Rewilding Costa Rica: The Living Jungle

Gulf Waters and First Light - Golfito Embarkation

Your journey begins above the clouds, flying by private charter over volcanic ridges and emerald rainforest to the quiet waters of Golfito. Awaiting you is the Firebird, your private expedition yacht—a floating wilderness lodge where luxury meets thrilling discovery.

At dawn, the gulf is alive: surfers catch legendary waves at Pavones, dolphins arc offshore, and macaws flash across the canopy. As darkness falls, witness one of nature's most mysterious phenomena: bioluminescent plankton that ignites the water in electric blue fire with every paddle.

The rainforest rises like a cathedral. High in the canopy, you join conservationists to install camera traps that monitor endangered spider monkeys in their arboreal world. Later, rappel down waterfalls into hidden jungle pools where scarlet macaws fill the sky with color and sound.

Caño Island holds dual treasures: archaeological remnants of the ancient Diquis and reefs alive with sea turtles, manta rays, and reef sharks. Afternoon brings navigation through the vast Sierpe mangroves, Central America's largest tidal forest where crocodiles, sloths, and countless bird species thrive in the maze of flooded jungle channels.

Far offshore, Costa Rica’s Pacific hosts one of nature’s great spectacles: spinner dolphin megapods, sometimes tens of thousands strong. With expert guides, swim or seabob among their leaping, spinning formations—an encounter that redefines connection with the wild.

Anchor off Isla Tortuga’s white sands and set your pace. Fish offshore for marlin and sailfish, take surf lessons at Playa Hermosa, explore Santa Teresa’s bohemian charm, or simply float in Firebird’s heated pools as tropical light shifts across the endless Pacific.

Trade ocean horizons for volcanic heights. A helicopter carries you over Costa Rica’s rugged spine before descending into rainforest valleys where expert guides lead you through Class IV rapids, where waterfalls crash from cliffsides as wildlife stirs in the shadows.

Spanning 3,700 acres of volcanic foothills, Hacienda Montezuma blends ranching and rewilding. Track endangered Baird’s tapirs with researchers, ride through pastures with sabaneros whose families have worked this land for generations, and close evenings with traditional asado feasts where cowboy culture and conservation come alive beneath star-filled skies.

Your final morning opens with mist drifting over volcanic peaks. From the hacienda, a private transfer carries you through Costa Rica’s rural heartland to Guanacaste Airport. VIP services ensure a seamless departure as you reflect on ten days of conservation, adventure, and cultural connection in one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions.