Tree Climbers Rendezvous 2025
Costa Rica

Rendezvous Dates

April 24-29, 2025 (Thu-Tue) – Five nights/four full days. Thursday (arrival) and Tuesday (departure) are travel days.

Preliminary sign-up deadline: Friday November 29 @ 11:59 pm, 2024
Full refund, minus PayPal charges, date: February 20, 2025
Partial refund: after February 20, 2025

We have an optional fixed pre-Vous tour and an optional fixed post-Vous tour available for you, arranged by Costa Rica Rainforest Experience – keep scrolling down for this information.

We are providing information on discounted lodging in San José and pre-arranged transportation options for arrival and departure – keep scrolling down!

Location

GOTC is contracting with OSA Conservation for this year’s Rendezvous. OSA Conservation is an all-inclusive venue that offers various lodging options and complete food services. It is also an amazing conservation organization protecting tropical lowland forest close to Corcovado National Park. This is where Carolina, presenter in Florida, has worked with canopy wildlife bridges. There are very large trees, some with throw lines already set. They have interesting canopy research that they will share with us.

GOTC and OSA Conservation welcome you, our guests, to this gathering in Costa Rica. We hope you will join us. We are looking forward to seeing everyone, old and new friends included! Please reach out to anyone you think would be interested in attending. We’d love to see you!

Schedule

We’ll have a variety of workshops and presentations. A finalized schedule will be emailed in PDF form shortly before the Rendezvous. Check out our current schedule

Activities

One morning with the Wildlife Program working on the arboreal bridge project. This will involve checking the cameras and the bridges to ensure they are in good condition and seeing what wildlife passes.
One morning with the Restoration Program exploring the tree nursery and arboretum to learn about the species of trees we work with and our restoration approach.
One morning working on the regenerative farm – harvesting produce for our campus which you will later eat as part of a delicious meal.
Self-guided activities can include: Exploring over 30km of trails, including mangroves, pristine beaches (not for swimming), waterfalls, rivers, and rock pools. Ascend our 30m high canopy tower or view the ocean and Corcovado National Park from our 7m high viewing platform.

Presentations – there will be up to two presentations each evening before/after dinner.

Climate Corridors Presentation by Eleanor Flatt
Arboreal Bridge Presentation by Wildlife Program Manager – Yvonne Kemp
Sea Turtle Conservation Presentation by Sea Turtle Conservation Program Coordinator – Monica Garcia
Restoration Presentation by Lowlands Restoration Coordinator – Jose David
Migratory Bird Monitoring Presentation by Ornithologist Paco Vega
Movement Ecology presentation by Movement Ecology Field Operations Manager – Sarah Wicks

Lodging Types

Lodging for the 2025 Tree Climbers Rendezvous will be at the Osa Conservation Campus

Nature Retreat Center [6-12 people]
The Osa Nature Retreat Center, an amazing, 6 suite facility, each fitted with one queen and one king bed, a private balcony with an ocean view, hot indoor and outdoor showers, a small area to read, relax or enjoy a pool in the middle of the rainforest. At the Retreat Center, you are surrounded by squirrel monkeys, toucans, macaws, coatis, and more. This secluded facility is just a 10 minute walk through the rainforest to the beach, and a 15 min walk or drive to the Bio-Station.
Note: one or two people per room, but the price is the same per person. Therefore, in this case, ‘double occupancy’ simply is to indicate that you want to share your room with a specific friend/family member or you are open to sharing your room with someone else (which can help us with capacity).

Bio-Station Dorm [36 people]
The Bio-Station is composed of a facility with dormitory style rooms with capacity for 24 people and there is an additional cabin that has dormitory style rooms with capacity for 12 people. All rooms are shared with 2 bunk beds per room and shared bathrooms.

Bio-Station Cabins [6-12 people]
The rustic rainforest cabins are at the heart of the campus. Each cabin has 3 rooms with a queen and single bed, shared living space, and 2 shared bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. These cabins back up to the old-growth rainforest, and are frequently visited by scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, and collared peccaries. Note: we have separate prices for single (max 3 cabins) and double occupancy of a cabin (this can help us with capacity).

Pricing

The Rendezvous event at OSA will last for 5 nights/4 full days.The prices are the same for climbers and non-climbers. For a children’s discount, please contact us at rendezvous@gotreeclimbing.org.

Nature Retreat Center – single occupancy pp: $1995
Nature Retreat Center – double occupancy pp: $1995
Bio-Station Dorm Bed pp: $645
Bio-Station Cabin – single occupancy pp: $995
Bio-Station Cabin – double occupancy pp: $745

All prices listed for the full event, with a stay at OSA, include:

your chosen accommodation for 5 nights
4 full days included
linens included
3 meals a day
access to hiking trails and many very tall trees
access to waterfalls, rivers, and rock pools
access to beaches (to stroll!, not swim :-(…) at OSA
access to a 30-m high canopy tower
access to a 7-m high viewing platform (see the ocean, Corcovado NP)
event t-shirt
access to all workshops, tours, presentations by speakers, etc.
campfires

Transportation

Note: If you are joining the Pre-Vous, transportation from the hotel in San José to OSA Conservation is included. If you are joining the Post-Vous, transportation from OSA Conservation to the hotel in San José is included.

