The itinerary below is a sample itinerary. Depending on the group and travel times, the actual itinerary may vary in day-by-day content and total number of days. Call us (877-627-1425) for specific details.
Day 1. Travel to Costa Rica
After arriving in San Jose, students settle into a cozy hotel, eat and get some rest.
Day 2. Visit INBio and Travel to Ostional National Wildlife Refuge
Students visit the National Biodiversity Institute (INBio). INBio is a private research and biodiversity management center, established in 1989 to support efforts to gather knowledge on the country’s biological diversity and promote its sustainable use. During their educational tour, students see and learn about the diverse ecosystems of Costa Rica. They then head by van to Ostional. After receiving an orientation to the basic lodging facilities, prepare for your overnight turtle research experience. Spend late night observing and studying turtles.
Located on the western coast of Costa Rica, Playa Ostional is home to a national wildlife refuge created to protect an important nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Playa Ostional and the nearby Playa Nancite are the most important nesting sites for Olive Ridley’s in Costa Rica. Turtles often arrive in large numbers to nest (hundreds or even thousands), a phenomenon known as an “arribada” or a “mass arrival”. The best time to visit Ostional is just before or during an arribada. These occur, as a general rule, at the start of the last quarter moon. The best months to see the biggest arribadas are between July and December. Contact us for details on turtle activity in different months.
Day 3. Mangrove Ecology & Turtle Research
In the morning, students sleep in after a long night observing turtles. In the afternoon, pending ocean conditions, the group may conduct a mangrove ecology lesson. Spend late night observing and studying turtles.
Day 4. Community Service Project and Interchange
Working side-by-side with local students, we will spend the day giving back to the community that we are visiting. Service projects might include building a community garden, painting a local school or constructing compost bins. We work on projects selected by the community in order to be sure we’re meeting local needs.
Day 5. Travel to Monteverde and Night Hike
Today we travel by van to one of the most famous patches of rainforest in the world: the cloud forests of Monteverde. Monteverde is a remarkably diverse rainforest that offers the opportunity for visitors to see many species of small mammals, birds and much more! After arriving and settling into our hotel, we head out on a night hike to look for wildlife.
Day 6. Canopy Exploration
Students learn about canopy ecology and ecotourism in the Monteverde region. This morning we zip above the canopy on a series of spectacular zip lines and canopy walkways. In the afternoon, we relax and enjoy some leadership activities that help us soak in everything we have learned so far.
Day 7. Explore Monteverde by Foot
Today, we set out on a long hike through the Monteverde reserve. Home to everything from resplendent quetzals to jaguars, Monteverde’s well protected forests have an amazing diversity of plants and animals. We hope to see a lot of that diversity today!
Day 8. Sarapiqui and Sustainable Coffee Farm
We head along the shores of Lake Arenal to the Sarapiqui region of Costa Rica today. Along the way, we stop at a local Fair Trade and Sustainable Coffee Farm. We end the night at the Tirimbina Reserve in Sarapiqui with a night hike and then fall asleep to the sounds of the forest.
Day 9. Tropical Lowland and Montane Rainforests at La Selva and Sarapiqui
From our beautiful base at the top of a hill overlooking the Tirimbina Reserve, students continue studying tropical ecology and conservation. In the morning, we visit La Selva, one of the most important sites in the world for scientific research on tropical forests. Established in 1968 as a biological reserve, it protects 3,900 acres of tropical and premontane forest and connects to the Brauillo National Park (100,000+ acres). At La Selva, we are likely to see some of the mammals of the tropical forest such as monkeys and coatimundi. In the afternoon, we return to the Sarapiqui for a hike through the Tirimbina Reserve and a nighttime bat conservation activity.
Day 10. Return to San Jose and Head Home
We head back to San Jose today, stopping along the way (if time permits) to see some of the beautiful handicrafts of Costa Rica. Crafts might include oxcarts, painted bowls and trays, natural wood serving utensils, tables, jewelry boxes and carvings. We head home today!