Costa Rica Biodiversity, Ecology, and Sustainability

Hike, paddle, and zip-line through Costa Rica, an ecological wonderland containing five percent of the earth’s biodiversity in a rich and magnificent natural environment.

Orientation in San José

Learn how the words “Pura Vida” capture the spirit and soul of Costa Rica, its ecology, economy, and people. Spend three days exploring San José and learning about Costa Rican culture. Begin using your Spanish as you visit cultural sites, grab lunch at a café, and explore nearby nature reserves and a renowned bio-park. You are joined by an experienced Costa Rican naturalist throughout the program.

Homestay

For 12 days, you live with a Costa Rican family in a town surrounded by soaring green mountains, sugar cane fields, and lush tropical landscapes seemingly untouched by industrialization. Nature hikes with host siblings, meals of gallo pinto with your family, and excursions with local students deepen your understanding of life in this Costa Rican village.

Sample host communities:
Pejivalle, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria de Dota, Palmares, Carit

Community Service

Costa Ricans take enormous pride in preserving biodiversity and creating sustainable communities that live in harmony with the natural environment. Contribute to these efforts as you work alongside host family members and other local residents on a community service project that focuses on rural development and ecological sustainability.

Sample projects:
Plant organic coffee seedlings and trees for habitat restoration; help build a recycling center; paint and repair community buildings.

Eco-Adventure and Travel

Traveling with a local ecologist, you and your group explore the different regions and ecosystems of Costa Rica, gaining a deeper understanding of the country’s rich cultural and environmental diversity.

Sample activities:
Visit stunning cloud forests and discover tropical birds, indigenous animals, and lush plants; shop for handicrafts in local markets; taste the fruit of the cacao plant as you learn more about chocolate production; learn about rainforest preservation and ecology in a remote biological reserve on the Peninsula de Osa; hike in spectacular national parks, climb volcanoes, and test your courage on a rainforest canopy zip line; kayak in the Golfo Dulce and through mangrove forests; enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica’s coastline.

"I learned from biologists, environmentalists, and organic farmers. I was deeply influenced by their motivation and determination to preserve the natural beauty of our common planet."

-- Charlotte Jones
Tabor City, North Carolina