Itinerary:
Jan. 28, 2012 (Day 1) Meet and greet at Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight: Hotel Bougainvillea. Meals: Late evening snack/Sandwiches in room
Jan. 29, 2012 (Day 2) Organizational, welcome breakfast with guide. Introduction to Costa Rica. Day trip to Poas Volcano -- at nearly a mile across, it is the largest active crater in the world. La Paz Waterfall and Gardens -- lush rainforest flowers, colorful birds, miles of paved trails and platforms that wrap around the falls; trails follow the La Paz River; largest butterfly observatory in the world; hummingbird garden -- home to 24 species of hummingbirds; orchid gardens; serpentarium hosts 30 different species of snakes. You will return at night to the Central Valley. Overnight: Hotel Bougainvillea. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Jan. 30, 2012 (Day 3) After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head to Sarapiqui. On the way, enjoy view of the Braulio Carrillo National Park and walk one of its trails. Braulio Carrillo is the largest national park in Central Costa Rica, critical to the protection of the aquifer feeding most of the country. Inside the park you will find numerous springs that provide water to Metropolitan San Jose and the outlying Central Valley -- which has the largest concentration of people and economic resources in the country. Most of Braulio Carrillo is covered by primary forest; there are an estimated 6,000 species of plants -- representing half of the total plant species in Costa Rica. It also hosts a wide variety of fauna. Among the mammals we might encounter: White-faced and Spider Monkeys, tapir, puma and jaguar. The park is also a prominent site for avifauna enthusiasts -- between the resident and migratory species, more than 515 different birds are found here. Overnight at La Quinta de Sarapiqui ecolodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Jan. 31, 2012 (Day 4) After an early breakfast, you will be transported to the La Selva Biological Station -- one of the original tropical research stations in Costa Rica. You will spend part of the day learning about the wide range of research projects at the station and the flora and fauna on this 675-acre reserve. The varied habitats include an easily accessible old-growth forest and an arboretum that showcases 1,000 trees. Nearly half of the 850 species of birds in Costa Rica have been identified within the La Selva boundaries.
After lunch at the station, you will enjoy a rafting tour on the Sarapiqui River. The gentle rapids originating in the nearby mountains lead to calm pools that make for a classic tropical experience that is ideal for beginners and nature enthusiasts. the river is bordered by rainforest and some farmland, providing chances to spot Tropical birds such as the elusive Sunbittern and Keel-billed Toucan. Overnight at La Quinta de Sarapiqui ecolodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Feb. 1, 2012 (Day 5) We can take a short hike before breakfast on the lush trails surrounding our highly regarded lodge. We will depart by 7:30 AM for the cloudforests of Monteverde. Along the way, we will pass La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the fabled Arenal Volcano. At the Arenal Dam, you will board a boat to cross the lake and continue your journey up the hills.
In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Monteverde Orchid Garden, a research station and home to one of the largest orchid collections in Costa Rick, with more than 450 species of these fascinating plants. The vast majority of tropical searches are epiphytes and can be found, in the greatest profusion, here in the cloud forest where windblown mist and frequent rain provide a perfect environment. Watch for several rare hummingbird species as the pollinate a few of the cloudforest species of orchids. Overnight at the Fonda Vela Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Feb. 2, 2012 (Day 6) After an early breakfast, you will be transferred around 7:30 AM to Monteverde Biological Reserve. Often shrouded in cloud blown in from the Atlantic Ocean, the forests of Monteverde are laden with epiphytic growth such as mosses, lichens, ferns, and bromeliads, orchids-even small trees! Famous for its populations of Resplendent Quetzal, Monteverde has almost become synonymous with this legendary bird. Other cloud forest denizens include the Black-faced Solitaire, Golden- browed Chlorophonia and Black Guan. Visitation is limited to fewer than 150 persons at one time (distributed on various trails) allowing for a very private connection with the forest. After lunch you will be driven to the Sky Adventures Monteverde; where you will enjoy with a bird's eye view of the rainforest. A relaxing 15-minute aerial tram ride takes you through different levels of the forest, and then descends the 2.5 miles of linear cables on about two-hour exciting zip line tour. Overnight at Fonda Vela Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Feb. 3, 2012 (Day 7) This morning you will be leaving for the Central Pacific coastal region, home to Quepos. We will stop en route to visit will enjoy a visit to Carara National Park, which is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see Scarlet Macaws and numerous other bird species. It is also a good spot for viewing small mammals. Because it is a transitional zone forest between the tropical dry forest to the northwest and the tropical rainforests of the southwest, it harbors a rich mix of flora a fauna reflecting the influences of both life zones. We will arrive before dinner at our hotel near the Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos. Overnight at Espadilla resort. