Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula & Savegre Cloud Forest

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1 Trip Summary From exploring the depths of Corcovado National Park to searching for the Resplendent Quetzal in the, this Costa Rican Adventure aims to please. Beginning your vacation with a boat trip down the Sierpe River, you ll spend the night at Casa Corcovado, a lodge inaccessible by any road! Examining the flora and fauna of Corcovado National Park up close with your guide will give you an immense appreciation of life in the rainforest. Learn the secrets of the perfectly spherical stones at an ancient Indian burial ground. Relax in the tranquil Savegre Reserve, listening to the bird calls of Sulphurwinged Parakeets, Spotted Wood-Quails, Silvery-Fronted Tapaculos, and Yellow-winged Vireos. Come explore Costa Rica with the experts in adventure travel! Itinerary Day 1: San José Arrive at the San Jose Airport where you will be greeted by an Austin Adventures representative before a short transfer to the charismatic Bougainvillea Hotel, your home for the night This evening you will have a chance to meet your guides and the rest of your group at the welcome meeting Enjoy dinner on your own tonight as you explore the area Overnight Bougainvillea Hotel (No meals) Day 2: San José / Osa Peninsula This morning your guide will pick you up for your local flight to Palma Sur, near the beautiful Osa Peninsula Upon touchdown, a short transfer from Palma Sur airstrip to La Hacienda, the reception center in the town of Sierpe will bring you near where your boat journey begins After boarding the vessel, you will embark on a 1 ½ hours ride down the Sierpe River, winding through the largest mangrove wetlands system on the Pacific Coast of Central America Following the coastline south, we arrive at Casa Corcovado, near Corcovado National Park, the last remaining Pacific lowland rainforest of sustainable size in Central America Overnight Casa Corcovado (B, L, D) Day 3: Corcovado National Park Today we set our sights on Corcovado National Park, cited by National Geographic as one of the most biologically intense places on earth! Your guide will delve into the history of the Park as well as point out the flora and fauna along the way There is a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica's shyest and most endangered inhabitants here; Baird's Tapirs, Jaguars, Scarlet Macaws, Harpy Eagles, Red-backed squirrel monkeys and White-lipped Peccaries Corcovado National Park, also known as the Amazon of Costa Rica, spans over 100,000 acres of virgin and secondary rain forest Tonight spend a peaceful evening back at the lodge Overnight Casa Corcovado (B, L, D) Day 4: Caño Island After an early breakfast, board the boat for a 45 minute jaunt over to Caño Island Along the way we hope to see playful dolphins swimming alongside the boat in the sparkling blue waters Caño Island has been a biological reserve since 1978 and plays a significant role in Costa Rica s natural history Ten nautical miles from the resort, this beautiful island and marine sanctuary, with waters containing vast numbers of coralbuilding organisms, and some of the most varied and abundant marine life on the planet, is a world-class diving and snorkeling site Offering good to excellent visibility all year round (it can reach up to 80 feet 1

2 Costa - Rica during the dry season months of December through April), the island s reefs provide an underwater landscape of caves, cliffs and canyons, and are home to 19 species of corals, including brain, head and sea fans, 60 species of mollusks, lobsters, giant conchs, white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, devil rays, large schools of jackfish, parrotfish, and much more! After your amazing snorkeling experience in this tropical paradise go back to the hotel s beach for lunch Overnight Casa Corcovado (B, L, D) Day 5: Osa Peninsula / Savegre Today after enjoying your last breakfast at Casa Corcovado, you and your guide will board the boat to return to Sierpe port Upon arrival your van awaits, ready to transfer you to the Savegre area, nestled in the central mountain range of Costa Rica En route you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant Tonight you will sleep well at the Savegre Lodge, an ideal base for exploring Costa Rica s Overnight Savegre Lodge (B, L, D) Day 6: Savegre This morning, explore the Quetzals Trail and its wondrous vegetation and wildlife The trails of Savegre are distinguished for their variety of bird species that can be spotted, especially the magnificent Quetzal, one of the most representative birds of the area At the end of the tour feast on a delicious Costa Rican typical lunch Later, take in the sights and sounds of the Savegre Reserve, a private nature reserve of great tranquility and beauty, through a network of trails near your hotel The reserve, a scientific field research site, has a spectacularly high level of biodiversity that attracts visitors from all over the world Part of the reserve is secondary forest regrowth, once felled for cattle grazing, the owners decided years ago to return the forest to its natural state Overnight Savegre Lodge (B, L, D) Day 7: San José Transfer to the international airport for your post trip departure No overnight (B) *This trip is operated in partnership with Costa Rica Sun Tours. **Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures and Sun Tours. Our Partner Costa Rica Sun Tours Austin Adventures is proudly offering this trip in conjunction with Costa Rica Sun Tours. Sun Tours is an active travel company focusing on eco-tourism, natural history, wildlife observation and the vibrant culture of the Costa Rican people. Their goal is to create a unique travel experience that transcends conventional sightseeing and tourist travel. Sun Tours aims to provide an in-depth perspective of Costa Rica that shares a world and lifestyle which is totally different, and which will serve to enrich the visitor s personal experience. Costa Rica Sun Tours was founded to help the sophisticated traveler explore Costa Rica its flora and fauna, its people and culture and its wild and beautiful places. 2

