Trip Specifics

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Dates: 

December 28, 2013 (arrival San Jose)-January 5, 2014 (Departure San Jose).  This includes San Jose arrival and departure dates of the trip.

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Cost: (FIRM COST ESTIMATES WILL BE AVAILABLE NO LATER THAN SEPT. 1, 2013.)

$1426* plus airfare (e.g., ​roundtrip Columbus-San Jose $605 on Delta as of Feb. 1, 2013).  Cost is based upon double occupancy.  Additional charge of $130 for those requesting single rooms.  Note:  single rooms are not available in Curu and Yorkin.

Cost includes: room, meals, transportation within Costa Rica, Costa Rica departure tax.

This does not include spending money for non-meal snacks and beverages, souvenirs, and tips.

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*This price estimate is based upon 12 participants.  In order to operate this small group trip, it is priced according to the number of full-price travelers on the trip.  Mindful Excursions staff are excluded from the count for this purpose.  You will be charged at the highest level price (the smallest group size we can operate) until the final payment is due.  If the price drops due to an increase in group size before your trip departs, you will be refunded the difference.  Note that for a minimum sized group, $1734 would be the charge per person for a group of 8 persons.  Above that number, the cost per person would decrease up to the maximum of 14 persons ($1375/person)

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Accommodations are priced on a double-occupancy basis.  If you prefer single accommodations, you may, when available arrange them with a supplemental payment which is listed in the trip itinerary.  If you will be traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will attempt to find you a roommate of the same gender.  If there is no one with whom you can share, we charge a single supplemental fee of $130.  Please note that at several of the trips locations, single accommodations are not available.

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The total trip cost provided here is based upon current published costs as of April 15, 2013.  Definite trip costs will be established no later than September 1, 2013.  With any trip such as this, there is always the possibility of unanticipated increases in trip costs between trip announcement and the beginning of the trip.  For example, transportation costs may increase if fuel costs increase.  Lodging and entrance fees may also be increased due to decisions made by the Costa Rican entities.  Were any in-country costs to increase prior to the trip, we will notify trip participants as quickly as we can and be forced to add these increases to the final payment. 

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Payment schedule:

To assure your reservation on the trip, a deposit of $250 is requested.  Following receipt of your deposit, we will contact you about scheduling your airline flight.

November 1, 2013: 50% of the remaining trip cost*​

December 1, 2013: the remainder of the trip cost*​

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*Total payment to Mindful Excursions will be $125 less than is calculated as the total trip expense.  The difference represents estimated costs which the participants will be responsible for while on the trip.  These include a Costa Rica departure tax ($28) and multiple meals not included with certain lodging prices.  Typical restaurant meal costs range from breakfast ($5-10), lunch ($5-10), and dinner ($10-15)--this of course will be influenced by the size of one's appetite and meal beverage consumption.   

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Number of participants: 

The trip will be limited to maximum of 14 participants.  The group will intentionally be kept small to assure better group dynamics and greater involvement with Nature and the group leaders.

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Travel to Costa Rica: 

The official trip will begin the morning of Dec. 29.  Participants will arrive in Costa Rica no later the the previous day to ensure an early morning departure of the group on the 29th.  For participants who choose to use a different airline, it is recommended that they arrive in San Jose on the previous day to assure being in San Jose when the group arrives.  Lodging for the group Dec. 28 will be at La Dehesa Bed and Breakfast and transportation from the airport to the B&B will be arranged.  

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Participant characteristics:

​This trip is designed for the active traveler whose focus is on doing-and-seeing, rather than lounging and sipping a beverage.  The ability to put up with less-than-a-five-star hotel accommodations is a must. 

Level of physical activity:  Daily hikes will be of several miles, topography can be fairly to more-than-fairly hilly.  Good physical shape is highly desirable.   

Tolerance of higher temperatures (80's to mid-90's depending upon location) and humidity (at times close to 100%) is desirable.

For participants having special food requirements, please alert Mindful Excursions to such requirements well in advance of the trip.

It is important that everyone knows her or his physical, emotional, and mental limitations.  Each day will be fully scheduled to provide the trip participants with a "full" trip.  Please keep in mind that it will be fine to opt out from an activity when a bit of a rest, or escape from the group, seems desirable.

  

Accommodations: 

Range in accommodations from "spartan" in Curu and Yorkin to comfortable in Monteverde and La Fortuna. (See Web sites at end of this webpage for descriptions of several of the specific lodging accommodations.)

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Food:  Traditional Costa Rican cuisine. 

Typical meals include:  rice and black beans; chicken, beef, pork, or fish; plantains or cooked bananas; yuca/manioc, potatoes, coffee, tea, fruit drinks (e.g., blackberry, guanabana, papaya, pineapple).

