A RT S & H U M A N I T I E S • T R AV E L

U W T R AV E L . O R G

Panama & Costa Rica

NOV 29-Dec 14, 2018

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Lush tropical landscapes, exotic wildlife, and a rich cultural heritage with warm and welcoming people, these two countries on the Central American isthmus offer a fascinating opportunity to explore colonial and indigenous history alongside 20th-century progress, surrounded by protected ecosystems that are the envy of the entire hemisphere.

Beginning in Panama City we’ll explore the spectacular architecture in Casco Antiguo, Panama City’s “old town,” and also make a partial transit of the engineering wonder that is the Panama Canal. Then we leave the skyscrapers of the capitol city behind and fly to the idyllic Caribbean shores of Bocas del Toro to snorkel in Dolphin Bay and travel by boat to visit the beautiful Islas Zapatillas.

From the coast we head inland to Panama’s coffee country in the mountainous region surrounding the lovely town of Boquete to learn about coffee growing, production, and preparation, and we’ll also take a hike in the World Heritage Site protected by both Panama and Costa Rica: Amistad National Park.

Crossing the border into Costa Rica we will visit the Finca 6 Archaeological Site to examine the mysterious stone spheres found in the Osa Peninsula, then carry on to Uvita, which will be our base for exploring the amazing biodiversity found in Corcovado National Park. A 3-hour guided hike through this rare rainforest will allow you to observe many primates, birds, amphibians, and reptiles in their natural and protected environment.

The natural wonders of this trip do not end there, however, as then we’re off to the extraordinary Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, with a guided walk

in the lovely Manuel Antonio National Park en route. An area of extraordinary beauty, our 3-hour hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve allows us to explore the flora and fauna of the virginal mountain ecosystem with an expert local guide educating us on the geology, history, plant life, and animals of this pristine watershed. When we’re done on the ground you’ll have the choice of viewing the Cloud Forest from the air by either traversing the Treetop Walkway or taking a Canopy Zip Line Tour before concluding our day at the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden!

Next we cross Lake Arenal by boat to reach our spa and lodge for a full day in Arenal Volcano Park. With a swim beneath the waterfalls, a visit to a local school, and a tortilla-making lesson with lunch at a local home, today is a chance to spend some quality time with the people who call this region their own.

Our last stop is Tortuguero, where we will explore the village to learn about the ways of life in this remote Caribbean region, and take a wildlife safari by boat in the canals of Tortuguero National Park!

This is going to be a fantastic educational journey with great guides and good people doing some really fun things. Join us!

~Live and Learn~

Visit our webpage continuingstudies.wisc.edu/classes/travel-panama-costa-rica for an interactive map, photos, videos, and much more information about our Central American adventure!

U W T R AV E L . O R G

Panama & Costa Rica

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Panama and Costa Rica: Nov 29-Dec 14, 2018

NAME

ADDRESS—STREET/APT#

CITY / STATE / ZIP

(       )PHONE DAYTIME/EVENING

EMAIL (INFORMATION IS ONLY USED BY US TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU)

Check All That Apply:q Reserve a room for two people (standard package).

My roommate is: We request: (circle one) 1 bed 2 beds

q Reserve a single room ($1,097 supplement).q I am interested in a roommate. Please let me know

if one becomes available.

Return this registration form and deposit to: Maureen Friend Educational Travel Programs 21 N. Park St, 7th floor Madison, WI 53715

For tour information contact: Doug Whittle, Director Phone: 608-263-7787 Email: doug.whittle@wisc.edu

Visit us online at: uwtravel.org

LodgingPanama City - Country Inn & Suites 2 nights Panama Canal

Bocas del Toro - Red Frog Beach Island Resort 2 nights redfrogbeach.com

Boquete - Hotel Finca Lerida Coffee Plantation 2 nights fincalerida.com

Uvita - Cristal Ballena 2 nights cristal-ballena.com

Monteverde - El Establo Mountain Hotel 2 nights elestablo.com

Arenal - Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs Resort 2 nights arenalmanoa.com

Tortuguero - Mawamba Lodge Tortuguero 2 nights mawamba.com

San Jose - Hotel Crowne Plaza Corobici 1 night

Visit continuingstudies.wisc.edu/classes/travel-panama-costa-rica for active links to the websites for these properties!

