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We provide a safe and authentic way to experience
Costa Rica, from her capital in San Jose to her untamed
wilderness in the Talamanca Mountains. Our trips are
healthy for the mind and body. We make a profit with a
low impact on the environment and people around us.
All our dealings are fair and honest. We strive to do our
very best in every project we undertake and constantly
improve upon our works.
Talamanca Treks
| Hiking, Camping, Backpacking & Horseback Riding in Backcountry Costa Rica |
Advantages in choosing our services
We have an advantage over our competition because we are based
and live in the same wilderness we trek through and we are not
limited to National Parks and reservations. Our employees are
honest and dedicated to providing the best experience possible.
We have an advantage over our competition because we are based
and live in the same wilderness we trek through and we are not
limited to National Parks and reservations. Our employees are
honest and dedicated to providing the best experience possible.
Base Camp Climate
Base Camp is located in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica 45km
southeast of Turrialba on the edge of the largest wilderness of Costa
Rica. At 980m above sea level we are in the middle of the Atlantic
zone moist-wet forest. The temperature ranges from 60F(15C) to
82F(27.8C). Our dry season ranges from 3 to 5 months between
December and May. During dry season rains are light and rare and
present no obstacles. During the rainy season many mornings are
sunny however heavy afternoon showers can make river crossings a
challenge and sucking mud slows down hiking. December and
January can be very dry or very wet. We can experience non-stop
rain which cause the rivers to become impassible for several days in a
row.
Base Camp is located in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica 45km
southeast of Turrialba on the edge of the largest wilderness of Costa
Rica. At 980m above sea level we are in the middle of the Atlantic
zone moist-wet forest. The temperature ranges from 60F(15C) to
82F(27.8C). Our dry season ranges from 3 to 5 months between
December and May. During dry season rains are light and rare and
present no obstacles. During the rainy season many mornings are
sunny however heavy afternoon showers can make river crossings a
challenge and sucking mud slows down hiking. December and
January can be very dry or very wet. We can experience non-stop
rain which cause the rivers to become impassible for several days in a
row.
A look to the past, 1983. Mark doesn't seem too
nervous about crossing the river. Mark is now
the owner of Talamanca Treks. Rubber boots
are still the best footwear for this rugged country.
nervous about crossing the river. Mark is now
the owner of Talamanca Treks. Rubber boots
are still the best footwear for this rugged country.
Trip Leaders
Martin Venegas has lived in the backcountry of
Costa Rica for all his 37 years. He is a coffee, pig,
sugar cane, banana, cow, and horse farmer as well
as backpacking trip leader. He is an expert tracker
of animals and people. With the nickname of
'Superman' you can count on his endless energy,
always the first one up and the last to rest. He
says his favorite place in the world is the
Talamanca Mountains because he knows how to do
everything there is to be done there.->
Martin Venegas has lived in the backcountry of
Costa Rica for all his 37 years. He is a coffee, pig,
sugar cane, banana, cow, and horse farmer as well
as backpacking trip leader. He is an expert tracker
of animals and people. With the nickname of
'Superman' you can count on his endless energy,
always the first one up and the last to rest. He
says his favorite place in the world is the
Talamanca Mountains because he knows how to do
everything there is to be done there.->
Jorge Venegas, Martin's brother, is 33 years old,
the youngest of seven brothers. He is the family
vet and steady with a knife as he performs surgery
on his injured animals. And he has an uncanny
knack for solving problems with limited resources.
He is a force crossing flooded rivers. All smiles and
never flustered, he loves to tell jokes and laugh.
<-
the youngest of seven brothers. He is the family
vet and steady with a knife as he performs surgery
on his injured animals. And he has an uncanny
knack for solving problems with limited resources.
He is a force crossing flooded rivers. All smiles and
never flustered, he loves to tell jokes and laugh.
