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Eco-Ethno Tours: Adventure Travel in Costa Rica » Bribri Village Tour

In the Talamanca Indigenous Reserve experience a truly unforgettable visit to a native village of the Bribri in the heart of the Talamanca mountains. Yorkín village is situated some 10 km. from the Sixaola River along the pristine and undeveloped Yorkín River. In this stretch of forest that borders Panama and on into the International La Amistad Park, visitors will have the privilege of seeing a Costa Rica that few have experienced.

Once having arrived upstream in dugout canoe – an incredible experience in itself – your gracious and knowledgeable hosts will guide you through primary forests, let you sample their native foods, show and demonstrate the uses of various food, medicinal and utilitarian products from the surrounding forest as well as other native practices and knowledge. Another delight to be discovered in this jungle area is the crystalline waters of the Yorkín River and its tributaries allowing the visitor to enjoy a refreshing wilderness swim.

Along with such souvenirs as unforgettable memories, new friendships, unique photographic opportunities and Bribri arts, you will come away from your jungle retreat content in the knowledge that you have contributed to an important activity that will help to encourage and to inspire residents of a remaining neo-tropical forest, such as the Bribri of Yorkín, to participate in an alternative economic practice – eco/ethno-tourism – as a viable cultural and socio-economic resource for their communities.

The further development of such sustainable business initiatives as this native run eco-tourism operation avoids forest destruction and encourages the new generation of Bribri to develop a sense of conservation and an appreciation of their endangered culture and the rational use of their environment.

Arrangements to make a reservation to visit Yorkín:

If you wish to make a reservation for this tour package you can do so at Galería Namu, tel. +506 2256-3412 or 800 616 4322 from the U.S., state the number of visitors, desired duration of visit, your date of arrival at Bambú (Bratsí) – tour pick-up point – and your group’s contact information.

Once a date is confirmed, please understand that this operation is run by villagers with very limited resources and that last minute cancellations by visitors creates great hardships for them, therefore, apart from extreme circumstances, interested parties will not cancel.

Tour fee (dollars or colones, cash only to be paid to your hosts):
Overnight package
- $65.00 per person

Each additional night:
- $30.00 per person

Package includes:
Round trip canoe transport to and from Yorkín village from the village of Bambú. All meals included.

Day 1: picked up by dugout canoe at 9:00 am for the journey up-river from Bambú to Yorkín village. Arrival at village, cultural demonstrations, river recreation etc. Overnight stay in Bribri home, or cabinas. (we recommend that visitors bring rubber boots and a flashlight).

Day 2: jungle hike, swimming, demonstrations or tourist requested activity etc. Departure from village depending on visitorís schedule back to Bambú in time to board local transportation out to the town of Bribri (buses to Puerto Viejo, Panamanian border, Limón, San José)

How to get there

Puerto Viejo 7:00 am. Locate bus to Bribri town. Once in Bribri either take a taxi or another local bus going to Bambú (also known as Bratsi). At this tiny settlement is where you will be met, at 9am, by your Yorkín canoe pilot and guide. Once there, simply identify yourself as a visitor for Yorkín.