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GETTING TO OUR OFFICE AT LAS HORQUETAS
Our operations and reception department is located at the small town of Las Horquetas de Sarapiquí, easily accessible by bus, taxi or car and around 1, 5 hoursaway from San José. There you can leave your car and excess baggage at our office or buy your last supplies before you leave civilization.
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Charter Tractor Service: With at least 5 days advance notice, groups may arrange to charter a tractor, should they need special departure times. Please consult our office for the price. ´
AGAIN: The tractor leaves our office at Las Horquetas twice a day, at 9 AM and 2 PM, arriving at our Waterfall Lodge about 3 hours later and leaves the Waterfall Lodge at 8 AM and 2 PM, arriving at Horquetas around 3 hours later. |
A UNIQUE AND ROUGH “ROAD”
Rara Avis has remained pristine because of its inaccessibility: along the way you will see first-hand how rainforests have been cut down wherever they are near roads.
Your trip begins aboard of a tractor-pulled cart, for the three-hours, 15-kilometer voyage to the lodge.
You will need rubber boots (we lend up to size 43 or 11.5 U.S., bigger than that are not easy to find in Costa Rica) and clothes in which to get wet and muddy. Other transfer option with additional charge include horses for the first 12 kilometers but then at El Plástico (our closest neighbor and several times a year base of research and education projects for student groups) you will need to walk the last three kilometers through a deep jungle trail.
Rara Avis lies three kilometers (two miles) from El Plástico, about one hour by tractor cart or less than 1,5 hours walking on jungle trails. Many people choose to walk through the rainforest while their bags are carried up on the tractor cart, if you decide so, one of our guides will go with you.
Please keep in mind that our trails are natural, with uneven and sometimes slippery footing, and the tractor ride to get to the lodge is uncomfortable and not recommended for pregnant women, people with serious back problems, or those with difficulty walking on uneven terrain.
WHAT TO BRING?
Access to our lodge can be difficult, so it can be problematic to take large baggage items. Please leave your non-essential baggage locked up in our office in Las Horquetas. There are things you definely need and some others that will be great if you bring up there to have a great experience.
We HIGHLY recommend using backpack style luggage with:
REALLY ESSENTIAL THINGS TO BRING UP! |
OTHER THINGS TO MAKE IT GREAT! |
- Rubber boots or other waterproof, mud-proof footwear
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- Flip-flops or sandals to wear around the lodge
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- A bottle of water – keep it with you during tractor ride and hikes
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- Sport bra for the bumpy tractor ride
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- A flashlight for each person – This is indispensable and should be kept with you on the tractor
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- Several changes of calf-high socks
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- Light long sleeved shirt or light jacket
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- Insect repellent and Insect-sting kit if you have a dangerous sensitivity to stings
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- Raingear, Hat & sun-screen
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- Trousers, preferably cotton-polyester work pants and light T-shirts
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- Insect-sting kit if you have a dangerous sensitivity to stings
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- Your clothing should be suitable for mud and rain. It is hazardous to wear sandals or “tivas” on trails.
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