smith college presents costa rica’s natural heritage...as costa rica presents its staggering...
TRANSCRIPT
12 days from $3,681 total price from Miami($3,395 air & land inclusive plus $286 airline taxes and fees)
An Exclusive Small Group Tour for Smith Travel
This tour is provided by Odysseys Unlimited,
six-time honoree Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operators award.
COSTA RICA’S NATURAL HERITAGE
Smith College presents
January 26-February 6, 2017
Dear Alumnae and Friends,
Travel with Smith on a special 12-day journey through amazing Costa Rica. Your tour will visit rain forests, volcanoes, national parks, and other exquisite, memorable settings.
Begin in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, where you will take a guided walk along national park trails to view the world’s largest volcanic crater, followed by a visit to the Doka Coffee Estate. Then travel northward to the Arenal Region and your lodge, for spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano. You’ll explore a biological reserve focused on conservation, environmental diversity, and sustainability, and take a sky-walk tour high above the rain forest floor in the Cloud Forest region of Monteverde. Finally, your adventure concludes with a three-night stay at a Pacific coast resort and a unique float safari on the beautiful Tempisque River.
This air-inclusive journey is exclusive to Smith and limited to just 18 travelers. Our small group size enables us to move flexibly, enjoy spontaneous encounters, and foster a sense of Smith camaraderie. Call today to secure your space on this exceptional tour!
Warm regards,
Elizabeth Bigwood Director, Smith Travel
SMITH TRAVEL RESERVATION FORM: COSTA RICA’S NATURAL HERITAGE
Enclosed is my/our deposit for $______($500 per person) for ____ person(s) on Costa Rica’s Natural Heritage, departing January 26, 2017. I/we understand the final payment is due at least 95 days prior to departure. Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, VISA or by personal check. Please make deposit check payable to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. Inc., and send (with completed registration form) to: Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., Attn: Special Interest Groups, One Newton Place, 275 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, MA 02458. For trip and registration information, please contact Odysseys Unlimited at (toll-free) 888-370-6765. If you need to contact Smith Travel, please call 800-225-2029 or e-mail [email protected].
Full Passport Name Date of Birth Gender
Full Passport Name Date of Birth Gender
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________________________ State __________ ZIP __________________
Home Ph. (______) _________________________________ Bus. Ph. (______) _________________________________
E-mail(s) __________________________________________ Badge Name(s) __________________________________
Please book my air/our from ________________________ I/we request a Business Class upgrade q
I will share a room with _____________________________ I request a single room (limited availability) q
Post-Tour “Tortuguero National Park” Extension: Please sign me/us up q
Please Note: The undersigned has read the schedule of activities for Costa Rica’s Natural Heritage, January 26-February 6, 2017, and agrees that their signature below represents their acceptance of the General Terms & Conditions.
Signature(s) _________________________________________________________________ Date _________________
Method of Payment q Check q American Express q Discover q MasterCard q VISA
Account # ______________________________________ Security Code __________ Exp. Date ______________
Name of Cardholder ____________________________________________________________________________
Signature ______________________________________________________________________________________
Final invoicing will be sent by our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. The balance of the program price must be paid to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure and is payable by check or credit card.
Day 1: Depart for San Jose, Costa Rica We arrive in the Costa Rican capital and transfer to our hotel located in the San Jose Escazu area outside the city. This afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Day 2: San Jose After meeting our Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and fellow travelers at this morning’s breakfast briefing, we embark on an excur sion through the Central Valley to Poas Volcano National Park. Here we view the world’s largest crater, a steaming, bubbling caldron; and also take a guided walk along park trails. We continue on to the Doka Coffee Estate, located on the fertile slopes of Poas Volcano, where we learn about coffee-making and Costa Rica’s coffee industry, one of its largest exports. After lunch at the Doka Estate, we return to our hotel late afternoon. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner together. B,L,D
Day 3: San Jose/Arenal We leave this morning for the Arenal region, passing picturesque villages along the way. We stop in Carrizal at the family-owned Botanical Orchid Garden, with tropical trails, exhibits, nurseries, and gardens all dedi-cated to the wondrous orchid plant. After time to explore here, we travel on to Arenal and our hotel, which offers magnificent views of Arenal Volcano and where we dine tonight. B,L,D
