Flock of Beasts Adventures
A Taste of the living wild
A taste of the living wild
A TEENY PACK TRIP TO STEAL A BIT OF TIME IN NATURE
DAY ONE: Meet at the Ice Age Trailhead on Cushing Park Road in Delafield, WI. Backpack four miles through a rolling oak savannah that my family and I call “the Magnificent Meadow”.
We will drop our gear and set up our tents at the backcountry site at Lapham Peak State Park, and then hike to the tower and behold Wisconsin’s humble grandeur at sunset.
NIGHT ONE: Camp at the backcountry site.
DAY TWO: Backpack the four miles to the car. We will celebrate this bit of time stolen, and your burgeoning bravery, with a simple hot breakfast, coffee, and mimosa.
Total Miles Hiked: 9 (nine)
The Gear
I have assembled the primary pieces of backpacking gear for you to rent. (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack) You may have some equipment already: great! Bring it, and rent what you don’t have.
When I began backpacking, the REI Backpacking Checklist was valuable to me. It is linked below, but I promise you, you don’t need everything written here. Backpacking gear is extremely expensive when new, so I hope I’ve taken some pressure off by investing in gear so that you’re not burdened by expenses for an activity you don’t even know if you’re going to like.
You will be responsible for bringing your clothes, toiletries, and your own food and if you choose to use heat when cooking , your own backpacking stove. (Note: you don’t need one.)
I believe in rewarding your solitude when you’ve made camp, so I recommend bringing a book and certainly a journal. Journaling is one of the ways we map our inner landscapes. My pa has built adventure journals for this very purpose, and if you’re interested in one for yourself, let me know!
You are welcome to email me about any gear questions you have.
the value
The base price for the trek is $127.00 Included in this price is campsite reservations, gas, taxes/fees, and the celebration breakfast.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
…
I hope to show you two doors: the one out in Nature that is always open to you, and the one inside yourself that ought never be shut. Backpacking is a challenging, meaningful, beautiful path into the heart of living fiercely.
Sparrowhawks
Sparrowhawks
a mother-child backpacking adventure
DAY ONE: Meet at the Ice Age Trailhead on Cushing Park Road in Delafield, WI. Hannah will help each sparrow (child)- hawk (mother) pair pack their packs: The Hawk will carry the tent, her sleepingbag, her mattress, and her share of the food and water. The Sparrow will carry her sleepingbag, her mattress, and her share of the food and water. Hannah will teach everyone how to pack a backpack for the most amount of comfort and least amount of rigor (though there will always be rigor!)
Backpack four miles through a rolling oak savannah that Hannah’s family calls “the Magnificent Meadow”.
We will arrive at the backcountry site located within Lapham Peak State Park. (*NOTE: I do not recall if there is a water spigot at camp: plan on there not being one). Together we will set up our tents (sparrows and hawks will do it together!) and gather firewood for the bonfire later. Before sunset, we will hike the half mile to Lapham Tower and behold Wisconsin’s humble grandeur at sunset.
NIGHT ONE: Hike back to our site. Campfire and camping at the backcountry site at Lapham Peak. Around the campfire, we can talk about everything and nothing.
DAY TWO: Wake up and break camp. Hannah will teach the kids the “Leave No Trace” backpacker’s ethic. Backpack on the Ice Age Trail the four miles to the car. Everyone will celebrate being forever young and wild with a simple brunch, coffee, mimosa for the hawks, and “champu” for the sparrows, which is what Hannah’s goddaughter Zuzie calls “sparkling grape juice”.
(The brunch will be bananas, peanut butter, apples, bagels and cream cheese, granola bars, string cheese. I don’t have the capacity to take dietary restrictions into account, but you are welcome to bring any food you want to eat instead)
NOTE: Each sparrow should be able to hike four miles at a time. You know your child’s abilities. It is imperative for a backpacker to be able to carry her own weight, and hike the distance demanded. One of the most liberating and empowering things about backpacking is that No one will hike the miles for you: you must do it yourself.
The topography of the stretch of the Ice Age Trail is one of rolling hills, and is not especially rigorous. But your sparrow probably has never hiked four miles with a “heavy” pack on before. So, know you and your sparrow’s strengths but also your weaknesses!
