12 Day Ecological Expedition
Day one: Welcome to Costa Rica
Depending on your arrival, the group will sightsee around the capitol San Jose, and enjoy dinner in the city.
Day two: The Caribbean Coast
The group will travel through the rainforest Braulio Carrillo National Park, have lunch at the sloth sanctuary and then travel on to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast for dinner and swimming.
Day Three: Indigenous Encounter
The group will travel inland to the village of BriBri and then when the road ends, hike into the jungle to the school Namu Wokir, where students come to learn math, grammar and to speak Spanish. We will participate in a service project, have lunch with the BriBri kids and play soccer.
Day Four: Journey to Serafin Turtle Station
The group will make their way back up the coast towards Matina, exploring Cahuita National park, known for wild sloth and howler monkeys. The turtle station is located along a section of the coast surrounded by wet landsand can only be reached by boat. Students will work the next two nights with biologists measuring, tagging and relocating eggs for the sea turtles.
Day Five: Wetlands and Turtles
A lazy day exploring the wetlands looking for birds, bats and poison dart frogs. Some groups may get the chance to release turtle hatchlings back into the sea.
Day Six: White Water and Arenol Volcano
The group will leave towards the Sarapiqui river for a day of exciting but safe, whitewater rafting. On to the town of La Fortuna for the night, with Arenal volcano in the distance.
Day Seven: Bats, Waterfalls and Hot Tubs
The group will explore the darkened world of the Venado Caves, looking for bats, blind fish, and fossils; hike to La Fortuna’s spectacular waterfall and swim in the river below it then head for the Hot Springs heated by the volcano.
Day Eight: Boats and Horses into the Clouds
Today we will take a boat across Lake Arenal and get a great view of the famous volcano, then be met by horses that will carry them up into the mountains, across the continental divide and into the Cloud forests of Monteverde. The group will spend the afternoon visiting the hummingbird gallery, a butterfly farm and possibly a frog house.
Day Nine: View from the Top
The group will get harnessed up, fly over the canopy and through the trees on zip lines. Then, the group will head for the white sands of the Pacific, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Day Ten: True Tropical Vacation
This day is dedicated to animal watching, more swimming in the ocean or pool, miniature golf or just reading a book. The evening is spent in the town of Jaco for dinner and shopping.
Day Eleven: Back to San Jose
The group will make its way back into the capital with stops to see crocodiles, and a little last minute shopping.
Day Twelve: Sad Goodbyes
Goodbyes to your guide and the driver. Fly home. Fill journal with amazing tales.
What is included?
Included: All meals, all hotels, private bus, 24 hr private naturalist guide, all activities.
Not included: Airfare, tips and spending money.
Free Travel for Trip Leaders: With 10 participants a trip leader travels FREE, including air.
Available Trip Dates: March through July 2014.
Cost: $1875. pp.