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Feb. 4, 2012 (Day 8) After breakfast you will be transferred around 7:30 AM to Manuel Antonio National Park, where your guide will lead you through the trails and beaches. This stunning park is a perfect combination of warm Pacific waters and rainforest that grows right down to the three white sand beaches. Nature trails take you along the beach strand and over a forested, rocky promontory. This park, in the humid tropical zone, protects several habitats, including primary and secondary forest, mangroves, beach vegetation and marine resources. Because of its relatively small size and isolation by surrounding ocean and plantations, it is probably one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife, particularly sloths, coatimundis, agoutis, White-faced Monkeys and the tiny Squirrel Monkey. We will have an afternoon free to relax by the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or join optional guided trips (at an additional cost). Overnight at Espadilla resort. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Feb. 5, 2012 (Day 9) Day at leisure in Manuel Antonio to relax, enjoy the hotel facilities or join optional activities (at an additional cost). The local guide from Horizontes will help group members arrange for these extra activities (Horseback riding, whitewater rafting, additional hikes in the park, or a group visit to Quepos). Overnight at Espadilla resort. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Feb. 6, 2012 (Day 10) In the morning you will be returning to the Central Valley. En route, we will stop at the small country town of Sarchi, located an hour outside of San Jose, popular with Costa Rican natives and tourists like, Sarchi is the country's most famous artisan town, known especially for the handcrafted oxcarts or caretta.Ordinarily admired for its decorative qualities, the oxcart plays a very important role in the cultural history of the country. In the middle of the 19th century, when coffee was first being cultivated in the surrounding countryside, oxcarts provided the only method in which to transport the handpicked beans over the mountains and to the coast. We will continue onward to our lovely hotel on the outskirts of San Jose. Visitors will be free to walk the trails, rife with local plant life and birds. Overnight at Bougainvillea Hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Feb. 7, 2012 (Day 11) Our educational and entertaining tour draws to a close as we head to Juan Santamaria International Airport for our flights homeward.
Prices (these will depend upon the number of people who sign up:
8-13 people: $3,505 per-person in DBL occupancy
14-17 people: $3,345 per-person
17-19 people: $2,835 per-person
20+ people: $2,805 per-person
Single room supplement: $695
Airfare changes almost by the minute, but has been running a little under $1,000.
Deposit $500 per person. Please send the deposit as soon as you make a decision so that we will know where the trip stands. When we have the minimum of 8 deposits we can start working on the group airfare.
Rates include:
. Transfers airport-hotel-airport for arrival and departure flights.
. Meet & greet at airport by local Horizontes staff
. Private transportation services from Day 2 to Day 10, in a fully equipped motorcoach with first-aid kit and a cooler for drinks.
. Private guide and driver services and expenses from Day 2 to Day 9.
Lodging:
. 3 Nights at Bougainvillea Hotel.
. 2 Nights at La Quinta de Sarapiqui Country Inn.
. 2 Nights at Fonda Vela Hotel.
. 2 Nights at Espadilla Hotel
. 10 breakfasts – 8 lunches - 7 dinners (and 1 late evening snack/sandwiches).
Activities:
. Tour to Poas Volcano National Park and Waterfall Gardens.
. Guided walk to Braulio Carrillo National Park.
. Half Day guided walk to La Selva Biological Station.
. Sarapiqui River white water rafting tour.
. Visit to Monteverde Orchids Garden.
. Half day guided walk at Monteverde Biological Reserve.
. Monteverde Sky Tram & Trek (Canopy) tour.
. Guided walk at Carara National Park.
. Guided walk at Manuel Antonio National Park.
Rates do not include:
. Tours and entrance fees not specified on the above program.
. Meals, snacks and other beverages not specifically mentioned as included.
. Alcoholic beverages of any kind.
. Airport departure tax.
. Personal expenses (laundry service, liquor and the like)
. Guide and driver gratuities.
Important notes:
. The services quoted include all taxes (16.39% for lodging; meals include 10% service plus 13% sales taxes). But the Costa Rican government is currently discussing tax increases that may have an impact on the prices quoted above.
. With the current spike in fuel costs, local vendors could make last-minute price adjustments to the rates and programs listed above.
Contact Gordon Maupin at Gordon@wildernesscenter.org or at 1-877-359-5235 for questions or to make your reservation.
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