Total Miles Hiked: 9 (nine)
The Gear
I have assembled the primary pieces of backpacking gear for you to rent. (tent, a warm-weather sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack) You may have some equipment already: great! Bring it, and rent what you don’t have. I also have trekking poles for adults.
My thought is that each mother-child pair can share a tent. I think each kid should have her own sleeping bag and pad, as well as each mother. I have enough pads and sleeping bags for the mothers, but not the kids.
When I began backpacking, the REI Backpacking Checklist was valuable to me. It is linked below, but I promise you, you don’t need everything written here. Backpacking gear is extremely expensive when new, so I hope I’ve taken some pressure off by investing in gear so that you’re not burdened by expenses for an activity you don’t even know if you’re going to like.
You will be responsible for bringing your clothes (I don’t think you need a change of clothes or even pajamas), toiletries, and you and your kid’s own dinner and, if you choose to use heat when cooking , your own backpacking stove. (Note: you don’t need one.)
You are welcome to email me about any gear questions you have.
the value
The base price for the trek is $277.00 for both you and your sparrow. Included in this price is campsite reservations, taxes/fees, and the celebration breakfast.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
…
I hope to show you and your sparrow two doors: the one out in Nature that is always open to you, and the one inside yourselves that ought never be shut. Backpacking is a challenging, meaningful, beautiful path into the heart of living fiercely.
I have backpacked thousands of miles, across entire countries over the world. I’ve learned that the goal of my life is to show (solo)backpacking to more women, to reveal to them their strength through time spent in Nature, and to inspire them on toward a more thrilling future. To get the chance to share this with younger kids is a true gift.
You are welcome to email me at Flockofbeasts@gmail.com with any questions
the WOLF Trek
Women out living fiercely
This trip will be all about celebrating the wild, living spirit of a WOMAN.
The Itinerary
DAY ONE: the Wolves will meet in Milwaukee and drive the 90 minutes to Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area. Explore this incredible land mass and the vistas of Wisconsin that stretch out as far as the eye can reach.
NIGHT ONE: Camp together at the dispersed camping site near Gibraltar Rock.
DAY TWO: Before breaking camp, wolves adorn themselves with warpaint. Backpack three miles to the Merrimac Ferry, where we’ll all cross and then begin the fifteen mile trek on the resplendent Ice Age Trail (IAT) to Devil’s Lake State Park. This fifteen mile section of the IAT will take the wolves through oak savannahs, friendly forests, and geography that’s been sculpted by ancient glaciers.
NIGHT TWO: Camp together at Devil’s Lake State Park. We’ll share stories of victories of the spirit around the campfire. You are welcome to share a favorite feminist writer, your own writing, or nothing at all.
DAY THREE: This morning, paint your fellow wolves with warpaint. Solobackpack the seven miles on the IAT to Parfey’s Glen, an incredible gorge tucked in a forest. This place is often likened to “Fern Gully”, and is a magnificent hidden gem.
Here is a perfect spot for wild photography, and we will have a photo shoot, both individual and as a group, here. In all your dirty glory, howl for the camera, but more importantly, for yourself.
From Parfey’s Glen, we will drive the hour to Governor Dodge State Park.
NIGHT THREE: Solo camp on your own walk-up “backcountry” site at Governor Dodge State Park.
Number of WOLves in our pack: 4-5 * (this trip is recommended to wisconsin natives and out of state babes)
Number of Miles Hiked (what you choose to hike on your own at our locations is not included) : 29 MIles
(Note: these are challenging miles, but possible for anyone with a living body. Some preparation is recommended, and we can chat about it if you have questions, but there is NO part of this trek that you can not do. There are several high stretches where you’ll be hiking straight up into the air (around Devil’s Lake) but other than that, the rolling hills of the oak savannahs and the kettles, moraines, and eskers of the glacial landscape of Wisconsin are more meandering than punishing. )
The Gear
I have assembled the primary pieces of backpacking gear for you to rent. (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack) You may have some equipment already: great! Bring it, and rent what you don’t have.
When I began backpacking, the REI Backpacking Checklist was valuable to me. It is linked below, but I promise you, you don’t need everything written here. Backpacking gear is extremely expensive when new, so I hope I’ve taken some pressure off by investing in gear so that you’re not burdened by expenses for an activity you don’t even know if you’re going to like.
