Costa Rica Science 2-Week

Students fly into the Central Valley and the country’s capital of San Jose and are transported high above the city to a small community run eco-lodge which will serve as our home base for exploring the diversity of Costa Rica’s volcanic interior.  The program begins with dynamic orientation activities followed by a visit to the National Institute of Biological Diversity, where students will learn more about the many distinct life zones of the country.  An overland transfer alongside some of the region’s most impressive volcanoes takes participants to the pristine Pacuare River on the precipitous Caribbean slope.  Two days are spent running the river’s rapids, camping along its banks, and learning about the surrounding tropical rainforest canopy from professional river guides and naturalists.

Participants hike deep into the misty cloudforest of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, the largest private reserve in Costa Rica.  Students work alongside park rangers on environmentally sustainable projects designed to preserve and to protect the staggering six life zones that are encompassed within the reserve’s boundaries. In addition to environmental service work, participants will learn of the initiatives to preserve this ecologically fragile environment for future generations.  

Travelling south along the Pacific Coast towards the Osa Peninsula, students partner with a local organization working with the native Sea Turtle population. Learn about sensitive turtle habitat and population factors.  Activities may include beach cleaning activities, night watches, searching the beach for turtle eggs, taking scientific data, and caring for the nesting sites.  We also visit Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge.  Our program partners with local schools and conservation organizations to establish wildlife corridors that provide protection for mammals migrating from the highlands to the coast.  A snorkeling expedition to the idyllic Canos Island allows students to peer deep into the region’s terrestrial and marine diversity.

Program participants leave the lush rainforest of the Osa Peninsula and make their way over rugged mountains back to the Central Valley.  Students celebrate the new knowledge gained and their efforts to protect the biodiversity of this special place in a final dinner before boarding a group flight back home.
*Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.