Day 4: Arenal Region This morning we visit a local elementary school to enjoy a cultural exchange with the children and learn about Costa Rica’s vaunted educational system – the country boasts a literacy rate of more than 95%. We continue on to Ecocentro Danaus, a biological reserve focused on conservation, environmental education, and sustainability. A series of trails winds through the secondary forest, where we see diverse flora, including orchids, bromelia, and heliconia, along with some of the preserve’s 150 species of birds, sloths, and bats, among other fauna. Highlights include a butterfly farm with 30 different species and a natural water spring
Tour membership limited to 18 alumnae and friends of Smith College
COSTA RICA’S NATURAL HERITAGE12 days from $3,681 total price from Miami($3,395 air & land inclusive plus $286 airline taxes and fees)
Your Small Group Tour Highlights
Poas Volcano excursion … Doka Coffee Estate … Carrizal’s Botanical Orchid Garden … Visit with children at elementary school … Ecocentro Danaus Biological Reserve … Night viewing of Arenal Volcano … Monteverde Cloud Forest, including Hanging Bridges Sky Walk, Biological Reserve, and Humming- bird Gallery … Tempisque River float safari … Three- night stay in Guanacaste at resort overlooking the Pacific
Day Itinerary Hotel Rating
1 Depart U.S. InterContinental
for San Jose Costa Rica Sup. First Class
2 San Jose InterContinental
Costa Rica Sup. First Class
3-4 Arenal Region Arenal Manoa First Class
5-7 Monteverde El Establo
Cloud Forest Mountain Hotel First Class
8-10 Guanacaste Esplendor Hotel
Tamarindo Sup. First Class
11 San Jose InterContinental
Costa Rica Sup. First Class
12 Depart San Jose for U.S.
Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.
I n this small Central American democracy kissed by nature, our small group discovers a nation’s wealth in four distinct regions, from cloud forest to rain forest;
Central Valley to Pacific Coast. As Costa Rica presents its staggering display of bio-diversity – pristine landscapes, unique microclimates, exotic flora and fauna – we enjoy a relaxed yet comprehensive exploration that celebrates Costa Rica’s wide-ranging natural resources.
Cover photo: Take in Arenal, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, from a safe distance.
Avg. High (°F) Jan FebSan Jose 75 76Guanacaste 88 89
Caribbean Sea
Pacific Ocean
COSTARICA
MonteverdeTamarindo(Guanacaste
Region)San Jose
Tortuguero National Park
Arenal Region
DestinationMotorcoachExtension (van and boat)Entry/Departure
that attracts waterfowl, alligators, and iguanas. Later today there’s time for more volcano view-ing before and after dinner (at a local restaurant) from a comfortable perch at our hotel. B,L,D
Day 5: Arenal Region/Monteverde Cloud Forest We travel today to the “green cathedral” of Monteverde. En route we stop to visit a non-profit handicrafts cooperative, dedicated to enhancing the economic and social well-being of local women artists. After lunch on our own in Santa Elena, we continue on to our hotel, arriv- ing late afternoon. We dine tonight at a local restaurant in Monteverde. B,D
Day 6: Monteverde This morning we embark on a guided walk through Monteverde’s biological reserve, learning about the amazing biodiversity in this relatively small area. Next we tour the Hum- mingbird Gallery, where feeders attract several different species of the delicate hummingbird. After lunch together we visit the Monteverde Bat Jungle to learn about Costa Rica’s diverse – and important – bat population. Late this afternoon we return to our hotel for time at leisure and dinner on our own. B,L
Day 7: Monteverde Early today we visit the hanging bridges Sky Walk, where we have the opportunity to experience this natural preserve from the canopy level, high above the rain forest floor. Each passage provides a different view into the Costa Rican wildlife, and our naturalist guide will point out some of the 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds (including 30 kinds of hummingbirds), and 2,500 species of plants (including 420 kinds of orchids) that thrive in this
Capuchin monkeys abound in Costa Rica’s rain forests.
unique setting. This afternoon is at leisure; the hotel facilities include a water-purified heated pool. B,D
Day 8: Monteverde/Guanacaste We depart by coach this morning for Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s stunning northwest Pacific coastal region. Along the way we visit Montverde’s delightful
Your Tour Price Includes• Round-trip transfers San Jose/Tortuguero by van
and boat• 3 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in
Tortuguero National Park at Mawamba Lodge (First Class); 1 night in San Jose at InterContinental Costa Rica (Superior First Class)
• 8 meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners• Included sightseeing: Tortuguero town and
Caribbean Conservation Center; two boat safaris along the Tortuguero canals
• Services of expert staff and guides at Mawamba Lodge
Post-Tour Extension
February 6-9, 2017
TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
4 days/3 nights for $645 total priceSingle Supplement: $145
Encounter exceptional biodiversity, from rain forest to marsh, where fresh
water meets the sea to form canals, lagoons, and wetlands; and also to provide
an important turtle nesting reserve. An ecological tour de force!
