Jaguar Trails

from USD for 11 days

Visiting: Costa Rica, Panama

The jaguar is so elusive it has often been credited with magical powers, but if you want to stand a chance of seeing a real one in the wild, Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is probably the best place. On this tropical adventure we'll explore this isolated park before heading to the Valley of the Flowers in northern Panama, ending with a stay on a beautiful Caribbean archipelago.

Detailed Description Show brief

Day 1 - SAN JOSE

Arrival day.

San Jose
Costa Rica’s capital sits in the centre of a lush, wide valley which has a comfortable subtropical climate. The streets of the town are laid out along a gridiron pattern, with avenidas running east to west and callés running north to south. Many of the most interesting buildings are in the region of Avenida Central – the Teatro Nacional is an elaborate confection of marble staircases, statues, frescoes and mirrors. There are a number of interesting museums in the city; the Museo de Oro has a good collection of golden pre-Columbian figurines. The Mercado Central is the main market which dates back to 1881 – there are some good food stalls here as well as countless artefacts for sale. Elsewhere in San Jose there are some good restaurants – you can dine out on Chinese, Indian, Italian or the more traditional variations on the theme of rice and beans.

Day 2 - SAN JOSE - PUERTO JIMENEZ

We take a bus to Golfito and then a boat to Puerto Jimenez, gateway to Corcovado National Park and the coastal villages of Cabo Matapalo and Carate.

Puerto Jimenez
Originally a goldmining town, Puerto Jimenez is a popular holiday resort that still has something of a frontier feel. There are beautiful beaches near the town, access to Corcovado National Park is easy and the town centre has a pleasantly laid-back feel to it mainly due to the absence of traffic. Humpback whales migrate along the coast between October and March.

Day 3 - PUERTO JIMENEZ - CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

We board our 4WD jeeps to drive to one of the wildest and most isolated areas of Central America, Corcovado National Park, the wild frontier of Costa Rica. Our lodge is located on Carate Beach, at the edge of the park, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The wildlife knows no boundaries, so animals can be spotted while hiking on the lodge’s trails. The tents are set amidst tall shade trees overlooking the ocean and a black sandy beach - often totally deserted as far as the eye can see.

Day 4 - CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

A full day to explore Corcovado. This park protects 41,788 hectares of rainforest, swamps, rivers, lagoons, marshes and beaches. Because of its isolated location, Corcovado has a wealth of animals that are scarce in other areas, such as tapir, crocodile, ocelot, giant anteater, and of course jaguar. Marine turtles such as the leatherback, the olive ridley and the green turtles arrive to nest at Llorona Beach, within the park.

Day 5 - CORCOVADO - GOLFITO - BOQUETE

Transfer by boat to Golfito from where we drive to the border with Panama. We travel through Boquete, the known as "Valley of the Flowers and Eternal Spring" for its natural beauty. Boquete is a coffee producing area, and it's possible to take a coffee tour from the town.

Boquete
Boquete lies in the Chiriqui Highlands, where winds from the Atlantic and Pacific merge to form a climate that is perpetually springlike. The black volcanic soil is highly fertile and the region produces much of Panama's food, as well as coffee. Boquete is a small highland resort with views of the coffee plantations and orchards that surround the town. Most of the buildings are made of wood, and there are several attractive parks. The town has several flower festivals throughout the year, and provides a good base from which to explore the lush surroundings - fishing, riding, hiking and rafting are all possible in Boquete.

Day 6 - BOQUETE

Drive to Almirante to take a water taxi to the islands of Bocas del Toro. The Bocas del Toro archipelago is made up of six large islands and many smaller ones. Sometimes called "Bocas Isla", charming Isla Colón is the main base for visiting the archipelago.

Day 7 - BOQUETE - BOCAS DEL TORO

A full free day to enjoy the beaches, diving, hiking and lifestyle of the islands. It is possible to do an optional day trip on a catamaran, cruising the archipelago past densely forested islands and coral reefs, stopping along the way for snorkelling.

Day 8 to Day 9 - BOCAS DEL TORO

Two full free days to enjoy the beaches, diving, hiking and lifestyle of the islands. It is possible to take an optional day trip on a catamaran, cruising the archipelago and stopping along the way to snorkel around the beautiful coral reefs.

Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park covers a strip of beach on land, but extends offshore to encompass a coral reef and 22,000ha of marine area. The beach is lined with coconut palms with rainforest further in that is home to howler monkeys, white faced monkeys, sloths, coatis and various other mammals. Offshore over 500 species of tropical fish can be seen, and there is an old Spanish shipwreck nearby.