Costa Rica: Gardens, Volcanoes and Waterways

Costa Rica:
Gardens, Volcanoes and Waterways
January 10-21, 2017
Escorted by C. Colston Burrell
Join the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, tour escort Cole Burrell and your Costa Rican guide
Vernon Campos this winter for an unforgettable adventure in northern Costa Rica, a tropical paradise
where gardens, vast ranches and deciduous forests are set against dramatic volcanic peaks. Though
scarcely larger than West Virginia, this friendly country is a magnet for gardeners, birders, natural
history enthusiasts and adventurers.
Tour Highlights
We have arranged visits with avid gardeners and chosen lodges in a variety of exciting settings. In
these gardens, parks and lodges, an unbelievable array of birds awaits discovery. Costa Rica boasts
over 876 species, more than in all of North America. This diversity is due to incredible variation in
topography, vegetation and rainfall patterns. For its size, Costa Rica has more preserved land than
any other country in the world – nearly one quarter of its landmass. Parrots, hummingbirds, tanagers
and honeycreepers flock to the blazing orange coral trees that set the countryside awash with color.
In addition to gardens, we have ample opportunities to explore the unique topography and geology of
northern Costa Rica. From the transitional forests of Carara National Park to the tropical dry forests of
the northwestern Guanacaste region, we will visit isolated volcanic peaks and steaming hot springs,
hike to stunning waterfalls, float on tranquil rivers and explore diverse wetlands.
Join us for an unforgettable journey to explore these beautiful and rugged regions of Costa Rica, with
exciting opportunities for exploration and relaxation.
Land-Only Tour Price
From $3,995* per person
*Price is per person based on double occupancy and a minimum of 14 participants. Single rooms are limited; additional cost for
single accommodations quoted upon request. Airfare is additional. Carlson Wagonlit Travel air coordinators can assist you with
flight reservations.
TOUR PACKAGE INCLUSIONS:








Eleven nights accommodations at local lodges
and hotels
All meals during program
Dinner with SARCO founder Ileana de Teran in
her magnificent garden
Visits to three private gardens, including
Esther Rodriguez’s garden, Villaverde
Visit to Ark Herb Farm
Guided tour of El Tapir Hummingbird Garden
and Cope Wildlife Garden
Guided tour of Pura Vida Gardens
Visits to five national parks









Afternoon boat ride to the Tárcoles Estuary
Excellent dry forest and wetland birding
Boat excursion in the Caño Negro wetlands
for close encounters with wildlife
Visit to the active crater of Poás Volcano
Visit to the world-famous La Paz Waterfall
All other sightseeing, admissions and
transfers as noted in the itinerary
Expert local guide, Vernon Campos
Gratuities for Vernon and garden visits
$100 tax-deductible donation for members of
the Minnesota State Horticultural Society
NOT INCLUDED:
Round-trip airfare; airline fees for checked, oversized or overweight luggage; additional nights; optional sightseeing activities;
gratuities to luggage handlers or housekeeping; meals not indicated in the itinerary; travel insurance; other items not specifically
mentioned as included in the itinerary.
Tour Host
C. Colston Burrell
Mr. Burrell, an avid gardener
and naturalist, has devoted a
lifetime to studying plants in the
wild and in gardens. He holds an
MS in Horticulture and received
an MLA from the University of
Minnesota, where he was also
an instructor.
Registration is subject to availability and limited
to just 14 travelers! To register, please contact
Carlson Wagonlit Travel at 763-852-8162 or one
of our leisure offices.
Register and deposit now to confirm your space!
Deposit: $1,000 per person due at the time of registration.
Please request a registration form for payment and cancellation policies.
MINNESOTA
Minneapolis
763-852-8164
Burnsville
763-852-8161
Southdale
763-852-8169
Maplewood
763-852-8163
Rosedale
763-852-8167
St. Cloud
763-852-8171
MICHIGAN
Southland
763-852-8170
TOLL FREE
800-533-0324
Itinerary
Day 1, January 10 – Arrive San Jose
On arrival at the modern Juan Santamaria International Airport,
clear customs and immigration, then transfer to the Hotel
Bougainvillea, located in the bucolic hills above San Jose. After
checking in, relax by the pool or take a stroll through ten acres of
verdant gardens with collections of orchids, bromeliads and native
trees. Bring your binoculars, as the garden is filled with colorful
birds like the blue-crowned motmots, blue-gray tanagers and
crimson-fronted parakeets. In the evening, we gather for a
welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant.
