she loved Costa Rica so much that she sold the agency and moved there

ANNETTE REIFF

Midstate Traveler column for The Patriot-News

Fly to Costa Rica birding tour

In an exclusive -- and very personal -- partnership, Holiday Tour & Travel in Lemoyne is collaborating with Rudulfo and Joan Zamora to present a birding tour of Costa Rica. The name Joan Zamora might not ring a bell, but for midstate travelers who have worked with Holiday Tour & Travel, the name Joan Borreli might sound familiar. Until a few years ago, she owned the agency, but she loved Costa Rica so much that she sold the agency and moved there. Now married to native Rudy Zamora, who's described as a "renowned naturalist" on Holiday Tour & Travel's Web site, Joan arranges tours to Costa Rica for her former agency's clients, including honeymoon couples. All of the staff at Holiday Tour & Travel are knowledgeable about the Central American country. "Everybody in our agency has been to beautiful Costa Rica and plans to return," says Richard Prether, Holiday Tour & Travel's vice president of marketing and one of the agency's current owners. Costa Rica is in Prether's top five favorite countries for several reasons. It's committed to preserving its natural ecology, the people are extremely friendly, the food is excellent, the U.S. dollar goes far and English-speaking visitors have no problem getting around. Tourist accommodations range from small establishments with fewer than 50 rooms to large resorts. Prether has always felt safe traveling in Costa Rica, although he recommends that visitors not mark themselves as outsiders in certain places, as is true for most destinations around the world. He notes, however, that he's found no anti-American feelings anywhere in the country. Prether worked with the Zamoras to plan the special birding trip scheduled for April 24-May 4, 2010. He, Joan and his wife, Lucinda, who worked for the agency before purchasing it, had been kicking around the idea for a specialized trip for some time and decided to take the plunge. The trip begins in San Jose, Costa Rica, where the group will spend its first two nights and meet Rudy, who will serve as the birding guide, and Joan, who will serve as the escort. Days three and four will be spent at the Savegre Lodge, birding on its grounds and hiking through its private reserve. Days five through seven will be spent on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, hiking through the Corcovado National Park searching for "the most elusive birds." Days 8 through 10 will be spent at oceanfront accommodations, viewing wildlife in both the Manuel Antonio National Park and the Carara National Park. The trip is limited to 12 participants and includes all lodging and meals; the guide and escort; admission to all of the national parks, reserves and biological stations included on the tour; and gratuities to airport porters and hotel staff for a cost of $3,355 per person, based on two people sharing a room. Not included are airfare and a $26 departure tax. Based on current rates, Lucinda Prether, president of Holiday Tour & Travel, anticipates airfare between $350 -- using nonstop flights out of Newark on Continental Airlines -- and $525 -- using Continental's connecting flights out of Harrisburg. Other options include connecting flights out of Baltimore and Washington/Reagan. For more information on the birding trip, visit www.holidaytour-travel.com or call 800-221-6763. %%by%%Annette Reiff is a certified travel counselor and a former travel agent. An experienced traveler, she has written on a range of travel topics. Reiff can be reached at alr@paonline.com.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Annette Reiff is a certified travel counselor and a former travel agent. An experienced traveler, she has written on a range of travel topics. Reiff can be reached at alr@paonline.com.%%enddeck%%

The name Joan Zamora might not ring a bell, but for midstate travelers who have worked with Holiday Tour & Travel, the name Joan Borreli might sound familiar. Until a few years ago, she owned the agency, but she loved Costa Rica so much that she sold the agency and moved there.

Now married to native Rudy Zamora, who's described as a "renowned naturalist" on Holiday Tour & Travel's Web site, Joan arranges tours to Costa Rica for her former agency's clients, including honeymoon couples.

All of the staff at Holiday Tour & Travel are knowledgeable about the Central American country.