Nature — Only Feet Away Immerse Yourself in Costa Rica, the Galápagos, Tanzania and More on Naturalist-Led Expeditions
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PROGRAMS THROUGH DECEMBER 2020 | PUBLISHED AUGUST 2019 INTERNATIONAL & ADVENTURES AFLOAT® Nature — Only Feet Away Immerse yourself in Costa Rica, the Galápagos, Tanzania and more on naturalist-led expeditions. 3 Location of Photo: Galápagos Islands Road Scholar Program: The Galápagos: Natural and Cultural History (Program #6043ZNF, p. 29) Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the not-for-profit world leader in educational travel since 1975. JoAnn Bell’s Top Picks With programs in all 50 states and 150 countries, there’s no doubt that Road Scholar offers the greatest collection of edu- cational travel adventures on Earth. Think of us as a university of the world. And the “Dean” in charge of these extraordinary experiences is JoAnn Bell. When it comes to knowing where to go, and what to learn, there’s nobody better. These are JoAnn’s top four learning adventures in this publication! As a nature lover, I love to learn about and If history also interests you, delve deep into explore Costa Rica’s countless volcanic the Maya wonders of Central America as formations, hundreds of endemic birds and you explore ancient monuments, traditional 800 miles of coastline. PAGE 6 markets and indigenous villages. PAGE 18 There’s no better place to learn about iconic Want to get a new perspective on Peru? See wildlife, delicate ecosystems, volcanic activity the best of this country and its people on a and the science-altering legacy of Charles learning adventure that begins in the capital Darwin than the Galápagos Islands! PAGE 29 of Lima and ends in Cusco. PAGE 33 © 2019 Elderhostel. All Rights Reserved. The Road Scholar service marks, logos, website address and other marks are owned by Elderhostel. Road Scholar is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring adults to learn, discover and travel. Here’s Your Natural World For registration terms and conditions, see Rules of the Road on page 38. AFRICA Chile . 24-25 Tanzania . 42 Colombia . 37 MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA Ecuador . .26-27, 31-32 Aruba . 37 Galápagos Islands . 28-30, 36 Bahamas . 37 Peru . 33-35 Belize . 18-20 BRING THE GRANDKIDS OR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Costa Rica . 5-13, 15, 37 Belize . 45 Cuba . 41 Costa Rica . 46-47 El Salvador . 17 El Salvador . 48 Guatemala . 18-20, 22, 26 Galápagos Islands . 52-54 Honduras . 18, 21-22 Guatemala . 45 Mexico . 22, 39-41 Honduras . 49 Nicaragua . 23 Mexico . 50-51 Panama . 13-16, 37 Panama . 50 SOUTH AMERICA Peru . 55 Argentina . 24-25 Tanzania . 44 Road Scholar’s Activity Levels FOR OUR TRADITIONAL ADVENTURES: FOR OUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Easy Going. You know what moves me? Exercising Outdoor: No Sweat. I exercise for fun, not my mind. Let’s keep walking to a minimum and avoid to win contests. I like to explore at an easy pace, stairs when we can. stopping to snap photos and smell the roses. Varied terrain doesn’t scare me, but let’s not do anything too extreme. On Your Feet. Some walking is OK during the day. I can get on and off a coach, and I’m ready to stroll through cities and to stand for a few hours Outdoor: Spirited. I enjoy getting my heart when we’re learning in museums. going on my bike or on trails. Nothing beats the thrill of taking on a rewarding climb or ride on varied terrain with inclines. Let’s keep moving — occasional stops only, please. Keep the Pace. I like to spend most of the day exploring. Whether walking historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I want my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love Outdoor: Challenging. I love pushing myself, to keep up with the group. and I can keep a steady pace on rugged and steep terrain. This is as challenging as it gets? Great. Let’s do this. At the end of the day, I want to feel like I’ve had a real workout. Let’s Go! I’m energetic and enjoy a good physical challenge — let’s spend the day on the move! Whether riding public transit, or walking city streets or village cobblestones, I’m game. Want All the Activity Details? MORE OPTIONS FOR YOU Want to know the exact physical demands of your learning adventure? You can find the daily walking distances and much more information by visiting us Varies by Date. The extent of the physical activ- at www.roadscholar.org or by calling call toll free at ity is my call. I get to select the date best for me! (877) 426-8056, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET. MEET THE EXPERTS! Venicio “Beny” Wilson Venicio “Beny” Wilson is a certified interpretive leader with a spe- cialty in birding. Growing up in Panama’s Bocas