You will be responsible for bringing your clothes, toiletries, and your own food and if you choose to use heat when cooking , your own backpacking stove. (Note: you don’t need one.)
I believe in rewarding your solitude when you’ve made camp, so I recommend bringing a book and certainly a journal. Journaling is one of the ways we map our inner landscapes. My pa has built adventure journals for this very purpose, and if you’re interested in one for yourself, let me know!
You are welcome to email me about any gear questions you have.
https://www.rei.com/dam/backpacking_checklist_printable.pdf
the value
The base price for the trek is $577.00 Included in this price is van rental, state park passes, campsite reservations, gas, taxes/fees, 10 edited photos from our photo shoot, and one custom collage with one of your photos, created by me.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
…
I hope to show you two doors: the one out in Nature that is always open to you, and the one inside yourself that ought never be shut. Backpacking is a challenging, meaningful, beautiful path into the heart of living fiercely.
Note: this is not a group hike. We will have plenty of togetherness at camp, but you will be hiking alone.
Crows with Quills
CROws with Quills: a Writing and hiking trek
This trip celebrates the glorious confluence of humans, Nature, and words
DAY ONE: Meet in Milwaukee and drive together to Parfey’s Glen, a beautiful gorge hidden in a friendly forest. Explore there, and then “slackpack” (the term for hiking without your backpacking gear) the seven miles of the Ice Age Trail (IAT) to Devil’s Lake State Park. I will have driven our gear to Devil’s Lake and will hike toward you and meet you in the forest.
NIGHT ONE: Camp together at Devil’s Lake.
DAY TWO: Enjoy all day at Devil’s Lake State Park, one of the most resplendent and interesting state parks in Wisconsin. Soak in the beauty of the high bluffs, the deciduous forests, the rivers, streams, and many hiking trails. Immerse your mind in the beauty and peace of Nature. Write as you please.
NIGHT TWO: Meet at camp for a meal (prepared by me) and a chance to read your favorite poems or passages from established writers. Around the campfire, we’ll share our writing from the day. Feedback can be received on request, but this is not a critique session, just a joyous place to breathe life into your words.
DAY THREE: Pack up camp and drive together to Gibraltar Rock, an incredible land mass overlooking a luscious expanse of Wisconsin farmland. Explore here, write here, read here. After several hours (true time TBD) we’ll meet on the bluffs and read our writing.
A mile hike back to the car, when we’ll drive to American Players Theater (APT), a world-famous and world class outdoor theater. We’ll see one of their incredible shows apart of their 2025 season (see their schedule here! Plays | American Players Theatre ) I personally want to see a Midsummer Night’s Dream, but they don’t have their schedule for the 2025 season yet, so we will see whatever is showing on June 13!)
NIGHT THREE: Camp at Tower Hill State Park, located across the highway from APT.
DAY FOUR: Drive back to Milwaukee.
MURDER NUMBER: 4-6 crows
Total Miles Hiked: 10 (whatever you choose to hike on your own at Devil’s Lake is not included in this total)
Total Cost: $527
(included in this value is car rental, gas, camping permits, camp reservations, the meal on Night Two, and APT tickets for all.)
This trip is more of a writing/hiking trip than a backpacking trip. So, no backpacking gear is necessarily needed. If you have camping gear already, or have access to borrow it, bring it! If you need camping gear, I have tents, sleeping bags, blow-up mattresses, and packs, available to rent.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
First Feather
first feather : an intro to solo backpacking
THE ITINERARY:
DAY ONE: Meet in Milwaukee (time and location TBD). Drive the 2.5 hours to Sturgeon Bay and park at the Shoreline Rd trailhead of the Ice Age Trail (IAT). Backpack the IAT to the Eastern Terminus, three miles. The trail will weave through beautiful forests and along Lake Michigan to Potowatomi State Park, where we’ll camp that night.
We’ll hike west back to our campsite, another mile or two.
NIGHT ONE: Camp at Potowatomi State Park.
DAY TWO: Break camp and drive the hour to Door County. Explore Sister Bay (there is wonderful shopping and a grocery store to resupply if needed) and drive to Newport Beach State Park, the only wilderness park in Wisconsin, and the only “dark sky park” in the Midwest . Solobackpack the 10 mile Europe Bay Trail, and then the two miles to your own backcountry site. Your site will have access to the lake.
