2019 Renaissance Costa Rica Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: | March 4, 2019 - March 11, 2019 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,225 USD
- or -
$2,125 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $695 |
| Deadline(s): | Pre Departure meeting on Monday February 11 at 6PM |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $2,225
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$2,125.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$28.75
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Costa Rica Conservation Expedition: Osa Peninsula
From white sand beaches to misty cloud forests, towering volcanoes to beautiful rivers that carve through tropical canyons, and hospitable, friendly communities, Costa Rica has it all! Our conservation program along the Pacific coast gives travelers the opportunity to delve deep into the verdant ecosystems that set Costa Rica apart; in addition to white water rafting, relaxing on white sand beaches and swimming at the base of a towering waterfall, students will participate in field work and data collection at a research station staffed with professional scientists who conduct a wide array of research projects. Adventure awaits!
Conservation Expeditions
Conservation Expeditions bring travelers to the heart of the modern-day conservation movement. Whether building nurseries for sea turtle hatchlings in Costa Rica, snorkeling alongside sea lions in the Galapagos or teaching local school children in Thailand about the importance of wild elephants to their ecosystem, these trips make the wonders of our world, and our responsibility to protect them, abundantly apparent.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Work side by side with scientists at the Organization for Tropical Studies in one of most biodiverse ecosystems in the world
Learn about the history of chocolate while you make your own!
Zip-line though the rainforest
Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle
Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes
Hike through the tropical rainforest and learn about local ecosystems
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 4 | USA - Alajuela | Today the group will travel from the USA to Costa Rica, and flights usually arrive in the evening. After arrival, the group will settle into their hotel and have an orientation meeting where the group will discuss the upcoming trip in detail. Dinner will be at the hotel. | Casa Cielo Grande |
| March 5 | Alajuela - Horquetas | After breakfast the group will head for Sarapiquí, an area characterized by its lush tropical rainforest and swift rivers. The bus ride is three hours north of the capital city. Upon arrival, we will learn about the history of the chocolate industry while partaking in its preparation process. The group will then settle in La Selva Biological Station, owned by the world-renowned Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). The group will meet the scientists and research tutors, and from them learn more about the conservation and research projects. After dinner in the station, the group will set off on a night hike through the trails in the middle of the primary rainforest to find frogs and other nocturnal creatures. | OTS cabins |
| March 6 | Horquetas de Sarapiquí | The first full day at the station will begin with an introduction to the Rivers and Streams Monitoring and Management project. After we receive the lecture and general instructions, the group will be divided into different tasks, the likes of which might include the monitoring of macro-invertebrates and chemicals in order to determine water quality. After lunch, we will leave the station for an Ethnobotany tour, where students will engage all five of their senses in getting to know different plants and learn about the scientific importance of the tropical rainforest in the medical and cosmetic fields. The group will then have free time before dinner. | OTS cabins |
| March 7 | Horquetas de Sarapiquí | One of the following day’s activities will involve service in collaboration with a riparian forest restoration project. The group will learn about the different strategies scientists use to restore the vegetal area that protects and supports rivers and streams, as well as the biotic components that support these ecosystems. After planting several trees, the group will go whitewater rafting down the Sarapiquí River, renowned worldwide for its scenic beauty and thrilling class 3 rapids. After a long day, the group will have time to relax before dinner. | OTS cabins |
| March 8 | Horquetas de Sarapiquí | After breakfast, we will assist a peccary-monitoring project by deploying camera traps, whose chips we will later collect to see what they captured. The group will learn more about these projects, widely found in Costa Rica, that are helping scientist understand behavior patterns of important species to the ecosystem. In the afternoon, the group will learn how to dance salsa, merengue and bachata before a fiesta de despedida with our friends from the station. | OTS cabins |
| March 9 | Horquetas - La Fortuna | After breakfast we will head to La Fortuna, a small city right next to the Volcán Arenal, an impressive volcano that stands out in the middle of the flatlands. We will see the forest from a different perspective after we go zip-lining in the afternoon. At night we will relax at the Baldi Hot-springs, where we will be dining as well. | Hotel La Fortuna |
| March 10 | La Fortuna - Alajuela | Today we will explore Volcán Arenal National Park, which is teeming with wildlife. Inside, we will find winding trails that lead through dense jungle and eventually arrive at a waterfall. Students can relax, swim, and explore in the morning. After lunch, we will make the drive back to San Jose for a farewell dinner before our international departure the following morning. | Casa Cielo Grande |
| March 11 | Alajuela - USA | After breakfast, we will head to the airport for a morning departure back to the USA. | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Villas Aracari
Villas Aracari is a beautiful property ideally located just twenty minutes from the airport. Close to the city center yet perched high in the mountains, the views of the Central Valley are breathtaking and the new pool is a delightful respite after a hot day. Spotless rooms and friendly staff will make you feel at home the moment you drop your bags.
OTS La Selva Research Station
La Selva’s juxtaposition of protected ecosystems and well-developed facilities is unique in the world’s wet tropics. This is one of several field stations run created by the Organization of Tropical Studies, a non-profit consortium of over 50 universities and research institutions based in the United States, Latin America, and South Africa. The cabins offer bunk and single beds, shared bathrooms, bug protection on windows and fans. Students will be grouped according to gender. They offer a dining hall, wireless internet, library, all-access trail, and on-station security.
Hotel La Fortuna
Located right in the heart of La Fortuna in San Carlos, Costa Rica. La Fortuna Hotel offers visitors a very convenient location with all the services within walking distance from our facilities. This hotel boasts amazing views of the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Downtown you won’t forget! Guests have access to free Wi-Fi throughout the building in order to stay connected. Students will be grouped according to gender in their rooms.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
My son had a wonderful experience in Costa Rica, helped to build a preschool classroom, and has created memories that will last a lifetime!
Jodi
Parent of traveler on Costa Rica Service Adventure
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.