SAMPLE ITINERARY:

May 31 – Fly from Bay area to Costa Rica

Day 1: Saturday, June 1.
Flight Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica. Dinner and overnight at Casa Cielo Hotel (D)
Day 2: Sunday, June 2
Departure to Poás Volcano National Park. Short walk to crater rim. Lunch at Coope Sarapiquí. Coffee tour. Check in, dinner and overnight at Tirimbina Field Station (B, L, D)
Day 3: Monday, June 3
After breakfast natural history walk at Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve, box lunch and return to Field Station. After dinner lecture: History of Conservation in Costa Rica. Night walk to the pond to look for tropical frogs. Overnight at Tirimbina Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Tuesday, June 4
6:00 am. Birding in the gardens. After breakfast research projects in the rain forest. Dinner at the Field Station, followed by bat mist netting. Overnight at Tirimbina Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Wednesday, June 5
After breakfast depart to La Fortuna. Visit Observatory Point at Arenal Volcano National Park, Lunch at Observatory. Check in at Cabinas La Catarata. Dinner at La Fortuna. Overnight in Cabins La Catarata. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Thursday, June 6
After breakfast rainforest chocolate tour. Visit community owned La Fortuna Waterfall (great example of integration of tourism and the community). Lunch at Organic Farm. Visit Los Laurels Hot Springs. Dinner and over night at Cabins La Catarata. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Friday, June 7
7:00 am. Breakfast. Travel to Curú National Wildlife Refuge. Boat trip on Tarcoles River, (crocodiles and great birding). Lunch in the area. By ferry to Nicoya Peninsula. Check in at Alkamar Hotel on Tambor Beach. Free afternoon to enjoy the beach. Dinner and overnight at Alkamar. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Saturday, June 8
After breakfast visit to Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Snorkeling at Tortuga Island. Lunch at Curú. Walk Curú trails. Dinner and overnight at Alkamar. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Sunday, June 9
Breakfast and depart by Ferry to Puntarenas. Continue south along the Pacific Coast to town of Uvita. Lunch on the way. Overnight at Dominical. Barú Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Monday, June 10
Visit Marino Ballena National Park. (Great study case about conservation and community development.) Box lunch. Opportunity to enjoy the wonderful resources and serene beach of the Park Dinner and overnight at Barú Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Tuesday, June 11
7:00 am. Breakfast. Depart to San Gerardo de Dota in the mountains. Lunch along the way. Check in at Querc Field Station. Overnight at Querc Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 12: Wednesday, June 12
Early birding: Resplendent Quetzal and other great species. After breakfast, travel by bus to the Paramo (high elevation grassland) and walk through the timber line into the great oak forest. Box lunch. Overnight at Querc Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 13: Thursday, June 13
7:00 am. Breakfast. Visit Rio Savegre Waterfall. Lunch at the Querc Field Station. Depart to San José. Farewell dinner at Casa de Cielo. (B, L, D)
Day 14: Friday, June 14
After breakfast in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, then transfer to the Airport. Back to USA (B)