D
Day 2, January 11 – El Tapir Hummingbird Garden and
Hacienda la Laguna
After breakfast we depart for El Tapir Nature Reserve, a privatelyowned forest reserve adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park and
La Selva Biological Station. The drive over the continental divide
from the Central Valley to the Caribbean Slope traverses
spectacular forests. El Tapir’s main attraction is the hummingbird
feeders, where the much sought-after snowcap hummingbird is a
regular visitor. An additional ten hummingbird species frequent the
garden. The reserve features a number of forested trails where we
have a chance to see birds such as green shrike vireo, emerald and
speckled tanagers, as well as trogons and antbirds.
Image: Esther Rodriguez garden
Next, we stop at Cope Wildlife Garden. This private sanctuary
affords a chance to take some superb bird photos from the secrecy
of a blind adjacent to active feeders visited by a wealth of colorful
species.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we head to Villaverde, the private
garden of Esther Rodriquez, past president of the Costa Rica
Federation of Garden Clubs. Esther’s garden is a favorite stop for
garden enthusiasts. She has been working for many years to
reclaim the played-out soil and build plant diversity on the site of a
former coffee plantation. In her garden, we will discover a collection
of 2,000 bromeliads, including 150 different species; 26 different
types of Cordylines and many centenary trees such as the
guanacaste tree, Enterololium cyclorarpum, which is the national
tree of Costa Rica. The garden also contains a wealth of exotic
foliage and flowering plants including black-eyed susan
vine, Thunbergia, and different types of jade vine, Strongylodon.
We end the day with a visit to Hacienda la Laguna, the private
gardens of Ileana de Teran, noted horticulturalist, environmentalist
and founder of SACRO (Save Costa Rica’s Orchids), an organization
dedicated to maintaining natural habitats where orchids grow wild.
Ileana’s warm hospitality and collection of orchids are legendary.
The extensive gardens of this former coffee plantation display
native and ornamental plants along intimate trails and around open
lawns. Bring your binoculars, as the garden is filled with colorful
birds like the blue-crowned motmot. After our tour, relax in the
splendid surroundings and enjoy a cocktail before sitting down to a
sumptuous meal while overlooking the Central Valley.
B, L, D
Day 3, January 12 – Private Gardens, Ark Herb Farm and
Macaw Lodge
After breakfast and checkout, our first stop today is the garden of
Karen Arras, a one-and-a-half acre paradise with an emphasis on
plants native to the Central Valley around San Jose. The garden
features a mixture of native plants as well as non-invasive exotic
plants arranged in various settings against a backdrop of forest.
Karen is a founding member of ProNativas, a network of scientists,
biologists, landscape gardeners concerned about the lack of ecological richness and a diversity of native plants in Costa Rica gardens.
Our next stop is Ark Herb Farm for a tour showcasing the wealth of
medicinal plants that thrive in tropical climates. Located on the
slopes of Poás Volcano, you’ll find a collection of over 300 species of
medicinal and culinary plants from Costa Rica and around the world.
We have the opportunity to see, touch, and smell these plants,
which different cultures have investigated and used over the
centuries and found to be important for well-being. From the lofty
position of the farm, enjoy a beautiful view of Costa Rica’s Central
Valley and experience the birds and butterflies that find refuge
among the plants. After experiencing the garden, enjoy some
delicious tea and snacks and browse the gift shop where you will
find a variety of natural products.
We spend the next two nights at Macaw Lodge, a tropical botanical
garden featuring 500 species from around the world including
ornamental, medical and agricultural plants. The 264-acre property
features eight acres of cultivated paths where you can wander
through the giant black bamboo forest, hike to the waterfall and
take a refreshing dip, enjoy a rest in the gazebo overlooking the
pond, or find solace in the palm forest. Stop for rejuvenating
exercise in one of two, open-air yoga studios, explore the fruit and
cocoa orchard, or take a guided tour of our sustainable farming
operation and learn more about hydroponics, aquaponics,
vermiculture and composting.
