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I originally talked about doing this tour 14 years
ago when I first met Jorge, our guide in Costa Rica.
I'm sorry it has taken this long to finally do it!
This tour
will focus on nature photography, bird photography and the culture
of Costa Rica. NOTE:
Only room for 2 more photographers!
This trip requires a moderate level of physical
fitness and some moderate walks and hikes. You
should be able to walk for 2-4 hours at a slow pace.
Travelers should be aware that the heat and humidity
may be very high in some places and very cool in the
higher elevations. In addition, you may experience
periodic heavy tropical rains. The roads may be very
bumpy.
Day 1
Arrival in Costa Rica's Juan Santamaria
Airport San Jose, Costa Rica.
You will be met at the airport by your Naturalist
Guide and taken to your hotel.
(Hotel Corteza Amarila or equivelant)
Day 2
Drive to Puerto Viejo.
Today we will drive to Puerto Viejo “Old Harbor” on
the South
Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Along the drive will
stop to explore the local communities including
local coffee/sugar cane farms, birding or any other
nature viewing. We will also stop for a brief city
tour of Limone which is the most important port in
Costa Rica on the Caribbean side and place where
Christopher Columbus arrived in 1502.
(Suerre Hotel or equivalent)
Day 3
Day Trip to Yorkin Community CLICK
HERE
This morning we will depart very early (around 6:30
a.m.) for our trip to Yorkín BriBri indigenous
community. After a one-hour drive to the river, we
will take an indigenous handmade dug-out canoe along
the Yorkín River (natural border between Costa Rica
and Panama). Please note, the dugout canoe ride is
very rustic. There are no backs to the seats and you
will travel along mild rapids at your own risk. Upon
arrival, we will visit the Yorkin School and hike to
the Estibrawpa Association Indigenous Community,
where our local guide will tell us the history and
purpose of the organization. Then, the guide will
lead us through the nature trail telling us about
the local trees, medicinal plants and important
crops of the Yorkín community. We will enjoy a
typical lunch. Afterwards, we will learn about
the secrets of the chocolate process and how the
Bribris build their houses. After lunch, we will
depart back to our hotel by hike, boat, and drive.
The late afternoon is free to relax or continue to
explore the area with your Guide.
(Suerre Hotel or equivalent)
Day 4
Travel to Turrialba
After breakfast, we will depart Puerto Viejo and
make our way to the busy town of Turrialba near the
Turrialba volcano and home office of Aventours. The
drive will take us approximately 4 hours and we will
stop periodically for photographs.
(Hotel Villa Florencia or equivalent)
Day 5
Day Trip to Cabecar Community
Today we will head for our second trip to an
indigenous community. We will begin after breakfast
and depart for our day trip to the Chirripo area
where we will visit with the Cabecar indigenous
community which inhabits a large humid rain forest.
The Cabecars are considered the indigenous
group most in danger of extinction due to their
geographic location in the highlands where the
survival is very difficult and located in a remote
area away from other communities.
Along the 3 hour drive to the community, we will
pass through many local rural communities stopping
as needed for photos of the towns, birds or other
panoramic pictures. Our meeting with the Cabecar’s
will include a tour of the community and a visit to
the school to learn about their culture and ways of
living. Due to remoteness of the area, our lunch
today will be a
box lunch.
(Hotel Villa Florencia or equivalent)
Day 6
Travel to Drive to Paso Canoas
(7 hours)
Today is a travel day and we will depart early for a
long drive to the very busy border town of Paso
Canoas. Along the drive, we will see many changes in
the flora, fauna and culture as we pass from the
Caribbean side to the Pacific side of Costa Rica and
over the El Cerro de Muerte which is the highest
point on the Pan American highway and above the tree
line.
We will also pass through the region of Buenos Aires
which has the largest pineapple plantation in Costa
Rica.
(Hotel Los Higerones or equivalent)
Day 7
Day Trip to Guaymi Community
After breakfast, we depart for our third and final
trip to the Guaymi indigenous Community. Along way,
we will drive through many plantations in the area,
including, African palm, rice and banana. Our goal
is the town of Alto Conte, just at the Panamanian
border in South Pacific. Here we will visit the
Guaymi indigenous community members and visit a
school
where we will talk with the students and teachers.
This Guaymi community is located close to the coast
and to Panama so they have more opportunities to buy
and sell products. We have lunch here in the town.
The drive takes approximately 3 hours drive in a
bumpy road via 4x4 in dry season. In the afternoon,
we will return to hotel.
(Hotel Los Higerones or equivalent)
Day 8
Drive to San Vito
Today we will depart very early for our drive
towards the Panamanian border and the home of the
Wilson Botanical Garden part of "La Amistad
Biosphere Reserve" that encompasses 472,000 hectares
of park-land and buffer zones centered in the
southern Talamanca mountain range, in Costa Rica's
south pacific. (Organization Tropical Studies (OTS)/
Wilson Botanical Garden Housing)
Day 9
Full day at Las Cruces
Today we will change gears and spend the day
exploring one of the premier botanical gardens in
the American tropics, which boast an impressive
collection of tropical plants and gardens designed
by Roberto Burle-Marx, famous Brazilian landscape
architect. On the grounds are hundreds of bromeliads
and orchids; dozens of philodendrons and other
aroids of all sizes; scores of heliconias, plus
giant bamboo and more than 650 species of palms. In
additional to the tropical plants there are nearly
400 bird species, more than 800 types of
butterflies, an abundance of mammals (at least 38
species of bats), and an impressive diversity of
reptiles and amphibians.
(OTS/ Wilson Botanical Garden Housing)
Day 10
Travel to San Jose
After breakfast, we will depart for our return to
San Jose to prepare for the return trip home. Along
the drive, we will make a stop for lunch.
(Bougainvillea Hotel standard room)
Day 11
Departure Your Naturalist Guide and driver will
accompany you to the airport for return home.
All meals and transportation included!
Hotels are subject to change based on availability |
