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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250201
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250212
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UID:81373-1738368000-1739318399@alumni.georgetown.edu
SUMMARY:Costa Rica's Natural History
DESCRIPTION:Your invited to travel with alumni and friends from February 1 through 11\, 2025\, on an eleven-day journey through Costa Rica. Set out on a relaxed\, yet comprehensive exploration of the diverse natural history of this Central American country\, and discover staggering biodiversity in four distinct regions\, from the cloud forest to the rainforest\, and the Central Valley to the Pacific Coast. \nBeginning in the capital city of San José\, take a guided excursion to Irazú National Park to see Costa Rica’s tallest and largest volcano\, followed by a visit to the Doka Coffee Estate. Then travel northward to the Arenal region for spectacular views of Arenal Volcano. Explore a biological reserve and experience the rainforest from the canopy level as you traverse a series of suspension bridges high above the forest floor. Then visit the cloud forest region of Monteverde. Your adventure concludes with a three-night stay in Guanacaste and a float safari on the Tempisque River. A 4-day/3-night pre-tour option in Tortuguero National Park is also available. \n  \n  \nPlease Click for PDF Brochure\nDates & Rates\n\nDates: February 1 – 11\, 2025 \nCountries: Costa Rica \nRates:  \nTour package  –  $4\,145  (excluding international airfare)*\nAir-inclusive – $4\,831 from Miami ($4\,445 air and land inclusive plus $386 airline taxes and fees) *  \nA limited number of single rooms are available on a request basis for an additional supplement of $1\,395 per person. \n*All rates are per person based upon double occupancy. Airfare from most major US  airports is available. Airline taxes\, fuel surcharges\, and departure fees are subject to change until final payment is made. Please see the brochure or contact us for more information.  \nTrip Type: Land and Air \nTrip Status: Closed for new reservations\n \n\n  \nItinerary\nDAY 1: Depart for San Jose\, Costa Rica \nWe arrive in the Costa Rican capital and transfer to our hotel located in the Escazu area outside the city. This afternoon and evening are at leisure.\nAccommodations: InterContinental Costa Rica \nDAY 2: San Jose \nAfter meeting our Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and fellow travelers at this morning’s breakfast briefing\, we embark on an excursion to Irazú National Park\, whose active volcano last erupted in 1994. At 11\,260 feet\, Irazú stands as Costa Rica’s tallest volcano\, as well as its largest; and presents a spectacle of nature\, as it rises from a flat\, bare landscape coated in ash. We return to our hotel late this afternoon; tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner there.\nAccommodations: InterContinental Costa Rica\nMeals: Breakfast\, Lunch\, Dinner \nDAY 3: San Jose/Arenal Region \nWe leave this morning bound for the Arenal region\, passing picturesque villages along the way. We stop at the Doka Coffee Estate\, located on the fertile slopes of Poás Volcano\, where we learn about coffee making and Costa Rica’s coffee crop\, one of the country’s largest exports. Continuing on\, we stop in Carrizal at the family-owned Botanical Orchid Garden\, with tropical trails\, exhibits\, nurseries\, and gardens all dedicated to the wondrous orchid plant. After time to explore here\, we travel on to Arenal and our hotel\, which offers magnificent views of Arenal Volcano and where we dine tonight.\nAccommodations: Lomas del Volcán Hotel\nMeals: Breakfast\, Lunch\, Dinner \nDAY 4: Arenal Region \nThis morning we visit a local elementary school to enjoy a cultural exchange with the children and learn about Costa Rica’s vaunted educational system – the country boasts a literacy rate of more than 95%. We continue on to Ecocentro Danaus\, a biological reserve focused on conservation\, environmental education\, and sustainability. A series of trails winds through the secondary forest\, where we see diverse flora\, including orchids\, bromelia\, and heliconia\, along with some of the preserve’s 150 species of birds\, sloths\, and bats\, among other fauna. Highlights include a butterfly farm with 30 different species and a natural water spring that attracts waterfowl\, alligators\, and iguana. Later today there’s time for more volcano viewing before and after dinner from a comfortable perch at our hotel.