Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula & Savegre Cloud Forest Trip Summary From exploring the depths of Corcovado National Park to searching for the Resplendent Quetzal in the Savegre Cloud Forest, 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 Sulphur- winged 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 coral- building 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 The toughest part is going home.SM Costa - Rica Osa Peninsula & Savegre Cloud Forest 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 Savegre Cloud Forest • 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 The toughest part is going home.SM Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula & Savegre Cloud Forest 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 Savegre Cloud Forest 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 The toughest part is going home.SM Costa - Rica Osa Peninsula & Savegre Cloud Forest 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 1955.