Workshop Tours & Travel Locations - May 11-30, 2006

Suggested Equipment: camera & flash

Isla Tortuga  (Pacific Island Cruise)

Costa Rica is famous for its romantic day cruises to its exotic Pacific Islands!

After a comfortable ride to the Pacific coast, you will board a luxurious yacht for the Pacific Island adventure. Our final destiny, the Tortuga (Turtle) Island which is famous for pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear water and superb snorkeling. A wonderful buffet will be served on the beach. (Includes snack & lunch).

Suggested Equipment: sweater, camera, binoculars, swimsuit, sun block and towel.
 

The Poas Volcano is one of the world's largest geysers with an awesome crater, over 1.5 km. wide! The volcano is active, but completely safe for viewing. This tour begins with a beautiful drive through the lush coffee plantations and flower farms of the area.

In addition to the volcano, the Poas National Park is a 9,884-acre reserve with rich tropical vegetation and animal life. The tour includes a hike through the surrounding forest that is teeming with typical plant life and exotic birds. The hike concludes at a restful, emerald green, tropical lagoon.

Arriving first at Grecia, we will see the famous metal church, that has a rare and beautiful architecture.

Next, we will tour the fascinating craftsman factories of Sarchi; where they build the famous oxcarts of Costa Rica--splendidly decorated and in various sizes, these oxcarts are treasured worldwide for their unique beauty.

Suggested Equipment: Sweater, camera, tripod, comfortable walking shoes, rain coat.

The Arenal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas. From our observation point, you can feel the ground tremble and sometimes you can see the sky explode with ash and lava in a natural display of fireworks. We will take a sunset hike near the Volcano to photograph--a safe distance away.

Suggested Equipment: camera, tripod, swimsuit, comfortable walking shoes, sweater, insect repellent, and a towel (optional).

Next, we will visit the hot springs of Arenal volcano, Baldi Hot Springs complete with 10 hot pools with different temperatures fed by individual springs & 2 swim bars for a total of 31,300 square meters (310,000 square feet), restaurant, Spa & changing rooms. Here you can relax in the soothing waters and be caressed by the cool night air while observing the stars and the incredible night sky above the volcano. Often you can see volcanic activity from the Spa at night--it is quite spectacular!

This is absolutely an evening not to miss in Costa Rica!

Jeep - Boat - Jeep

We will travel from La Fortuna to Monteverde via Jeep - Boat - Jeep. We will travel by jeep from La Fortuna to the dam (30 minutes). The we will cross the volcanic Lake Arenal by boat  (30 minutes). Then we travel to the Monteverde Cloud forest by jeep, where biodiversity and adventure go together.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Monteverde is well known for the beauty and exuberance of the Cloud Forest Reserve; which is famous worldwide. It offers the visitor a large variety of trees, flowers and birds. The Canopy, from the top of the trees, is absolutely incredible! You will finish this day with great lasting memories to share with your loved ones!

Here you will experience a spectacular combination of suspension bridges with easy and well maintained walking trails built in the Monteverde Cloud Forest and above the tropical forest canopy.

In the Monteverde Cloud Forest plants abound which are specially adapted to absorb moisture directly from the mist. It is from these huge, misty forests that Costa Rica's abundant water sources derive.

Epiphytes (plants which live on trees in order to reach the sunlight) also abound in these forests, adding to the water-gathering ability of the trees. The epiphytes are not parasites; they feed off water and dust and nutrients which accumulate around their roots.

Costa Rica has roughly 1,500 species of orchids, almost all of them epiphytes. Costa Rica, in fact, provides much of the world's supply of orchids. Other epiphytes include bromeliads (over 200 species, much more commonly seen than the orchids.) The epiphytes, treetops and vines create a canopy that preserves the moisture within the forest, and also provides a home for many small animals and insects that live their whole lives in the canopy, never touching the ground. The cloud and Costa Rica rainforest comprise some of the world's most complex ecosystems. This hike gives you a chance to easily see the beauty of the canopy--up close!

Until recently, little was known about life in tropical forest treetops, because getting up there was nearly impossible. Early explorers used ropes and pulleys or ladders carved into tree trunks. Today, biologists explore the canopy via towers, suspension bridges (like the ones you will have access to), rafts lowered gently onto treetops by dirigibles, and even construction cranes.

Biologists now know that about 90 percent of all organisms in a rainforest are found in the canopy. The sun that barely reaches the forest floor strikes treetops with full force, fueling the photosynthesis that results in leaves, fruit, and seeds. Since there's so much good food way up there, animals abound in the canopy.

The hanging bridges are in a trail of 3 kilometers that crosses the cloud forest. In this trail you can walk through 8 different bridges from 50 to 170 meters long, and between 12 and 60 meters high. Every bridge is 1.5 meter wide, which makes them the widest hanging bridges of the country. There is no strenuous climb or mud and the trails are very well maintained.

The temperature can be cool in these mountains so wear pants, good walking shoes and bring a light jacket or sweater.

Suggested Equipment: sweater, camera, tripod, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, rain coat, insect repellent.

After an exciting hike at the volcano, we will descend to the historical city of Cartago. Here we will visit the mysterious ruins of the old Parish and view the beautiful Basilica of our "Virgen de los Angeles" with rich displays of carvings, statues and art.

The area is noted for its rich soil, abundant plant life, and the outstanding coffee plantations. We will have a stop for lunch in a restaurant surrounded by beautiful coffee plantations.
 

Suggested Equipment: sweater, camera, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes and rain coat.

White Water Rafting

We will enjoy the exhilaration of white-water  rafting and the unique joy that results from sharing the powerful river, and the wild forest with friendly and interesting people--just like you. The result:  one of the best experiences you will remember throughout your life!

Suggested Equipment: camera (and a water proof case--or a underwater camera--may we suggest a disposable underwater camera for this experience?), sandals, shorts, insect repellent, sunscreen, towel, extra clothing.

Manuel Antonio National Park

With the establishment of Manuel Antonio National Park in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country's smallest national park, the stunning beauty and diversity of wildlife in its 683 hectares is unequaled.

Manuel Antonio contains a charming combination of rain forest, beaches and coral reefs. This beaches are the most beautiful in the country, lined with lush forest, and the snorkeling is excellent too. The forest is home for sloths, iguanas, the rare and adorable squirrel monkeys and millions of colorful little crabs.

Visiting the park, one is treated to an abundant diversity of wildlife. Cathedral Point, with its forest topped cliffs was once an island, but is now connected to the coast by a thin strip of island. This land bridge now forms the spine separating the parks two most popular beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio.

The southern facing beach, Playa Manuel Antonio, is a picturesque half mile long, white sand crescent bisecting deep green foliage to one side and a private, secluded cove to the other.

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