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El Espiritu del Mar
A Yoga and Kayak Adventure in Costa Rica
January 9 - 17, 2010
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May 14 - 22, 2010
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Detailed Itinerary |
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Day 1 |
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Arrival at the Juan Santa Maria International Airport in San José, where
you will be greeted by a friendly face, and escorted by air conditioned microbus
to your overnight accommodation, the Hotel Don Carlos, a 30-minute ride. The
hotel is in a safe neighbourhood and in walking distance to many restaurants and
historic sites. The hotel’s staff speaks English and is very helpful. There are
computers available and a free skype call home to check in. Enjoy your evening. |
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Day 2 (B,L) |
 After
an enjoyable breakfast at the Don Carlos you will be picked up at the hotel and
travel via air conditioned microbus to Puntarenas (2.5 hours). A lunch/snack
break is included in the trip. You will then take the ferry with our escort to
Paquera on the Nicoya Peninsula (1.5 hours) and then ride 30 minutes to the
seaside village of Tambor and your accommodation, the boutique hotel Tambor
Tropical. After checking in, relax, have a swim, enjoy a complimentary welcome
cocktail and prepare for our opening sunset yoga practice, followed by an
introduction to the paddling experience.
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Day 3 (B, L, D) |
 The
first paddling day is usually a short one, allowing you to acclimatize to
the tropical heat and gradually work your way into the daily routine. To get
prepared, an early morning yoga session will focus on spine mobility and
balance, shoulder openers, sun salutations. Following breakfast at the hotel we
will transport you to Curú Wildlife Refuge, 20 minutes from the village
of Tambor. Curú is a small reserve and working farm on the southern end of the
Nicoya Peninsula known as an ecological gem for its incredible wildlife and well
developed system of hiking trails. Here we will review the organization system
for packing, then load
 the
kayaks with food and camping gear and experience a comprehensive orientation to
paddling technique and sea kayak safety. Our destination is Playa Quesera,
a beautiful white-sand beach located approximately one hour from our launching
area. After we land and set up our base camp, we enjoy a refreshing lunch and
spend the afternoon working on wet exits and rescues. Our sunset yoga practice
will again emphasize balance and allow us a chance to unwind from the busy day
and relax into a delicious dinner of a local fish fillet. |
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Day 4 (B, L, D) |
 For
these three whole days, from dawn to dusk and throughout the nights, the rhythms
of the sea, sky and spirit will become entirely our own. We will live alongside
Howler Monkeys, White-Nosed Coatis, Hermit Crabs, some resident iguanas and a
variety of forest, sea and shore birds, such as Black-Headed Trogons,
Turquoise-Browed Motmots and Brown Pelicans. No day will be like another, but we
will relax into a life flow that begins with early morning yoga at sunrise.
We will enjoy one long or two shorter paddles during the day, and end again with
yoga practice at sunset. Morning yoga sessions will focus on sun
salutations and openers for shoulders, hips and wrists, complementing the
paddling we are engaged in.
 After
a hearty breakfast, each day will offer an array of paddling possibilities to
explore around our base on Playa Quesera. We will learn basic kayak
surfing in protected conditions at Playa Organo, visit the dramatic
cliffs of Las Islas Tortugas and Los Arcos, and discover several
enchanting mangrove estuaries. Some days we will take lunch along and create a
picnic on another beach; other days we may return and have our lunch at base
camp. In the afternoons, there will be ample time for swimming, snorkelling,
resting in hammocks, reading and journaling. One day the group may hike inland
on one of the trails to further explore the flora and fauna. As the days
progress, there will be an increased focus on paddling technique and endurance.
One day we may paddle northeast, through gentle rolling swell past Playa Organo,
where we’ll enter a tight passage between the mainland and Las Negritos,
leaving the open Pacific behind for a time and enjoying the protected waters of
the Gulf of Nicoya. Back on Quesera, we’ll unwind with sunset yoga practice,
candle meditation and yoga nidra. |
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Day 7 (B, L) |
 Our
last day on the water will be marked by a special early morning yoga
session. After breakfast, we will strike camp, pack our gear and say our
goodbyes to the beautiful beach setting that has been home for the past four
nights. After loading our gear into the kayaks, we paddle the short distance to
the beach at Curú where we will unpack the boats and prepare for the
return journey to civilization. Showers and washroom facilities are available
and a traditional Costa Rican lunch will be served at the refuge. Be sure to
spend some time in the lovely Monkey Store Gift Shop here in Curú; all the
proceeds from your purchases are used to maintain and sustain this special
wildlife refuge. Upon exiting the reserve, we travel back to Tambor for
another evening at the tranquil Tambor Tropical. After checking in, unpack, swim
and enjoy a cold drink and the comforts of this accommodation. Laundry services
are available. We will gather once more for a final sunset yoga practice. |
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Day 8 (B) |
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After breakfast, you will transfer back to San José and your
accommodation at the Don Carlos. |
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Day 9 (B) |
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After breakfast, you will be picked up by our representative approximately three
hours before your departure time and taken to the airport via air conditioned
microbus. |
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(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
NOTE: This itinerary subject to change due to conditions beyond our control. |
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Tour Inclusions
& Price |
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Tour Includes: |
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2 nights Hotel in San Jose, 2 nights Hotel in Tambor, and 4 nights Camping |
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Private A/C Microbus Transportation to and from San Jose plus Ferry Ride |
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Certified Expert Guides |
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Daily Breakfast, 6 Lunches, 4 Dinners |
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Kayaking, Snorkelling & Camping Equipment: Kayaks, paddles, PFD’s, tents,
cooking supplies. |
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Safety Equipment: First aid, safety technology (cell phone and VHF marine
radio), repair kit. |
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Park Entrance Fees |
Tour does not include: |
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Airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica |
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Cancellation & Medical Insurance (ask us for a quote if you are Canadian) |
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Meals and drinks not included, as indicated in the itinerary |
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Cost to obtain valid passport |
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Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls. Any
item that is not specifically detailed on our website or in the final trip
itinerary |
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Exit Fee: Each traveler is required to pay a departure tax of around $30 U.S.
prior to leaving Costa Rica payable in U.S. dollars, colones or by credit card |
Tour Price
| Tour Price Per Person (Land Only) |
Single Supplement |
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USD $2350.00 |
USD $300.00 |
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Photography by
Seascape Kayak Tours Inc
Sandra J. Taylor, Laurice D. Nemetz and Gregory Kofsky
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© 2003 - 2010 Sacred
Earth Journeys.
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Tour Description