Showing posts with label viewing wild life in Costa Rica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label viewing wild life in Costa Rica. Show all posts

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Natural Habitat Adventures Launches New Costa Rica and Nicaragua Nature Adventure


 
The world’s premier nature travel company, Natural Habitat Adventures (Nat Hab - http://www.nathab.com/), will host four departures of a new exploratory itinerary, Tropical Discovery: Costa Rica to Nicaragua, beginning in late 2015.

Just 10 guests per departure will explore wild regions of Costa Rica and seldom-visited Nicaragua, a country many visitors believe represents what Costa Rica felt like 50 years ago. The inaugural departure of this new 11-day adventure is set for Nov. 26, 2015. The per-person, double occupancy rate is $4,995; single supplement is $895.

“Costa Rica holds legendary status as a nature tourism destination,” said Ben Bressler,Nat Hab founder and president, “and Nicaragua is equally spectacular though far less known.”

A combined exploration of the two countries’ mosaic of tropical habitats showcases a vivid diversity of wildlife. Colonial Granada, established in 1524, is part of the mix too, adding a historical element as the first European city in mainland America. Bressler explained that this trip was designed in tandem with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to highlight a broad range of wilder, less-visited regions of these two nature-rich countries.

From the highest point on the Pan-American Highway (11,322 feet) through Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains guests access Savegre Mountain Reserve in a cloud forest rife with giant tropical oaks and some 600 bird species, including the rare and resplendent quetzal. A private boat cruise on the Sarapiqui River weaves through some of the best-preserved rain forest in Costa Rica, inhabited by a host of wildlife. And visits to two field research centers – La Selva, an international biological research station, and Tirimbina Rainforest Center, where the focus is on bats – offer guests a chance to interact with scientists studying tropical habitats and wildlife.

Just over Costa Rica’s northern border, vast Lake Nicaragua and the volcanoes that flank it offer multiple opportunities to examine the impact of volcanic activity on the natural environment. The itinerary includes a cruise among lava islets on the lake, an excursion to view nesting parakeets in the crater of the active Masaya Volcano, and a walk through old-growth dry tropical forest growing out of lava rock.

Morgan’s Rock, a 4,000-acre nature preserve on Nicaragua’s southern Pacific coast, provides a remote immersion in the tropical landscape. Nesting sea turtles are sometimes found along the mile-long beach while the forested reserve interior shelters spider, howler and capuchin monkeys, sloth, deer, agouti, reptiles, and indigenous and migratory birds.

While the itinerary’s focus is on nature and conservation, the history and culture of region’s peoples embellish the experience. These include one of the world’s best pre-Columbian rock art sites on Ometepe Island, the colonial textures of Granada, visits to handcrafted hammock and maraca workshops, and a home-cooked meal in the home of a Costa Rican family.

Accommodations are selected for authenticity and eco-sensitivity. In Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains guests stay at Savegre Mountain Lodge in the cloud forest. Another lodge, San Juan de la Isla, enjoys a lakefront location on Nicaragua’s Santo Domingo Beach in view of Isla Ometepe’s towering twin volcanoes. The ecolodge at Morgan’s Rock is part of a family estate engaged in low-impact agriculture and sustainable forestry practices.

Trip rates include all transportation and activities as described in the itinerary, an internal charter flight, accommodations, all meals, non-alcoholic beverages and purified drinking water, services of a Nat Hab Expedition Leader, local guides and lodge staff, airport transfers, most gratuities, all permits, entrance fees and taxes. The international gateway is San Jose, Costa Rica.

For information on all of Nat Hab’s trips, descriptive itineraries, date availability and reservations, call 800.543.8917 or visit http://www.nathab.com/. ClickHERE to order a copy of the 2015 catalog.

