Herpetile Tour 

January 21 to 30, 2026

​2027 dates coming soon!!

In 2026 we are offering a 9-day trip with the amazing TWAN LEENDERS! 

Tour 1 Based at Sylvan, we have ample time to search for glass frogs in Glass Frog Alley, snakes up Culebra Creek and much more.  

You can choose to join Twan on a pre-trip, or make your own way to Sylvan.  At the end of our tour we stay at a wonderful lodge overlooking the Terraba Sierpe estuary, and visit Corcovado. 

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Cost: $2,250 USD per person

shared accommodations

Pretrip not included in this price

Leader: Twan Leenders, author, photographer, leading herpetologist for Costa Rica. Co-led and organized by Fiona Reid.

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Group Size: 6-8. 

Sorry, Sold Out

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Les: Any trip to the wildlife paradise that is Sylvan will leave you wanting more.  From glass frogs and party lizards, to fer-de-lance and poison dart frogs, the 2024 herp trip with Fiona and Twan was a blast.  Over 50 species of amphibians and reptiles were observed, but that’s only the beginning.  We saw many birds, bats, monkeys, and insects while hiking the many trails in the area.  Highlights of the trip were Glass Frog Alley, Culebra Creek trail, and of course swimming in the waterfall pool with the biting fish (a must for every visitor to Sylvan).  

Bridget: I was a total newbie to Costa Rica and to ecotourism when I joined a herp blitz at Sylvan in January  2023. What a fantastic time I had! Fiona and Twan were fabulous and very knowledgeable and the food was amazing! I cannot say enough good things about my stay and plan on returning as soon as I can.

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​Bat Bioblitz

February 23 to March 1, 2026

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Sylvan has recorded  over 70 species of bats to date.  On this bioblitz participants will visit a number of locations, near and far, setting a variety of types of nets in the forest and over rivers. 

Participants will learn how to identify and handle a variety of species. 

We will also visit a cave offsite, enjoy the massive waterfalls, relax in hammocks, but most of all learn about numerous bats and their habits. 

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Flights and in-country travel  not included

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Sorry, Sold Out!

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Nature Sketching and 

Tropical Retreat

February 4 to 11, 2027

 

This is our third sketching workshop with the multi-talented artist, naturalist, and instructor DEBBY KASPARI.

Sylvan is the perfect place for sketching tropical wildlife and landscapes, with aquamarine waterfalls, flowering heliconias, and colorful tanagers visiting the feeders at the lodge.  Debby Kaspari will guide you through methods of sketching fast and loose, drawing birds in the wild, and exploring the lush biodiversity of Costa Rica’s rainforest. You’ll build your skills with pencil, pen, watercolors, and other media in daily classes, with plenty of one-on-one instruction and plenty of time for relaxing and socializing with your fellow sketchers.  

 

We’ll end our stay at a lodge perched over the Terraba Sierpe estuary near the Osa Peninsula, where you’ll have a sunset sea view for painting and sketching. This retreat will be a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the Costa Rica rainforest, and to learn to successfully portray it yourself. 

The trip starts and ends in Rio Claro.

 

Cost: $2,250 USD per person, shared accommodations 

 

Leader: Debby Kaspari -  landscape artist, teacher and birder

 https://drawingthe motmot.com

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Group Size: 6 - 8

 

To register please contact Fiona: info@escapetosylvan.com

 

Comment:​​

Catherine: Thank you, Fiona and Debby, for everything you did and for sharing the jaw-droppingly wonderful Sylvan. It was a perfect trip! 
 

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