Jewels of Costa Rica and the Southern Milky Way

After breakfast, we depart on our private coach for a scenic tour of the colorful capital city of San José, and then through the tropical countryside as we make our way toward Costa Rica’s famed Arenal volcano. En route, stroll among the spectacular blooms at Botanical Orchid Garden, created by the Carrizal family in a former coffee plantation, and explore the whimsical topiary gardens at Zarcero. After checking into our hotel at Arenal, take a stroll or relax by the pool, enjoying great views of the cone-shaped volcano rising more than a mile (1,600 m) above sea level.

DATE(S): Sunday, February 7, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Arenal Manoa or similar

Start the morning at your own pace, gaining new perspectives on the majestic volcano, before we head into the national park to experience its beauty up close.  While currently in a quiet phase, Arenal has been one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes throughout its 7,500-year history. Exploring the surrounding area on easy-to-moderate forest trails, you encounter a profusion of tropical flora and fauna: watch out for parrots, howler monkeys and maybe even a sloth. Your naturalist guide also knows the best vantage points for viewing the hardened remnants of ancient lava flows.

After lunch, your immersion in biodiversity shifts up to the rainforest canopy, where you walk along a series of “hanging bridges” that span the treetops of this lush corridor. The breathtaking 360° views include (jungle mists permitting) a unique vantage point on Arenal’s fissured slopes and classic conical profile. Then, as the perfect finale, change into your swimsuit for a plunge into the famed Tabacón Hot Springs. Formed when rainwater collects deep below the Earth’s crust and is heated by molten magma, the geothermal pools are rich in minerals that many believe have beneficial health effects.

DATE(S): Monday, February 8, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Arenal Manoa or similar

After breakfast, it’s a quick coach ride to nearby Lake Arenal, where we take in the beauty of Costa Rica’s largest freshwater body on a delightful boat cruise. Docking on the far shore, we follow winding roads through the tropical landscape to Monteverde and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest, named for the near-constant mists that create a moist, warm environment where exotic plants thrive. As you walk the trails for a half-day through this lush ecosystem, our expert naturalist helps you keep an eye out for an amazing array of flowers, animals and especially birds, including the bare-necked umbrellabird, the three-wattled bellbird – and, if you’re lucky, the fabulously colorful quetzal.

After a refreshing post-hike ice cream in the charming town of Santa Elena, we check into our scenically situated hotel, where you can enjoy an evening stroll in the grounds or perhaps review your sky charts to get ready for the three nights of stargazing to come.

DATE(S): Tuesday, February 9, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel El Establo or similar

After breakfast, we’ll make a brief shopping stop for last-minute items at a supermarket, and then head west through rolling countryside to the Gulf of Nicoya on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, where our rustic Star Lodge, set in a bird and wildlife habitat, is reserved exclusively for your stargazing and recreational pleasure.

Our lodge provides a welcome retreat amidst breathtaking natural beauty. This is an “unplugged” experience: no guest telephones, no TVs, no in-room Internet connections. To further reduce our footprint, there’s also no air conditioning – but rest easy, most guest rooms have screened windows on three sides, so you can enjoy the evening breezes (and there are ceiling and floor fans if you need them). Your room also includes red lights to keep your eyes adjusted to the dark before you head out to view the skies. The lodge’s manicured lawn has open southern vistas, offering a perfect site for telescopes and other equipment (which you can begin setting up soon after we arrive in the afternoon).

The open-air restaurant and lounge, which overlooks the tree-lined grounds and the sparkling bay beyond, are popular meeting places throughout the day and evening. The chefs present meals made with fresh ingredients, including fish and other meats, locally grown produce and tropical fruits. And throughout the night, you can count on regular cups of expertly-brewed coffee – Costa Rica’s most famous export.

We’ve arranged for dinner to be served around 5:00 p.m. each day, so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare for a great night under the stars. In February, the nights at our viewing location are about 10 hours long: sunset is just after 6:00 p.m., with astronomical twilight ending less than an hour later. We kick off our first evening of viewing with a tour of the southern sky, as our TravelQuest astronomer guides you to the most impressive sights visible with binoculars and small telescopes.

DATE(S): Wednesday, February 10, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Star Lodge

This morning you can sleep in, relax around the lodge, maybe take a dip in the pool, or join us just after dawn for a guided birding excursion. Later, we head out from the lodge’s private pier on a half-day boat tour along the Gulf of Nicoya, meandering through the coastal mangrove habitat as our naturalist guide helps you spot and identify the many species of North Pacific forest birds that nest there.

In the evening, join our trip astronomer for a more in-depth presentation on the Costa Rican sky. Then head out to the lodge’s grounds, where you can observe the shimmering night sky through the 30mm eyepiece of our Explore Scientific 16-inch Truss-Tube Dobsonian telescope. From less-known corners of the Milky Way to various deep-sky phenomena visible all through the night – plus Carina Nebula, Omega Centauri, the Southern Cross and more – look forward to an unforgettable stargazing experience - and a long one, too: from just before 7 p.m., as twilight is starting to fade, until the sky begins to brighten around 5 a.m. (though of course you can head back to your room anytime, knowing the stars will still be there tomorrow night).

DATE(S): Thursday, February 11, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Star Lodge

Spend the morning at your leisure, maybe joining the early bird watchers. Or take an optional trek to the nearby lagoon to view water birds and crocodiles – plus chances to spot howler monkeys, agoutis and iguanas along the trail.

In the afternoon we visit the Abangaritos elementary school, adjacent to Star Lodge, where it is TravelQuest’s tradition to bequeath some much-needed supplies and a few smiles to the schoolchildren, who reside in this economically depressed community.  Then, as our young hosts wave us on our way, we carry on overland across the lodge’s 800 private acres of plantation lands, crowned by the climb to a spectacular lookout where we toast the sunset with drinks and appetizers. Your last night of stargazing begins with another informative talk by our trip astronomer. Then, head out to the field, or rest before rising in the early morning hours for an amazing treat -Sagittarius and Scorpius, relatively low on the horizon from the North, will be high in the sky, surrounded by other deep-sky treasures.

DATE(S): Friday, February 12, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Star Lodge

After lunch, we bid the gracious Star Lodge staff farewell and begin our journey back to San José, stopping along the road at a popular market where you can shop for coffee, vanilla, cigars, artisanal crafts, clothing and other souvenirs. In the evening, join us at the hotel for our farewell dinner and a great exchange of final thoughts and memories with fellow travelers.

DATE(S): Saturday, February 13, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Crowne Plaza San José or similar

After breakfast at the hotel (or, if you wish, the restaurant can provide a boxed breakfast to go), it’s an easy transfer to the San José airport for your journey homeward or further explorations in Latin America.

DATE(S): Sunday, February 14, 2021

MEALS: Breakfast