Come Explore our Itineraries to Costa Rica

Arrive in San Jose and have a typical Costa Rican Dinner

Travel by private bus to  and  boat to Tortugero and turtle hatching sanctuary.  Learn about turtle hatchling as you prepare yourself for night patrols to help mother leatherback turtles

Depart the turtle sanctuary to Cahuita National Park.   Explore the beautiful beach a maybe even catch a glimpse of a two-toed or three-toed sloth.

Journey by bus, van, boat, canoe and foot to have the once in a life-time opportunity to visit the indigenous Bri-Bri.   Learn the importance of chocolate in their culture, visit with village elders, engage in a cultural ex\change with Bri-Bri students. 

It's time for the rainforest.  At Veragua rainforest you will learn about reptiles, snakes and amphibians before your venture into the forest with a trained biologist.  Support the biologists in a variety of research projects culminating in a night hike.  If you are lucky, you will be awoken by howler monkey as they begin their day overhead.

Continue your adventures in the rainforest, explore the variety of habitats that supports scores of butterflies.   Come close to flying with them as your traverse the rainforest via zip-line. 

From the rainforest to the river.   Spend an exciting day white water rafting one of Costa Rica's beautiful rivers.

Depart from Costa Rica to your home city.

Arrival and travel to Monteverde.

Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest work with one of our expert naturalists in search of the local biodiversity. 

Workshop- Life zones and biodiversity of Costa Rica. An in-depth review of the main ecosystems in Costa Rica, from the mountains to the sea: Subalpine paramo, tropical cloud forests, lowland rainforests and tropical dry forests. Learn how to use Holdridge’s Life Zones.

Night walk- Explore the ecosystem at night and experience the nocturnal forest ecology.

Begin the day bird monitoring in the cloud forest. Grab breakfast to go and immerse yourself deep into the bird world. Help record useful data for our bird population survey.

Forest canopy exploration via SkyWalk suspension bridges. A unique opportunity to explore and learn about the three-dimensional structure of the rainforest.

Discussion: Quetzal research and conservation. Engage in a discussion on current research findings, ecology, natural history, and conservation initiatives of one of the M

Tropical plant identification workshop- An introduction to plant systematics to recognize the most common plant families in the tropical region.

Insect identification workshop- Learn how to classify insect orders, a useful skill to enhance field experiences and research.

Discussion: Climate change and the extinction of the Golden Toad (Incilius periglenes). An in-depth discussion about human impact on the environment, biodiversity loss and conservation alternatives. 

Bellbird Biological Corridor and the Pacific Slope Trail. An inspirational trek on the Pacific Slope Trail. See how a mountain community is moving forward with its own environmental and cultural conservation model.

Reforestation- Participate restoration efforts by helping at our native tree nursery.

Experience a sustainable farm- Learn how farmers in San Luis de Monteverde are making progress on this goal.

Dinner with a local family- Connect with the local culture and practice your Spanish skills.

As we transit to the Caribbean region, we will experience different ecosystems, biodiversity, foods, landscapes, and diverse cultures. We will make a quick stop to jump into the Pacific,  and drive through San José and Cartago (former capital) before we reach Turrialba.  We will visit the Guayabo National Monument and stay near the Turrialba Volcano. This unique archeological site allows us to learn about the organizational structure, architecture and engineering of the pre-Columbian people. 

Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River- An inspiring descent to the Caribbean lowlands on the Pacuare River, rated one of the top rivers in the world for its breath-taking scenic beauty. Incredible rainforest, waterfalls, exotic birds and other wildlife, and exciting Class III-IV rapids make this trip an unforgettable tropical adventure.

Travel to Veragua Rainforest- You will be welcomed at Veragua Rainforest by the research team and guides, who will give an orientation to the Veragua Reserve an

Amphibians Workshop- Analysis of behavior, biology, and bioacoustics of poison dart frogs. Travel on a gondola to the Victoria River to study the altitudinal distribution of dart frogs.  Amphibians II:  Learn about amphibian restoration sites. Discuss the effects of environmental variables on reproduction. 

Insect Biodiversity- An introduction to insect diversity.  Includes a lecture on research techniques and a field activity to install butterfly traps.

Conclude with a night walk through Veragua.

Insect Biodiversity Monitoring- Engage in a catch, ID, and release of butterflies from the traps placed in the forest.

Discussion on the effects of climate change in amphibians. Discuss Veragua’s amphibian habitat restoration for Tiger and Lemur frogs. Participate in field research and restoration activities.

Mammal Monitoring Workshop- Learn about mammal diversity, conservation methods, and monitoring techniques.

Participate in a nocturnal hike to record amphibian, reptile, and mammal species.  

Glide through the trees as you zip line with views of La Amistad International Park. 

Roundtable with Cabecar indigenous members- Engage in a cultural exchange with our Cabecar team. They will share their experiences, vision, and cosmology that connects them with nature.

Mammal Monitoring Workshop- Evaluate monitoring methods, including following tracks, spotting bat tents, and distinguishing foraging behaviors. Mist-nets will be installed to capture-release bats during the night program. 

Travel through the La Amistad Caribe biological corridor to the Pacuare Reserve.  The reserve protects 2,000 acres of tropical rainforest surrounded by the Caribbean and fresh-water canals 

Participate (seasonal) a) night walk in the coastal rainforest to learn about its wildlife, natural history, and adaptations. b) Receive an introduction to the sea turtle protocol in order to engage in the monitoring at night. c) Sea turtle census- collect biometric data, and learn about the nesting process. 

Bird monitoring- review and increase the bird species inventories, while exploring different ecosystems: canals, rainforest, beach, and lagoon.

Discussion: Climate change and the impact on sea turtle populations in Costa Rica, efforts and studies carried out at Pacuare Reserve. 

Biodiversity exploration at the freshwater canals. This ecosystem offers a unique niche for aquatic wildlife. 

Sea Turtle Census. Follow up from the previous night. Engage in a sea turtle census with our field researchers. 

Tavel to Puerto Viejo- the southern Caribbean coast has pristine beaches and stunning coral reefs.  It is a culturally rich area where African-Jamaican and indigenous ethnicities converge. 

Cacao and Chocolate Tour- On this tour, you will learn about the production of this “fruit of the gods”. The best part is that you will make your own chocolate.

Snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea- explore the astonishing marine life in the coastal coral reef of Manzanillo Beach.

Caribbean-style dinner. 

Enjoy time at the beach. After so much adventure and learning, you’ll need a break to relax, rejuvenate, and meditate about the journey. There is no better place to do this than at one of the area’s picturesque beaches.

Travel to San José. Farewell dinner.

Certificates and surprise!!!

Depart Costa Rica as you return to your home city.