Yes, there are desserts!

Breakfasts usually include gallo pinto--traditional rice and bean mixture with Lizano sauce--along with other choices.

(Note:  Costa Rican beef can provide one's jaw muscles with substantial exercise.)

Vegetarian options are available at each location.

As mentioned above, a number of meals will be purchased by individuals.  These estimated meal costs are included in the total trip cost.  Typically meals range from breakfast (desayuno) $5-10, lunch (almuerzo) $5-10, dinner (cena) $10-15. 

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Health Concerns:

Costa Rica is a developing country, but has an infrastructure that is highly conducive to tourism.   

Potable water is present in most areas.  At any areas where we will be that the water quality is questionable, bottled water will be available.

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Bring protection for bright sunshine--large brimmed hat, sun block, appropriate clothing.

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Immunizations: for tetanus is recommended.  Please consult your personal physician for her or his recommendation of other medications/immunizations.  Also consult the Centers for Disease Control website http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/costa-rica.htm for their recommendations. Note that we will be staying in the following provinces: Alajuela, Puntarenas, Heredia, San Jose, and Limon.  

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Yes, the rainforest does have poisonous snakes--but there are fewer than your imagination would tell you.  When in the rainforest, we will walk with care and wear "Tico boots" which are thicker rubber boots--everyone can purchase their own pair before we go to Yorkin.  The boots can either be taken home as souvenirs (everyone back home will be so jealous) or left in Yorkin. Occasionally we may encounter a scorpion--but we will all check our shoes before we put them on in the morning.

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Where appropriate, mosquito nets for the beds are provided.  Actually, we typically do not encounter many mosquitoes.  Small biting gnats can be a problem at Yorkin for those who do not wear long pants or long-sleeved shirts.  (The little welts do make an interesting topic for conversation once you are back home.)  We will also keep our eyes open for biting army ants and bala ("bullet") ants when in the rainforest of Puerto Viejo.   

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​At Curu, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Cahuita, and San Jose, we will be within 1/2 hour of a clinic.  Yorkin is located approximately 1-1 1/2 hours by canoe from the nearest clinic. 

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Weather:

Weather will vary somewhat over the course of the trip. Temperatures can range from the lower 60's (at night in higher elevations) up into the mid-90's (during the day in the dry forest).  Humidity will range from low in the dry forest to close to 100% in the rainforest.  We will be visiting Costa Rica during the dry season, but that does not rule out periods of drizzle in the cloud forest and rain in the rainforest.  

 

​Travel within Costa Rica:

Travel will be by either van or Coaster tour bus depending upon the size of the group.

Travel times between locations will range from 1 1/2 hrs to 4-5 hrs. (We do stop for restroom breaks!) 

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What to bring:  

A detailed list of items will be included with other preparatory information that will be provided to participants following receipt of deposit.

  

Communicating with friends/family:

Internet/phone: when available, two options exist--at the lodging and in local email/phone centers. Your cellphone will likely not work while in Costa Rica. International phone cards can be purchased in most towns.

Phone and Internet access:  availability varies with location.

A list of in-Costa Rica emergency contact numbers for family members/friends will be provided to participants prior to departure. 

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Responsibilities of Trip Members:
Trip members have certain responsibilities to Mindful Excursions and to other trip members.  Trip members are responsible for understanding the conditions implied in the trip Itinerary and determining, in consultation with Mindful Excursions, that the trip is appropriate to their interests and abilities, and for preparing for the trip by studying the trip itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by Mindful Excursions.  At the trip leader's discretion a member may be removed from the trip, without the right of refund, if the leader feels that the person's further participation may be detrimental to the individual or to other trip members.

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​​Example schedules (always subject to change!)

​Curu Schedule (second day there)
Early morning howler-monkey wake-up call
Individual immersion observations ("being here")
Beach yoga/meditation
Breakfast
Hike:  Introduction to the dry forest
     Observation with intention; open to discovery
     Introduction to the "ecological context"
     Tales of the dry forest
Lunch
Boat trip to Isla Tortuga (snorkeling, beach time) or ocean kayak
     or hike to secluded beach
Swim (and the water is sooo warm!)
Yoga/Meditation (listening)
Dinner
Workshop: Mindfulness-in-nature 
Night walk: the dry forest and crocodile watch!

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Monteverde Schedule (second day there)
Yoga/Meditation
Breakfast
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
Lunch
Craft co-operative/coffee co-operative/Stella's Bakery
Butterfly garden
Yoga/meditation
Dinner
Workshop: Mindfulness-in-nature workshop

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