3 Activities Hiking: Easy to moderately strenuous hikes ranging from 3 to 10 miles. Snorkeling: Calm waters, equipment provided, no experience necessary. Discovery: Costa Rica, a tiny country that forms the land bridge between North and South America, is almost too good to believe. Although slightly smaller than West Virginia, it boasts a world famous National Park system, unmatched flora (including over 3,000 species of wild orchids), world-class rivers, active volcanoes and more species of mammals and birds than the continental United States and Canada combined! Discover the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically intense places on earth, home to at least half of all species living in Costa Rica! Did you know that most of Caño Island is forbidden to tourists? Shrouded in mists, forests and legends of treasure, pirates and Indians, you ll want to discover for yourself the stories behind this exciting place. Explore Corcovado National Park, encompassing the only remaining old growth wet forests on the Pacific coast of Central America, and 13 major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, as well as costal marine and beach habitats. Keep an eye out for the Resplendent Quetzal, a strikingly colorful bird named for its large brilliant tail feather. Get up close and personal with the as you search for bromeliads, orchids, mosses, ferns, ericaceaes (very liked by hummingbirds) and gesneraceaes (gold fish plant). Come discover The Crossroads of the Americas! Sun Tours guides are experienced facilitators and regional experts. They will take the time to explain the details of each activity, answer any questions and demonstrate the use of all equipment. Each activity has been carefully planned to include options for all levels. Most importantly, your guides will help you select the distance that s right for you. 3

4 Costa - Rica Distinctive Accommodations Night 1: Bougainvillea Set among 10 acres of lush gardens, the unique and comfortable Hotel Bougainvillea is a place where guests can truly experience the world famous beauty of Costa Rica. Original pieces of Costa Rican art complement the stunning landscaped tropical gardens dominated by tall trees, plentiful flowers, ponds and mountain views. Nights 2 4: Casa Corcovado Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, tucked away in the trees and cooled by the Pacific Ocean, is a 170 acre private reserve bordering Corcovado National Park. Spanish colonial-style Bungalows are spread around a garden for maximum privacy. Carefully designed and built by an American naturalist with over thirty years of local experience, Casa Corcovado exhibits luxury first class service and food. There are no roads to Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge as it is accessible only by motor launch. This unique lodge offers accommodations constructed with the highest concern for conservation in harmony with the landscape and the environment. Nights 5 & 6: Savegre Lodge Savegre Mountain Lodge is the ideal spot to explore the high elevation habitats in Costa Rica. Hosted by the Chacón Zúñiga Family you will be able to experience all the hospitality of these pioneers who settled in the valley by Efraín Chacón and his family developed their interest for nature early on allowing them to preserve 70% of their 400 hectares of property. An extensive trail system reveals all of this ancient tropical cloud forest. The grounds of the hotel are quite entertaining: hummingbird feeders, beautiful gardens, and the charming Savegre River attract a great number of bird species around the facilities. The lodge is privileged to be submerged in the Talamanca Mountain Range, supporting a pristine high elevation oak forest as well as traces of Sub-Alpine Rain Paramo (habitat over 10,000 feet) making this area a very unique birding spot to observe many species found only in the highlands of Costa Rica and the very western part of Chiriquí in Panamá. Meals The hallmark of an Austin Adventures vacation is our exceptional dining. Meals are included as indicated in the daily itinerary. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities are not included in the trip price. 4

