Compare Costa Rica – The Sea Turtle Initiative by Discover Corps vs Spice Island Beach Resort break by Audley Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 3,395 | $ 3,800 |
| Price Per Day | $ 424 | $ 543 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
Spice Island is great for foodies too and is known for its gourmet cuisine and fine wines. The stylish, open-air Oliver’s Restaurant offers a fine dining atmosphere serving à la carte breakfast and dinner daily. The menu changes every night and features excellent international cuisine as well as authentic local specialities. The Sea & Surf Terraces is open for lunch, afternoon tea, drinks and snacks. |
| Description |
Our Purpose Spend several days in the heart of Costa Rica’s sea turtle conservation program, learning about the threats to their survival and what we can do both in Costa Rica and at home to help with their protection. We’ll witness sea turtles nesting in a natural environment and participate in an optional beach cleanup that reduces the amount of plastic in the ocean. Our presence at these unique locations ensures that living sea turtles are much more valuable to the local economy than turtle eggs sold into the Black Market. Costa Rica is a world leader when it comes to conservation, but sadly its turtle population has declined by 90% since 1980. Your trip will see you volunteering with conservationists to help ensure their survival, and visiting inspirational places and people that rescue animals and protect the rainforest. |
Nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric and cloves: the flora of Grenada reads like the ingredients list for a Creole curry. Our specialists have explored this isle of spice, from its mountainous interior to the never-busy beaches, and can suggest how to include it on your trip through the Caribbean. Stay where your suite leads straight onto the beach or spend time on a privately crewed yacht, flitting between marinas. |
Day 1: Arrive and Enjoy a Traditional Dinner
Meals: Dinner
Arriving at the airport in Costa Rica, a member of our staff will meet you and take you to a nearby hotel where we’ll spend the fir t evening. After a warm welcome, your guide will discuss the schedule for the coming week. Enjoy an authentic local welcome dinner together and have a relaxing evening getting to know the group.
Day 2: Drive to the Coast and Meet the Conservationists
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enjoy a classic Costa Rican breakfast and freshly brewed local coffee before driving through the mountains to our new home on the coast. We’ll receive a briefing about the work of sea turtle conservationists before embarking on a night patrol to scope the nesting area. Sample patrol times include 10pm - 1am, and 1am-4am.
Day 3: Optional Beach Cleanup & Night Patrols
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After an optional beach clean up for those interested, we'll have a talk to learn more about the hatchery and why it's used. We will learn firsth and how to dig a sea turtle nest so we are ready for when we have eggs from our night patrol and need to put them in the hatchery for safety.
Day 4: Meet "Jungle Mike" and Learn about Beekeeping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Meet the infamous Jungle Mike and learn about the diverse insect kingdom of Costa Rica as you explore an open air butterfly farm and jungle path. Afterwards, sample various organic honeys that are locally harvested. In the evening, head out for another sea turtle patrol along the beach.
Day 5: Visit a Small Fishing Village before a Free Afternoon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We'll head out after breakfast to a local fishing village where we'll learn about their way of life and the battle they fight against large commercial fishing vessels. Learn to make educated choices when buying sustainable seafood, and even get a treat as you enjoy a fresh fish lunch prepared by the local women. The afternoon is then free to rest up for patrol and we'll enjoy a nice dinner by the beach before the final night of patrol.
Day 6: Meet Big Cats at an Animal Rescue Center
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we’ll return to the region around Liberia. After driving a few hours, we will visit an animal rescue center that rehabilitates endangered wildlife such as pumas, ocelots, and even jaguars. After lunch, continue on to a mountainside hacienda and arrive to our accommodations before dark.
Day 7: Zip-Line Through the Trees and Tube along the Rio Colorado
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Feel the adrenaline as you fly through the treetops on a zip-line course of 8 different lines. Then we’ll cool off by tubing down the Rio Colorado. Spin and bounce your way down river, getting drenched by the cool mountain waters. Hang on tight over the 6-foot waterfall and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys foraging for food in the treetops above the canyon. You’ll definitely work up an appetite for lunch. After lunch, enjoy the warm spring pools or paint on some volcanic mud for a treat for your skin and wash it all away with an exhilarating jump in the river. At night we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner together to reflect on the amazing memories we’ve collected over the past week.
Day 8: Return Home
Meals: Breakfast
Wake up with breakfast at the lodge. Travelers will be taken to the airport in time for their flights home.
