españolPachamama Activities
Although there is much to do right from our door at Pachamama, we also maintain a vast catalog of activities to help our guests enjoy everything the area has to offer. The majority of our activities are booked through ATEC, which specializes in hiring local operators and promoting sustainable eco-tourism and other social programs.
Some of the highlights include:
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Punta Uva Beach - one of the Top Ten Beaches of the World according to Outside Magazine |
Punta Uva beach – The reef-protected beach at Punta Uva offers swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, SCUBA, or just laying around enjoying the beauty.
Rio Ernesto – Our river runs about 1k upstream and you can kayak up and down from the beach and see all sorts of wildlife and feel like you are in a movie or the discovery channel.
Gandoca Manzanillio Wildlife Refuge – anything from a self-guided hike along the beach or through the rainforest past the end of the road to tours with bilingual biological guides (starting at $25-65) to the rare mangroves at the Gandoca Lagoon (awesome), or see the dolphins, turtle watching (March-July), Punta Mona sustainable living farm, snorkeling/scuba, kayaking, or see some of the last remaining primary rainforest and walk beneath the giant trees under the shady canopy. Any activity in the refuge is highly recommended.
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Bri Bri kids at The Bridge |
Indigenous community reserves – you can trek in to these reserves to meet the Bri-Bri, Cabecar, KeköLdi , Yorkin people, learn about their culture, sample some food and drink and of course buy things to help sustain the communities. You can also experience the Kekoldi waterfalls and the Green Iguana Conservation project. You can take a boat ride up the river to Yorkin and experience that community, swin in the waterfall at the Panamanian border and have a typical meal. We also have a relationship with El Puente/The Bridge, which is an organization that helps get the Bribri community prepared for school and assists with a soup kitchen and micro-loans to start or sustain small businesses. They are always looking for assistance: click here to read more about The Bridge and see how you can help or check out this list of volunteer activities in the area.
Like to Plan Ahead?We can book many tours and activities online for you. Check our detailed tour page for information. Want your whole trip booked? Book a package with us that let's you Experience the Best of the Caribbean Coast!
Our Caribbean Wet and Wild Combo includes the best of the Caribbean and we can arrange it all for you! It includes: • Transportation from your hotel in San Jose or Arenal
to Puerto Viejo All for just $399 per person (double sharing)!
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Round trip transportation from San Jose (or you can start at the
Pacific Beaches or Monteverde and end in San Jose) The basic 5 day/4 night package is only $469 per person (double sharing) or add on the Tortuguero National Park (details the same as the Wet and Wild tour above) and the 6 day/5 night package is just $619 each. |
Or, try our
Volcano, Beach and Jungle package which
includes even more highlights of Costa Rica by visiting the
Arenal Volcano area, Puerto Viejo, whitewater rafting and you
can even add on Tortuguero. Included:Surfing/Boogeyboarding – Experts can hit Salsa Brava, world acclaimed, or anyone can surf the break off Cocles and there are lessons for any skill level. Boogeyboarding is also available and kids like to do it even right here off Punta Uva beach.
Horseback riding – through the jungle and on the beach, not expensive and the horses are tame but fun. There’s also horseback riding at Cahuita National Park.
Get More information | Make a Horseback Riding Reservation
Bicycle tours – Take a tour with a knowledgeable local guide through the jungles near Puerto Viejo to the indigenous communities, or at the beach in Cahuita. You are guaranteed to get a workout, learn something, and have a few refreshments and laughs along the way.
Canopy/Zip Line Tours - Yes, we even have canopy/zipline adventures here. Just outside of town there is an eight platform canopy adventure. You can ride from platform to platform and guides will share information about the flora and fauna of the area and other interesting tidbits.
Get More information | Make a Canopy Reservation
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Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River |
White-water river rafting - The Pacuare river gorge is world famous for its beauty, wildlife, and it has many sets of rapids too! Any guests find this to be a great way to start or end their vacation because you can use the adventure as a transfer between San Jose and the Puerto Viejo. If you'd like more information on the rafting trip options or to have us book one for you, click to:
Get More information | Make a Rafting Reservation
Indigenous Community Tours to Uatsi or Yorkin. We can arrange a trip by boat up the Sixaola River to the village of Yorkin or in car to Uatsi. On both trips you'll have the opportunity to learn much more about the indigenous Bri Bri community. You can read about a recent trip we did on our blog.
Get More information for half day Uatsi trip | Make a Reservation for Uatsi trip
Get More information for full day Yorkin trip | Make a Reservation for Yorkin trip
The Botanical gardens along Playa Negra right outside of Puerto Viejo have a wide variety of edible, medicinal and ornamental plants and offer self and guided tours by local experts. One of the best parts of the trip are the exotic samples and a chance to buy some of the local goods. We use the homegwon organic black peper every day.
Cahuita National Park consists of miles of white sand beach, a coral reef, and jungle trails. The town of Cahuita is very laid back and has some good food and the park has a trail where you can see all sorts of monkeys and other wildlife (the best reefs in the area are right off the point after a pretty good hike). You can go it alone, or there are guides. The beach itself is a long sandy stretch and enjoyable for all.
Get More information | Make a Reservation for Cahuita snorkelling or guided hikes
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Baby sloths at the Aviarios del Caribe sloth rescue sanctuary |
Sloth rescue sanctuary – Aviarios del Caribe is located on a river delta and the owners have created a sloth rescue and if you are lucky you will even see babies. Everyone enjoys their visit and you can even take a boat tour up the river to see many species of wildlife and vegetation.
To cap off a day full of activity (or inactivity), Cathy offers her newly famous in-room Spa service including custom blended natural rejuvenating and anti-aging facials with foot and hand accupressure performed on a massage table in the comfort of your room or terrace and then there’s always a visit to the Jungle Spa for massage and other treatments, recuerdos (souvenir) shopping, or off to one of the many excellent restaurants including Selvin’s (almost our neighbor), La Paila Casera (next door), Arecife (short walk down the beach), Maxis at Manzanillo, or nearby Jungle Love, Ci Giatta Cova (a favorite), and of course Puerto Viejo also has or many others. There’s no shortage of excellent food and fun options in the area. Because of the funky atmosphere and excellent surfing, there’s some decent nightlife in the “town” of Puerto Viejo a few miles away with live and recorded Caribbean/Rock/Reggae and more. We maintain a current schedule of the happenings so you can plan a night out on the town.
Or of course you can always take part in a Caribbean favorite, a siesta swing in your hammock on your porch.
Additional comments from our visitors about area activities
Doug Dosdall from Vancouver, BC June 15, 2007
Tortugero makes a great sidetrip too. You might go for a night or two on your way back to San Jose. Ask Bill or Cathy to recommend a package for you.