NIGHT TWO: Solocamp at Newport Beach State Park. You will fall asleep to the sound of waves, and can even camp on the beach, if you like.
DAY THREE: return the two miles to the main beach, and celebrate your victories with a hot breakfast (prepared by me!) and a cold plunge in the lake. Return to Milwaukee.
FLOCK NUMBER: 4-5 BIRDS
NUMBER OF MILES HIKED: nineteen (19) miles
NOTE: This is a true beginner’s trek. The terrain is gentle, welcoming, and overall flat. If you have a human body, you can backpack. If your spirit is curious, your body will rise to the challenge.
The Gear
I have assembled the primary pieces of backpacking gear for you to rent. (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack) You may have some equipment already: great! Bring it, and rent what you don’t have.
When I began backpacking, the REI Backpacking Checklist was valuable to me. It is linked below, but I promise you, you don’t need everything written here. Backpacking gear is extremely expensive when new, so I hope I’ve taken some pressure off by investing in gear so that you’re not burdened by expenses for an activity you don’t even know if you’re going to like.
You will be responsible for bringing your clothes, toiletries, and your own food and if you choose to use heat when cooking , your own backpacking stove. (Note: you don’t need one.)
I believe in rewarding your solitude when you’ve made camp, so I recommend bringing a book and certainly a journal. Journaling is one of the ways we map our inner landscapes. My pa has built adventure journals for this very purpose, and if you’re interested in one for yourself, let me know!
You are welcome to email me about any gear questions you have.
the value
The base price for the trek is $477.00 Included in this price is van rental, state park passes, campsite reservations, gas, the beach breakfast on our last day taxes/fees.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
…
I hope to show you two doors: the one out in Nature that is always open to you, and the one inside yourself that ought never be shut. Backpacking is a challenging, meaningful, beautiful path into the heart of living fiercely.
Note: this is not a group hike. We will have plenty of togetherness at camp, but you will be hiking alone.
Yellow Blazes
yellow blazes: intro to the Ice age trail
We have one of the greatest natural resources in America in Wisconsin, yet few people know about its true breath and lushness. The Ice Age Trail is now a nationally recognized National Scenic Trail, and snakes through 1,000 miles of fine Wisconsin land.
This trip is intented to show you just how accessible the Trail is, and that an incredible natural adventure is always only about an hour away from you.
DAY ONE: Meet at Parnell Tower in Sheboygan County. Leave some cars, and carpool the about 20 miles to Backpacking Shelter One Parking at Highway H. Hike eight miles to Backpacking Shelter Two.
NIGHT ONE: camp at Backpacking Shelter Two, a private, backpackers-only shelter hidden in the friendly forests of the Kettle Moraine North.
DAY TWO: Solobackpack to Shelter Five, sixteen miles through beautiful meadows, forests, and hearty Wisconsin land wholly shaped by ancient glaciers.
NIGHT TWO: camp at Backpacking Shelter Five, another backpackers-only shelter tucked in a forest.
DAY THREE: Double back on the IAT to Parnell Tower, three miles. We will celebrate the land and our proudbodies atop the Parnell Tower with a simple breakfast and champagne.
Group number: 3-5 , miles hiked: twenty-seven (27)
This stretch of the IAT is ancient: the glaciers that once lived here carved the land with wild knives. That means there are many small hills that will challenge your legs but not beat them down. If you are concerned about topography, you are welcome to ask me anything. But know that your body CAN do this, your spirit craves adventure, and if your spirit craves it hard enough, your body will do the work, and do it well.
I do not do group hikes. I am only interested in solo backpacking, so that means you can go at your own pace, and have complete freedom being alone in Nature. You will never feel that you have to keep up with anyone, and the Ice Age Trail is so beautifully marked that you will also never feel alone.
The Gear
I have assembled the primary pieces of backpacking gear for you to rent. (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack) You may have some equipment already: great! Bring it, and rent what you don’t have.
When I began backpacking, the REI Backpacking Checklist was valuable to me. It is linked below, but I promise you, you don’t need everything written here. Backpacking gear is extremely expensive when new, so I hope I’ve taken some pressure off by investing in gear so that you’re not burdened by expenses for an activity you don’t even know if you’re going to like.
