Limon

Heading south from Limon you’ll pass Cieneguita, the oldest part of the city, constructed by the first Jamaican settlers. The houses here were built on stilts to keep the inhabitants safe from the coastal swamps, landslides, floods, jungle fevers and heavy rains.

En route, you’ll pass banana and cacao plantations and glimpse breathtaking views of the palm-fringed Caribbean Sea. Keep a look out for White Egrets, Blue Herons, kingfishers, pelicans, iguanas and Black-Shouldered Kites.

Visit the village of Bananito, the latest of many communities constructed by the Standard Fruit Company (Dole) to provide their employees with housing. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to purchase a token souvenir or local handicrafts.

Before returning to Limon via the same route, you’ll make a brief stop at the Colon Caribe Resort. Wander in the pleasant gardens, browse the souvenir shop or purchase some light refreshments.

Enjoy an enchanting trip through the rainforest canopy and its hanging gardens of plants and animals, hidden at the tops of tall trees. Home to two thirds of the rainforest species, the canopy is a little-known world of tremendous beauty. The tram ride lasts for approximately 1¼ hours, including stops along the way. Afterwards, take an optional walk through the rainforest with your experienced guide, before a Costa Rican lunch is served at the Rainforest Café.

The Rainforest Aerial Tram is 2 hours drive from Limon. En route, you’ll enjoy some wonderful scenery as you travel by the boundaries of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Board a covered jungle boat for a cruise along the Tortuguero Canals, part of the river system that parallels Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. The area is blessed with an extremely rich flora and fauna. Look out for orchids, birds, monkeys, crocodiles, sloths and toucans in a unique system of natural and man-made canals. Wave to the friendly locals in their dug-out canoes and watch them go about their daily lives. The lush jungle foliage is mirrored in the canals’ waters on this truly delightful tour. The boat trip ends at Moin, a short distance from the quayside.

After your canal cruise, enjoy some local fruits and music, before seeing how some of the fruit is processed at a banana plantation.

Embark on an adventure into the tropical rainforest environment of Costa Rica. Travel through luscious landscapes on a tractor-drawn jitney, designed especially for you to enjoy the natural surroundings.

As you ride, keep your eyes open for some of the area's curious inhabitants such as the huge Bullet Ants, colourful Keel-Billed Toucans, Blue Jean Frog and rare spiders whose cobwebs are compared to steel cables. If you’re lucky, you may also see groups of Mantled Howler Monkeys, or the lazy Three-toed Sloth.

An impressive lookout point displays an amazing panorama of majestic mountains and a wonderful view of the Banano River. Another highlight of your tour will be a stroll over a bridge walkway, allowing you easy access to the beauty of the canopy.

During your tour enjoy some delicious, locally-grown fresh fruit and water to quench your thirst.

At the Aviarios del Caribe Sanctuary, you’ll board your five-man canoe for 30 minutes of gliding through the lush tropical vegetation that surrounds the Estrella River. In this area, it is common to see monkeys, sloths, river otters, caiman, birds, butterflies and amphibians.

On your return, a short video introduces the unique sloth. Sloths are tree-dwelling creatures related to the anteater and armadillo family. Their slow and gentle nature, long limbs and small heads make them very peculiar and totally enchanting creatures. Meet the individual animals in the Sanctuary to learn their stories and hopes for their future.

After your visit with the sloths, you’ll be invited to take an easy, guided walk through the forest, followed by some refreshing tropical fruits and drinks.

Travel along the famous narrow-gauge tracks on the railroad, which supposedly ‘couldn't be built’. The Northern Railroad gave birth to the banana industry and turned the fragile, delicious fruit into a leading export. You’ll ride the railroad in authentic carriages to enjoy the views over forests and rivers, whilst your guide points out the interesting sights.

The train takes you along the Caribbean shoreline, bordered by hundreds of tall coconut trees. You’ll pass banana plantations and have wonderful views of the small colourful houses, set on stilts and decorated with local flowers.

Afterwards, your tour continues to the Tortuguero Canals. You’ll arrive at Moin Station and be welcomed with a refreshing drink and a light snack before boarding your boat for a delightful eco-cruise. Enjoy the rich flora and fauna that exists in the man-made canals, and keep an eye out for a variety of animals, including birds, monkeys, crocodiles, sloths and toucans.

During the coach section of the tour, you’ll make a short stop at a banana plantation for a close-up look at the delicious fruit to see how it is grown.

The Tortuguero Canal region is rich in flora and fauna and is also known as Costa Rica’s ‘Amazon’. You’ll board a covered jungle boat and cruise along the unique system of natural and man-made canals. Keep an eye out for orchids, birds, monkeys, crocodiles and sloths. The boat trip ends at Moin, a short distance from the quayside. Here, you’ll enjoy some local fruits and music before taking a drive to the Veragua Rainforest Research Park.

At Veragua your naturalist guides will take you on a wonderful rainforest experience, leading you through live snake, frog and butterfly interactive exhibits. Each of the exhibits have been designed by the National Biodiversity Institute, a renowned research and conservation organisation.

An open-air aerial tram ride will take you through the canopy level of the rainforest, where you’ll disembark at the banks of the river. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the ‘Trail of the Giants’, named after the gigantic trees that line the trail, or take the optional walk to view the magnificent two tiered Puma Waterfall.

During your tour, a delicious Costa Rican buffet lunch will be offered.

The Veragua Rainforest Research Park covers approximately 4,000 acres and is surrounded by astonishing natural beauty.

Upon arrival, local naturalist guides will take you on a wonderful rainforest experience, as they lead you through live snake, frog and butterfly interactive exhibits. The Park is committed to research and conservation, and each exhibit has been designed with the scientific expertise of the University of Costa Rica.

Afterwards, enjoy an open-air aerial tram ride that will take you through the canopy level of the rainforest. A stop will be made at the banks of the river where you’ll take a leisurely walk through the ‘Trail of the Giants’, named after the gigantic trees that line the trail. You may also wish to take the optional walk to view the magnificent two tiered Puma Waterfall.

You’ll re-board your tram for the return ride through the rainforest, which will end at the Research Station. A visit here will show you the operations of the dedicated researchers.

To round off your tour, some local fruits and a soft drink will be offered. You may also wish to browse the souvenir shop, before the return drive to the ship.

SOS Children’s Villages are an independent, non-governmental social development organisation that works to meet the needs and protect the rights of children without parental care. Families are built for children in need, so every child can belong to a family, where they can grow up loved and sheltered.

Drive to the SOS Children’s Village of Limon, where you’ll be met by the centre’s principal, who will give an overview of the great work they do. A tour of the village will allow you to meet and mix with the children as you learn of their lives.

Afterwards, continue to Paradero Ecotour to explore the elevated trails through the rainforest. Visit the Wildlife Rescue Centre that houses animals rescued from poachers. You’ll see and interact with rare two and three toed sloths, as well as other animals native to the rainforest. Here, you’ll also enjoy some refreshments, accompanied by the sounds of live Caribbean music.