Costa Rica | Artistic Workshop with Mindy Lighthipe

Upon arrival in San José meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Greet Mindy and your fellow travelers over an introduction slide show of Mindy's art created from her years of travel in Costa Rica. Have dinner at the hotel this evening. Check in starts at 3:00 pm

Depart for the Toucan Rescue Ranch, home to rescued birds and animals such as toucans, a variety of parrots, macaws, owls, two toed and three toed sloths, and kinkajous. This is a unique opportunity to see conservation and rehabilitation of rainforest animals up close and personal. After an orientation and tour of the facility, spend the afternoon drawing and photographing animals and birds. There will be a boxed lunch at Toucan Rescue Ranch provided by Sibú. In the afternoon, return to Hotel Bougainvillea for a slide show lecture and demonstration with time to paint in the garden with Mindy. Dinner at the hotel.

Depart for La Catalina Jardin Botanico. Grower and expert on the native orchids of Costa Rica, Randall Obsney will educate you about his native orchid plant collection at its peak blooming time. After a lecture and trail hike, there will be time to paint orchids. Return to the hotel for an evening slide show lecture with Mindy before dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Sarapiquí, located in the lowlands of Costa Rica, stopping along the way at La Paz Waterfall Garden for shopping and a photo with the waterfall. Upon arrival, join your guide for a walk in the secondary and primary growth rainforest of Selva Verde. Bring your cameras! Pedro will introduce you to the sounds, sights and highlights of the rainforest and share tips and techniques for photography in the rainforest. After the hike, check in and settle into your rooms then have lunch. Spend the afternoon drawing and painting. Before dinner attend a presentation on the birds of Costa Rica. After dinner, embark on a nocturnal frog hike on the property around Selva Verde.

Early morning optional bird walk and photography around the reserve with Pedro. After an early breakfast, head out to CopeArte, the home of a local artist/photographer. "Cope" is the pseudonym of José Pérez. He is a self-taught artist and amateur photographer with a great love for nature; a simple and humble person without professional academic training, but with enormous innate talent. Cope will demonstrate his painting technique of painting birds in acrylic. His property is designed to maximize opportunities for birding and photography, and features ponds that attract aquatic species as well as blinds from which visitors can photograph birds despite weather conditions. Enjoy a boxed lunch on site and have the opportunity to observe José paint. Evening bat tour at Tirimbina.

Visit Pierella Garden, the home of Kristal & William. In 1995 they took bare land and created a rainforest oasis. They are reclaiming the rainforest. True conservationists and ecologists they raise butterflies for many of the butterfly houses around the world. This is sustainable farming and requires a pristine and diverse rainforest ecosystem. Beyond learning the lifecycle of butterflies and seeing so many varieties in their stages of development, spend the day drawing and painting from this stunning live collection. Spend all day at the garden to draw and paint butterflies. Have lunch at garden. Leave and head to Frog Heaven for a photo shoot of Costa Rica Frogs! Have an opportunity to photograph Red Eyed Tree Frogs, Blue Jean Poison Dart Frog and many more!

Start today with another early morning optional bird walk and photography around the reserve. After breakfast, visit Paradise Pineapple for a pineapple farm tour. As the worldwide demand for pineapples increases, so do the environmental issues of pollution, soil erosion and the use of pesticides in growing this crop for export. Paradise Pineapple is a sustainable organic farm that educates visitors on organic techniques while supporting local communities and protecting the surrounding environment. After lunch at Selva Verde, enjoy a short walk to a local cocoa plantation. During the visit, learn about the artisanal process where the cacao fruit is transformed into chocolate, starting with harvest, fermentation, and drying, and ending with the grinding of the dried seeds into cocoa powder.

Early morning optional bird walk and photography around the reserve with Pedro. After breakfast, take a boat ride on the Sarapiquí River for a chance to photograph the wildlife and wading birds that flock to the riverbank. Return to Selva Verde for lunch and then head to La Finca, an eco-farm and macaw rescue, for the opportunity to take close up photos and experience endangered macaws that are semi wild and free to come and go as they please. Tonight enjoy a farewell to Selva Verde pizza party on the lodge's river patio before your return to San José.

Depart Selva Verde and head back to San José. Arrive at Sibú Chocolate for a tour and lunch. Sibú is located in the cloud forest overlooking the mountains of Costa Rica's Central Valley. During the visit learn about the history of chocolate and how Sibú has created a sustainable business utilizing a local organic cacao plantation. Enjoy a chocolate "tasting" as part of the experience. Arrive at Bougainvillea in the afternoon for a demonstration and time to paint in the garden. In the evening attend a farewell slide show and dinner.

Check out is at noon; transfer to the international airport in San José for your flight home.