You will be responsible for bringing your clothes, toiletries, and your own food and if you choose to use heat when cooking , your own backpacking stove. (Note: you don’t need one.)
I believe in rewarding your solitude when you’ve made camp, so I recommend bringing a book and certainly a journal. Journaling is one of the ways we map our inner landscapes. My pa has built adventure journals for this very purpose, and if you’re interested in one for yourself, let me know!
You are welcome to email me about any gear questions you have.
the value
The base price for the trek is $227.00. Included in this price is state backcountry reservations, taxes/fees, and our champagne breakfast.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
…
I hope to show you two doors: the one out in Nature that is always open to you, and the one inside yourself that ought never be shut. Backpacking is a challenging, meaningful, beautiful path into the heart of living fiercely.
Note: this is not a group hike. We will have plenty of togetherness at camp, but you will be hiking alone.
El Camino de Costa Rica
El camino de costa rica : a pack trip into the heart of green
“A scene like you dream about is before me…
I am beholding Mother Nature’s frilly green dress. Oh, I can’t even stomach it all! The bellies of my eyes are filled with this scene.
The glory! The soaring! The incredibilia!”
-written in my journal, in Costa Rica, 2025
Hello! You are here because your heart is a wild beast, you are hungry for experiences, and you are answering the call of “More Life?”
This pack trip is pure glory. I hiked the full length in January 2024, and loved every single minute. It was at the same time challenging and restful, exciting and familiar. On this adventure, we’ll be backpacking through rainforests; the trees will part their boughs for us, and we will be allowed inside their wild world. You will hear animals you’ve never heard before, and maybe see creatures you’ve only read about in books. Air that seems alive with sound and scent and color will light up your lungs. You legs will feel fully awake, streaked with mud, and you will feel your heart gallop in your chest.
The trail is an excellent option for seasoned backpackers, but due to the nature of my backpacking ethic (we do not hike in a line or in a group: my goal is to invigorate your independence and solitude when backpacking (though we will connect occasionally on each day’s hike to eat lunch ), some backpacking experience is an absolute must.
A note about this adventure: You will not stay dry or clean. You must not fear dogs, spiders, monkeys, or snakes.
You must be able to hike 15 miles a day, on your own.
Due to time, we are leapfrogging over the trail: instead of hiking the full 280 km continual distance, we will use some transportation to take us from section to section. Know that if you indeed fall in love, every step of the Trail is a wonder, and is worthy of a full expedition. This is a “no skip” trail, but this time, we will just get beautiful bites rather than the full meal.
Also, due to time, you will note that I’ve mentioned “Seven Day Beasts” and “Nine Day Beasts”; if you must leave early, you are a Seven Day Beast and the total rate for your trip will be different than the Nine Day Beasts.
Another note on this adventure: one of the goals of the Camino is to provide an economic artery to the communities and families in inland Costa Rica, so every night, we will be residing in homestays or rainforest lodges along the trail. There will be no camping, so no camping gear is needed to bring along, freeing you up with a much lighter pack and less arduous days.
Another note: having a grasp of Spanish is a bonus.
You must be able to hike 15 miles a day, on your own.
Another note: my photos here are a reflection of my experience, but they may not be yours. NATURE OWES NO ONE SUNNY DAYS. When enterring the heart of the wild, it is wise to leave your expectations at home.
Another note: tap water is safe to drink in Costa Rica. But because it is so fun and meaningful to drink from a stream or river, I recommend a water filter so that you don’t have to carry so much water on the long sections.
Recommended resources
The Mar a Mar Organization has a comprehensive and beautiful website. They are extraordinarily professional and responsive, and are eager for hikers to succeed on their trail.
The trail guide written by Evan Brashiers was a good resource for me when I was planning locations to stay overnight. However, as a seasoned backpacker, I didn’t need his recommendations of hiking gear, hiking techniques, and trail navigation. If this would give you added peace of mind, certainly get it. You might find that you don’t need it as all our homestays are already planned. Nevertheless, it is linked below.