\nAccommodations: Lomas del Volcán Hotel\nMeals: Breakfast\, Lunch\, Dinner \nDAY 5: Arenal Region \nOn this morning’s visit to Arenal’s Mistico hanging bridges\, we have the special opportunity to experience the rainforest from the canopy level as we traverse a series of five suspension bridges high\nabove the forest floor. While we observe the rainforest from a unique perspective\, our naturalist guide will point out some of the flora and fauna that thrive here. Then we return to our hotel\, where the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax amidst the beautiful grounds and thermal waters. Lunch and dinner today are on our own.\nAccommodations: Lomas del Volcán Hotel\nMeals: Breakfast \nDAY 6: Arenal Region/Monteverde Cloud Forest \nWe travel today to the “green cathedral” of Monteverde. En route\, we stop to visit a nonprofit handicrafts cooperative dedicated to enhancing the economic and social well-being of local women artists. After lunch on our own in Santa Elena\, we continue on to our hotel\, arriving late afternoon. We dine tonight at a local restaurant in Monteverde.\nAccommodations: Fondavela Mountain Hotel\nMeals: Breakfast\, Dinner \nDAY 7: Monteverde\nThis morning we embark on a guided walk through Monteverde’s biological reserve\, learning about the amazing biodiversity in this relatively small area. After lunch together\, we visit the Monteverde Bat Jungle to learn about Costa Rica’s diverse – and important – bat population. Late this afternoon we return to our hotel for time at leisure before visiting with a local resident who will share stories of how Quakers have influenced the region\, including their founding of Monteverde’s biological reserve. We dine together this evening.\nAccommodations: Fondavela Mountain Hotel\nMeals: Breakfast\, Lunch\, Dinner \nDAY 8: Monteverde/Guanacaste\nWe depart by coach this morning for Guanacaste\, Costa Rica’s stunning northwest Pacific coastal region. After a stop for lunch\, we reach our resort hotel overlooking the Pacific mid-afternoon.\nAccommodations: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa\nMeals: Breakfast\, Lunch\, Dinner \nDAY 9: Guanacaste\nA float safari on the Tempisque River highlights this morning’s excursion to the Palo Verde region\, which is both an extraordinary wetland and also one of the world’s last tropical dry forests. In this unique ecosystem\, we can expect to see abundant bird- and wildlife\, including monkeys\, iguanas\, and caimans. After lunch together\, we return to our hotel mid-afternoon\, with the remainder of the day at leisure along one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful Pacific Coast settings.\nAccommodations: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa\nMeals: Breakfast\, Lunch \nDAY 10: Guanacaste\nToday is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful beach and other amenities of our hotel\, including an outdoor infinity pool. Optional activities include kayaking\, hiking\, or visiting the lively town of Tamarindo. This evening we gather at a farewell dinner to celebrate our Costa Rican adventure.\nAccommodations: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa\nMeals: Breakfast\, Dinner \nDAY 11: Depart for U.S.\nWe transfer to the airport this morning for our return flights to the U.S.\nMeals: Breakfast \n\n\nActivity Level: Easy/Moderate\n\n\n\n\nWalk 1-3 miles per day\, often on uneven terrain in natural settings\nWalking in rainforest and cloud forest settings with inclines and on suspended bridges\nLengthy motorcoach ride from Arenal Region to Monteverde over bumpy roads\nHigh elevation on excursion to Irazu Volcano National Park (11\,000 ft)\nTortuguero Pre-Tour Option: embarkation/disembarkation of multiple boats\n\n\nIncluded Features: \n\nRound-trip air transportation from listed cities for Air-inclusive participants\n10 nights’ accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels\n23 meals: 10 breakfasts\, 6 lunches\, 7 dinners\nExtensive sightseeing as described\, including all entrance fees\nServices of professional Tour Directors and local guides throughout\nPrivate motor-coach transportation throughout your trip\nLuggage handling for one bag per person\nGratuities for local guides\, dining room servers\, Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary\n\nWhat’s not included:\nTaxes; passport\, visas and associated fees; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness\, trip cancellation\, and baggage insurance; excess baggage charges on aircraft; transfers and baggage handling to/from hotel on day of arrival and/or departure if you have booked as a “land only” participant or if you are arriving earlier or later than and/or departing earlier or later than the scheduled group transfer(s); any overnight on land due to flight schedule(s); meals\, alcoholic or other beverages and all other services not specifically mentioned in the “Included Features” section of the program brochure.
URL:https://alumni.georgetown.edu/event/costa-ricas-natural-history/
CATEGORIES:Travel Society
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