Explore Costa Rica’s rich, diverse ecosystem from land to sea with a new Conservation Land and Sea Experience at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. As the Resort’s exclusive Extraordinary Experience, this two-day eco-learning adventure brings guests close to Costa Rica’s rare and endangered wildlife through rich explorations of land and sea.
“Costa Rica and our Peninsula Papagayo setting are home to fascinating micro-climates and rare, exotic species that many people never get the chance to see,” says General Manager Michael Mestraud. “The most rewarding part of our new Extraordinary Experience is empowering guests to fully immerse themselves in Costa Rica’s untouched nature while inviting them to learn how to preserve and protect our diverse ecosystem.”
The new Conservation Land and Sea Extraordinary Experience at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica encompasses two remarkable days of discovery on land and by sea as follows:
Day 1: Sea – A day of aquatic exploration offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the deepest, unexplored parts of The Golfo Dulce in the south Pacific. Participants are whisked away on a private plane to take in the Pacific Coast’s spectacular landscapes including sprawling views of tropical forests, Central America’s biggest mangrove canal system and volcanic formations dating back more than 65 million years. Guest will arrive at Golfo Dulce, a large marine area in that is home to Pacific green sea turtles, humpback whales, spotted dolphins, bottle nose dolphins, and more. Boarding a luxurious yacht, participants will spend the day studying the life and habitat of hammerhead sharks. Led by Marine Biologists and Conservationists Andrés Lopez and Ilena Zanella, they will teach explorers how to document sharks through their Misión Tiburón non-profit organisation by venturing deep into the South Pacific and monitoring adolescent hammerheads. For an unforgettable memento, guests can “adopt” and name their own hammerhead shark and will receive reports of its travels and growth over its lifespan.
Available year around except for the months of September, October and November. Weather dependent. Price: USD 42,793 for 10 people maximum, which includes a USD 3,500 donation to Misión Tiburón.
Day 2: Land – Day two of this experience sees participants play a vital role in this new world butterfly species documentation as they collect caterpillars and sample the DNA of exquisite butterflies. Led by Kyoto prize winner Dr. Daniel Janzen, known as the “Darwin of Conservation,” and his team of para-taxonomists and field-trained biodiversity specialists, this journey begins with a 35-minute scenic flight along Guanacaste’s wild volcanic mountain range with unobstructed views of the region’s tropical rainforest. Guests touch down at Dr. Janzen’s lab in Quebrada Grande, home to one of the world’s largest collections of tropical butterflies. Upon arriving, guests will venture out and explore the forest to identify caterpillars and transport them back to the lab where they will metamorphosise into stunning butterflies. Guests will meet the para-taxonomists and observe as they sample one leg of each butterfly to test its unique DNA and learn of the many different species that are discovered by the team’s meticulous work. Following a dinner with Dr. Janzen, explorers continue the outdoor adventure into the night as they trek deep into the forest to sample other rare butterfly species of the region. The evening continues as explorers meet other researchers and learn about their newly discovered species before returning to the Resort in by luxury SUV.
Available year around. Weather dependent. Price USD 37,557 for 10 people max which includes a USD 10,000 donation to the Area de Conservacia Guanacaste.
