COSTA RICA NATURAL HISTORY EXPEDITION
April 2 - 11, 2008
|
|
|
Red-eyed tree frog* |
Welcome to paradise! On this trip to
friendly, peaceful Costa Rica, you will see monkeys, showy birds,
colorful flowers and many unusual creatures that most people only know
from nature specials on TV. On this Nature Discoveries trip, you will
gain a unique, first-hand insight into the inner workings of the most
fascinating ecosystem on our planet, the tropical rainforest.
This carefully planned itinerary will
comfortably introduce you to a rich variety of tropical environments in
a short time. We'll visit many of the national parks and reserves for
which Costa Rica is famous. We'll float through lowland lagoons as we
watch monkeys in the branches above our heads, and colorful butterflies
flitting about; we'll immerse in the sights, sounds, and smells of an
active volcano, and enjoy an incredible assortment of colorful
hummingbirds feeding on flowers below the deck behind our rooms; we'll
walk in the wonderland that is cloud forest, in search of quetzals,
bellbirds, and other intriguing creatures; and marvel at the
magnificence of the Pacific coast's lush transitional rain forest.
|
|
|
|
Exploring Tortuguero* |
|
Tortuguero National Park is a protected refuge on the Caribbean coast
for nesting sea turtles. Here we'll take boat trips through quiet
lagoons and backwaters where toucans call from the trees, six species
of
kingfishers seek fish in the channels, and spider, howler, and
white-faced monkeys brachiate above. Tortuguero is lowland rainforest
at
its wildest. We consider our visit to Tortuguero as an Amazon-like
experience, except that the birds, monkeys, and other wildlife are much
easier to see in Tortuguero!
|
|
|
|
Arenal Volcano* |
|
Arenal Volcano, one of the world's most active, is our next
stop. We hope to witness Arenal's spectacular eruptions from the
Observatory Lodge, and we'll walk on recent lava flows. The
heart-stopping booms, as this volcano safely releases steam, can be a
life-long memory. An unexpected surprise at Arenal is the amazing
assortment of hummingbirds (one recent group saw 10 species there!)
easily viewed as they feed on flowers by our rooms.
|
|
|
Rainforest butterfly* |
We'll walk in the world-famous Monteverde
Cloud Forest, where trees are
laden with orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. Birds abound, and every year
we enjoy great looks at tropical specialties like quetzals, toucanets,
and motmots. We'll sit within feet of six or more species of colorful
hummingbirds, that whiz by our ears, visiting feeders and flowers at
the
Hummingbird Gallery. We'll marvel at the views from the Continental
Divide, and see how the trade winds have sculpted an elfin forest.
We'll
walk in the canopy on suspension bridges (with an alternate option for
those who prefer feet firmly on the ground), and you'll have an option
to visit a butterfly farm. There's even time to horseback ride, and to
see the village of Monteverde, a comfortable Quaker-founded community.
We'll culminate our adventure near
the Pacific coast, minutes from Carara National Park, surrounded by lush forest, with monkeys,
birds, and riveting ambience. We're close to the nightly roost of
scarlet macaws, and have an excellent chance to see and hear the
raucous
calls of these endangered and magnificent birds.
Each year we plan this rainforest
extravaganza to visit Costa Rica towards the end of the dry season, our
favorite time to visit. This is the best time to see a great variety of
birds; migrants returning to North America are present, and it is the
start of the breeding season for many tropical species. Many of these,
like the resplendent quetzal, can be quite noticeable, as they call or
display. And we're visiting at the best time of the year to see Arenal
Volcano out of the clouds.
|
|
|
|
Poas Volcano* |
|
Your leader is Steven Daniel of
Nature Discoveries. We will be joined by an experienced Cost Rican
guide
as well. Together they will take care of the myriad details to assure a
smooth trip. And they'll also point out the subtle interactions and
wonders from birds to flowers, lizards to bugs, to deepen your
understanding of tropical rainforests.You are sure to learn a lot and
have fun along the way!
Steven has led this trip yearly since
1988. He brings a special love for this country, and will help you
understand the lives of the fascinating birds, plants, and wildlife
you'll see. He has done botany research in the Monteverde Cloud Forest,
his "home away from home", and enjoys exploring every square meter of
this country. Whether birds, insects, unusual tropical fruits, or
magnificent rainforest trees, you can be sure you will get a special
insight into the complex workings of tropical forests that most
visitors
miss. Steven has led groups to unique destinations worldwide including
the Amazon, Alaska, Utah, Yellowstone, the Galapagos, and Iceland. He
has an M.S. from Cornell University, and, in addition to coordinating
trips for Nature Discoveries, he teaches natural history courses at
Monroe Community College.
|
|
|
Resplendent Quetzal** |
Our trip to Costa Rica is our longest
running trip and always a favorite. We work with hotels, lodges, and
other companies that are primarily Costa Rican owned and operated.
Thus,
much of the income from Nature Discoveries trips is channeled directly
into the Costa Rican economy. With the serious plight of rainforests
today, it is important that struggling countries like Costa Rica
realize
direct benefits from ecotourism. This helps to affirm the important
notion that saving rainforests can make economic sense.
* Photographs by Steven Daniel and are the
property of Nature Discoveries, Inc.
** Photograph by Marcia Birken-copyright 2005, ciaPhoto
Comments from Past Trip Participants
Highlights: "seeing 6 resplendant
quetzals, three species of monkeys in the wild, sloths and all those
hummingbirds... The interaction with our guides, driver, and most of
the
Costa Rican people was delightful."
"I loved arriving [by boat] at Tortuguero and
our night walks there. The Monteverde bridges. The owl in the town
square. . . Arenal hotel and pool."
"Outstanding variety - from walking in
majestic cloud forest to the giant trees at Carara, to the boat trips
in
Tortuguero."
"The birds, the monkeys, the sloths, the butterflies. Did I mention
the birds?"
"I was asked on a scale of 1-10 how was it? My reply, 'a 20!'"
"I've always been a solo traveler - wouldn't think of trudging along
with a group! I went as a favor to a friend. Well. . . I would not
have seen 1/20 of what i saw if I tried to do this on my own. And I
actually enjoyed being with the group, especially not having to handle
the logistics. And most especially enjoyed and appreciated Steven, [the
guide, and driver.] Thanks for changing my mind."