Mr. Shillmac and I are looking forward to the GTG! Time at Bosque del Cabo is always a highlight for us while in Costa Rica, and we have high hopes for Team Puma this year. Even more than that, we are excited to meet new Fodor's friends. Can't wait! Come join us--we'll have a GREAT time!

Hola!!!! Costaricalover here. I have booked Pizote
for 5 days and am bringing along Mr. Costaricalover. I cannot wait to meet you all! I have been following Fodors for years. What a reunion this will be!!! Am I the
only Canadian so far???

Colibri and Mr. Colibri will be coming in from Louisiana for the week - wooohoooo! 10 1/2 months to go, can't wait to meet everyone and share the fun times!!!

This is going to be such fun! I'm soooo looking forward to some extreme hiking and extreme chillin' with shillmac and tully, and making some new friends as well! Pura vida.

I plan on being there too...

You'd better be Plum!

Plum, would be great to meet you!! Costaricalover

I think Dyer has booked Casa Blanca, so we are getting a great group together! Plum - looking forward to meeting you along w/ all the others.

Wow, already close to 15 people. Super!

ttt

We are going to try and make it this time! I hated missing the other GTG's. I wanted Casa Blanca though...
Oh well I guess I will have to "settle" for a lovely cabina! I hope to be there w/ my hubby.
Team Puma has to be a winner , Half Tail will be waiting for us I am sure!

Might be up to around 13-15 people or so?? Woohoo, what fun, can't wait for next year!

This is such fabulous news! We are going to have such fun! Toni, I need to "read up" on my camera before then so I can have intelligent conversations with you. I'm still pointed and shooting.

Sounds like a great group and there is still room for more to join us! Wouldn't mind getting a new camera myself for the GTG, or maybe one of those GoPro set-ups - someone had one last trip and was pretty cool looking at their trip up to the waterfall.

Oh, prrmt, I only have Casa Blanca until July 1st! Maybe you want it that night on . I am soo looking forward to our daughter and son-in-law to join myself and possibly my husband to the OSA and esp. to meet Jill,Jim, Pasha, EVERYONE. (Husband is planning on joining us - depending on his health). tamabacklund@hotmail.com is my e-mail address.

Sounds like such a great group! Tama I hope your husband is well enough to join us.

Do any of you going have kids? We are thinking of coming to CR next summer (would be our second trip to CR but first to Osa Peninsula) and if we do, want to stay at BdC for a few days. Not sure of dates yet. Older daughter (will be 14 by then) is going to Argentina with her Spanish class June 12 for I think 9 days and am trying to figure out if there's a way we could have her meet us in CR rather than her flying home and then us all flying to CR. Not sure about her flying alone though or if the trip would allow it. Anyway, we have two daughters, who will then be 14 and 11.

Hi again - haven't seen a reply about whether any of you guys coming have kids but that's ok if you don't, would still be nice to meet other Fodorites there! I posted more on TA when I was looking at Costa Rica options on my last trip but I used Fodors a lot when planning my recent Africa trip, and love the advice I get here!

I was just looking at the old thread about the last GTG you guys had at BdC - did I read correctly that BdC is giving a 25% discount to Fodorites who come during the week of the GTG? That would be nice! What does one need to do to request that, just contact BdC and mention that you are a Fodorite?

Hi Jane, as far as I know no one is bringing any kids. Yes, the discount for fodorites attending during the GTG dates, you just request it through BdC. I believe we are up to around 17 people now.

Jane, although the GTG group probably won't include kids, your children are at a wonderful age to enjoy Bosque, provided they enjoy hiking and all things nature!

Jane - as far as I know no one is bringing younger children, but I believe there will be some parents with adult children and their spouses.

Your daughter would not be able fly direct from Buenos Aires (EZE) to SJO, but would have to connect in Panama via Copa or other options. I'm leaving soon for my third trip there in the last couple of years.

It sounds like so much fun! I wish I could make it, but for sure I'll plan on the next get together! As soon as you know the next dates, let let me know and I'll be sure not to book a different vacation!!!

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I did contact BdC and they confirmed we could request the discount. We're now thinking about possibly coming without our kids.

