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FRANKLIN
COLLEGE
Costa
Rica
with
Dr Barry Knisley
November
7 - 14 2015
Costa
Rica is wildlife, rainforest and adventure. It is pretty much an
entire country devoted solely to nature tourism, and a leader in
the field. If nature and the outdoors is your style of vacation,
then Costa Rica has plenty for you. You can be sitting in a cloud
forest observing spectacularly colorful birds before breakfast after
being woken by the Howler Monkeys, have a look at the extremely
cheeky Capuchins on the way back to the hotel, and keep an eye on
a Green Iguana while enjoying some of the world's best coffee during
breakfast. Afterwards ease out the bumps with a relaxing loaf in
a thermal hot springs, followed by a massage.
Our
trip to Costa Rica is led by Dr Barry Knisley, FC Professor of Biology
from 1969 to 1979, where he taught a variety of biology courses,
served as Department Chair, and developed a field biology program;
he's a multiple visitor to Costa Rica.
The
tour concentrates on the natural highlights of the country, including
the Caribbean foothills rainforest, Arenal Volcano and the cloud
forest of Monteverde on the central mountain spine of the country.
In addition to the nature and wildlife, we've included a bit of
pampering at Tabacon Thermal Springs and Spa - a truly amazing place
- and the opportunity for some more adventurous act ivies along
the way. There's enough free time to not feel rushed, and to simply
enjoy the beauty around you, or to pursue personal interests.
Itinerary
Day
1 - Home City/San Jose/Sarapiqui
Fly from your home city to San Jose today. After passing through
immigration and customs you are met and transferred to your rainforest
lodge, home for the next three nights. It is suggested you get some
colones via an ATM in the airport before leaving. Tonight enjoy
a welcome dinner and discussion about the coming week’s travel.
(D)
Day
2 – Sarapiqui
Selva Verde Lodge rainforest lodge, located in the foothills of
the Caribbean slope, is famous for its birds, monkeys and other
mammals both on the grounds and in the surrounding forest. We’ll
take full advantage of this variety during our stay. This morning
discover the wildlife and flora of the foothills rainforest, the
richest region of Costa Rica at La Selva Biological Station, operated
by the Organization for Tropical Studies. The station has been conducting
research since 1968, hosting university courses and scientists,
and producing many publications. We spend the entire morning here,
exploring the trails and forest and learning much about this complex
ecosystem – and of course seeing some great wildlife. After
lunch at the station we return to Selva Verde, with free time to
explore the grounds.
(B,L,D)
Day
3 – Saripiqui
This morning start early with a two hour river trip, looking for
wildlife as the day begins. The quiet travel by boat enables us
to see birds and other animals that we may have difficulty seeing
otherwise. Return for breakfast, then we continue to discover the
fauna and flora of Selva Verde’s grounds. After lunch there
are several optional tours, including one that will be of special
interest to dedicated photographers, or just those who want great
photos to take home with them, or to see the tropical birds close
up and at your leisure. The Nature Pavilion, a private reserve a
short distance away, is a family-owned reserve has been set up specifically
to allow visitors the best in bird viewing and photography. Feeders
of various kinds have been placed around the cleared area, with
perches strategically placed to give great close-up views from the
covered pavilion (complete with seats). An added boon for photographers
is the uncluttered background, enabling uncluttered shots. However,
these are not tame birds (or the agoutis that come to clean up),
but wild birds that have got used to both a free lunch (and breakfast
and dinner) and the presence of people. So the flashing glimpse
of colored feathers that may have been had on a walk in the forest
is revealed as a stunning beautiful bird. This also offers excellent
sightings, and a different style of photograph, as birds often sit
in the trees resting and preening after feeding. Early evening we
transfer to La Trimbina for dinner then this evening discover the
forest and its wildlife in a different light, with a guided night
walk. (B,L,D)
Day 4 – Sarapiqui/La Fortuna
Transfer today to La Fortuna, at the base of the active Arenal Volcano.
