Costa Rica: Biology 13 Days - Study Abroad Association

Costa Rica: Biology

13 days

San Jose & Cahuita

Depart for San Jose, Costa Rica
San Jose Airport Pickup; Hotel Check In
Program Orientation
Welcome Dinner & Group Discussions – The group will be taken for an authentic dinner with a variety of menu options to cater all diets.

Breakfast – Day Briefing
Transfer to Caribbean Coast – Cahuita (approx. 3 hours)
Check In & Town Orientation
Group Surfing Lessons – The gentle waves of the Caribbean coast are the perfect place for beginners to learn to surf.
Nocturnal Wildlife Hike – This is a great way to discover a big variety of nocturnal animals that live in the coastal tropical rainforest. At night is when this area really awakens. The darkness will give a very different feel to the hike and their eye reflex makes it easier to spot animals.

Breakfast – Day Briefing
Cahuita National Park Wildlife Tour – Local Flora & Fauna.The park was originally designated as Cahuita National Monument in 1970, and re-designated as a national park in 1978.
Bribri Educational Day – Traditional Meal, Medicinal Plants, Chocolate Making, Sustaining Traditions, Discussions about Shamanism
Bribri Waterfalls

Breakfast – Day Briefing
Travel to Manzanillo (approx. 40 mins)
Naturalist Tour of Manzanillo and Gandoca National Park – The Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge protects almost 70% of the southern Caribbean coast and includes some of the area’s most beautiful beaches. The refuge officially begins at the Cocles River (one mile south of Puerto Viejo) and extends 19 miles south to the Sixaola River at the Panamanian border. The refuge protects beautiful beaches, coral reefs, lowland tropical forests and several of the country’s most endangered habitats including the only jolillo palm swamp in Costa Rica.
Return to Cahuita

Breakfast – Day Briefing
Transfer to Tortuguero (approx. 3.5 hours)
Check In & Town Orientation
Tortuguero Sea Turtle Museum – In this museum and conservation center, the group will have the opportunity to learn more about the different species of sea turtles that nest and lay their eggs on the beaches of Tortuguero. Better understand their life, habitat, why it is so important to protect them and also learn about the efforts that are made to preserve their habitats.

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Tortuguero National Park Wildlife Tour and Boat Excursion – Tortuguero National Park is another significant turtle nesting site in Costa Rica including the endangered green turtle. Home to around 170 species of reptiles and amphibians, this park is also the habitat of 60 species of mammals and 300 different species of birds as well.

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to Arenal (approx. 3 hours)
Rio Fortuna Waterfall – La Fortuna Waterfall is a thundering, towering cascade of water that hurdles down a steep canyon along La Fortuna river near the Arenal volcano.

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Arenal Volcano National Park Wildlife Tour – The location of Costa Rica’s most active volcano until as recently as 2010, Arenal National Park contains a bizarre landscape of solidified lava flows, lush natural forest and tropical flora and fauna which includes howler monkeys, toucans and over 350 bird species.

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Wildlife Tour – The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve of the Tropical Science Center is the first private area for the conservation of wildlife founded in Costa Rica in October of 1972.

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to Carara National Park (approx. 2 hours)
Carara National Park Wildlife Tour – The park is known as a birder’s paradise, but you can spot here many other species of animals. The park is rich with fauna and flora, like insects, spiders, monkeys, huge trees, and the destination is favorite with wildlife enthusiasts, and bird watchers.
Continue to Manuel Antonio (approx. 1.5 hours)
Town Orientation

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Manuel Antonio National Park Wildlife Tour Transfer to San Jose (approx. 2.5 hours)
Souvenir Market
Farewell Dinner & Program Closing

Is there an experience you would like to provide that isn’t included in our itineraries?
Let’s add it!

Are there sites that better fit your subject than the ones provided?
Let’s swap them!

Is there an experience you would like to provide that isn’t included in our itineraries?
Let’s add it!

Are there sites that better fit your subject than the ones provided?
Let’s swap them!