Costa Rica South: "Off the Beaten Path"
November 27 - December 5, 2012
9 days / 8 nights
This tour can be extended through December 9, 2012. Ask about our extension Itinerary.
registration deadline October 1, 2012
Costa Rica impresses with its luscious tropical rainforest, possessing an extraordinary biodiversity. This region boasts close to 830 bird species, more than the United States and Canada combined. Ten percent of the world’s known butterflies are found here, along with 8,000 flowering plants, 15 % of which are orchids.
Led by award-winning nature photographer Alexander (Sasha) Vasiljev , this trip was designed to take you off the beaten path to the striking places in Southern Costa Rica, from the lowland tropical rainforest and mangroves of the Pacific coast to the highlands of Talamanca Mountain range. During this expedition you will experience majority of vagetation zones in Costa Rica, from alpine paramo to mangroves. You will be bedazzled with opportunities to capture its incredible landscapes and abundant wildlife, from poison dart frogs, quetzal, hummingbirds, toucans and emerald toucanets to reptiles, monkeys, sloths, and many orchids. This tour will provide access to all of this for you and your camera. Sasha will work with you to develop your nature photography skills through both formal teaching sessions and hands-on field shooting. You will be sure to amass an exceptional portfolio from this instructive photo expedition.
Read a story on native orchids in Costa Rica by Alexander Vasiljev in the February, 2011 issue of Orchids magazine published by the American Orchid Society. » download PDF
| GROUP SIZE | PRICE/PERSON IN DBL |
|---|---|
| 4 - 10 | USD $ 2,890 |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT USD $ 360 |
|
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival to San José Airport, Hotel Corteza Amarilla
Arrival to Costa Rica. Meet our representative at the Juan Santamaría International Airport and transfer to a boutique Hotel Corteza Amarilla, near the capital city of San José. The Hotel Corteza Amarilla with its art gallery is tucked away in a beautiful tropical garden. There is a free wireless Internet and hot tub.
Hotel Corteza Amarilla (D)
Day 2 - Poas Volcano, Pacific Coast
We meet in the lodge’s restaurant for a welcome breakfast followed by a short introduction to Costa Rican nature by your trip leaders Sasha and Mainor. We depart soon for Poas Volcano National Park. Expect to get a good use of your wide lens for some incredible shots of this volcano’s smocking crater. We will walk the trails through the dwarf Polylepis forest abundant with hummingbirds. After delicious lunch at a local family restaurant we then drive to the Pacific coast in time for a spectacular sunset photography and a walk along the beach framed with coconut palms and beach almonds, favorite food of Scarlet Macaws.
Hotel Corteza Amarilla (B), lunch en route, Hotel Playa Bejuco (D)
Day 3 - Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio National Park
After breakfast, we depart for a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park. Troops of capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys are frequent in the park, and there is a great opportunity to spot three-toed and even nocturnal two-toed sloth. Abundant colorful rainbow land crabs make great photographic subjects along with orchids in this lush lowland tropical rainforest. We will also have time to relax at the secluded tropical beach with refreshing azure waters before returning to the Hotel Playa Bejuco for lunch. Later that evening - more sunset photography, or a walk by the beach before dinner, or
simply relaxing by the swimming pool and hot tub.
Hotel Playa Bejuco (B, L, D) free wireless Internet, swimming pool, hot tub
Day 4 - Pacific Coast, Mangroves, Wilson Botanical Garden
After breakfast, we depart for an incredible boat tour of the mangrove forest. Abundant wildlife can be seen inhabiting mangroves including Broad-billed Heron, Ringed Kingfisher, caiman, silky-pygmy anteater and boa constrictor. We will have many photo opportunities on this excursion. We continue to our next destination further south to San Vito area located in Coto Brus valley, close to Panamanian border, where we will arrive to Las Cruces Biological Station.
Hotel Playa Bejuco (B), lunch en route, Las Cruces Biological Station (D), free wireless Internet.
Day 5 - Premontane Wet Forest, Wilson Botanical Garden
After breakfast, we take a walk through the nature reserve, one of the last remaining Premontane wet forest in the area. Beginning our hike with the observation platform towering over the treetops with views of surrounding hills, and a great place to spot many species of birds. We explore the path through the lush forest overgrown with orchids, tree ferns, gingers and bromeliads. After lunch, we search the grounds for a giant bird-wing moth with a wingspan reaching one foot. The moth rests camouflaged on the tree trunks.
Wilson Botanical Garden (B, D, L), free wireless Internet
Day 6 - Wilson Botanical Garden, Highlands
After breakfast, we tour the botanical garden and its live plant collections, including the second largest palm collection in the world and orchid house! Epiphytic orchids are naturally abundant on trees throughout the garden and many birds visit here including mix flocks of Tanagers, Red-fronted Parakeet, Caracaras, Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, Blue-crowned Motmots and more. After lunch we pack and leave for the clouded highlands of Talamanca Mountains. We arrive to Dantica Lodge in the late afternoon with time to relax and photograph stunning sunset over the mountain ridge.
Wilson Botanical Garden (B, L), Dantica (D), free wireless Internet
Day 7 - Highlands, area Cerro de la Muerte
After the breakfast we drive to Cerro de la Muerte area with beautiful views of the mountain massif, where alpine vegetation known as Paramo prevails. From here we start our 4 hour-long hike down to the San Gerardo de Dota valley. This is an unforgettable experience. We will observe different vegetation zones on our way down; from cushion-like alpine plants and dwarf forest to mountain cloud forest laden with orchids and other epiphytes. We will also see diverse bird fauna changing with the altitude. After a hike we will be picked up and drown back to the lodge. For those looking for more gentle activity there is an option to take a less physical hike. After lunch - free time to relax and organize your images, and talk about photography and the day’s experiences.
Dantica (B, L, D), free wireless Internet
Day 8 - Waterfall, Return to San Jose, Corteza Amarilla Lodge
After an early breakfast we drive through the valley in search of Resplendent Quetzal and take a short hike to a beautiful waterfall for long exposure photography and orchid viewing. After lunch we pack and depart to Corteza Amarilla a boutique art lodge, near the capital city of San José. The lodge with its art gallery is tucked away in a beautiful tropical garden.
Dantica (B, L), Corteza Amarilla Lodge (D), free wireless Internet, hot tub
Day 9 - Departure - San José Airport
Private transfer to the Juan Santamaría International Airport for your flight home
Corteza Amarilla Lodge (B)
End of Services
- Lodging as specified
- Meals as specified
- Entrances and fees for all described activities
- Private transfers to and from airports and hotels on first and last days
- Professional driver, private transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned tour bus
- Professional photo/nature/culture guide
- Photography workshops and informal photo learning
- Assistance with caption and ID for your images
- Taxes on all services listed above
- International airfare
- Airport departure tax (US $26)
- Traveler’s insurance
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Gratuities and tips
- Non-meal time snacks
- Non-meal time soft drinks and bottled water
- Souvenirs