Outings at Pura Vida

FULL DAY BEACH TOUR

Enjoy Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches and rainforest at Punta Leona.

Surrounded by 750 acres of lush tropical rainforest, pristine white sand and gold sand beaches and the deep blue waters of the Pacific, you will be swept away by the natural beauty experienced at this private tropical rain forest and beach resort. The reserve is of great importance from a biological standpoint because it is one of the few remaining forests in the transitional zone between the Dry Forest of the Northwest and the Rainforest of the Southwest.
Punta Leona has three white sand beaches and full facilities: showers, change rooms, restaurants, bar, swimming pools, and water sport equipment rental.

The trip begins from Pura Vida at 8am, taking around 2 hours, with a brief stop at the bridge at the Rio Tarcoles, where large crocodiles can be seen basking in the sun. Continuing on to Punta Leona, we arrive some 15 minutes later. At this point you are free to explore the area, the beaches or the rainforest for the remainder of the day. Lunch and entry are included, and departure is at 3:30pm.

For those who would rather spend the day in the coastal rainforest. Punta Leona has 3 easily accessible, well marked trails. They are of varying difficulty and are wide, facilitating the observation of birds. There are also hummingbird feeding stations and several feeders that attract birds and mammals.

What to bring:

Swimming suits, towels, sun protection cream, sunhats, day pack, beach shoes and anything else you would like to have with you for a day at the beach. For the jungle trails, good walking shoes, water bottle, and insect repellant are recommended as well.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Pick up is early in the morning, usually at 5:45am. You drive for an hour and have a sit down breakfast at a restaurant. About 1 ½ hours later you arrive at the river where you receive a safety lecture; if you have any fears or insecurities ask to sit in front of the raft guide, who will keep an eye one you. Costa Rica Expeditions (the tour operator) is extremely good in this respect. You launch in class 3 water, giving the crew time to adjust to each other before the class 4 rapids come up. Lunch on the river; a boat is flipped over and a buffet lunch is spread out. At the end of the 18-mile trip, you arrive at a café where you can buy a coffee or beer and get changed into dry clothes. Arrival back at Pura Vida is around 6pm to 6:30pm. If the water is too high or dangerous, CRE will, if possible, offer an alternative river to run.
Pacuare is a class 3-4 river, but the main attraction of the river is not the rapids, but the nature. The river flows through a steep cut valley with dense tropical vegetation growing high up the banks. An unforgettable taste of Costa Rican rainforest.

Things to remember:

*Shorts, t-shirt, bathing suit
*Sunsceen on face and arms and tops of thighs, but not the bottoms of thighs or you will slip around on the rubber boat.
*Cap for sun. Shoes that will not come off if you go overboard. Some people prefer Teva-style shoes, others tennis shoes.
*Towel to dry off, change of clothes for afterwards.
*No jewelry, watches, or anything that will come off if you fall in the water. If you must wear glasses, secure them with string, shoelaces, rubber band, or whatever will keep them on. No cameras on the raft or you may lose them. There is often a photographer taking shots that can be ordered afterwards.
*Some cash for souvenirs, tips, coffee or beer afterwards - $30 or so, although photos are around $25 for 4.
*Your backpacks can stay in the bus, which is locked and the driver stays with it the whole time.