2024 Fordham Preparatory Costa Rica Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: | February 17, 2024 - February 24, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
|
| WTT Contact: |
|
| Program Tuition: | $3,543 USD |
| Deadline(s): | International flight is included in the tuition. |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan. Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $3,543
Pay in Full
$3,543.00
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:
$1,014.34
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Costa Rica Conservation Expedition: Sarapiqui
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 in Sarapiqui gives travelers the opportunity to delve deep into the verdant ecosystems that set Costa Rica apart; in addition to white water rafting and swimming in hot springs below an active volcano, students will participate in field work and data collection with The Organization for Tropical Studies at La Selva Station. 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, monitoring the health of coral reefs off the coast of Belize or helping school children in Thailand to understand the importance of wild elephants to their ecosystem, these adventures make the wonders of our world, and our responsibility to protect them, abundantly apparent.
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 17 | 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. | Rosa de las Américas |
| February 18 | Alajuela - La Virgen Sarapiqui | After breakfast we'll head to an early mass in the city. Then the group will head to Sarapiquí, an area characterized by its lush tropical rainforest and swift rivers. The bus ride is 2 hours north of the capital city. The group will settle into the hotel before playing a lively game of soccer with a local kids! Afterwards, we'll have a workshop focused on one of mankind’s favorite foods: chocolate. Originally from Central America, this plant has an extraordinary history and was once part of religious and ceremonial practices by the Mayan and Aztec cultures. | Chilamate Rainforest Lodge |
| February 19 | La Virgen Sarapiqui | This morning we'll enjoy a fun cooking class, after which we eat what we make! Then the group will go whitewater rafting down the Sarapiquí River, renowned worldwide for its scenic beauty and thrilling class 3 rapids. After well deserved break, we'll have a breakout session where we'll learn about the bat research conducted at this reserve. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the natural history of bats, their classification, diversity, adaptations, reproduction, threats. They will also be able to take a close look at the snare net and bats captured for this research. | Chilamate Rainforest Lodge |
| February 20 | La Virgen de Sarapiquí- Puerto Viejo | After breakfast, we will first make a stop for our 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. After lunch the group will settle in La Selva Biological Station, owned by the world-renowned Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). The group will get familiar with the facilities and meet the scientists and research tutors. After lunch, we will set off on a hike through some of the multiple trails in the middle of the primary rainforest where students will learn about the natural history, ecosystems, and biodiversity of the reserve. After dinner, we will have some reflection time to discuss some of our goals for the upcoming days. | OTS Cabins |
| February 21 | Puerto Viejo | Today we will begin with an introduction to the several research projects conducted but the OTS in La Selva station. After we receive the lecture and general instructions, the group will be divided into different tasks we will be completing for the rest of the day to participate in one of the several on-going projects La Selva. Projects vary but these may include topics of water quality, plant adaptation and mammal monitoring, specially peccaries which love to hang out around the station! After lunch, will take a short break from our conservation work to explore downtown Sarapiqui. 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 |
| February 22 | Puerto Viejo- 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. Students will have some free time to explore the towns center and do some souvenir shopping. 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 having a buffet dinner as well. | Montechari Hotel |
| February 23 | La Fortuna -Alajuela | Today we will hike down to La Fortuna waterfall, where students can relax, swim, and explore in the morning. After lunch, we will make the drive back to San Jose for a farewell dinner and our final reflection before our international departure the following morning. | Rosa de las Américas |
| February 24 | Alajuela- USA | After breakfast, we will head to the airport for a morning departure back to the USA. | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
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.
Montechiari Hotel
Arenal Montechiari Hotel located 400 meters from the central park, very close to the beautiful town La Fortuna. The Hotel is sorrounded of lush gardens and a spectacular view of the Volcano.
Rosa de las Américas
A charming ranch-style hotel on the outskirts of San José, Rosa de las Americas is a great spot to unwind after a long day’s travels. This hotel is complete with a lush gardens, a big pool, updated rooms, and friendly staff.
Chilamate Rainforest
Chilamate Rainforest combines research and education with ecoturism to create a unique experience for its visitors and to promote conservation. The rooms 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, all-access trail, and on-station security.
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
Walking Tree gave us everything we needed to make our vision of the perfect educational trip to China a reality.
Andy
Repeat Group Organizer on programs to China
Your Adventure Includes
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on the 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.