You can sign up for a pre-arranged transportation option if you are not joining the Pre and/or Post-Vous.

We recommend you stay at the Bougainvillea Hotel (email: info@hb.co.cr) against a 15% GOTC/Rainforest Experience discount (mention GOTC in the email):
• Wednesday, April 23: stay at Bougainvillea (www.hb.co.cr), including breakfast on Thursday, April 24.
• You’re welcome to book more nights (e.g., April 22) at the Bougainvillea.

‘Getting to OSA’ transportation arrival package:
• Thursday, April 24: Pick up by bus at Bougainvillea. Travel to Puerto Jiménez with guided stops (English-speaking guide on board). It’s easiest to stay at Bougainvillea. You can also meet us here, but traffic might be tricky in the morning.
• Thursday, April 24: transportation from Puerto Jiménez to OSA Conservation by 4WD taxi.

‘Getting to San José capital’ transportation departure package:
• Tuesday, April 29: Transportation from OSA Conservation to Puerto Jiménez by 4WD taxi.
• Tuesday, April 29: Pick up by bus at Puerto Jiménez. Travel to Bougainvillea (www.hb.co.cr) with guided stops (English-speaking guide on board). We’ll drop you off at Bougainvillea.

We again recommend you stay at the Bougainvillea against a 15% GOTC/Rainforest Experience discount (mention GOTC in the email):
• Tuesday, April 29: stay at Bougainvillea, including breakfast on Wednesday, April 30.
• You’re welcome to book more nights at the Bougainvillea.

Note: most of you will arrive by air. These packages do not include transportation to and from Juan Santamaría International Airport (San José). Bougainvillea does not offer a shuttle service; a taxi or Uber to/from SJO airport should be around $35. You’ll able to coordinate sharing rides in a FB group after sign-up.

Pre-Vous – Las Vueltas, Talamanca Range

Dates: April 20-24, 2025 (Sun-Thu)
Price: $695

Day 1. April 20: Meet at Bougainvillea Hotel. Taxi (around $35)/Uber/Carpool from the airport on your own. You’ll able to coordinate sharing rides in a FB group after sign-up. Dinner on your own.

Day 2. April 21: Breakfast. Travel to Talamanca Range. Stop at Lancaster Botanical Garden. Traditional lunch at El Empalme. Continue to Las Vueltas Reserve. Check-in and hike at this wonderful ancient forest. Dinner and overnight at Las Vueltas Lodge. (B, L, D) The Talamanca Highlands are the home of the majestic Paramo and the best place to find about 26 species of near-endemic birds and, of course, chances to observe the Resplendent Quetzal. The forest at Las Vueltas protects the endemic Prumnopitis (2 species) and wonderful oak trees. Prumnopitis (formerly Podocarpus) are unique endangered trees. Climbing and hiking in the forest is a very special experience.

Day 3. April 22: Early wake up early to look for the Resplendent Quetzal, one of the most impressive birds. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Hike or Climb at the Reserve. Lunch at Las Vueltas. Afternoon hike in the Reserve. Dinner and overnight at Las Vueltas Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 4. April 23: Optional morning birding. Breakfast. Visit the Páramo at Cerro Buenavista and Los Quetzales National Park. Lunch at Soda Miriam – traditional food of the region. Return to Las Vueltas. Afternoon hike or climbing in the Reserve. Dinner and overnight at Las Vueltas Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 5. April 24 Breakfast, and travel to Puerto Jiménez and on to Osa Conservation

Post-Vous: Drake Bay, Corcovado and Caño Island

Dates: April 29-May 2, 2025 (Tue-Fri)
Price: $995

Day 1. April 29: Travel to Drake by bus to Sierpe, then by boat through the mangroves and down the Pacific Coast. Lunch and check in at Poor Man’s Paradise. Afternoon to explore the area. Dinner and overnight at Poor Man’s. (B, L, D)

Day 2. April 30: Breakfast. Boat to Caño Island, marine life viewing, and great snorkeling. Late lunch at Poor Man’s. Afternoon to explore the area. Beach at San Josecito Bay for swimming. Dinner and overnight at Poor Man’s. (B, L, D)

Day 3. May 1: Breakfast. Boat to Sirena Station at Corcovado National Park. A place full of life. Hike in the National Park—late lunch on the boat. Return to Poor Man’s Paradise. Dinner and overnight at Poor Man’s. (B, L, D)

Day 4. May 2: Breakfast and travel by boat to Sierpe. Then, by bus to San José, go on a Crocodile Safari at the Tarcoles River. Lunch in the area. Check-in at Villas Aracari or something similar. Dinner on your own. (B, L).

Thank you to our Pre and Post Vous Organizer: