I’ve always wanted to run a class based on the spiritual aspects of exotic plant life, and the bio diverse plant life of Corcovado, Costa Rica, is so obscure yet so awesome! Yet, I am torn, because I am also tempted to simply take a group of students and enjoy all that this wondrous spiritual and bio-diverse paradise has to offer. With that in mind, I’ve decided to offer you the best of both worlds! I believe that Corcovado, which hosts more than 500 species of trees and an even larger diversity of plants, is an ideal location for botanical and ethnobotanical studies, and it is one of the most amazing and mystical places in the tropics to explore our Spiritual contact with tropical plants. The Southern half of Corcovado, near the beach, is one of the most intriguing areas in all of Central America, and has become an area of potential conservation success making it a haven for naturalists. To further explore the area, we will visit the La Leona region at the southern border of Corcovado and camp in beautiful indigenous lodges just a few steps away from the National Park entrance.
Both Corcovado and La Leona are wonderful places, located in sublime beachfront properties. The area is abundant with endangered species, like the Scarlet Macaws, those wonderful birds with all of their raucousness are an emblem of this sector and we will often find tracks of felines on the beach, including those of the Jaguar, “that which kills with one paw”, just feet away from your tent. As we immerse ourselves in Corcovado’s splendor and journey deep into the National Park to discover and explore various and exceptional subjects, I will be happy to share with you my understanding of the spiritual world of plants.
Our schedule looks something like this:
Day 1 (March 23): Upon arrival to the Juan Santamaria International Airport we’ll go to the Tobias Bolanos Airport for Small Planes to take our flight to the Carate in the Southern portion of the Osa Peninsula. At the airstrip in the area of Carate, we will load Horse Carts and start walking to the Lodges. Once there, we will eat together and get settled in our rooms for the orientation session with our Tracker staff.
Overnight: Corcovado Lodge.
Day 2-5 (March 24-27): Before breakfast we’ll gather for insight and reflections on the previous day’s activities, then go for breakfast to the Lodges at 6:30 a.m. We’ll start our activities according to the previous day’s program. On days two and four, we will spend our mornings on Spiritual Plants sessions and on the mornings of days three and five we’ll enjoy long walks within the National Park for Tracker discoveries and uses of the principles learned during class. During our field trips we’ll discuss a various interpretation of the ecology, biology, and philosophy, of the Natural surroundings.
Overnight: Corcovado Lodge.
Day 6 (March 28): Before breakfast we’ll have one last opportunity to share our thoughts and insights. Then pack our luggage and equipment and be ready to leave by 7:30 a.m. We will walk to the airstrip and board small planes for our trip back to San Jose, then we will transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport for our International departures home.
Don’t forget to have $26 airport tax ready along with airline tickets and your passports.
I believe that the exceptional learning and spiritual growth opportunities here, combined with all of its biological richness and beautiful pristine beaches, make Corcovado one of the few places on earth that we can truly call “Paradise”.
Class Size: 20 max - Only 7 spots remaining (students must arrange their own flights to/from Juan Santamaria International Airport)
Cost: $1,400 (plus $450 for in-country air transportation)
50% Deposit Upon Registration
50% Balance Due on February 1, 2008
