Costa Rica: STEM - Study Abroad Association

Costa Rica: STEM, Sustainability and Biology

14 days

TBD

Arrive in San Jose
Meet the Group at the Hotel
Program Orientation – The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do incase of an emergency.
Welcome Dinner – The group will be taken for an authentic dinner with a variety of menu options to cater all diets.

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to Guanacaste (approx. 3 hours)
Rincon de la Vieja National Park – With volcanic steam vents, bubbling mud pots, and rainforest, Rincon de la Vieja National Park makes a great day trip when visiting northern Guanacaste.
Lunch Break
Geothermal Plant Visit – Learn about Geothermal Energy production
Group Dinner & Discussions

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to Arenal, La Fortuna (approx. 2.5 hours)
Presa Sangregado Dam Hydro Energy Plant – Presa Sangregado Dam is a high-earthen hydroelectric dam on the south-east shore of Lake Arenal. The installed hydroelectric capacity is 157 megawatts.
Lunch Break
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.
Baldi Hot Springs
Group Dinner & Discussions

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Arenal Volcano National Park Wildlife Tour – 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.
Lunch Break
Canopy Ziplining & Hot Springs
Group Dinner & Discussions

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Lake Arenal Pontoon Boat Tour (Lunch Included)
Bus – Boat – Bus Transfer to Monteverde
Children’s Eternal Rainforest – The largest private reserve sprawls across the mountains and valleys dividing Arenal and Monteverde: a mat of primary and secondary growth rainforest emulsified across 55,000 acres. The last of Costa Rica’s jaguars roam free under its canopies alongside 120 species of mammals, 440 species of birds and more than 700 species of butterflies.
Group Dinner & Discussions

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.
Lunch Break
Eco Coffee Plantation Visit
Group Dinner & Discussions

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to San Jose enroute visit La Ecovilla Sustainable Community (approx. 3 hours)
Lunch Break
Ecolones Recycling Center – Current Guinness Book World Record Holder
Group Dinner & Discussions

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to Cahuita, Caribbean Coast (approx. 3.5 hours)
Lunch Break
Surfing Lessons (Extremely safe, perfect for beginners)
Sustainable Service Project Tree Planting Local Elementary School
Dinner & Discussions
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.
Group Lunch (Traditional Bribri Lunch included)
Bribri Educational Day – Traditional Meal, Medicinal Plants, Chocolate Making, Sustaining Traditions, Discussions about Shamanism
Return to Cahuita – Free Time & Cultural Immersion
Group Dinner & Discussions

Breakfast & Day Briefing
Jaguar Rescue Center – A unique experience to interact with wild animals from Costa Rica while, supporting a good cause. The Jaguar Rescue Center, is a non-profit Organization, that works on rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals, and its future release into the wild, always in protected areas.
Lunch Break
Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge – 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.
Punta Uva Beach

Is there an experience you would like to provide that isn’t included in our itineraries?
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Are there sites that better fit your subject than the ones provided?
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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!