Important InformationPLEASE NOTE: Everyone is welcome to join us. You will enjoy beautiful hotels, private transportation, outstanding historical, natural, and cultural sites, genuine tropical weather, varied and beautiful landscapes, exotic wildlife, and friendly people throughout your educational trip with us. Please understand that due to the nature of the itinerary there will be a good deal of walking on this trip. We are happy to answer any questions that you might have that will help you evaluate your ability to enjoy your journey with us. Thank you very much.

For information contact Doug Whittle, 608-263-7787.

Visit our website for much more information about our activities and lodging: continuingstudies.wisc.edu/classes/travel-panama-costa-rica.

Price The price of this trip is $6,899 based upon double occupancy. This price includes your international roundtrip airfare, domestic flights, all services and transportation, all lodging, park entry fees, all activities, boat tickets, local guides, cultural visits, and university staff services. It also includes a daily breakfast, 12 lunches, and 10 dinners. Single supplement is $1,097.

Flight to Panama City, Panama

Panama Canal Today we take a partial transit cruise through the Miraflores Locks for a close-up look at the workings of this engineering marvel.

to Bocas del Toro In the morning we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Casco Antiguo, Panama City’s Old Town, then depart for our flight to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast.

Bocas del Toro We set out by boat to Dolphin Bay for some snorkeling, a seafood lunch at Coral Key, and a cruise through the beautiful Islas Zapatillas!

to Boquete Leaving the coast we head up into the beautiful Panamanian highlands.

Boquete We start out in the coffee fields of Boquete for our Finca Lerida Coffee Tour, and then we’re off for a guided hike in Amistad National Park.

to Uvita Entering Costa Rica we make a stop at El Sitio Museo Finca 6 to learn what is known about the mysterious pre-Columbian stone spheres found in this area.

Corcovado National Park We spend the day hiking and exploring in the last great tract of tropical rainforest in Pacific Central America, which contains over half of Costa Rica’s animal species.

to Monteverde On our way to the northern mountains we’ll stop for a guided walk along the sparkling Pacific coast in beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve In the morning we take a guided cloud forest hike to discover the extraordinary biodiversity in this unique ecosystem from the ground, and in the afternoon you choose between a Zip Line and Tree Top Walkway tour through the lush forest canopy! We conclude our day at the extraordinary Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden.

to Arenal We’ll cross Lake Arenal by boat, spotting a variety of wetland birds on the way to our lodge and spa at Ecotermales Natural Volcanic Hot Springs.

Arenal Volcano National Park Today, after a volcanic park walk and a stop for a swim under the 70-meter La Fortuna waterfall, we are taught how to make tortillas at a local home and visit a community elementary school to learn about the educational system.

to Tortuguero Passing through vast banana plantations, we stop to hear about work and life in this important agricultural industry, and then continue by boat to Tortuguero for a village walk to view life in this small, remote community.

Tortugeuro National Park This morning we’ll tour the frog garden, butterfly gardens, bio-digester, and river turtles area on our lodge property and, after lunch, we take a boat tour of the canals crisscrossing Tortuguero National Park, home to over 400 species of birds, 60 known species of frogs, caimans, crocodiles, monkeys, manatees, and more.

to San Jose It’s back to civilization today as we drive to the capital of Costa Rica, passing through Braulio Carrillo National Park for good measure, and the last night of our tour.

Fly to USA

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Payment Informationq Enclosed is a check payable to UW–Madison for

the trip deposit of $1,000/person.

*Note: We accept credit cards for all subsequent payments.Future payment schedule and details will be included in your registration confirmation packet.

Your deposit is non-refundable. We urge you to purchase trip cancellation as part of your travel insurance to recover your costs if you must cancel your plans to join us. Travel insurance information will be included in your registration confirmation packet.

Doug Whittle is the UW–Madison director of educational travel for Continuing Studies. He served for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire and has traveled independently in Asia, Africa, and Europe as well as throughout both Central and North America. Now in his 14th year, Doug has led over 80 trips on five continents for UW–Madison Continuing Studies. If you would like to request an accommodation, please contact Andy

Richardson at 608-262-0557 or email andy.richardson@wisc.edu. Requests are confidential.

These programs are offered by UW–Madison in cooperation with UW-Extension.

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