Colibri,thanks so much for that info on how to fly from BA to SJO. My daughter doesn't want to to take even one flight alone in foreign countries, so that is definitely out! My husband and I have been thinking about possibly leaving the kids home this trip, as their aunt and uncle could watch them. They love animals but don't love hiking so ... we'll give it some more thought and let you all know what we decide!

Jane - I wouldn't want my 14 yr. old flying alone and having to transfer flights in a foreign country either!

To me, BdC is all about hiking with so many different trails and tons of wildlife to spot. If your kids are not hikers or into nature, they might get bored, so you're probably wise to rethink bringing them.

Hope you can join us - filling up fast!

Shell, I think you can count on end of June/beginning of July for 2015. We are always in that window of time. We came so close to meeting the first time, I KNOW we saw each other at MotMot upper and lower, we just didn't connect verbally! Looking forward to meeting you in a couple of years!

Which are the best cabinas that aren't already taken by one of you lovely folks? Keeping in mind that we may bring the kids still in which case we'd need the ones with the upper loft that has extra beds for the kids ...

I have a lot of other questions so I think I'm going to start a separate thread as well.

Jane - I think you'd be best off contacting BdC to see which cabinas are still available. I know that Casas Miramir and Blanca are booked along with Cabina Bambu, maybe Pizote and Sol?? Some are booked for the entire week, others for 3 - 4 nights. Good luck!!

Hola Jane, we have booked Pizote for 5 nights beginning
June 27th. I believe Sol is still available. All the
Cabinas are wonderful, but if I was looking for a
deluxe with a loft, I'd go for Toucan. It's got a fabulous
outdoor bathtub and the monkeys like to hang out
in the trees above and watch

Toucan is a personal fave. If you have the kids it'd work as well due to the loft. If not available look into Lapa or Congo (no loft) or Sol. If you ask, they should be able to tell you what's still open.

Hi everyone,

We are dropping of the list but are hoping for the next GTG

We have some exciting news! My daughter (the young filmmaker) and I have been invited by the cinematographer to work on a feature in Sri Lanka this spring for a month or two or three... And, the very best part may be, the film is about two baby leopards! They are arranging special/unheard of, permits for us to stay in the jungle with only the director, cinematographer and possibly the star. I am so excited!

We will really miss getting to meet everyone this year! And hope that we can make the next gtg!

Wow, Sparklegem, that sounds totally amazing!! Sorry you won't be coming but this sounds like a once-in-lifetime experience you'll be having!

Thanks everyone for the room suggestions - I think I'll ask about Toucan and if not, ask what else is available per your comments. We'll probably be there during the latter part of the GTG if our kids come since have to give daughter a little time to decompress from her Argentina trip before she takes off again with us - craziness - and want BdC to be last on our trip.

QUESTION: is the last night folks are staying for the GTG the night of July 4, checking out July 5? Or is it night of July 3, checking out July 4?

That sounds great Gem, don't worry there will always be another GTG, we're committed!

Jane as far as I know, I believe all will be checking out on the 4th (or prior).

Sorry, meant to add...but if you go over a night I would think that would be okay.

sparklegem - that sounds like such an amazing trip! Definitely a chance of a lifetime!

shillmac - we were probably at the beach at the same time, and sitting on our balcony when you were on yours when we were at Mot Mot!! Too funny...

I will for sure plan on June/July 2015. If I had a calendar, I'd write it in ink! Keep me in the loop!

I know, Shell. I do remember seeing you guys going in and out a couple of times as we were coming up/going down. Didn't know who you were, though, until later!

Sparklegem, that sounds very cool. What a fabulous op for you and your daughter. Take lots of pics and share, share, share!!

Shillmac, Good to "see" you. Did you ever end up building your place in Costa Rica?