Butterfly Garden, with a variety of species includ-ing the stunning Blue Morpho, and the virtually transparent Glasswing. We stop for lunch along the way, reaching our resort hotel overlooking the Pacific and the town of Tamarindo mid-afternoon. B,L,D
Day 9: Guanacaste A float safari on the Tempisque River highlights this morning’s excur-sion to the Palo Verde region, which is both an extraordinary wetland and also one of the world’s last tropical dry forests. In this unique ecosystem,
we should see abun-dant bird- and wildlife, including monkeys, iguanas, and crocodiles. After lunch together we return to our hotel mid-afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure along one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful Pacific Coast settings. B,L
Day 10: Guanacaste Today is at leisure to
enjoy the beautiful beach club and other ame-nities of our hotel, including an outdoor pool. Optional activities include snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and diving or visiting the lively town of Tamarindo. We dine tonight at our hotel. B,D
Day 11: Guanacaste/San Jose Today we leave Guanacaste, traveling back to San Jose. We reach our hotel mid-afternoon then have time to relax and refresh before tonight’s farewell dinner at the hotel. B,D
Day 12: Depart for U.S. We transfer to the airport this morning for flights to the U.S. B
Tour Departs: January 26, 2017
Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees.
Miami $3,681
Orlando, Tampa $3,781
Atlanta, New York, Washington, DC $3,881
Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, $3,981 Philadelphia, San Francisco
Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, $4,081 Portland (OR), Seattle
Land Only (transfers not included) $3,195
Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $286, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
Single travelers please add $895.
All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, fees) are guaranteed.
Please note: This tour includes nature walks and some lengthy coach rides over bumpy dirt roads. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to the fullest.
For reservations and information, pleasecall Odysseys Unlimited toll-free at
888-370-6765Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-7:00 PM, Eastern Time
Your Tour Price Includes
• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 11 nights’ accommodations in Superior First
Class and First Class hotels• 25 meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners• Extensive sightseeing as described, including
all entrance fees• Services of an expert Costa Rica naturalist as
your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout
your trip• Luggage handling for one bag per person• Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and
hotel porters, and all drivers
Enjoy treetop rain forest views from Monteverde’s Sky Walk.
“Peace is … an attitude, a way of life …”
– oscar arias sanchez
A colorful toucan
GEN
ERA
L TE
RM
S A
ND
CO
ND
ITIO
NS
Ple
ase
read
thi
s in
form
atio
n ca
refu
lly,
as p
aym
ent
of a
$500 d
epos
it p
er p
erso
n re
pres
ents
you
r ac
cept
ance
of
the
fol-
low
ing
Term
s an
d C
ondi
tion
s.
Not
inc
lude
d in
tou
r pr
ice:
Airfa
re w
hen
purc
hasi
ng a
Lan
d On
ly p
acka
ge; c
osts
of p
assp
orts
and
vis
as; p
erso
nal e
xpen
ses
such
as
beve
rage
s, la
undr
y,
room
ser
vice
, and
mea
ls n
ot s
peci
fied;
airp
ort
trans
fers
whe
n pu
rcha
sing
a L
and
Only
pac
kage
; gra
tuiti
es t
o yo
ur O
dyss
eys
Unlim
ited
Tour
Dire
ctor
whi
ch a
re a
t yo
ur d
iscr
etio
n (s
ugge
sted
gra
tuiti
es: $
10 -
$15
per
day
per
trave
ler);
com
mun
icat
ion
char
ges;
opt
iona
l sig
htse
eing
; tra
vel p
rote
ctio
n in
sura
nce.
Add
ition
al b
agga
ge fe
es m
ay a
pply
and
are
sub
ject
to c
hang
e at
any
tim
e. Y
ou s
houl
d co
nfirm
dire
ctly
with
you
r airl
ine
prio
r to
depa
rture
.
