Dive Cano Island

Day 1. Depart London

Arrive San Jose International Airport and transfer to your accommodation, the Hotel Europa Centro or similar.

Day 2. Sierpe River and Osa Peninsula [B]

After an early morning flight from San Jose to Palmar, transfer by bus and boat to Sierpe, along the Sierpe River, to Marenco and the Punta Marenco Lodge. Located near Drake Bay in the Corcovado National Park, the Punta Marenco Lodge, is surrounded by the privately owned wildlife refuge Punta Rio Claro - your gateway to Corcovado National Park. The latter is one of the most important natural preserves in Mesoamerica and a last refuge for high plateau forest, where towering trees support hundreds of species of ferns, bromeliads and orchids, combine with mangrove to make Corcovado a botanist's dream. A lack of roads and airports has allowed this corner of the world to maintain it's natural beauty. Getting there is part of the Punta Rio Claro adventure!

The lodge encompasses 526 hectares, in a superb setting ideal for hiking, horseback riding, scuba diving and snorkelling along miles of pristine tropical beaches. Hilltop lodgings accommodate up to 25 guests in comfortable, en-suite rustic cabanas, each with private deck, offering a panoramic view of the Pacific and surrounding jungle. Family-style meals are served in the large, airy dining room.

Days 3 to 5. Cano Island [B]

A rare opportunity to dive near Cano Island, off the Southwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where diving is strictly regulated with a maximum of ten divers. This virgin area offers a variety of unique diving attractions, from 4-metre reefs to 24 metre 'walls.' Visibility is usually outstanding, rarely below 15 metres. Depending on the time of year you can see Humpback, and Pilot Whales, Bull Sharks and occasionally Whale Sharks. On almost every dive, the large schools of fish swimming around and overhead can be breathtaking, sometimes blocking out the sunlight, creating an underwater eclipse. Manta Rays are often seen breaching, dolphins are encountered daily, and Olive Ridley Sea Turtles are commonly observed swimming and even mating, as they travel to and from the sandy beaches of the peninsula where they lay their eggs.

Day 6. Punta Marenco [B]

Explore some of the 405-hectare Punta Marenco Wildlife Refuge, with a knowledgeable guide.

Day 7. San Jose [B]

Time to depart the Pacific coast - by boat to Sierpe, road to Palmar and flight, over the mountains, to San Jose.

Days 8 & 9. Homeward [B (Day 8 only)]

Explore San Jose before transferring to the Airport for the flight home, arriving the next day.