Los Chiles

Day Trips

Arrive at Los Chiles and settle into your riverside lodge. Enjoy a welcome tropical breakfast on the veranda while watching kingfishers flit along the riverbank. Acclimate to the lush surroundings and meet your naturalist guide for an overview of the area’s rich biodiversity.

Embark on a boat safari along the San Carlos River exploring winding tributaries. Spot caimans basking on muddy banks and curious capuchin monkeys swinging overhead. Learn about the river’s ecology and the conservation efforts protecting this vital habitat.

Return to the lodge for a traditional Costa Rican casado dinner under an open-air gazebo. Listen to howler monkeys and tree frogs as the jungle chorus swells at dusk. Relax by lantern light and share stories of your first wildlife encounters.

Set out before sunrise to the famed Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Scan the floodplain with your binoculars and tick off herons, storks, and egrets against a pastel sky. Learn identification tips from your expert birding guide.

Glide in a canoe through the wetlands, skirting lilypads and flooded forests. Spot rare species like the jabiru stork and the migratory swallow-tailed kite. Document sightings in your field journal and discuss local conservation challenges.

Return to town for a filling gallo pinto dinner. Attend a brief slideshow presentation on wetland ecology by a community biologist. Stroll along the riverbank under star-speckled skies before turning in.

Depart early for Tenorio Volcano National Park’s ranger station. Hike through dense forest trails alive with toucans and motmots. Pause at viewpoints to admire mist-shrouded volcano peaks.

Reach the stunning Río Celeste waterfall and marvel at its turquoise hue. Learn the geological explanation for the milky blue waters as you cool off in designated swimming areas. Enjoy a packed picnic lunch beside the roaring cascade.

Return to your Los Chiles lodge and savor farm-to-table cuisine at sunset. Swap trail stories with fellow travelers by the bonfire. Drift off to the nocturnal soundtrack of crickets and frogs.

Spend the morning at a family-owned cattle ranch learning traditional ranching techniques. Help feed horses and learn to rope under the guidance of expert cowhands. Taste freshly made queso and warm tortillas at a rustic corral.

Join a hands-on workshop demonstrating sustainable cattle grazing and pasture management. Ride horseback across shaded fields while observing wildlife at the tree line. Sip tropical fruit juice and learn about the ranch’s community development programs.

Gather around a wood-fired grill as the ranch family prepares a churrasco feast. Enjoy live folk music and dancing under open-air stables. Retire to your riverside cabin lulled by the distant calls of nightjar owls.

Launch a dugout canoe into the quiet backwaters at dawn. Drift silently past flooded forests alive with wildlife emerging to feed. Watch for tree boas coiled in high branches and kingfishers diving for breakfast.

Continue your paddle deeper into secluded channels, spotting howler monkeys peering through the canopy. Visit a hidden lagoon to snorkel among water lilies and observe aquatic turtles. Refuel with a riverside lunch of fresh ceviche and tropical fruits.

Settle around a campfire on the riverbank for a riverside barbecue. Enjoy storytelling by your guide about the myths of the jungle. Fall asleep in a hammock listening to the chorus of cicadas and night insects.

Visit a nearby village to meet local artisans weaving traditional baskets and hammocks. Try your hand at crafting your own souvenir under their patient instruction. Learn about the materials sourced from the surrounding rainforest.

Share lunch with community members featuring homemade tamales and fresh salad greens. Attend a cultural demonstration of folk dancing and marimba music in the village square. Discuss sustainable tourism and community-led conservation initiatives.

Return to the lodge for a quiet evening and enjoy freshly prepared plantains and beans. Relax on your veranda with a glass of hibiscus tea as the sky fades to twilight. Reflect on the day’s cultural insights by the flicker of late-night lanterns.

Head out before dawn with a local fishing guide to the confluence of the Frío and San Carlos rivers. Cast your line for peacock bass, machaca perch, and other prized freshwater species. Learn traditional fly-fishing and baitcasting techniques from an expert.

Enjoy a riverside fish lunch prepared with your morning’s catch. Explore hidden backchannels on foot, spotting capybaras grazing along the water’s edge. Practice catch-and-release to support sustainable fisheries in the region.

Return to the lodge for a celebratory fish fry and cold Costa Rican beer. Share fishing stories with fellow anglers under a canopy of stars. Unwind in a hammock as the night sounds of the wetlands lull you to sleep.

Saddle up for a guided horseback journey into the forested foothills. Marvel at emerald valleys and listen for distant toucan calls. Pause at a mountain spring for fresh coconut water.

Disembark and hike to a series of hidden waterfalls for a refreshing swim. Explore secluded swimming holes carved into volcanic rock. Enjoy a picnic lunch with panoramic jungle views.

Ride back to the stables as the sun dips behind the treetops. Return to Los Chiles for a hearty dinner of stewed beans and roasted plantains. Relax by candlelight and drift off to the sounds of nocturnal wildlife.

Sleep in after your late night adventure and enjoy a leisurely brunch at the lodge. Laze by the pool with fresh fruit smoothies and local pastries. Read up on nocturnal wildlife in preparation for tonight’s outing.

Attend a workshop on night-vision equipment and spotlighting techniques. Explore the lodge’s butterfly garden where twilight species flutter among the blooms. Share stories about jungle legends around an afternoon tea.

Embark on a guided night safari along riverbank trails. Use infrared cameras to spot kinkajous, ocelots, and owls on the hunt. Return to the lodge under a moonlit sky for a midnight snack of empanadas and herbal tea.

Savor a final tropical breakfast with papaya, mango, and artisanal coffee. Stroll through the lodge’s botanical garden and identify medicinal plants. Purchase last-minute souvenirs from the on-site boutique.

Enjoy a relaxing riverside massage using locally sourced oils. Reflect on your journey while watching egrets glide across the water. Pack your bags with plenty of time before your departure transfer.

Share a farewell dinner with your guides and new friends at an open-air restaurant. Toast to your immersive Costa Rican adventure under twinkling lights. Retire early to rest up for your journey home.