del Toro province exposed him to nature very early on. He began volunteering for a not-for-profit environmental education project for school kids while studying biology at the University of Panama. Although Beny enjoys educating visitors about all things Panama, he admits that birding holds a special place in his heart. Beny can be found on Costa Rica and Panama: Rainforest to Canal (#20186ZNF), on page 13. Horacio Cavilli A native of Buenos Aires who has both studied and taught at the University of Buenos Aires, Horacio Cavilli enjoys enhancing the educational experience for Road Scholars. He studied veterinary science in Argentina, did graduate work in agroecology in Scandina- via and spent 10 years working with local farms. Horacio speaks five languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian and Portuguese. Horacio can be found on Finis Terrae: Exploring the Wilds of South- ern Patagonia (#20614ZNF), on page 25. Salim Mgonja Salim Mgonja hails from two tribes—the Pare, famous for their knowl- edge of medicinal plants, and the Chagga, established coffee growers from the southern and eastern slopes of Kilimanjaro. Salim studied wildlife management at the renowned Wildlife College in Arusha. Salim can be found on program #3716ZNF, Tanzania and the Great East African Migration (#3716ZNF), on page 42. Cristian Gamboa Cristian Gamboa was born in Chitaria de Turrialba, a small town in Costa Rica. Cristian has worked as a resident naturalist with the Orga- nization for Tropical Studies (OTS) in La Selva Station in Sarapiqui, as well as with Hacienda Rancho Humo in Guanacaste. He also worked with the Tropical Agronomical Center for Research and Education (CATIE) as one of their educators and garden logistic coordinators. Cristian can be found on From Monkeys to Macaws: Colorful Costa Rica With Your Grandchild (#3636ZNF), on page 46. 4 www.roadscholar.org | (877) 426-8056 X Costa Rica Small Group A Taste of Costa Rica 8 NIGHTS | PROGRAM #8577ZNF | Low-level clouds drift through the sweet cedar and hanging moss . Even in dim sunlight, the orchid’s flowers brighten your path as you hike. In this interdisciplinary introduction to Costa Rica, learn about the nation’s rain and cloud forests and the inseparable bond between the people and the land . Explore volcanic terrain and tropical gardens, as well as culture and history. Meet residents in local communities for an intimate experience of this peaceful nation . Highlights: 2019 Dates: Nov 7-15, Nov 13-21, Dec 4-12, • Hike through the mystical cloud forest at Dec 9-17, Dec 11-19 Monteverde and experience the thrill of 2020 Dates: Jan 5-13, Jan 8-16, Jan 12-20, white water rafting at Sarapiqui . Jan 14-22, Jan 20-28, Jan 27-Feb 4, Jan 29- • Enjoy scenic views of Arenal Volcano from Feb 6, Feb 2-10, Feb 5-13, Feb 9-17, Feb 11-19, up in the rainforest canopy during a walk Feb 16-24, Feb 17-25, Feb 22-Mar 1, Feb 26- on a combination of nature trails and Mar 5, Mar 2-10, Mar 15-23, Mar 21-29, Mar 28- hanging bridges . Apr 5, Apr 1-9, Apr 13-21, Apr 26-May 4, May 13-21, May 20-28, Jun 3-11, Jul 6-14, An interactive presentation introduces • Aug 5-13, Sep 16-24, Oct 15-23, Nov 3-11, an important gourmet coffee roaster in Nov 10-18, Dec 2-10, Dec 6-14, Dec 8-16 Costa Rica . Per-person, prices starting at: Itinerary: Arrival San José, 1 night; Sarapiqui, $1,849 DBL 2 nights; Arenal, 2 nights; Monteverde, $2,309 (with air from MIA*) 2 nights; San José, 1 night; departure . SINGLES AT NO EXTRA COST! Meals: 23 total (8B, 7L, 8D) No added cost for single rooms on select dates! Lodging: San José: City center hotel. Sarapiqui: Free singles are limited. Please call for details. Rainforest eco-lodge. Arenal Volcano: Com- fortable hotel with volcano views . Monteverde: Quiet, family-run hotel. i Did you know that Costa Rica has a 98% youth (15-24 years) literacy rate?* * UNESCO/UNICEF statistics *Call or go online for all departure cities, pricing and to enroll. 5 X Costa Rica Small Group The Best of Costa Rica: Exploring Natural Wonders 11 OR 12 NIGHTS | PROGRAM #11586ZNF | Unhurried. Active. Environmentally aware. Lush. Protected. Biodiverse. Pura Vida — the Pure Life. Costa Rica’s pervading cultural ideology unites with its natural delights to create a unique national character, in which 25 percent of the land is preserved by law and there is no standing military. This invigorating program explores the essential nature of this Central American nation, from its pristine beaches and verdant forests to its rural villages and historic capital . Highlights: 2020 Dates: Jan 4-15, Jan 6-17, Jan 7-18, • Learn from naturalists about the unique Jan 11-22, Jan 13-24, Jan 14-25, Jan 18-29, features of the rainforest, wetlands, and Jan 20-31, Jan 21-Feb 1, Jan 25-Feb 5, Jan 27- transition zones .