The lodge is located between two life zones, the humid tropical
forest and the high humidity pre-montane forest, and is surrounded
by expanses of rural roads, pastures, mature and secondary
forests, and organic farming plots. These bioclimatic, ecological,
and landscape conditions make it possible for an abundance of birds
to live in the Central Pacific, surpassing 300 species of migratory
and resident bird species.
B, L, D
Day 4, January 13 – Carara National Park and Boat Trip to
Tárcoles River Estuary
After an early breakfast, we head to Carara, one of Costa Rica's
most popular and biologically-diverse national parks. Those wishing
to relax can take a yoga class or enjoy the grounds of the lodge at
leisure.
Carara is home to an enormous variety of plants, birds and animals,
including about 300 scarlet macaws. Carara is a favorite with bird
watchers for several reasons besides its ease of access. This is the
northernmost region of Pacific rainforest remaining in Costa Rica,
and is the beginning of the transition zone into the tropical dry
forests of the northwest. Its position in a transition zone means that
residents of both habitats are likely to appear.
Image: Hotel Borinquen
Image: Cano Negro boating
Image: birds, Rio Celeste
Day 4, January 13 – Continued
Because it is slightly dryer, and not all of the trees are evergreen,
Carara is more open than the rainforests further south, making
wildlife spotting easier. Thousands of species of trees, heliconias,
tillandsia, orchids, insects, mammals and birds live here. Some of
these species are native only to this Central Pacific Coast region.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we embark on a journey of
discovery in a flat bottom riverboat on the Río Grande de Tárcoles
to observe wildlife. The Tárcoles has free-flowing sections and its
waters seep into seasonal marshlands. A shallow oxbow lake
covered with water hyacinths further expands the diversity of local
habitats. Of particular interest along the river are the huge
American crocodiles that linger on the banks in good numbers.
Scarlet macaws are easy to see as well as herons, egrets, monkeys
and iguanas. The mangrove estuary is of particular interest for its
unique ecology.
B, L, D
Day 5, January 14 – Pura Vida Gardens and Tropical Dry
Forest Birding
After breakfast and checkout, we board the coach and journey to
Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls, a 50-acre botanical garden that
has been named the number one garden in Costa Rica by both
Integrated Conservation Research Group and the Tropical Sierra
Foundation. It is truly a visual masterpiece, designed to meld with
the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s spectacular flora, fauna,
waterfalls and views of the Pacific. Nature is augmented with
thousands of flowers and several varieties of orchids, not only from
Costa Rica, but also from around the world. Manicured walkways in
the gardens meander along a river and provide a distant view of
Bijagual Waterfall, the tallest falls in Costa Rica. Trails also wind to
the crest of the mountain, which affords panoramic views of the
Pacific coastline up to the Nicoya peninsula.
After lunch in the garden, we travel northwest into a completely
different world with dry and semi-open savannas taking the place of
the humid rainforest vegetation of the central Pacific lowlands.
Hacienda Solimar, one of the largest ranches in Costa Rica, gives us
access to typical tropical dry forest and wetlands of the
northwestern part of the country. Here we will experience a
completely different avifauna with typical species like turqoisebrowed motmot, spot-breasted oriole, white-fronted parrot and
white-throated magpie-jays.
B, L, D
Day 6, January 15 – Birding Guanacaste Forests, Savannas
and Wetlands
Eager birders will rise early for a chance to see some Guanacaste
specialties, such as thicket tinamou, collared forest falcon and
ferruginous pygmy owl. After breakfast, we explore the varied
habitats of this vast ranch. We head cross-country on dusty roads
to wetlands with good chances of spotting the rare jabirú, snail kite,
black-bellied whistling duck, limpkin and bare-throated tiger-heron.
Afterwards, we enter the tropical dry forest where Vernon will show
us the roosting place of a Spectacled Owl and, with some luck, the
long-tailed manakin.
