Tropical Ecology Tentative Itinerary 

March 29 - April 6, 2025

Travel to Costa Rica for Spring Break

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FLYER

Scholarships are Available!

Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and academic merit. Awardees will be expected to share about their experiences upon their return.

NOTE: Scholarship applications for the Spring 2025 program have now closed. 


Students in the SFO airport preparing for a flight to Costa Rica.

Day 1: Saturday Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica

  • Noon departure from San Jose, CA Airport
  • Airport pickup from San Jose, Costa Rica
  • Check-in at Wyndham Herradura Hotel near airport

Day 2: Sunday Activities

  • Travel to Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve
  • Take ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera
  • Hike trail into the field station and settle into bunkhouses
  • Discuss species seen that day and using iNaturalist
  • Student journaling 

Day 3: Monday Activities

  • Explore life in the tidepools
  • Snorkeling 
  • Observational study
  • Guided hike to Playa Balsitas with emphasis on trees of Cabo Blanco
  • Student journaling 

Snorkeling student gives a peace sign underwater to camera.

Day 4: Tuesday Activities

  • Early morning Bird walk
  • Orientation to Forest composition research study
  • Snorkeling
  • Forest study- data collection
  • Forest study- data analysis
  • Student journaling 

 

Day 5: Wednesday Activities

  • Hike out of Cabo Blanco to Mal Pais
  • Take ferry back across the Gulf of Nicoya to Puntarenas 
  • Travel to Monteverde
  • Orientation and check-in at La Casona de Monteverde Lodge
  • Observational Study
  • Student journaling 

Skywalk in Costa Rica.

Day 6: Thursday Activities

  • Monteverde Reserve walk
  • Camera Trap activity
  • Insect Diversity talk
  • Night walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve with focus on insects

Day 7: Friday Activities

  • Sky Walk Suspension Bridges
  • Biodiversity study at Sky Walk
  • Data analysis and preparation for research symposium

Beach at sunrise in Costa Rica.

Day 8: Saturday Activities

  • Monteverde Butterfly garden
  • Biodiversity Conservation through Agroforestry in Biological Corridors-a diversified coffee farm and reforestation project
  • Lunch with local family in San Luis
  • Evening Research symposium

Day 9: Sunday Activities

  • Morning transfer to Liberia, Costa Rica where we will take a flight back to the US
  • Late evening arrival at San Francisco airport

Total program fee for travel to Costa Rica over Spring break including airfare, lodging, most meals, transportation, entrance fees, and all activities is $2728.67.  Students must have a current and valid passport.