I wrote to BdC to ask whether Toucan is available - waiting to hear back! I hope so. I'm kind of bummed that with the dates we have availalbe and the dates of the GtG I might only overlap with the rest of you for 2 nights as we'd probably stay the nights of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. We want to make BdC the last stop of our 9 nights in CR because everyone says it's the most relaxing place but we can't go too early in June to start the 9 nights as DD1 will only be getting home from her school Argentina trip on the 21st of June, and want to give her a few days to recover and do laundry etc. before we all take off! Thought of having one of us fly to meet her in Buenas Aires and then meet the rest of fam. in CR but when I called her tour company, it sounds complicated to do that. They said if she's not flying home with the group, they can't book her flights TO Argentina with the group either and they wouldn't finalize the flights down to Argentina until 60 days before the trip. Then we'd have to somehow try to get her on the same flights as her group or else she would be flying alone to get there, which was the whole thing we were trying to avoid by the idea of a parent meeting her in BA.

ok Toucan IS available so I think we're going to book it and I think I posted this on my other thread, but thinking now of making BdC our second not our last stop so we can overlap more with those of you there for the GTG. SO I think now we're going to try to be there the nights of June 30, July 1 and July 2. The kids are going to come - even though they say they don't like hiking, they like seeing the animals and i think there's enough to keep them busy there for 3 days! Will let you all know when it's finalized!

Tucan is a very nice cabina, one of my faves. Always lot of monkeys around 5-7am in the trees right outside. Your kids can always just hang out by the pool, though there are some very easy walks, not really hikes, available as well.

ok, now planning to come earlier in the time that others are there, i.e. starting on June 27 and staying 4-5 nights. Just trying to decide whether 4 or 5 nights is better. We're now thinking of cutting out Drake Bay and just doing 2 places, BdC and staying right down at Pan Dulce for my surfer husband. Thinking of maybe 4 and 4 or 5 at BdC and 4 at Pan Dulce. My older daughter is really into taking photos now so even if she doesn't want to walk far, she will enjoy walking around and taking photos, and they are both usually into pool time as well.

I went there last year -- it is gorgeous! There was a puma roaming around but I did not get to see it.

Got myself booked into Congo for the gtg -- yay! It'll be good to finally meet so many of you.

Looks like we are going to have a great GTG! Always room for more if anyone else is out there thinking of joining.

Hola to all!! Ok, so who is on the confirmed list?though I'd bring this thread back to top again.

I'm all in!

The Colibris are both in and cannot wait!!

Some greenhorns will be there also.

Greenhorns Can't wait to meet you xelas, and all the great people meeting up. Still room if anyone is still considering it!

Hola Xelas! Amazing how this GTG is all coming
together! Btw, Mr. Costaricalover has his gold
medal in nuisance control, but has told me he's off
duty at the reunion.

Dyer and DH from South Dakota. Their daughter, Sunny and SIL - Matt -from their new residence of MO (St. Louis) are all in. 2nd trip to CR but first trip to the OSA and OHHhh, we are ready!!! June can't get her quick enough...!

Great news, Dyer! Looking forward to meeting you all!
Which cabin did you book?

Yeah, Dyer!! Looking forward to meeting you - will be Mr. Colibri's first time to the Osa and he's going to be Mr. Shillmac's "nuisance control" intern - LOL!!!

Were you able to get Casa Blanca - love that deck!!!!

We have Casa Blanca the 27th til July 1st. It will be just as fun, after this trip - to know who I am reading about on Fodors in the future! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Do we have some Fodors members from outside the U.S. joining us in June?

dah, sorry - Costaricalover - I knew I had read that someone was from Canada but I typed before I reread the posts. Can't wait to meet you.

Ok, I am just getting soooo excited about Costa Rica ! Can anyone
recommend some fabulous Latin music to ignite the flame even
higher? Out of my mind with anticipation!!

Crlover have you listened to Rodrigo y Gabriela?

It doesn't look like we will be able to join the GTG this time (fortunately for good reasons- we have some wonderful trips coming up). I hope that we can join the next one! Is it every other year? I would love to keep it in mind when I start planning things really far in advance

xo gem

P.S. My old Facebook has locked me out and I am unable to join in on the GTG group. Could someone please add my new FB profile to the group?

Tully, no I haven't. I'll check them out on iTunes tomorrow.
Thanks.

Sorry we'll miss you, Gem. Yes, GTG's are every
other year, so see you in 2015! Not sure how to add your
profile but will try.