Can
cella
tion
s, r
efun
ds a
nd c
hang
es:
If yo
u m
ust c
ance
l you
r trip
, the
effe
ctiv
e da
te o
f can
cella
tion
will
be
upon
our
rece
ipt o
f you
r writ
ten
notifi
catio
n. R
efun
ds fo
r ca
ncel
latio
ns a
re s
ubje
ct t
o th
e fo
llow
ing
per
pers
on c
harg
es: C
ance
l 95 d
ays
or m
ore
befo
re d
epar
ture
: $200 c
harg
e;
Can
cel 94-6
5 d
ays
befo
re d
epar
ture
: 2
5%
of
tour
price
; C
ance
l 64-4
5 d
ays
befo
re d
epar
ture
: 50%
of
tour
price
; C
ance
l 4
4-3
0 d
ays
befo
re d
epar
ture
: 7
5%
of
tour
price
; C
ance
l 29-0
day
s be
fore
dep
artu
re:
No
refu
nd. I
f a g
uest
mak
es a
ny
chan
ges
to t
heir
rese
rvat
ion
from
94
to 3
0 da
ys p
rior
to d
epar
ture
, Ody
ssey
s Un
limite
d, In
c. w
ill a
pply
a $
100
per
pers
on
adm
inis
trativ
e fe
e, in
add
ition
to a
ny fe
es o
r pen
altie
s im
pose
d by
third
par
ties.
Cha
nges
are
sub
ject
to a
vaila
bilit
y an
d ca
nnot
be
gua
rant
eed.
If y
our r
eser
vatio
n ch
ange
s fro
m d
oubl
e oc
cupa
ncy
to s
ingl
e oc
cupa
ncy
for a
ny re
ason
, you
will
be
char
ged
the
sing
le s
uppl
emen
t. N
o ch
ange
s ar
e al
low
ed w
ithi
n 30 d
ays
of d
epar
ture
.
Upo
n re
serv
atio
n yo
u m
ust
prov
ide
your
ful
l le
gal
nam
e as
it
appe
ars
on y
our
pass
port
, yo
ur d
ate
of b
irth
, an
d yo
ur
gend
er. In
the
eve
nt a
n ai
rlin
e ti
cket
is is
sued
wit
h in
corr
ect
info
rmat
ion
you
have
pro
vide
d, y
ou w
ill b
e re
spon
sibl
e fo
r ch
arge
s as
soci
ated
wit
h th
e ti
cket
’s r
eiss
ue.
Res
pons
ibili
ty:
The
liabi
lity
of S
mith
Col
lege
, as
spon
sor,
and
Odys
seys
Unl
imite
d, In
c., a
s to
ur o
pera
tor,
is s
trict
ly li
mite
d. O
dyss
eys
Unlim
ited,
In
c. p
urch
ases
tran
spor
tatio
n, h
otel
acc
omm
odat
ions
, res
taur
ant a
nd o
ther
ser
vice
s fro
m in
depe
nden
t sup
plie
rs n
ot u
nder
our
co
ntro
l. W
e se
rve
only
as
agen
ts fo
r the
se s
uppl
iers
in s
ecur
ing
tour
arr
ange
men
ts, a
nd th
eref
ore
will
not
acc
ept r
espo
nsib
il-ity
for w
rong
ful,
negl
igen
t, or
arb
itrar
y ac
ts o
r om
issi
ons
of th
ese
inde
pend
ent c
ontra
ctor
s, th
eir e
mpl
oyee
s, a
gent
s, s
erva
nts
or re
pres
enta
tives
. Sm
ith C
olle
ge a
nd O
dyss
eys
Unlim
ited,
Inc.
are
not
liab
le fo
r inj
ury,
dam
age,
loss
, acc
iden
t, or
del
ay th
at
may
be
caus
ed b
y ev
ents
not
with
in o
ur c
ontro
l, in
clud
ing
with
out l
imita
tion,
act
s of
terr
oris
m, w
ar, s
trike
s, th
e de
fect
of a
ny
vehi
cle,
or t
he n
eglig
ence
or d
efau
lt of
any
third
par
ty. A
ll co
upon
s, re
ceip
ts, a
nd ti
cket
s is
sued
are
sub
ject
to th
e te
rms
and
cond
ition
s sp
ecifi
ed b
y th
e ai
r car
riers
, cru
ise
line,
and
oth
er in
depe
nden
t sup
plie
rs. W
e w
ill m
ake
ever
y ef
fort
to o
pera
te o
ur
tour
s as
pla
nned
, but
we
rese
rve
the
right
to m
ake
itine
rary
cha
nges
as
nece
ssar
y. If
unf
ores
een
circ
umst
ance
s re
quire
us
to
chan
ge a
hot
el, w
e w
ill s
elec
t alte
rnat
ive
acco
mm
odat
ions
of t
he s
ame
or b
ette
r qua
lity.
Hea
lth
and
Med
ical
Iss
ues:
We
requ
est t
hat y
ou b
e in
goo
d he
alth
to p
artic
ipat
e in
this
tour
. The
re is
a re
ason
able
am
ount
of w
alki
ng, a
nd y
ou m
ust
be
able
to
get
on a
nd o
ff m
otor
coac
hes
on y
our
own.