Although no longer spewing lava, it still smokes from the center
cone, giving a special backdrop to the town.
(B,D)
Day
5 – La Fortuna
Discover Arenal and surrounds today. Start this morning with a guided
walk along the Hanging Bridges, which give a unique viewpoint of
the rainforest. A track leads to a rainforest-clad valley, then
with both tracks and a series of suspension bridges you make you
way up the valley, much of the time at the level of the canopy of
the forest, and above it. This is literally a bird and monkey eye
view of the trees and vines. In 
addition
views across the canopy down the valley are wonderful in themselves.
Our guide will not only loo
k
for birds such as motmots, which nest low in the banks adjacent
to the trails, but also about the rainforest itself. After returning
to the lodge and lunch we’ll spend the afternoon hiking on
the side of the volcano, through open areas, forest, and the volcanic
lava field. Our guide will give us a deeper understanding of the
geology of the area and how the many eruptions have affected the
forest and the land around La Fortuna. Finally tonight a special
treat. We transfer to Tabacon Hot Springs, surely the most extensive
and beautiful hot springs in the world. There are many separate
pools and streams, all clothed in luxurious vegetation, where you
can soak away any muscle fatigue from your activities over the last
few days, or just enjoy the warm mineral waters coming from underground
within the volcano. As you rise higher up the streams, getting closer
to the source, the water becomes hotter, so much sure you start
low to get accustomed to the temperature, which does get quite hot.
In addition to the waters themselves there is a full service spa,
and you enjoy a lavish themed buffet dinner at your leisure. (B,L,D)
Day 6 – La Fortuna/Monteverde
This morning you transfer to a dock on Lake Arenal, where you take
a ferry boat across the water to the other side. This ride gives
great views of the volcano and the national park around it. On arrival
on the other side you are met and transferred to Monteverde, high
in the Costa Rican cloud forest. Monteverde was started by a group
of Quakers from Fairhope, Alabama, who left there to find a place
where they could pursue their peaceful beliefs free from harassment.
They establish farms, shared the fruits of their labor, and made
an early commitment to the conservation of the rainforest and the
animals that live there. Your delightful hotel room has a small
balcony with views of the rainforest, so keep an eye out for toucans
and monkeys that regularly traverse the trees just outside your
room. Tonight dinner isn't included, giving us an opportunity to
visit the small township and try a restaurant of our own choice.
(B,L)
Day
7 - Monteverde
This morning take a private guided tour in the Monteverde Cloud
Forest. This is quite different to the lush, large-leaved rainforest
you have previously been in; here a large part of the needed moisture
is supplied by clouds and fog, and as these reduce the amount of
sunning reaching the plants leaves are smaller (in addition to smaller
leaf size caused by the cooler temperatures) and bromeliads are
widespread. Your guide will explain the forest to you, all the while
looking for the birds that live here, especially the famous Resplendent
Quetzal. You are staying here which during the best time to see
this magnificent bird, and the guides, who communicate with each
other, will be careful searching can still find individuals, usually
high up in the canopy searching for the small avocados which are
their primary food. But your guide has a scope, so if found, you
can still get good views, if not good photos. Just outside the entrance
a small store has many hummingbird feeders, and we take time to
enjoy the spectacles of dozens of hummingbirds arguing with each
other over the feeders. This afternoon we visit Selvatura, which
has canopy walkways, an extensive
butterfly house, and a hummingbird garden. You have the included
options of just taking a guided walk on the canopy walkways, or
zip lining for a mile through the forest canopy. Tonight we have
a farewell dinner and recap the week we’ve spent in Costa
Rica. (B,L,D)
Day
8 - Monteverde/San Jose/Home City
We are transferred to the airport this morning for our afternoon
flight back to the US, arriving late tonight. (B)
Tour
Information
Information
about cost, what's included and what's not, other information about
the tour and reservation information can be found here.