Hi everyone! We are counting the days, too. Gem, sorry we won't get to meet--one of these days. Enjoy your other trips!!

Yes, Shooie, we did! We enjoy our time there so much! Thanks for asking.

Thank you!!

topping! Just FYI - anyone thinking of joining us at GTG and flying down or back up - green season flights are now up and available at Nature Air and at Sansa.

Holey Schmoley, we might actually be there at that same time! I will keep you updated.

That'd be great! We have a really nice group already planning to be there, the more the merrier.

That is exciting! Hope it will work out that way!

FYI if anyone is still considering the GTG - Casa Blanca has now opened up June 26 - July 1. Unfortunately the four people who were going to be there had to cancel out.

I stayed in CB in May and it's awesome and would be perfect for two couples or a family. Meals are not included with house rentals, so you do have to pay for those.

Come join us!

I just confirmed that I can have a Deluxe Cabina June 27 to July 1, so now kids ARE going to be there (mine are 10 and 12).

Jane62, I just read your posts that your kids are coming too. How old is the younger one and girl or boy? Hopefully my 12 year old girl (into fashion as well as hiking and seriously seriously into nature and animals) can get your older daughter hiking. And I forgive you for booking Tucan, it's the one we wanted but I understand, you got there first.

Cool Monica. My daughter is coming. She's 16, but she's good with all ages and she is an awesome spotter!

So is my oldest (an excellent spotter)! I like to think I taught her all she knows but really it's her eagle eyes, her eye doctor says she can see through walls her vision is so good.

Topping, just to see if any more are interested in joining us. Only a little over 3 months to go

Thanks for toppping. To Monica and Jane, slight change of plans, I'll be coming solo not with daughter this trip.

Bummer about no daughter but it will be nice to meet you!

Finally got our tickets. We'll be at BdC for only 4 of the nights, June 28 to July 2. That means Congo will now be available the nights of June 27 and July 2 & 3, fyi. See everyone there!

Yeah Sounds like we have about 18 people, which is great considering it's not all that easy to get to!

Plumboy, great news!! Are you going anywhere else
besides Bosque?

We'll be in MA for three nights before. It's sort of a shorter trip, partly because I'm bringing a CR virgin. I need to make sure he can handle the rainforest without too much hand-holding

Topping to see if any additional posters may wish to join us - only 2 months and change to go.

almost out of coffee...hmmmm

That's always my go to answer for why I am going back to CR! You just can't go without good Costa Rican coffee now can you?

Jane if you're out there...are you still coming? Have not heard from you in a while. As of right now we have 16 confirmed, waiting on Jane to see if that is a few more people.

steph - are you considering joining us?

I wish we could join you guys, but we just got back from CR. Wishing you all fantastic puma sightings, lots of Imperials, and of course banana pancakes and tuna melts.

Ditto what volcanogirl said.

Thanks, VG and JaneN. - Team Puma at Casa Miramar is ready!!!

I can hardly wait. I need a break! lol. Looking forward to seeing everyone, and to checking out a couple new spots as well. Pura vida.

tully - is there anything left??? i've done the garden area - as much as i enjoyed it i don't want to do that this trip...not sure if you know? i was going to contact BDC. my step daughter is getting married June 22 so we want to go after that around the 4th to utilize our vacation time.

steph I am pretty sure there is, a couple people are not staying the full 7 nights. Can't hurt to email the office and ask!

Steph, we are leaving Bosque on July 2. Staying in Sol,
if that helps.

Steph - there several people who will be in/out for 3 or 4 nights in various cabinas. We (Team Puma at Casa Miramar) may be the only ones there for all seven nights. Hope you can join us!!

We are in June 28 - July 2. See you soon!

Woo hoo! You'll be coming in same day as plumboy. So that puts us at 22 people I think?

Wow! Big group!

Can't wait - will be the best GTG ever!!

Great steph270! Welcome! It's going to be a great time. Which cabina will you be in?

i'm not sure - we got the last deluxe for those dates? they had one deluxe and one classic left before we booked (and maybe the garden was still open??? because i said i didn't want the garden as we've done that before
can't wait! now trying to figure out what to do with our other 4-5 nights