<-
Mark Dohle is 26 years old. He is the founder, the
acting manager, and trip leader for Talamanca
Treks. Mark is also directing a reforestation project
on the San Agustin reserve in parts where the
lumber was cut. He was raised in Costa Rica, Texas,
Pennsylvania, and Arizona. He graduated from the
University of Arizona in December of 2002 with a
teaching degree. He has been an avid backpacker
since 1993. He is certified in Wilderness First Aid
through SOLO, he took a semester long course of
first aid training at the University of Arizona, and
he is certified as a life guard through the BSA. He
loves to read and study history.->
acting manager, and trip leader for Talamanca
Treks. Mark is also directing a reforestation project
on the San Agustin reserve in parts where the
lumber was cut. He was raised in Costa Rica, Texas,
Pennsylvania, and Arizona. He graduated from the
University of Arizona in December of 2002 with a
teaching degree. He has been an avid backpacker
since 1993. He is certified in Wilderness First Aid
through SOLO, he took a semester long course of
first aid training at the University of Arizona, and
he is certified as a life guard through the BSA. He
loves to read and study history.->
David and Mark, father and
son run base camp together.
son run base camp together.
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History
David Dohle,52 years old, left Texas with his backpack and $5,000 from
his sister in a last ditch effort to save the family farm in Costa Rica.
Mark Dohle, 22 years old, was a junior at the University of Arizona and
curiosity called him to travel, see and learn. In May of 2002 they
traveled together from Texas to Costa Rica through Latin America by
bus.
Mark, an avid backpacker, hauled his gear from Arizona to Texas,
through Central America only to be disappointed by the lack of quality
camping and backpacking along the way. The trip was great and they
saw many new and interesting things, from the temples of Copan,
Honduras to the spaceman in San Pedro de Atilan, in Guatemala. But
nothing caught Mark's attention like the family farm in Costa Rica. He
saw a whole mountain of rain forest, overgrown banana fields, and
abandoned fruit trees three hours from cars and electricity. It was
perfect.
That first night, camping in the overgrown fruit orchard, Mark stayed
up all night planning his camping and backpacking business. He knew
then that he would not be a school teacher in the United States, but a
backpacking expedition leader in the rugged rain forest of the
Talamanca Mountains in Costa Rica.
Mark returned to Arizona to finish college. David remained in Costa
Rica, living in a neighbors abandoned house. He started from nothing,
building a roof for himself, cleaning the fruit trees and planting a
garden.
Talamanca Treks opened for business in June of 2003, 6 months after
Mark finished college. Mark made a free Yahoo website and put up
tempting fliers in all the popular travel hostels in Costa Rica. Since then
Talamanca Treks has developed from a simple camp ground where one
could set up a tent to an adventure tour organization with trips
spanning Costa Rica.
David Dohle,52 years old, left Texas with his backpack and $5,000 from
his sister in a last ditch effort to save the family farm in Costa Rica.
Mark Dohle, 22 years old, was a junior at the University of Arizona and
curiosity called him to travel, see and learn. In May of 2002 they
traveled together from Texas to Costa Rica through Latin America by
bus.
Mark, an avid backpacker, hauled his gear from Arizona to Texas,
through Central America only to be disappointed by the lack of quality
camping and backpacking along the way. The trip was great and they
saw many new and interesting things, from the temples of Copan,
Honduras to the spaceman in San Pedro de Atilan, in Guatemala. But
nothing caught Mark's attention like the family farm in Costa Rica. He
saw a whole mountain of rain forest, overgrown banana fields, and
abandoned fruit trees three hours from cars and electricity. It was
perfect.
That first night, camping in the overgrown fruit orchard, Mark stayed
up all night planning his camping and backpacking business. He knew
then that he would not be a school teacher in the United States, but a
backpacking expedition leader in the rugged rain forest of the
Talamanca Mountains in Costa Rica.
Mark returned to Arizona to finish college. David remained in Costa
Rica, living in a neighbors abandoned house. He started from nothing,
building a roof for himself, cleaning the fruit trees and planting a
garden.
Talamanca Treks opened for business in June of 2003, 6 months after
Mark finished college. Mark made a free Yahoo website and put up
tempting fliers in all the popular travel hostels in Costa Rica. Since then
Talamanca Treks has developed from a simple camp ground where one
could set up a tent to an adventure tour organization with trips
spanning Costa Rica.
About Us
About Talamanca Treks
