ARENAL VOLCANO LA SELVA ORGANIC FARMS RAINFOREST JUNGLE TROPICAL BEACH BIRDWATCHING HIKING - YOGA

Transcription

1 ARENAL VOLCANO LA SELVA ORGANIC FARMS RAINFOREST JUNGLE TROPICAL BEACH BIRDWATCHING HIKING - YOGA PONTE TRAVELS

2 Welcome to Ponte Travels! Join us for a very special meditative adventure to Costa Rica, home of eco-tourism in the Americas, led by Joel and Michelle Levey for a small group of travelers. The founders of Wisdom at Work Joel and Michelle are pioneers in the contemplative sciences and mindfulness movement, and long-time students, practitioners, and teachers in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Together we will experience Costa Rica and all of its natural abundance in a profoundly meaningful and "enlightening" way through meditation, reflection and exploration of Costa Rica s natural abundance. Joel and Michelle Levey have devoted the past 50 years of their lives to exploring the frontiers of human potential through contemplative science and perennial wisdom teachings. They have refined their insight through scientific inquiry and work with hundreds of leading organizations and interested communities across the world, and have also published numerous books on their work, including: Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World; Mindfulness, Meditation and Mind Fitness; and Wisdom at Work. Michelle and Joel have been fortunate to study closely with many of the most respected contemplative teachers, scientists, and indigenous elders of our times, and have been encouraged to teach and widely share this wisdom. Nobel Laureate, the Dalai Lama, an advisor on a number of the Leveys projects once wrote in a letter to the Leveys: You are presently engaged in work that has great prospects for bringing the Dharma (the inner sciences of human transformation) to a very wide section of people who may not under ordinary circumstances come into contact with these teachings. I am very pleased about the work that you are doing and send you blessings and prayers for your success. Joanna Macy, author of Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We re in without Going Crazy, said, The work of Joel and Michelle Levey has long been a luminous thread in the fabric of the Great Turning. They embody in many ways this epochal transition to a life-sustaining society.(their work and writing) brings refreshment to mind and heart. It open us to our inner wisdom, and brings us tools, visions and whispered counsel that restore the blessed balance we deserve. In guiding this Contemplative Eco-Adventure, Joel and Michelle will call upon their experience as pioneers in the contemplative sciences and their deep insights from eco-psychology and eco-dharma to offer a wealth of guidance, inspiration, and meditations, to help us connect more deeply with the many dimensions and treasures of our own True Nature, as we immerse ourselves in what some mystics describe as The Holy Book of Nature. Explore more information about the Leveys at Pre-requisites and Fitness Capability The only prerequisite for participation is to be open and interested. No prior meditation experience required. There are hikes throughout the trip. In order to enjoy your experience to the fullest, we recommend that you be active, in good health and are strong walkers and/or hikers, able to tolerate some heat and humidity. Those who are moderately fit will be comfortable with most of these activities. Where available, options are noted for those who may require alternatives to the hikes. PONTE TRAVELS

3 Upon your arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica and after passing through immigration you will be met by a member of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) who will give you a sticker with your name and the Costa Rica Sun Tours on it to make it easy for your guide to identify you after you exit the airport building. After clearing immigration and customs, exit the airport terminal and look for your guide, who will be waiting for you holding a sign that says Ponte Travels, Leveys Costa Rica Group on it. He/she will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in San Jose. Time and arrival time dependent, there may be a group gathering at the hotel this evening. Overnight: Parque del Lago, Standard Room Meals: none This morning meet with your private guide, during breakfast he will give you an orientation briefing where you will have the opportunity to get an overview of today s and following day s activities, ask questions to prepare for the trip. Then you will he and the driver will take you on a land transfer to Arenal area, en route you will visit the 3800 acre Organization for Tropical Studies field station at La Selva in Sarapiqui, one of the premier rain forest research stations in the world. Researchers have published thousands of scientific papers on tropical ecology based on their studies here. La Selva teems with wildlife and you can easily see monkeys, toucans, sloths, poison dart frogs, green iguanas, peccaries, morpho butterflies and many bird species. PONTE TRAVELS

4 We ll make our way to Arenal Observatory Lodge, an 870-acre property uniquely located right between Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal, where you ll be able to explore rainforest, waterfalls, streams, via a network of trails, and see an amazing wealth of wildlife. Unlike any other hotel in the area, this lodge is situated within the Arenal National Park. The Arenal Observatory Lodge was originally a family farm and later a Smithsonian Institute scientific research station. Just about every room has picturesque views of Arenal Volcano, whose steep conical slopes rise majestically out of vast surrounding rainforests. The National Park surrounding the lodge teems with wildlife. The lodge practices reforestation and contributes to community projects. Arenal Observatory Lodge is a renowned destination for bird watching in Costa Rica, with more than 500 species of birds noted so far. Nature rises early in Costa Rica it s worth getting up at first light to see the howler monkeys and birds! Rest of the afternoon and evening for meditation, reflection and exploration of this idyllic property set against the backdrop of Arenal Volcano. Bring: sunscreen, water, hat, hiking shoes, insect repellent, camera, binoculars and rain gear. Note: Each day in Costa Rica, there will be a meditation or reflection session with the group. The settings will be determined dependent on weather and location Joel and Michelle will be updating the group with this information daily. Overnight: Arenal Observatory Lodge This morning join your guide to explore Arenal Observatory Lodge gardens and trails. Howler monkeys call from the forest and the rich volcanic soil supports primary and secondary rainforest teeming with butterflies, mammals, reptiles and 400 species of birds. Seven miles of manicured, well-marked walking trails traverse the property and provides easy access to the breathtaking natural beauty that Costa Rica and this area are so well known for. As this is a private reserve, the trails are never crowded. There is a hanging bridge, a waterfall, Cerro Chato crater lake and a hardened lava flow to explore! Your guide will help interpret the lush landscape and stop along the way to discuss the volcano, flora and fauna. In the afternoon visit Arenal Sky Tram & Trek. The Sky Tram is a 20 minute open air gondola ride which concludes on an observation that provides incredible views of Arenal Lake, mountains covered by rainforests and Arenal Volcano. For those who wish to zipline, from the observation deck, you ll begin your ride down! On your way down, experience the rainforest from above, a bird s-eye view, as you ride down the 3200 foot-long-zipline system. Shared tour. PONTE TRAVELS

5 For those who do not wish to participate in the Sky Trek zipline experience, after the ride up and down on the gondola, so you can appreciate the view, you will take a gentle walk through forest and across hanging bridges with a guide, who will help you spot the abundant bird life found in the Arenal forests. *Anyone wishing to take the walk instead of the zipline experience will need to let us know at the time of booking. Bring: hiking shoes, comfortable clothes, jacket, insect repellent and sunscreen. End the day with a visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs. This is a family-run hot springs resort featuring volcanically heated pools. The facility offers separate changing rooms for women and men each equipped with hot showers, lockers and toilets. The subtle landscaping includes regenerating forest and abundant tropical plants. Enjoy dinner at the Ecotermales Restaurant. Meals are carefully prepared with fresh, wholesome ingredients, and reflect typical Costa Rican country cooking. Shared experience in the hotsprings. Bring: towel, bathing suit, insect repellent, water shoes or sandals. Overnight: Arenal Observatory Lodge (two room types, inquire) Today you will visit Arenal Hanging Bridges. This is a complex of suspension bridges and trails through beautiful rain forest. The terrain undulates and the trail crosses ravines with small waterfalls and travels over bridges with panoramic vistas over the treetops including views of Arenal Volcano. As you walk you may encounter wildlife including toucans, poison dart frogs, howling, spider and white-faced capuchin monkeys. The 1.5 mile trail is an easy walk for people in good condition and loops back to the starting point. Bring: comfortable clothing, hiking shoes, insect repellent, camera, binoculars, sunscreen and rain gear. Then around noon your guide will take you to Arenal Vida Campesina Organic Farm where you will experience life in the Costa Rican countryside with a farming family that grows typical crops and who are practicing newer sustainable agricultural techniques. The tour begins with a demonstration of sugarcane juice production using a manually-operated sugar mill. Then continue into the cultivated sections of the farm where visitors will see and learn about common Costa Rican crops such as coffee, bananas, plantains, sugar cane, etc. Also on the farm are various animals, whose organic waste is converted to biogas and an organic foliar fertilizer. At the end of the tour, you will enjoy a traditional lunch with freshly harvested vegetables. Lunch includes a hands-on tortilla making demonstration! PONTE TRAVELS

6 Tonight, after dinner join your guide for an amazing experience around the hotel gardens where you may spot nocturnal animals like frogs, bats, spiders and others. Overnight: Arenal Observatory Lodge (two room types, inquire) Leave the rainforest behind this morning as you travel back to San Jose to catch your charter flight to the Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Transfer to Tiskita Jungle Lodge, our home for the next three nights. Located on the southern Pacific Coast and fronted by a pristine, coconut palm-lined beach, Tiskita is composed of cozy cabins and a main lodge surrounded by a private 800-acre nature reserve and tropical fruit orchard. The reserve protects primary and secondary tropical rainforest and is home to plenty of wildlife, with over 275 species of birds recorded and a myriad of other animals. The lodge offers excellent walking trails and fabulous wildlife observation, tasty home-cooked meals served family-style, comfortable rooms, and a swimming pool. Tiskita is owner-operated and uses environmentally sustainable practices. They are community oriented and support local projects for sea turtle restoration and scarlet macaw reintroduction. They are also active in a project to establish a protected marine zone around the Golfo Dulce. Tiskita is about as remote as one can get, located at the end of the road on the secluded southwest coast of Costa Rica. Savor the seclusion! Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the stunning beauty of this private reserve. Take a walk to the black sand beach nearby and enjoy the coconut palm and beach almond trees. If time permits, catch the 5 pm yoga class on the open-air yoga deck. Overnight: Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Standard Rooms PONTE TRAVELS

7 Today you will join your local bilingual guide to explore the different trails of the property. Tiskita Private Biological Reserve is a protected area that makes up over 90% of Tiskita. The result of the conservation work by started in the 1970s by Peter Aspinall, Tiskita s owner, and his wife Lisbeth, extensive trail-system that crosses the reserve. Many animal and plant species thrive in Tiskita, including endangered species like the Central American squirrel monkey and granular poison-dart frog. The tropical rainforest in Tiskita is much like the tropical rainforest on the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. Late afternoon a special guest will meet with the group for a talk about the Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction Program. Many secretive creatures like kinkajous, many owls, pacas, armadillos, and porcupines are active only after dusk. At night, these animals come out to forage and mate. Tree frogs are active, insects and arachnids lurk around, while bio-luminescent mushrooms glow eerily in the dark. Tonight, after dinner join your guide for an amazing experience around the hotel gardens as you look for these nocturnal creatures. Overnight: Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Standard Rooms PONTE TRAVELS

8 Today you will join your local bilingual guide to explore Tiskita s organic orchard with lodge owner Peter Aspinall. Peter has planted over 125 types of tropical fruit in the orchard from within Costa Rica, and from around the world. Some of the fruit is used in the kitchen of the lodge. The organic orchard has many trails to explore. The mix of fruit trees, shrubs, and rainforest attracts all kinds of wildlife making it difficult for us to get to the sweetest fruit first! The collection has many well-known types of tropical fruit, including mango, starfruit, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, banana, guava, grapefruit, lemons, limes and oranges. Less widely known types of tropical fruit are, for example, jackfruit, mangosteen, and South American sapote. Afternoon free for other activities. The laid-back surf town Pavones is located a 50-minute walk up north, and to the south of Tiskita lies Punta Burica, the largely undeveloped peninsula that shares a border with Panama. Join your guide for a unique night tour through this magnificent private reserve. The highlight of the tour is the jungle frog pools, where, with a bit of luck, the red-eyed tree frog can be spotted, calling, mating, or just hanging out. Many secretive creatures like kinkajous, owls, pacas, armadillos, and porcupines are active only after dusk. At night, these animals come out to forage and mate. Tree frogs are active, insects and arachnids lurk around, while bio-luminescent mushrooms glow eerily in the dark. Calf-high rubber boots and walking sticks are available at the lodge, free of charge. Overnight: Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Standard Rooms Today fly back to San Jose. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel in San Jose. Afternoon at leisure to explore the gardens surrounding the hotel or relax and reflect on your amazing trip to Costa Rica. Evening farewell dinner. Hotel: Rosa de America, Standard Room PONTE TRAVELS

9 Say goodbye to Costa Rica and the group! Transfer to the San Jose International Airport for your international flight home. Check in 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight time. All accommodation at the hotels listed or similar Meals as indicated in itinerary (Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)) Private transportation in air-conditioned vehicles All tours as indicated in itinerary Round trip flight San Jose Tiskita San Jose Entrance fees All excursions with the services of a registered and experienced, English-speaking guide Not Included: International airfares Airport departure taxes Any meals unless mentioned in the itinerary Any items of a personal nature, including portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks. Passport or visa fees Gratuities to drivers, guides, wait-staff, maid service, porters Optional tours PONTE TRAVELS

10 PONTE TRAVELS

11 We believe that to travel responsibly, a portion of our tour cost should benefit the communities we visit. For this trip, our donation will go to CORCOVADO FOUNDATION, who strive to increase the protection of wild areas, promote environmental education, sustainable tourism and community participation through the sustainable use of natural resources in the South Pacific area of Costa Rica. Ponte Travels specializes in responsible, purposeful travel that works to build personal connections and improve the quality of life in the countries we visit. We create one-of-a-kind journeys for individuals, families and non-profit groups to experience some of the most culturally and wildlife-rich places on earth. Reservations and Payments: Reservations are initiated on receipt by Ponte Travels of a signed reservation form and a 25% deposit per passenger. The balance of payment is due 90 days prior to departure. If a reservation is made within 90 days of the trip departure, the entire cost of the trip must be paid at the time of confirmation to Ponte Travels. All reservations are automatically canceled if all payments are not received by the due date, with full loss of trip deposit. All payments must be made in US dollars. Reservation Amendments: All reservation amendments will be subject to changes in cost of the original itinerary and will be subject to the same cancellation penalties described below. Cancellation and Penalties: All cancellations must be made in writing, signed by the client, and sent to Ponte Travels. All trips are subject to the following, per person cancellation charges based on the number of days before trip departure that we receive your written cancellation request. More than 90 days: Forfeit Deposit. Less than 90 days: No refund of trip cost. No refunds for unused tours or services during your trip. For US citizens, your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Immigration may deny entry if passport is damaged. A return ticket or proof of onward travel to another country is required for entry. Proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are arriving from certain countries in South America or Africa is required. For tourist stays up to 90-days, no visa is required. All deposits and tour payments made to Ponte Travels are placed in a trust account until payment is made to suppliers. We require that all travelers purchase basic emergency assistance, medical assistance and evacuation insurance. We also highly recommend buying additional travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and interruption, lost or stolen baggage, terrorism, natural disasters and more. Travel insurance is available for purchase through Ponte Travels via Travelex. You are also welcome to purchase your own travel insurance. : heather@pontetravels.com : : PONTE TRAVELS :