About Natural Habitat Adventures
Natural Habitat Adventures is a world leader in responsible adventure travel and nature-based ecotourism. Since its founding in 1985, the company has offered eco-conscious expeditions and wildlife-focused small-group tours to the planet’s most remarkable nature destinations. Inspired and created from years of scouring the planet for the singular and extraordinary, Nat Hab’s itineraries are artfully crafted experiences that are far from “typical.” Trips are guided by professional naturalistExpedition Leaders, and Nat Hab enjoys a longstanding reputation for hiring some of the world’s best guides. Conservation is at the forefront of everything NHA does, and its philosophy is simple: tourism must work with and benefit local communities, which will in turn find value in protecting natural resources and wildlife. NHA is proud to be the travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, sharing a mutual commitment to travel as a means of helping to protect the world’s wondrous natural places.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

How To Reap The Rewards Of Traveling During Costa Rica’s “Veranito”


 
Wildlife is abundant –and so are the savings -- when travelers reap the rewards of Costa Rica’s “Little Summer” in July.
 
Because of a little-known weather phenomenon that in-the-know wildlife lovers keep to themselves, July is one of the best times to visit Costa Rica.  The secret lies in the early rains of May and June, which cause an abundance of flowering trees and fruits that attract the most abundant wildlife of the year. This coincides with a break in the rainy season called “veranito” (“little summer”) that offers ideal wildlife-viewing conditions. 
 
Wild Planet Adventures’ Ultimate Wildlife Eco Tour offers the most value in Costa Rica, as much as twice the value per day of most other competitive tour operators. Prices begin at $343 per person, per day, for a 9-day, 10-day or 14-day wildlife eco-tour including all meals (rare in any itinerary) and no low-value “free days.” (This means travelers don’t have to shell out more bucks for activities on those days because all activities are included.) 
 
With so much included some might think this tour was designed with lots of high volume/low cost filler. In fact the opposite is true. This award-winning wildlife eco-tour is packed with unique and exclusive wildlife activities and remote destinations starting with wildlife viewing in an astounding eight national parks and wildlife reserves.
 
Highlights on both coasts include Cahuita, Arenal, Monteverde, Carara, Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks. The diverse wildlife activities are suitable for travelers of all ages and skill levels and include whitewater rafting, canopy tours, beaches on both coasts, volcanoes, hot springs, sea-kayaking with dolphins, snorkeling at night in the bioluminescence, a scarlet macaw migration and much more.
 
Tourist dollars on this itinerary also support wildlife conservation, with visits to the world-famous Sloth Sanctuary where Wild Planet’s guest can meet over 100 unbelievably cute rescued sloths, and Proyecto Asis, a hands-on wildlife rescue center where travelers can interact with wildlife. Wild Planet includes high-end naturalist and biologist guides, and interactions with animals, wildlife experts and scientific researchers.  Mid/upscale lodging includes one-of-a-kind rainforest and jungle lodges.
 
Smart savings, coupled with Wild Planet’s unique itinerary and exclusive access, provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the wildlife of Costa Rica with true wildlife experts who have 23 years of experience in Costa Rica. Wild Planet offers four departures in July to take advantage of this extraordinary wildlife viewing season.
 
For a detailed itinerary, compelling wildlife photo and video galleries and booking information, visit http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/ or contacttrips@wildplanetadventures.com.
 
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 About Wild Planet Adventures
The editors of National Geographic Travelerannounced in April 2014 that the wildlife specialty tour operator Wild Planet Adventures received its fifth “World’s Best 50 Trips” award from National Geographic Traveler. 
 
The expert wildlife guides of Wild Planet Adventures go the extra mile to explore remote wildlife habitat and study wildlife patterns in destinations not often accessible to the general public. Thanks to the company’s comprehensive itineraries that balance diverse and complex ecosystems and habitats, guests enjoy wildlife and game viewing that is carefully aligned with animals’ seasonal, daily and nocturnal migrations.
 
Following a philosophy that interacting with nature has the power to transform lives, tours are conducted in Africa, Baja, Belize, Borneo, Brazil, Costa Rica, Galapagos, India, Laos, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Thailand and Zambia. Wild Planet Adventures is recognized by top publications in the travel industry for its itineraries that combine intimate encounters with wildlife and local culture.
 
For a more information and a complimentary 2014 catalog call toll-free 1.800.990.4376, or e-mail: trips@wildplanetadventures.com. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/.