Host: Bony Scott When: Year round Minimum number: Four Length of tour: Two days, one night Fee charged: US $150.00 per person; for larger groups he might lower the price per person Program outline: Learn about the flora and fauna of the tropical humid forest Plant and animal identification Using field guides (A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica) by F. Gary Stile Using Bony's expertise to spot and identify plants, birds and animals Names and classification Using common names in English Using Spanish names See rainforest draped canals teeming with wildlife See the effects of deforestation Understand the culture of the people of the region Other attractions: Instruction takes place while gliding by riverboat through 45 miles of rainforest draped canals on the Northern Atlantic coast of Costa Rica enroute to the small village of Tortuguero. That's not Bony's boat at the right -- it's the local Beer Barge! Bony's boat is a 20-ft, tri-hull, Boston-whaler-type boat. Bony not only knows the names of the birds but also studies their habits through observation. He is good at identifying medicinal rainforest plants, and knows his trees. He can spot animals in the jungle that take a trained eye to locate. During green turtle nesting season from July-October it is possible to take an evening tour to watch a female turtle deposit her eggs. Staying overnight in Tortuguero Village gives guests the opportunity to meet the local people and eat local Caribbean style cooking. Tortuguero National Park offers hiking trails accessible from the village. Bony will offer to take you to a biological research station or on a hike up Tortuguero Mountain For Bony the tropical rainforest is his home, and he is as much a part of it as the flora and fauna. Two-day Itinerary Day 1: 6:00am – Departure from San Jose on bus to Gochin/Pacuare. Stop enroute for breakfast(included). Around 11 AM: Meet your guide Bony Scott and for about two hours glide by boat through lush rainforest draped canals while watching for rainforest wildlife. Early afternoon: Arrival at hotel and get settled. Lunch(included) After lunch explore the beautiful gardens and nature trails, or take a dip in the pool. Later in the afternoon: Tour of Tortuguero Village, the only town in Costa Rica with no automobile traffic! Tour of the Caribbean Conservation Corps Museum where you will learn about the conservation efforts to save the green sea turtle from extinction. Optional activities: canoeing, tour of Tortuguero National Park, Beach-combing, etc... 7:00pm- Dinner(included) Day 2: 6:00am- Early morning nature tour through a jungle shrouded river to the Caņo Palma Biological Research Station to see how biologists live and work in the rainforest. 9:00am-Breakfast(included) 10:30am- Return to San Jose by the same way you arrived. 1:30pm- Lunch enroute 5:00pm- Arrival San Jose Background Notes Tortuguero is a small village dedicated to eco-tourism. This region is a rainforest-covered lowland with beautiful beaches and many rivers, canals, swamps, and lagoons. The wildlife is incredibly diverse. In addition to the many species of sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs, this area also offers the opportunity to see a wide variety of tropical plants and animals. The people who inhabit the area are a unique mix of Afro-Caribbean English speaking Jamaican descendants, native indigenous people, and Spanish speaking mestizos. They welcome visitors from all over the world and are generous and gracious hosts. This peaceful area is waging a battle to protect its National Park from polluting industries, poachers, hunters and loggers. By visiting Tortuguero with Bony, a local native guide, and being an ecotourist, you are helping to sustain the local economy and preserve the rainforest and it's inhabitants. Visit Earth's Garden of Eden, the tropical rainforest! "Caution flags": In the evening you might need insect repellent, especially on the beach. Sunscreen, raingear, and light hiking boots and or Tevas are recommended. Bony will instruct you in rainforest safety.