Day 6, January 15 – Continued
After lunch at the lodge and checkout, we travel further into the
Guanacaste Province to a loose chain of northern volcanoes, each of
which forms a discrete peak clothed in forests and separated by
open savanna. This region is known as “the Yellowstone of Costa
Rica” due to the volcanic activity. Though not as vast or as dramatic
as its namesake, the thermal activity in this region produces many
hot springs and features such as fumaroles and mud pots. Our
destination is Hacienda Guachipelín, a hotel set on a working horse
and cattle ranch, which celebrates the Guanacaste region’s cowboy
heritage in the heart of the savanna.
Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín, adjacent to Rincón de la Vieja National
Park, is a true eco-tourism lodge for adventure and nature lovers.
Hacienda Guachipelín is perfect for the active traveler, with plentiful
adventure activities, including horseback riding, canyoning, canopy
zip lines, river tubing, hiking and natural volcanic hot springs and
mud pools. The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens with native
trees and exotic flowers that attract a great variety of birds. The
lookout point gives you a 360-degree panorama of the Rincón de la
Vieja and Santa Maria volcanoes, the Guanacaste plains and the
Pacific coastline. Sunset viewing is spectacular from here.
B, L, D
Day 7, January 16 – Rincón de la Vieja National Park
After breakfast we head to Rincón del la Vieja National Park to
explore geothermal features of the park as well as the wildlife and
plants. Rincón is the second largest of the Guanacaste volcanoes.
Its name means "the old woman's corner", a reference to a local
legend about a girl whose lover was thrown into the crater by her
father. She became a recluse living on the mountain and was
credited with powers of healing. The 6,286-foot peak features an
extinct crater with a tranquil lake as well as an active crater. The
park’s thermal features include fumaroles, hot springs and mud
pots.
After lunch and a siesta at the lodge, enjoy the afternoon at leisure
to take a mud bath, ride on horseback to a crystal clear waterfall,
take an exhilarating zip-line adventure, or relax in the thermal
waters. There are plenty of trails for birding as well.
B, L, D
Day 8, January 17 – Santa Rosa National Park, Celeste
Mountain Lodge
After breakfast and checkout, we head to Santa Rosa National Park,
the first national park established in Costa Rica. Created in 1971,
the park is home to Costa Rica's most famous monument, the
Hacienda Santa Rosa (also known as La Casona), which marks the
fall of William Walker's mercenary forces to a local, makeshift,
peasant army in 1856. Walker was an American physician, lawyer,
journalist and mercenary, who organized several private military
expeditions into Latin America, with the intention of establishing
English-speaking colonies under his personal control. On March 20,
when the Costa Rican forces reached this point, the filibusters were
housed in the main farm building, La Casona. The ensuing battle
lasted all of 14 minutes with the national militia victorious in ousting
the invaders. La Casona serves as a history museum that pays
tribute to the battle.
Day 8, January 17 – Continued
The farm was the location of two more battles of Costa Rican forces
against invading forces from Nicaragua. In 1919, there was an
attempt from the invaders to overthrow the dictatorship of General
Federico Tinoco Granados; and in 1955, Costa Ricans fought
intruders supporting a coup attempt against the government of José
Figueres.
Ten unique habitats span the 122,350-acre park, ranging from
mangrove swamp to dry tropical forest, each of which provide
sanctuary for copious animal species. A total of 250 species of birds
inhabit the park as well as 115 species of mammals, including deer;
white faced, howler, and spider monkeys; five species of big cats;
and a plethora of bats.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we travel to Celeste Mountain
Lodge on the north slope of Tenorio Volcano - an exceptional
premontane wet forest that has rainforest wildlife of the Caribbean
lowlands and foothills as well as some dry forest wildlife. Among the
species that can be seen here are the black-crested coquette,
hepatic tanager, white hawk, purple-crowned fairy, broad-billed
motmot, long-tailed manakin, and even the rare tody motmot.
Celeste is proud to adhere to a philosophy of sustainable tourism,
with low environment impact and eco-friendly practices, as well as a
commitment for the development of the local community.
The modern lodge has a unique design, with lots of glass supporting
a garden that brings the forest indoors. Excellent cuisine, beautiful
grounds and extensive trails make this lodge a unique and
unforgettable experience.
B, L, D
Day 9, January 18 – Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
After an early breakfast, we head down the Caribbean slope to Caño
Negro Wildlife Refuge, a premier spot for observing and
photographing water birds such as egrets, herons and spoonbills, as
well as caimans, at close range. The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
encompasses an area of about 10,000 hectares near the border
with Nicaragua. On our nature boat tour, we take a peaceful ride in
a covered motorboat along a slow-flowing river on its way to the
Caño Negro Lake. We can spot birds, mammals, reptiles and
amphibians in the trees that bend over its waters. There are howler,
spider and white-faced monkeys, three-toed sloths, caimans,
turtles, and even Jesus Christ lizards.
After lunch at Natural Lodge in the small town near the boat ramp,
we head back up slope to Celeste for an afternoon at leisure or
some good mountain birding. With luck, we can spot white fronted
nunbird, white whiskered puffbird, green shrike vireo and rufouswinged tanager.
B, L, D
Day 10, January 19 – Tenorio Volcano Region
Today before our mid-morning checkout, we explore the beauty and
diversity of the areas adjacent to Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Covering 30,000 acres in the heart of the Tenorio-Miravalles
Biological Corridor, this important area links Lake Nicaragua in the
north to the delta of the Tempisque River in the south. This region
is under the climatic influence of the Caribbean but is close to the
climatic barrier with the Pacific, which accounts for the great local
avifauna diversity found in this bird-watcher’s paradise.
Day 10, January 19 – Continued
Keel-billed motmot, bear-necked umbrella bird, yellow-eared
toucanet, lattice-tailed trogon and purplish-backed quail-dove are a
few of the avian treasures we may discover.
After lunch at a local restaurant in La Fortuna at the foot of Arenal
Volcano, we head back into the highlands to a restful retreat in the
cloud forests of Poás Volcano. This beautiful lodge, built of stone
and massive beams, was once a private residence. After damage
caused by the 2009 earthquake, the lodge was restored and
tastefully expanded to its current size. A visit here is like staying in
the home of friends. The grounds are planted with orchids,
bromeliads and philodendrons, set among rolling pastures where
the streams are laced with calla lilies.
B, L, D
Day 11, January 20 – Poás Volcano National Park and La Paz
Waterfall Gardens
We start the day after breakfast with an excursion into Poás
Volcano National Park, high on the misty peak of Poás Volcano.
Here, at 8,885 feet, cold air and mist create a unique environment
of moss- and bromeliad-laden trees surrounding the active crater.
When the mist and clouds part, you’ll see the sulfuric, bubbling,
green, rain-fed lake at the bottom surrounded by smoke and steam
rising from fumaroles. Water from the lake is constantly seeping
through cracks in the hot rock, evaporating and building pockets of
steam.
Trails lead through the cloud forest, the trees stunted and twisted
by volcanic emissions and the rigors of the cold, high-altitude
habitat. Lake Botos fills an extinct crater at the end of one trail, and
is home to many cloud forest birds including hummingbirds;
tanagers; flycatchers; toucanets; Costa Rica’s national bird, the clay
-colored robin; and the area’s most famous avian resident, the
resplendent quetzal. The flanks of the volcano are noted for their
fruit production, especially strawberries.
After our morning excursion to Poás and lunch at the lodge, we visit
the splendid gardens of La Paz for lunch and a tour. Located a short
distance from our hotel, this area is rich in biodiversity, thanks to
an altitude that varies between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, allowing for
both cloud forest and rain forest to intermingle. Be prepared for a
truly magical experience. Here, we find the largest butterfly
observatory in the world, hummingbird and bromeliad gardens, a
serpentarium, frog pond, and five, striking waterfalls. The
centerpiece of the gardens is La Paz waterfall, dropping 212 feet
into a swirling pool. The flowers and feeders in the garden attract
26 species of hummingbirds.
B, L, D
Day 12, January 21 – Depart for Airport
After breakfast and a stroll around the grounds, we reluctantly
check out and head to the airport for our flights home.
B
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
Itinerary subject to change.
Call 800-533-0324 to confirm your space today!