TRIP DETAILS

REACHING THE CLOUDS IN COSTA RICA
Your art journey takes you into the heart of the Talamanca Mountains, home to the famous Chirripo Mountain, the second highest peak in all of Central America. This area of the county is known for having the best climate on Earth with sunny warm days and cool refreshing nights. You will be staying at Rio Chirripo lodge, a stunning property surrounded by flowing rivers and green mountain tops. Enjoy views of rolling hills and lush colourful tropical gardens as you explore the beauty of your new surroundings. Push your limits on our daily walks and activities to explore the area or simply allow the beauty of the area to awaken all of your senses and spark your creativity. Gail Sibley, your fab art instructor will help you capture in pastel and sketches the unique character of this incredibly enchanting and pristine tropical mountain getaway. 
DAY 1 - Arrival in San José. First night in a charming little hotel close to the airport. You can meet up for your first group dinner tonight with Gail and the others in the hotel's restaurant, one of our favourites in all of San José! Arrive early and you can explore more of Costa Rica's capital city. Visit many markets, museums, coffee plantations and more.
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Included meals: None
DAY 2 - Early morning private transport to Rio Chirripó lodge, a scenic 3-hour drive through beautiful mountains and scenery. Delicious lunch served upon arrival. Unpack and explore the grounds. You'll be surrounded by mountains and lush gardens in and around the property.  Enjoy your first atelier with your art instructor Gail and begin your journey of creativity within this incredible landscape. We'll then enjoy a delicious family style dinner together in the main dining room overlooking the mountains. Rio Chirripo offers organic ingredients mostly from their own garden or from local farms. Try their locally made cheeses and breads, as well as greens of all kinds. Food at Rio Chirripo is very much part of the adventure. 
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Included meals: Breakfast in San José, lunch and dinner at Rio Chirripo Lodge
Included activity: Your first Atelier with Gail, your fab art instructor. 
DAY 3 - After a delicious breakfast, join Gail at the Secret Gardens where you can experience a wide variety of plants and flowers. We'll follow a short guided tour of this incredible botanical collection and then allow you plenty of time to explore the grounds on your own. Choose from the many flowers or vistas to paint and photograph throughout the grounds. You can always come back to the gardens during your own time as it is located quite close to the lodge. Head back for lunch and some free time to enjoy the pool, one of two hot tubs and of course the cool flowing Chirripo river. 
This afternoon, perhaps you are inspired to continue creating? Is so, you will have plenty of time to continue what you have started this morning or can explore the local grounds for more to capture with your camera, sketchbook, or with your pastels. Gail will be around to guide and support you one on one. 
Close to sunset, we invite you to our beautiful yoga room for an optional relaxing yoga session followed by a lovely dinner.
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Approx. walk time to activity: 20 minutes to and from the Gardens (small incline going up to the gardens, mostly down on the return) + 1 hour touring the grounds on uneven terrain. Free time to paint plein-air and photograph. 
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner 
Included activities: Visit of the Secret Gardens +  Sunset Yoga 
Optional activities ($): Massages and spa treatments. 
DAY 4 - Join us on a guided walk of the Cloudbridge Reserve, home to many species of birds including the famous resplendent Quetzal. Here Gail will encourage you to sketch and photograph your heart away within this incredible natural setting. Or, if you prefer, enjoy some free time at the lodge by the pool or continue exploring the grounds with your pastels at hand. You can also book a massage with our in-house massage therapist. 
Mid afternoon, join Gail again for another delightful atelier. This evening, we'll enjoy a delicious dinner together followed by some relaxing time by the fire in the lounge or maybe a warm dip in the hot tub under the moon and stars. 
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Approx. walk time: 2 hours on the property or you can enjoy the waterfall and meditation garden.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner 
Included activities:  Cloudbridge walk + Second Art Atelier with Gail mid afternoon.
Optional spa treatment:  Many options available including massages and facials.
DAY 5 - Today we offer you the choice of staying back at the lodge for a full day of relaxation and painting or joining us on an adventure that will take you to the Ballena National Park. This park is known for its famous Whale's Tail beach that becomes exposed at low tide. Walk along the endless beach lined with coconut trees and if you're lucky, you might spot colourful Scarlet Macaws and monkeys like howlers or white face capuchins! Perhaps you want to bring a few art supplies to sit and simply paint or draw? Absolutely. 
For those that have chosen to stay behind today, Gail will be on site and available for feedback and support. Maybe you feel like visiting our local butterfly dome down the road this afternoon? If so, for only a few dollars, enter this magical wonderland filled with various species of butterflies, flowers and tropical plants. 

The full group will meet up again for another delicious meal. Tonight, we invite you to our fire pit by the river for some chill time under the night sky.
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Approx. time to beach: 90 minutes each way. Be prepared for winding roads all the way to the coast. 
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner for those staying back. Breakfast and dinner for those joining us at the beach. Lunch can be taken to go from the lodge or you can join us in one of our favourite restaurants in the area for seafood and more! (Lunch in the restaurant is at your own cost).  
Included activities: None
Optional activities ($): Beach day and boat tour on the Pacific Ocean (Minimum 4 participants- 150USD per participant). Many options available including massages and facials for those staying back. 
DAY 6 - After a lovely breakfast, join us for your third creative Atelier with Gail that will feature a variety of beautiful fruits from Costa Rica as well as a fun chocolate tasting activity. Paint exotic fruits featuring unique textures and colours. Use these still life objects to explore different painting techniques as shown by your instructor. Enjoy the many flavourful fruits and chocolates of the tropics. After lunch feel free to rest, swim, continue painting, photographing and exploring the landscape. 
Meet us at 3pm for a surprise spa treatment by the river!  We'll introduce you to locally grown products that will leave your skin feeling soft and new.
At sunset and before dinner, meet Gail and the group for a final closing-circle-critique. Bring your work from the week for overall feedback from Gail. 
We finish the day with our favourite make-your-own pizza dinner all prepared in our beautiful lounge that features a clay oven and seating perfect for mingling. 
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Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and pizza dinner (gluten free options available)
Included activities: Third Art Atelier  + Exotic fruit and Chocolate tasting +  River Spa treatment + Closing circle critique
Optional spa treatment ($):  Many options available including massages and facials.
DAY 7 - Later today we prepare to return to San José. Before we go, take time to work on any paintings. Gail will be available for help and feedback. You will have most of the morning available to continue being creative. Enjoy a hearty brunch before heading back to the Capital City. We may be able to give you some additional time before having to depart or maybe the group will prefer to arrive early in San Jose allowing for more time to explore the City. No matter what the group chooses, tonight we encourage everyone to meet up at the hotel's restaurant for one last group dinner. Tomorrow, all will be departing at various times so it's a great opportunity for one last fun night together. Again, this restaurant is one of our favourites! 
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Included meals: Brunch at Rio Chirripo
DAY 8 - Enjoy a complimentary yummy breakfast at the hotel and say your farewells! With us, it’s never goodbye, just "see you later!" Transfer to the International Airport or you can continue enjoying more of San José if you have time before your flight! 
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Included meal: Breakfast
QUESTIONS?
Do not hesitate to contact us at info@rrescape.com with any of your questions. Join our small group of intrepid artists at THE most impressive and serene spot in all of Costa Rica. 
If you have a Q, we have an A.
NOTE that the schedule and all of the activities listed above are subject to change and some optional tours are only available with a minimum number of participants.

MEET GAIL 

Gail’s subjects include figures, still life, and plein-air scenes of urban and rural life, created locally or while travelling internationally. Viewers and collectors marvel at the vibrant colours and light in Gail’s work which breath special life into perceptions of every day scenes. More here. 
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