Allow $250 to $500+ (your budget) for meals, optional activities and Personal expenses/gifts
>>>DEPOSIT: $1K by Dec 1, 2025. After due date will be 10% or more depends on spaces available.
>>>CANCELATION:
**If you need to cancel, the deposit amount is non-refundable
**3 weeks before the trip, 100% of the total trip amount is subject to forfeiture.

>>>General Rating/Difficulty: Levels 2 to 3: Moderate Pace. Click RATING TABLE to see more about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

>>>Itinerary will be 15D/15N or 9D/9N
Day 1- Jan 23: air travel
Days 2 to 5 - Jan 24-27: San Jose
Day 5 - Jan 27: Poas Volcano-Doka Coffee Plantation https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/289661617/
Day 6 - Jan 28: La Paz Gardens and Waterfalls
Days 7 to 10-Jan 29-31: Monteverde-Clouds Forest/Horseback Riding/zip lining https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/290025628/
Days 10-12-Feb 1-3 Rio Celeste area/waterfalls/Hot Springs Blue River
https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/290021626/
https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/290024953/
Days 12-14: La Fortuna area https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/289828084/
Arenal Volcano/River Rafting ? Hot Springs La Fortuna/Waterfalls
Day 14 - Feb 5: San Jose https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/290025815/
Day 15 - Feb 6: air travel

***Tentative Activities:

1. Hiking and Sightseeing (3-10 miles/day)
2. Rafting, Kayaking, ziplining, Horseback riding, hanging bridge walking and other activities are also available depending on our groups and time permits.

ABOUT COSTA RICA: From Lonely Planet "Costa Rica is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Central America because of its comfortable lifestyle, peaceful democracy and overwhelming natural beauty. The country’s Disney like cast of creatures – ranging from howler monkeys to toucans – are populous and relatively easy to spot..."

Past trips FYI
2022 : 7D/6N
2015: 11 days/10 nights - Sat Dec 5 to Tues Dec 15. https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/events/225456678/
2014: 11 days/10 nights: Nov 19 to Nov 29 https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/events/186189912/

REMINDER : By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
***YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
***YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
>>>Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike

Looking for an easier hike to get you through the week? Are you a beginner just trying to get started hiking? Please join us for a nature walk at the San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. This walk is suitable for beginners.

NOTE: This place can be tricky to get to the right spot. Please carefully read the Parking directions below.

Dogs are not permitted in the Wildlife Sanctuary. See ALL of their rules HERE.

This is not the beach walk.

## Key Info:
## Meet and Greet at 8:50 AM.
## Hike Briefing at 8:55 AM.
## The hike departs promptly at 9:00 AM.
## If you arrive late or otherwise choose to do this walk on your own, just follow the directions detailed below. And bring a friend!

Length: This hike/walk is about 3 miles.
Difficulty: This walk is flat. If you can walk 3 miles in about an hour, you should be able to do this hike.
Pace: Leisurely (about 30 minutes/mile, with stops).
Rating: Level 1+ - Click here for hike RATING TABLE

Description: This is a nature walk on well-groomed dirt trails around the lagoons at the San Joaquin Marsh. We start by the Duck Club, shown in the lead photo above. These lagoons are a great place to spot birds. Explore the links below for more details:

• San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Trail Map
• Marsh Rules
• Map to Get There
• Birds You Might See There
• Checklist for Bird Watchers
• Another Bird List!
• Birds Recently Seen
• Ok, Enough about the Birds Already!

Facilities: There are restrooms at the start/end hike.

Parking: There is a free parking lot adjacent the starting point. If that lot is full, there is an overflow lot about a 3-minute walk away. GPS Address: 5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA. In Google Maps, this address points directly to the Audubon House, which is right next door to the Duck Club house, where the hike starts. You MUST enter from the Campus Drive entrance. If your GPS sends you to ANY other entrance (like Michelson), you will NOT be able to get to the right spot. Please study the Map to Get There.

What to bring: Water, sunglasses, comfortable walking/hiking shoes, maybe a hat or umbrella for sun protection, a happy attitude and a big smile! If you have binoculars for birdwatching, you may want to bring those too!

About HikingOC

REMINDER:

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings

> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY

Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyotes, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike.

DEPARTURE TIME: 5:30 p.m.

Meet in a parking lot next to Amber’s Cantina Restaurant.

Trail is 100% paved. Please wear regular walk/tennis shoes, not your hiking boots since this a paved trail.

Ratings: It’s best as level 2/2+ for distance, elevation and speed.
Click to see RATING TABLE for more info about hiking levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating

Distance : about 5 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: few hundreds ft

ABOUT THE HIKE: This is a moderate or fast-pace 5.2 miles walk along the paved road of the fragnant sage-dense area in Laguna Niguel that ends in the beautiful Salt Creek Beach. This trail has a few small hills, but mostly is flat and gradual. This hike is suitable for anybody: for beginners or advanced hikers, and will take us no longer than 2 hours to complete. The paved trail is laying just above the actual Salt Creek, and there are several spots where you can hear some frogs singing at night :-) There are restrooms at the half-way, when we reach the Beach.

One of the hikes with Elena from last year https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/photos/32527376/

REMINDER
***By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***

he Gaviota Wind Caves are a sandstone formation located a mile from the Pacific Ocean in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. The first half of the trail is paved. Past the pavement, the trail becomes a single track that climbs rapidly to a ridge running down from the caves. This part of the hike is much more pleasant, and the Gaviota Wind Caves are a great place to explore, boasting fine views of the mountains and sea.

After exploring the caves, we can continue on the Overlook Fire Road until we get close to HWY 101 and then turn back the same way to the parking lot.

Distance: 6.5mi
Elevation gain: 1,600 feet

General Rating: Level 2. Download RATING TABLE (https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating) to read more about difficulty levels.

AllTrails link
Beach to Wind Caves and Backcountry Trail, California - 113 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

From Solvang or Buellton, take 101 South for 11 miles, take exit to Gaviota Beach Road for 0.3 miles. Do not enter the Gaviota Park campground, but continue to Hollister Road for 0.1 mile, and park next to the Gaviota Wind Cave Trailhead. Use this address for your map
17620 Gaviota Beach Rd, Gaviota, CA 93117.

REMINDER:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
> Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***