THE MOST VITAL RESOURCE, HOWEVER, is the FarOut Navigation App. This is a must. It not only provides GPS navigation, but helpful catalogue of water sources and resupply locations.
you must be able to hike 15 miles a day.
the glorious days
Day One SAN JOSE:
Land in San Jose, Costa Rica, the capitol and largest city. Costa Rica is within our CST time zone, so there is no need to worry about jet lag. Meet at the beautiful hostel “Socialtel San Jose”, and prepare for the adventure the next day. This means shopping for breakfast and lunch for the next two days at a grocery store. There are no shops to buy food on our first two days of hiking, and very few rivers to drink from, so ensuring you have enough water is as important as food.
Night One: sleep in the communal bunk rooms at Socialtel San Jose.
miles hiked: ZERO (0)
Day Two: CIMARRONES to LAS BRISAS
take the earliest bus to Siquerres, the largest town closest to where we’ll begin the Camino. In Siquerres, we’ll hire a taxi the eleven miles to Cimarrones, where we’ll begin. From Cimarrones, hike 9 miles of rainforest and farmland to Las Brisas, where we will stay the night.
Night Two: stay at Barbilla Rainforest Lodge (a working farm) where dinner is included and cooked by the glorious Marina.
miles hiked: NINE (9)
Day Three: LAS BRISAS to TRES EQUIS:
hold onto your butts for a true adventure. We will be hiking through a protected indigenous rainforest, on Nairi land, and so will hire an indigenous guide to take us through the challenging trail.
This trail is PURE JOY, but it is muddy and rugged. We have no hope of remaining clean or dry! There are many unapologetic uphills where you will use a tree’s roots as stairs, and you will probably slip and fall in the mud on a downhill. There are rivers to wade across, and you will even pull yourself across a mighty river in an iron cage with a pulley. It is a wild, wild, wild day, with adventures you’ll hopefully delight in forever. This is walking right into the churning belly of the earth, and laughing all the way.
There are no shops or places to buy food along this trail.
After the last river crossing, we leave the rainforest and walk on a road through a bull farm!
Night Three: stay at Finca Tres Equis, a glorious farm with cabins, in the town of Tres Equis. There are hills to perch upon, horses to try petting, and a perfect lookout for a wild sunset over a sometimes-hidden volcano. The downtown is but .2 miles away, an easy walk downhill, where there are bars, and a grocery store for resupplying.
miles hiked: FIFTEEN (15)
Day Four: TRES EQUIS to PEJIBAYE:
This is a day we will skip a section and allow our glorious feet and legs to rest! We will hire a car to take us from Tres Equis to the town of Pejibaye, where nearby there is a happy river that is just perfect for soaking tired feet. Pejibaye features some restaurants and a pretty robust market where you can resupply as you need.
Night Four: stay in the town of Pejibaye. Location TBD! (When I stayed in Pejibaye, I camped in a woman’s backyard!) Resupply your food in town, as there are limited places to shop for food the next day. Before hiking out the next day, ensure you have plenty of water.
miles hiked: no trail miles, though it is a lovely idea to walk the maybe mile to the river
Day Five: PEJIBAYE to RIO MACHO
This will be another day of challenging but rewarding hiking. We will again be climbing into the heart of the rainforest, and there are many uphills that tire the body but thrill the spirit. Listen for howler monkeys arguing, blue morpho butterflies lilting on the breeze, and toucans roosting in the trees above you.
Night Five: stay at Rio Macho Lodge, a fine hotel where we will eat dinner and enjoy breakfast the next morning.
miles hiked: FIFTEEN (15)
Day Six: RIO MACHO to PALO VERDE
You have earned another zero day! We will hire a car to take us to Palo Verde, a mountain community where the most wonderful pair of women are waiting for us at “Orchid House” . Laura is an award winning dancer, and has a sprawling home at which to enjoy and relax. Her mother Theresita is a pure delight, and you will leave the next day feeling like family.
Night Six: stay at Orchid House, where dinner and breakfast are included and Laura will teach us how to salsa like hot, juicy babes.
miles hiked: 0 miles
left to right, Theresita, me, and Laura!
Day Seven: PALO VERDE to CABO LUNA
Today, after breakfast, Laura will transport those of you who need to leave to San Jose.
Those of us who remain to hike on will enjoy another beautiful but challenging day up to the highest point on the Camino de Costa Rica. Today the hike is through more cultivated farm land, and because we are now on the “Pacific Side” of the Camino, you will notice a change in the vegetation.
