crops like corn and beans. But once deforested, most rainforest land can’t support crops for very long, so the farmers move on clearing more and more forest. In the wilds of southern Nicaragua, conservationists are helping farmers end this hopeless cycle by teaching them how to grow bigger and healthier crops and provide for a brighter, more stable future. As a result, families will no longer depend on the rainforest for more land and wood.
The national park of “Si-A-Paz,” or “Yes-to-Peace” in English borders the river on both the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican sides. When Nicaragua’s long civil war ended in 1991, thousands of displaced, impoverished farmers began searching for unclaimed land, and the “unclaimed” forest of Si-A-Paz beckoned. A coalition of conservationists and technicians are working with families that live in the marginal lands just outside the park. Farmers learn how to plant nontraditional, nutritious crops and to use organic farming techniques that slowly turn worthless land into productive gardens. Farmers are also now planting trees for fruit, firewood and lumber. And for the first time, they are learning about rainforest ecology.
Lodging – Refugio Bartola
Day 9:
We plan a day of hiking in the Indio Maiz rain forest reserve. This is a virgin rain forest reserve and Bartola was built for the many international groups that research the abundant flora and fauna of Indio Maiz ( Central America’s biggest rain forest reserve)
In the afternoon we may choose to get in our canoes and explore the jungle canals of the Rio Bartola and other quiet water tributaries of the San Juan. Late afternoon is a wonderful time to paddle as the bird activity picks up as birds return to roost for the evening. We will enjoy one more evening in Bartola immersed in the sounds and life of the forest.
Lodging – Refugio Bartola
Day 10:
All too soon it is time to start our journey back up the rio San Juan and San Carlos and catch our last water taxi to Los Chiles, Costa Rica. We return to Escazu for our final evening. We will enjoy dinner and have time to reflect on the scenic wonders of our journey and start thinking of our next trip.
Lodging -- Hotel SanGildar
Day 11:
Today we say are farewells and depart from San Jose to home. Or, for those who would like to do some exploring on their own we can suggest/arrange some extension trips.

*Passport (carrying a photocopy of your passport is also a good idea--just in case)
*Three changes of lightweight cotton or cotton mix clothing--pants and short sleeve tops for off river and evenings
*Lightweight long sleeve shirt and pants for cool evenings and/or sun protection
*Lightweight sweater or pile top
*Lightweight rain jacket for cool evenings and the occasional rain shower
*One pair of comfortable walking shoes
*Wide brimmed hat
*Sunglasses with security strap
*Sunscreen
*Insect repellent
*Lip balm or chapstick
*Water bottle
*Personal toiletries
*Personal medications
*Personal first aid kit
*Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb
*Small hand towel
*Bandana
*Camera and film
*Binoculars
*Day use backpack

Additional Clothes for Paddling
*2-3 pairs of shorts
* 2-3 t-shirts or comfortable paddling tops
*Swim suit
*Light weight paddle jacket and rain pants for rain and/or sun protection. Preferably nylon or other fast drying material.
*Canoe shoes that can get wet for paddling such as sandals or booties. Avoid sandals that have velcro straps. The velcro straps do not do well in muddy conditions

Optional Gear
*Pocketknife
*Collapsible umbrella
*Field guides, bird books, and travel books
*Journal notebook, pen and a good book to read
*Extra eye glasses, sunglasses and security straps
*Ear plugs

This list is intended to be skeletal, and we anticipate you will have your own ideas of what is "necessary." In general bring half the clothes you think you will need and twice the film. Getting wet is always a possibility when canoeing, and river clothing has to keep you warm even when wet. Try to avoid cotton. The problem with cotton is that once it is wet it absorbs water and does not dry out quickly. During our travels we will be staying at places where casual clothing is acceptable. Long pants, short sleeve shirt or blouse and shoes or sandals are our common form of dress. Remember shorts are not generally recommended except for sports use.

Our standard accommodation is two per room, generally with a private bath. Usually singles and triples are available. BCL provides three meals per day, beginning with dinner on the first evening and ending with lunch on the last day (except where noted).
Solo Travelers
If you're traveling alone and would like to assure yourself of a private room, there is a single supplement surcharge of $45.00 per evening. Singles willing to share will be matched with a roommate. If unavailable, a forced single supplement of 50 percent of the full supplement will be charged.

Travel in a foreign country requires one to be flexible and patient. Our trips are designed for flexible, energetic people who have a healthy dose of curiosity and enthusiasm about our world, and who like to be active. The most important requirements are a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude!
This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in natural history, and the outdoors. Although this is not a strenuous trip, it is very active and we suggest you be in good physical shape to better enjoy.