Locations are Tortuguero National Park on the Northern Caribbean coast, Tortuga Lodge; inland in the south to central Talamanca Mountains stay based at Savegre Mountain Lodge in the Savegre Reserve; and Ballena Marine National Park on the southern middle Pacific coast near Uvita Beach at the Cristal Ballena Hotel. This itinerary crosses the country providing an excellent overvirw of Costa Rica's many habitats and attending wildlife. Rainforest Aerial Tram, boat tours, seeking the quetzal, whale watching and snorkeling in Ballena NP.

An easy get-away for an extended week of travel in the Central American tropics; ideal weather, flexible schedule allows for some individual activity choices, very comfortable lodging.

Included: In-country transportation, lodging and meals, all scheduled excursions, services of guides and staff, park and reserve fees, tipping and gratuities to guides, pre-trip departure package, pre-trip program meeting.

Not Included: International airfare, departure taxes, all items of a personal nature not supplied by lodges.

Costa Rica – 2007 Itinerary

Jauuary 5-12 $2595

Day 1: Arrival San Jose, Costa Rica

Arrive at San José Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport early afternoon, clear customs and immigration keeping all returned documents. We are met by our in-country tour coordinator and transfer by private bus to our hotel. After check-in we meet for a late afternoon orientation bird walk Dinner is at a near-by restaurant. Each day we are not otherwise occupied Tom guides a late afternoon general natural history/bird walk with whoever is interested. Dinner is 7 or 7:30. After dinner we will preview the next day’s activities and options and start the trip fauna list. This last activity is a CNT trip ritual – the process may be brutal, depending on the level of interest of the participants! Hotel Bougainvillea.

Day 2: San José / Tortuguero National Park

Each morning, when our schedule permits, Tom leads a sunrise bird walk for those interested. We usually meet wherever the coffee is located. After our walk we join everyone for breakfast. Early morning breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to the Atlantic lowlands near Siquirres. Stop on route for a visit to the Rain Forest Aerial Tram project. Adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park, this site has a great diversity of plants and animals we hope to discover. Possibilities include anteaters, sloths, monkeys, tinamous and morpho butterflies. The visit includes an hour and a half trip on the tram as well as a 45 minute guided tour on the trails at the site. The unusual bird's eye view from the tramway invariably provides an impressive perspective of how many rainforest trees fit together in a myriad of green vegetation. Orchids are often easier to spot as you glide through the canopy on an open gondola, and on clear days there is a view of Cacho Negro volcano. About mid-day board a boat with local guide and depart for a 2-to-4-hour trip to Tortuguero, enjoying a picnic lunch on our way. Arrive at Tortuga Lodge late afternoon. Set on a private rainforest reserve bordering Tortuguero National Park, the lodge grounds include a beautiful swimming pool and is surrounded by botanical gardens that lead to the rainforest and river. Tortuga Lodge.

Day 3: Tortuguero National Park

Sunrise birding. For those who don’t want to bird and are not awakened by the calls of the Howler monkeys in the forest, breakfast is at 6:30 a.m. Today, after breakfast and afternoon, slow boat tours through meandering canals and passages into the rainforest of the Tortuguero National Park. Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic green sea turtle, Tortuguero National Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rain forest in Central America and an outstanding example of lowland tropical forest. Eleven habitats are found in the park. Wildlife includes three species of monkeys; spider, howler, and white-faced capuchin, three-toed sloths, and river otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, basilisk lizards, and poison dart frogs inhabit the area. Additionally, more than 320 species of birds including all 6 species of kingfishers found in the new world, 3 species of toucans, 8 species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the slaty-tailed trogon, white-collared manakin, purple-throated fruitcrow, white-fronted nunbird and many more species which we will have the opportunity to observe.
Tortuga Lodge.

Day 4: Tortuguero NP / Savegre Reserve,

Talamanca Mountains Sunrise birding. After breakfast, a final boat tour into the National Park. Late morning, depart on a 30-minute charter flight back to San José. Land at the Pavas Local Airport where our van will be waiting for the land transfer to Cerro de la Muerte. Savegre Mountain Lodge's Private Biological Reserve is located in the environs of the Cerro de la Muerte in the Talamanca Mountain Range. It consists of cloud forest with elevations varying between 1,220 and 2,560 meters above sea level. The annual rainfall is 2550 millimeters and the temperature ranges between -2.2 and 26 degrees centigrade or 28 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The relative humidity is 70% year-round. The reserve is made up of 400 hectares of forest, 80% of which is virgin, while the remainder is newer growth, including reforestation programs using native species - primarily laurels. Animal life includes more than 170 species of birds - including the magnificent quetzal (our target species here), as well as numerous mammals, amphibians, and insects. Savegre Mountain Lodge.

Day 5: Savegre Mountain Lodge Reserve.

Full day to explore the area.
Savegre Mountain Lodge.

Day 6: Savegre Reserve / Uvita Beach

Sunrise birding. After breakfast, depart for the 4 - 5 hour drive to Dominical Beach. Stop on route for lunch and a trail walk at the Hotel Rancho Casa Grande. Late afternoon arrival. Hotel Cristal Ballena.

Day 7: Uvita Beach

Very early morning, depart from a birding tour at the Oro Verde private reserve. The morning begins with a summary of the history of Oro Verde, in the reception of the reserve. Our walk is along a path that traverses tertiary forest, continues into a secondary forest, and ends in a primary forest. We'll search for the three species of Trogons, the signature bird of Oro Verde. The tour ends with a typical Costa Rican breakfast, served in the reception of the reserve. In the afternoon we're out to sea for whales and dolphins and colorful reef fish, snorkeling in Ballena National Park. A total of 22 different species of cetaceans are found in Costa Rica's southern Pacific ocean territory. The 3 species of cetaceans that are commonly found in Ballena National Park are the humpback whales, bottle-nosed dolphin and pantropical spotted dolphin. Other occasional visitors include spinner dolphins, pilot whales and Bryde's whale. Humpback whales migrate from the north and south Pacific Ocean giving Ballena nacional Park two seasons when whales are in the bay, including November through late April. Our tour visits the sea caves at Playa Ventanas. At two snorkel sites on the rocky reef we have the possibility of seeing schools of jacks, parrot, puffer and porcupine fish, spiny lobster, eagle rays, eels and much more. Hotel Cristal Ballena

Day 8: Departure from San Jose

After breakfast, transfer to the Palmar Sur Airstrip for the 45-minute charter flight back to San José. Land at the International Airport. Upon arrival, meet a van for the transfer to the main terminal.

This is the plan, but allow for flexibility! A vehicle may break down, a phone may not work, and electricity could fail - it’s all part of the adventure!