2024 Mullen Costa Rica Conservation Expedition

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2024 Mullen Costa Rica Conservation Expedition!  The Pre-Enrollment page is meant to share exciting highlights and important info that participants will want to know before signing up. If you enroll, you'll begin using the Post-Enrollment page which offers a greater level of detail.  Please be sure to review the information thoroughly and get excited for all that Costa Rica has to offer! Pura vida! 
Travel Dates: January 11, 2024 - January 18, 2024
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,690 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Confirmed Airfare: $869

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: $2,690

Pay in Full

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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

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!

Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends

Contribute to sustainability efforts on a conservation project

Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle

Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes

Practice your Spanish language skills with locals

Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers

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. 

DayLocationDescriptionLodging
January 11USA - AlajuelaToday 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
January 12Alajuela-La Virgen de SarapiquíAfter breakfast the group will head to a Lasallian school in San Jose for a short visit before continuing on to Sarapiquí, an area characterized by its lush tropical rainforest and swift rivers. The bus ride is 2 hours north from the capital city. The group will settle in La Sarapiquis Hotel. 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 lunch we will be learning about the history of one of mankind’s favorite foods: chocolate. Originally from Central America, this plant has an extraordinary history; it was one of the most important products for the Mayan and Aztec culturesSarapiquis Hotel
January 13La Virgen de SarapiquíToday we will start our day with 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 this we will have cooking classes where we will learn how to make tortillas but also learn about bananas and we will make patacones. After lunch we will play soccer with local kids and enjoy the afternoon.. After dinner we will have a night workshop learning 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, and threats. They will also be able to take a close look at the snare net and bats captured for this research.
Sarapiquis Hotel
January 14 La Virgen de Sarapiqui- Puerto Viejo After breakfast, 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
January 15Puerto Viejo Today we will begin with an introduction to the several research projects conducted by 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 subjects such as water quality, plant adaptation and mammal monitoring, especially peccaries which love to hang out around the station! After lunch, we will take a short break from our conservation work to explore downtown Sarapiqui. After dinner, 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
January 16La Virgen de Sarapiquí - La FortunaAfter breakfast, the group will then go whitewater rafting down the Sarapiquí River, renowned worldwide for its scenic beauty and thrilling class 3 rapids, then 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. In the evening we will relax at the Baldi hot springs and enjoy a delicious buffet dinner.
Hotel San Bosco Inn
January 17La Fortuna - AlajuelaToday students will go hiking to see La Fortuna waterfall. Students can relax, swim, while admiring the amazing waterfall. After lunch we will get the opportunity to see the forest from a different perspective as we zip-line through the jungle canopy. After our ziplining tour 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
January 18Alajuela - USAAfter breakfast and a relaxing morning by the pool, we will head to the airport for an early-afternoon departure back to the USA.Your own bed!

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.  

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your trip, subject to availability. 
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.

Sarapiquis Hotel

Sarapiquis Hotel 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.

San Bosco Inn

Located right in downtown La Fortuna, San Bosco Inn offers a great location, a pool, restaurant and cozy bedrooms. This is the ideal location from which students can the nearby waterfalls, caves, thermal hot springs, and of course the amazing Arenal Volcano. All rooms are equipped with A/C with free Wi-Fi to keep everyone feeling comfortable and connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.

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.

Safety and Support


 EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

Thank you for giving my son a memorable lifetime experience. [There was] constant contact with the parents with updates and photos to ensure us about the students’ safety and that they were doing well. [The Program Leader] and the teachers were outstanding. Couldn’t have had anyone else better to do the job than they have done.

Michele
Parent of Benjamin, 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.

 

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WTT coffee
Resource center

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.

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