Night Seven: stay at the most unexpected home I’ve ever encountered. When I walked in, I thought a treasure chest had been dropped by giants. Called “Cabo Luna”, it is a home owned by the worldly and handsome Carlos. It’s like a museum of antiques and talismans from a life lived richlly.
Dinner will be provided, cooked by Carlos himself, and we will eat outside, listening to the stream that runs along the belly of his land, and sleep in what seems like a treehouse. He has three dogs, Orca, Arco, and Betsy, and Betsy will probably charm your entire soul.
miles hiked: SIXTEEN (16)
Day Eight: SAN PABLO LEON CORTES to ESQUIPULAS
Hike the mile or so to the town of San Pablo Leon Cortes. Catch a bus to the city of Quepos, the end of the Camino. From Quepos, we will bus to Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge, a glorious respite on the edge of a rainforest with the most mesmerizing bird watching I’ve ever experienced.
Night Eight: sleep in your own “tee pee” at Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge.
miles hiked: FIVE (5)
Day Nine: ESQUIPULAS to QUEPOS to SAN JOSE
Today, catch a shuttle from Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge to Quepos. From Quepos, catch a bus to San Jose.
I recommend not scheduling a flight out on this day. Traffic can be absolutely crazy in Costa Rica (as many highways are only one lane) and feeling rushed or crunched for time is a terrible feeling.
Night Nine: stay again at Socialtel San Jose.
miles hiked: zero
total miles hiked: sixty (60)
TOTAL VALUE OF THE ADVENTURE
::For the Seven Day Beasts::
What Is Included…
-lodging in San Jose, Las Brisas, Tres Equis, Pejibaye, Rio Macho, Palo Verde
-meals provided in Las Brisas, Rio Macho, and Palo Verde
-salsa lesson with the spicy Laura
-bus fare from San Jose
-taxi fare from Siquerres
-the indigenous guide through Nairi Rainforest
-entrance fee into indigenous section
-transportation from Palo Verde to San Jose
--post-adventure commemorative t shirt
-that Flock of Beasts grit and glory
What is NOT Included
-plane fare to San Jose
- resupply food, drinks, and snacks
-the optional packed lunch at Las Brisas
- dinner in San Jose, Tres Equis, and Pejibaye
-the FarOut app
-the Camino de Costa Rica hiking guide (optional)
-gratuity for our indigenous guide/drivers
TOTAL VALUE: 1675.oo
TOTAL VALUE OF THE ADVENTURE
::For the NINE Day Beasts::
What Is Included…
-lodging in San Jose, Las Brisas, Tres Equis, Pejibaye, Rio Macho, Palo Verde, Cabo Luna, and Esquipulas
-dinner and some breakfasts provided in Las Brisas, Rio Macho, Palo Verde, Cabo Luna, and Esquipulas
-bus fare from San Jose
-taxi fare from Siquerres
-salsa lesson with the spicy Laura
-the indigenous guide through Sections 3 and 4
-entrance fee into indigenous section
-transportation to Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge
-bus fare from Quepos
-the last night at Socialtel San Jose
-post-adventure commemorative t shirt
-that Flock of Beasts grit and glory
What is NOT Included
-plane fare to San Jose
- resupply food, drinks, and snacks
-the optional packed lunch at Las Brisas
- dinner in San Jose, Tres Equis, and Pejibaye
- breakfast at Tres Equis, Pejibaye, Cabo Luna, and Esquipulas
-the FarOut app
-the Camino de Costa Rica hiking guide
-gratuity to our indigenous guide/drivers
Total Value: 1895.00
$500 down payment required immediately to secure your spot.
Next payment due May 2025 (day is up to you: I will reach out to you specifically)
Next payment due September 2025
Paid in full by early November
REFUNDS ONLY AVAILABLE TILL MAY: understand that filling trips is often difficult, even amazing ones like this. Thank you for your empathy for a small business owner.
ONLY 4-5 SPOTS AVAILABLE IN THE FLOCK
More information to follow: about a packing list (you need less than you think), training suggestions (it’s a wise idea to ensure you’re in shape before we go), and overall cheering and cartwheeling.