We
regr
et th
at w
e ca
nnot
offe
r ind
ivid
ual a
ssis
tanc
e; in
suc
h ca
ses
you
mus
t be
acco
mpa
nied
by
a co
mpa
nion
who
will
ass
ist y
ou. P
leas
e no
te th
at o
ur it
iner
arie
s ca
nnot
acc
omm
odat
e w
heel
chai
rs.
We
rese
rve
the
right
to re
mov
e an
yone
who
se p
hysi
cal o
r men
tal c
ondi
tion,
in o
ur o
pini
on, c
ompr
omis
es th
e op
erat
ion
of th
e to
ur o
r de
tract
s fro
m th
e en
joym
ent o
r sa
fety
of t
he o
ther
pas
seng
ers.
In th
at e
vent
, Sm
ith C
olle
ge a
nd O
dyss
eys
Unlim
ited
assu
me
no fi
nanc
ial r
espo
nsib
ility
for a
ny u
nuse
d po
rtion
of t
he to
ur.
Air
Tra
nspo
rtat
ion
– Im
port
ant
Info
rmat
ion:
Odys
seys
Unl
imite
d, In
c. in
clud
es in
its
tour
pric
e ro
und
trip
econ
omy
air
from
des
igna
ted
gate
way
citi
es a
s sh
own
and
con-
tract
s w
ith th
ose
airli
nes
they
feel
pro
vide
the
leve
l of s
ervi
ce, r
outin
gs, a
nd v
alue
nec
essa
ry fo
r you
r ent
ire tr
ip. W
hile
ano
ther
ai
rline
may
offe
r a m
ore
dire
ct c
onne
ctio
n, it
may
be
at a
pric
e un
avai
labl
e at
the
low
er g
roup
rate
s. Y
ou w
ill re
ceiv
e yo
ur p
re-
limin
ary a
ir sc
hedu
le a
ppro
xim
atel
y 2½
mon
ths
prio
r to
depa
rture
. Ple
ase
note
tha
t se
at a
ssig
nmen
ts o
n yo
ur in
tern
atio
nal
fligh
t ar
e us
ually
don
e at
air
port
che
ck-in
. O
dyss
eys
Unl
imit
ed is
una
ble
to g
uara
ntee
any
sea
t as
sign
men
ts. D
ue to
the
natu
re o
f tou
r ope
rato
r tic
kets
, oth
er re
stric
tions
app
ly, i
nclu
ding
but
not
lim
ited
to, f
requ
ent fl
yer m
ileag
e ac
crua
l, st
opov
ers,
al
tern
ate
trave
l dat
es, u
pgra
des,
and
airl
ine
taxe
s an
d de
partu
re fe
es. I
f you
pre
fer
to m
ake
your
ow
n tra
vel a
rran
gem
ents
, La
nd O
nly
is a
vaila
ble
on m
ost t
ours
. Sin
ce int
erna
tion
al a
nd d
omes
tic
air
sche
dule
s ar
e su
bjec
t to
cha
nge
at a
ny t
ime,
w
e re
com
men
d th
at i
f yo
u ch
oose
to
mak
e yo
ur o
wn
airlin
e re
serv
atio
ns,
you
do n
ot p
urch
ase
non-
refu
ndab
le t
icke
ts
or t
hose
wit
h hi
gh p
enal
ties
for
cha
nges
. If y
ou c
hoos
e to
mak
e yo
ur o
wn
air
arra
ngem
ents
, O
dyss
eys
Unl
imit
ed,
Inc.
sh
all no
t ha
ve a
ny lia
bilit
y fo
r an
y lo
ss r
esul
ting
fro
m c
ance
llati
on o
f th
is t
our
or c
hang
es in
this
tou
r.
Pres
orte
d St
anda
rd
U.S.
POS
TAG
E PA
ID
Odys
seys
Un
limite
d, In
c.
JOIN
US
FOR
AN
EX
CLU
SIV
E S
MIT
H
TRA
VE
L TO
UR
TO
CO
STA
RIC
A!
Gua
rant
eed
Smal
l Gro
up:
Lim
ited
to 1
8 G
uests
12 days from $3,681 total price from Miami($3,395 air & land inclusive plus $286 airline taxes and fees)
Smith
Tra
vel
Offi
ce o
f Alu
mna
e Re
latio
ns33
Elm
Str
eet
Nor
tham
pton
, MA
010
63