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¡Pura Vida! the Magic of Costa Rica Nesting Sea Turtles, Howler Monkeys & the Resplendent Quetzal Designed for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

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¡Pura Vida! the Magic of Costa Rica Nesting Sea Turtles, Howler Monkeys & the Resplendent Quetzal Designed for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium ¡PURA VIDA! THE MAGIC OF COSTA RICA NESTING SEA TURTLES, HOWLER MONKEYS & THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL DESIGNED FOR THE COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM FEATURING TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK ARENAL NATIONAL PARK MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE CARARA NATIONAL PARK JULY 13-21, 2018 ©World Safaris, P.O. Box 1254, Clemmons, NC 27012 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Dr., Powell, OH 43065 [email protected] 336-776-0359 703-981-4474(mobile) [email protected] 614-724-3558 YOUR HOST IN COSTA RICA DR. MICHAEL KREGER I invite you to travel with me to one of the most exciting and diverse wildlife destinations in the Western Hemisphere – Costa Rica. Traveling with our own professional bi-lingual guide throughout our journey, we will visit four of the most intriguing destinations this magical country has to offer for those who love to explore the natural world: the beaches of Tortuguero, the Arenal volcano, Monteverde’s famous cloud forest and the tropical forest of Carrara. The diversity of life is stunning and, along the way, we’ll meet partners in the field who are supported by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, see lots of wildlife (bring your binocs and field guides!), learn together, and, most of all, we will have fun! – Mike Kreger Dr. Michael Kreger is the Vice President of Conservation at the Columbus Zoo. He works with all the departments at the Zoo, Safari Golf, and The Wilds to develop and promote programs that save animals worldwide. He sits on the Conservation Management Committee (CMC) that distributed over a million dollars in 2016 to conservation projects in 36 countries. His 20-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program and International Affairs has taken him all over the world. He served on endangered species recovery teams and U.S. delegations for wildlife-related treaties. He also loves being in the field and visiting projects supported by the Columbus Zoo or doing research. Mike has a soft spot for Central America having been a Peace Corps Volunteer biologist in Honduras in the mid- 1980s. THREE-TOED SLOTH ©World Safaris, P.O. Box 1254, Clemmons, NC 27012 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Dr., Powell, OH 43065 [email protected] 336-776-0359 703-981-4474(mobile) [email protected] 614-724-3558 THE MAGIC OF COSTA RICA Within a country that is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia, there is a diversity of habitats and wildlife unsurpassed in Central America. Costa Rica literally means “rich coast” - a fitting name for a land blessed with an abundance of natural beauty that has protected over 25% of its lands within national parks and wildlife reserves – a record unmatched by any other country in the world. With just 0.1% of the world’s landmass, Costa Rica is home to 5% of the Earth’s biodiversity. Independent since 1847, Ticos (the nickname Costa Ricans call themselves) have enjoyed the most stable democratic government in Latin America for decades, ever since disbanding their army in 1949. Their focus on “¡Pura Vida!” has resulted in Costa Rica consistently being named one of the happiest countries in the world. While “pura vida” can be translated as “simple life” or “pure life,” the words defy a simple translation. Some describe “pura vida” as an emotion or an attitude. To others, it’s a way to describe their way of life. To truly understand “pura vida,” you have to visit Costa Rica and experience it for yourself. Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast, is often described as Costa Rica’s “little Amazon,” because of its rich wildlife diversity and its beautiful isolation. Accessible only by boat or aircraft, Tortuguero is primarily explored by boat - for there are no roads. Its beaches are renowned as one of the world’s top destinations for nesting sea turtles – and we will be there in the midst of the prime nesting season! Then we will turn west, entering the mountainous world of Costa Rica’s volcanoes, six of which have remained active over the past 75 years. Our destination is the town of La Fortuna, from which we will look up to see Arenal – perhaps the country’s most famous volcano. Although Arenal has been quiet since 2010, it is surrounded by tropical rainforests, which we will explore as we search for howler monkeys, three-toed sloths and collared peccaries, as well as the forest’s incredible birdlife. Heading higher into the Tilaran Mountains, we then travel on to the Monteverde, home of one of the most unique wildlife habitats in the world – a cloud forest. Monteverde’s climate is cool and damp, giving rise to a very different variety of wildlife that have adapted to life among the clouds. Hummingbirds top the list of fascinating species, along with toucans and Costa Rica’s national bird, the resplendent quetzal. Returning to the country’s capital – San Jose – we’ll travel south to Carara National Park for a morning tour. Carara sits in the middle of the transition between Costa Rica’s hot, dry northwest and the wet regions of the southwest, providing yet another unique habitat to explore. Several airlines serve San Jose, providing a variety of options to choose from. Our journey within Costa Rica will take place in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus – with the exception of our time within Tortuguero, where boats are the only means of travel. Our Costa Rican adventure is limited to just 16 registered travelers. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is pleased to offer you this opportunity to travel to one of our most intriguing southern neighbors. We hope you will be among those who will join Dr. Michael Kreger as he returns to Costa Rica – a land rich with an amazing diversity of wildlife and a life style that can only be described using two magical words: ¡Pura Vida! ©World Safaris, P.O. Box 1254, Clemmons, NC 27012 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Dr., Powell, OH 43065 [email protected] 336-776-0359 703-981-4474(mobile) [email protected] 614-724-3558 ITINERARY SUMMARY: JULY 13 – ARRIVAL AT SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA (FLIGHT NOT INCLUDED) – PRIVATE TRANSFER TO OUR ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE HOTEL BOUGAINVILLEA - ORIENTATION BRIEFING AND DINNER (D) JULY 14 – PRIVATE OVERLAND JOURNEY TO THE TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK BOAT DOCK– VISIT AT THE TOUCAN RESCUE RANCH – LUNCH EN ROUTE AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT – BOAT TRANSFER TO OUR ACCOMMODATIONS AT EVERGREEN LODGE – VISIT TORTUGUERO VILLAGE & THE TURTLE MUSEUM (BLD) JULY 15 –PRIVATE EARLY MORNING AND LATE AFTERNOON BOAT EXPLORATIONS OF THE TORTUGUERO CANALS – AFTERNOON BEACH EXCURSION – ACCOMMODATIONS AT EVERGREEN LODGE (BLD) JULY 16 - OPTIONAL BIRDWATCHING ON THE LODGE GROUNDS (6AM) – BOAT TRANSFER TO LA PAVONA – PRIVATE OVERLAND JOURNEY TO OTS LA SELVA, INCLUDING A NATURE WALK AFTER LUNCH – PRIVATE OVERLAND TRANSFER TO ARENAL NATIONAL PARK AND OUR ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE – NIGHT WALK ON THE LODGE GROUNDS (BLD) JULY 17 – EARLY MORNING BIRD WATCHING – WALK ALONG THE ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES – VISIT THE ASIS PROJECT RESCUE CENTER – TRADITIONAL COSTA RICAN DINNER AT ARENAL VISA CAMPESINA - ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE (BLD) JULY 18 – EXPLORATION OF THE ARENAL RAINFOREST TRAILS – PRIVATE OVERLAND JOURNEY TO MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE– LUNCH EN ROUTE AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT – AFTERNOON WALK ON THE GROUNDS OF OUR ACCOMMODATIONS AT FONDA VELA (BLD) JULY 19 – MORNING HIKE IN THE MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST – AFTERNOON VISIT TO THE TOWN OF SANTA ELENA – NIGHT TOUR OF THE CURI-CANCHA RESERVE - ACCOMMODATIONS AT FONDA VELA (BLD) JUL 20 – PRIVATE OVERLAND TRANSFER TO CARARA NATIONAL PARK – EXCURSION IN THE TROPICAL FOREST – PRIVATE OVERLAND DRIVE BACK TO SAN JOSE AND OUR ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE HOTEL BOUGAINVILLEA – FAREWELL DINNER AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT (BLD) JULY 21 – PRIVATE GROUP DEPARTURE TO THE SAN JOSÉ AIRPORT* (FLIGHT NOT INCLUDED) (B) B=BREAKFAST L=LUNCH D=DINNER ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE *IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO USE THE GROUP TRANSFER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT SCARLET MACAWS ©World Safaris, P.O. Box 1254, Clemmons, NC 27012 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Dr., Powell, OH 43065 [email protected] 336-776-0359 703-981-4474(mobile) [email protected] 614-724-3558 YOUR ITINERARY: July 13: Welcome to San José, Costa Rica – The Hotel Bougainvillea (D) Upon your arrival in San José, 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 that will make it easy for our representative to identify you after exiting the airport building. As you exit the airport terminal, you will be met by your World Safaris team, including your private naturalist guide, who will travel with you throughout your adventure, until you return to San José for your departure. Your accommodation this evening will be at The Hotel Bougainvillea, a family-run hotel. Located just 10 minutes from downtown San José, the Bougainvillea offers the perfect place to rest among its 10 acres of lush, tropical gardens. At 6pm, you’ll meet for your orientation briefing before enjoying dinner in the Bougainvillea’s Vitrales Restaurant. July 14-15: Toucan Rescue Center – Tortuguero National Park (B,L,D) Leaving San José, you’ll venture through Costa Rica’s Central Valley, providing your first views of the beauty of this tropical paradise. As you drive to the Caribbean coast, you’ll stop at the Toucan Rescue Ranch (TRR) to learn about its mission which focuses on the care, rehabilitation and study of Costa Rican toucans and other wildlife. Receiving confiscated, sick and injured wildlife from government agencies.
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