April 24-29, 2025 

Words by Aiden Murphy and Colin Larkin 

Over five days in Costa Rica, a group of 28 tree climbers came together to explore, connect, relax, learn, and most importantly, climb some towering giants! This wonderful adventure was brought to life by the GOTC, organized by Eric Folmer and Will Cottrell, and generously hosted by the incredible team at OSA conservation. The trip blended a solid mix of incredible climbing opportunities, informative presentations by the OSA staff, and a myriad of guided and self-guided activities on Costa Rica’s beautiful and incredibly biodiverse Osa Peninsula. The peninsula hosts some of the tallest trees in Central America, including the Ceiba which can reach up to an astonishing height of 250ft (70m). 

Pre Vous

In addition to the main event, we opted for the Pre Vous package organized by Costa Rica Rainforest Experience, which included an additional 4 nights of guided exploration and climbing. After arriving in San Jose the night before, we left the hotel bright and early, on our way to the Talamanca range for our lodging on the Pre-Vouz, stopping along the way to visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, a church in Cartago built originally in 1639. 

We also spent a few hours at the Lancaster Botanical Garden and stopped at a local Soda—a small, family-run restaurant common throughout Costa Rica—for a quick bite. Once at the Cerro Vueltas Lodge we were treated to amazing meals, stunning views, incredible hospitality and very impressive trees to climb. Being up in the mountains at 9000 feet meant we would be climbing in a high mountain rainforest with special growth patterns and unique biodiversity. 

The lodge itself was constructed by the Seelye family who have been in the Talamanca Range since the 1970s. Four of the Seelye children were given the opportunity to develop a property and build a lodge (which they did with lumber milled with a chainsaw) when they were in their early 20s. They each devoted five years of their time to make this project happen. Using chainsaws, horses, and hand tools they created a beautiful and cozy space to house and feed up to 50 guests at a time.

During our stay we witnessed the activity of two Costa Rican Volcanoes; Poás and Turrialba

On the Cerro Vueltas property we had the pleasure of climbing an endemic species of podocarpus and some white oak which hosted a variety of epiphytes and mosses. The canopies appeared as aerial gardens, it was difficult to avoid disturbing bromeliads along with large tufts of moss and ferns while climbing! 

Rendezvous: 

After an unforgettable Pre Vous experience in the Talamanca Range, we traveled by bus from the Cerro Vueltas Lodge down to the Pacific coast to the town of Puerto Jiménez. There, we were greeted by the Osa Conservation staff and said our goodbyes to our amazing Pre Vous tour guide Carlos, our bus, and its lovely driver José. Big thanks to Carlos and Costa Rica Rainforest Experience for an incredible Pre Vous journey—his enthusiasm and insight made the first leg of our adventure truly special. We then boarded 4×4 taxis, dividing into groups as we made the final 45-minute journey to the Osa campus.

Nestled in one of the most biodiverse regions on earth, the Osa Conservation Campus provided us with an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest. Mornings were filled with howler monkey calls and birdsongs, followed by guided tours of the many ongoing conservation efforts at Osa. After lunch there were an abundance of hiking, climbing and relaxing options to choose from, consisting of miles of trails throughout the campus, towering trees, a 100ft (30m) tall wildlife observation tower and poolside lounge chairs. After returning for an amazing dinner, we wound down with informative presentations by numerous Osa staff, Treevia (tree trivia) and sharing stories. 

Of all of the magnificent trees climbed throughout the rendezvous, there’s one clear highlight that stands out. On the first morning, we joined a group and ventured out to find one of the largest trees on the Osa campus. Led by an Osa guide, we geared up and embarked on the 2 hour hike through the lush Costa Rican rainforest to reach the tree. 

Thankfully, a line was already set in the tree for canopy research that we were able to use successfully. The ceiba was around 200 ft tall.

After some setup, we had 3 climb lines anchored in the canopy and around 7 people in the tree at once! 

The ceiba had a fantastic canopy with some great limb walking opportunities and a view overlooking the peninsula’s canopy and the Pacific Ocean. 

One of the many conservation projects that the Osa Conservation team has been focusing on is constructing and monitoring bridges for canopy dwelling species. These rope bridges, made from two or three thick strands, reconnect fragmented canopy habitats, such as those divided by roads, allowing animals to travel safely across areas where it was once impossible. During the rendezvous, we were able to assist the conservation team with the monitoring of and routine upkeep of the bridges. 

This included checking the tension and condition of the rope, clearing fallen and intruding branches, as well as SD card retrieval, battery replacement, and testing of the cameras used to monitor wildlife activity on the bridges. Of course, this all was conducted in some great climbing trees! 

Overall a very fun and informative day. Using our phones we were able to access the files from the cameras and watch videos of many different species using the rope bridges.

While staying at the OSA campus, we were treated to some unforgettable wildlife encounters. Just a few hundred feet from our cabins, a large fig tree became a daily spectacle, drawing in groups of monkeys with its abundant fruit. The monkeys returned regularly, and their energetic activity made for captivating viewing.

The spider monkeys, in particular, were mesmerizing. Using their strong tails for balance and grip, they swung rapidly through the canopy, often leaping tens of feet between branches—sometimes nearly 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground. Climbing nearby and observing them up close was truly an awe-inspiring experience.

Overall this trip was fantastic, incredible trees were climbed and good laughs were had, many stories shared and knowledge passed down, all in one of the most biodiverse places on earth. We would like to thank everyone who participated and brought good energy to the rainforests of Costa Rica and of course a special thanks to Osa Conservation, Cerro Vueltas Lodge, Costa Rica Rainforest Experience, GOTC, Eric Folmer, Will Cottrell and everyone who helped plan, organize and facilitate the trip, we are deeply grateful!