5 Arrivals and Departures Your trip begins with your arrival in San José at Costa Rica s Juan Santamaría International Airport. After passing through Immigration, take the right hand side exit door and look for the Sun Tours representative who will direct you to customs. When you leave the building after clearing customs, look for a Sun Tours representative, who will be holding a sign that says Costa Rica Sun Tours with your name on it. Your guide will take you to your hotel, Bougainvillea. Your trip ends with a drop-off at the San José airport three hours prior to your flight departure. Trip Price $2,898 ($480 single supplement) Trip Length 7 days/6 nights 2014 Dates February July 6 12 Host City San José, Costa Rica Airport code: SJO Reservations & Availability Corcovado is the last sustainable Pacific lowland rainforest in Central America 5

6 Costa - Rica Trip Reservations Reservations, Deposits and Balances Due. To make a reservation, contact Austin Adventures with your choice of trip and dates. A $750 per person deposit is required to confirm your reservation. Some Custom programs may require additional deposits. Full payment is required at the time of booking if your trip departs within 90 days. Choose one of the following contact methods: Toll free: Phone: Online: austinadventures.com reservations@austinadventures.com Mail: Austin Adventures, P.O. Box 81025, Billings, MT * You may also book your Austin Adventure with your preferred travel professional. ** We accept most major credit cards and personal checks (U.S. funds made payable to Austin Adventures). Please do not send cash. Included in the Trip Price Double occupancy rooms with private baths. All breakfasts. Lunches and dinners as listed by day. Snacks along the route. Fully trained, first-aid certified, bilingual professional guides and knowledgeable local partners. Vehicle support and land transportation during the trip. One way flight from San Jose to Palmar Sur. Austin Adventures T-shirt & luggage tags. Pre-departure and packing information. Incidental expenses such as taxes, dining and housekeeping gratuities, local guide and expert gratuities. Not Included in the Trip Price Gratuities to Austin Adventures guides. Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities. Pre-and post-trip accommodations and associated expenses. Air and land transportation to/from host cities. Airport departure taxes. Extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service, etc.) All types of personal insurance. Personal expenses. Pre-departure Information After receiving your reservation and deposit, we ll send you a pre-trip planner with general information about the area you ll be visiting, a packing list, exercise guidelines, a guest information questionnaire and a liability release agreement for you to sign and return within 10 days. 6

7 Private Custom Trips Maybe your vacation schedule doesn t fit our list of trips and dates. Or perhaps you d prefer a slightly different itinerary or level of luxury and activity. A Custom Adventure is the perfect answer. You pick the date and destination and brief us on the size of your group, what activities you want, your must haves and just how you like to relax and unwind. No detail is too small, no idea too outrageous. Our staff of experts will help create a tailor-made vacation that s just right for you and your group. In short, if you can dream it, we can make it happen. Room Occupancy, Single Supplements, and Shared Room Assignments All trip prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available for an additional charge, referred to as a single supplement. If you re traveling alone and wish to share a room, make the request at the time of booking. Austin Adventures will attempt to find a suitable roommate for you. Minimum Age The minimum age on our non-family designated adult and teen adventures is sixteen years old. Cancellations and Refunds The following cancellation policies and cancellation fees are in effect: ***As with deposits on some international and custom programs, refund schedule may vary, speak with your Adventure Consultant for details. Cancellation 91 days or more before trip departure Full trip payment refunded less a $300 per person administration fee Cancellation days before trip departure Full trip payment less 25% per person is refunded Cancellation days before trip departure 50% of the trip payment is refunded Cancellation 0-30 days before trip departure No refund is given Our Guarantee Exceeding your expectations is our number one priority. In the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with something during your trip, immediately notify your guide(s). If he or she is unable to resolve the issue, call our main office and give us the details of the problem, and a chance to correct it. We will do our best to find a resolution. If we are unable to do so during your trip, we will work with you upon your return home to arrive at a fair and equitable solution, including up to a full refund. 7