Foundation Plans Eight-day Tour to Raise Funds for Coco Island

April 15

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

An organization that supports the environmental work at the Isla del Coco plans an eight-day trip for 70 persons to raise funds.

The organization is the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation or La Fundación Amigos de la Isla del Coco. The organization has been working since 1994 to safeguard the environmental riches of the volcanic island and surrounding ocean, which is 532 kms or 330 miles southwest of Puntarenas.

The funds raised with the trip will be used to purchase a smaller boat for the park rangers, to improve the conditions of the workers on the island and to continue the campaign of protection for the Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, the organization said.

Jessica Chavarría, trip coordinator said that the cruise is being put on in conjunction with the Organización para Estudios Tropicales. A series of activities include two piano concerts, snorkeling, a visit to petroglyphs on the island and free time to just wander.

This is the principal difference between this trip and a commercial voyage, said Ms. Chavarría.

Rather than tourists the target audience for the tour are
Costa Rican businessmen who could enjoy a trip to the island and make contact with others in business, said the organization. The price per person is $1,815, the group said. The trip is not even advertised on the organization's English Web pages.

Last year the organization raised $30,000 for the park, and members hope to surpass this figure this year, said Ms. Chavarría. She said that only 10 vacancies remain for the trip, which is planned form April 26 to May 3.