2024 St Edward Costa Rica Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: | June 1, 2024 - June 10, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $993 |
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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!
Brew coffee and make empanadas with a local farmer's family
Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle
Learn to surf with some of Costa Rica's best instructors
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers
Assist with research and conservation efforts at the Reserva Playa Tortuga
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 | USA - Alajuela | Today the group will travel from the USA to San Jose, Costa Rica! Upon arrival, we’ll settle into our hotel for the evening for dinner and an orientation meeting where we'll discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Rosa de las Américas |
| June 2 | Alajuela - Pura Suerte | After breakfast, we will depart for Pura Suerte, a farm and retreat located in the heart of the rainforest, about a four-hour drive south of the capital city. Upon arrival, we will settle into our cabins and then take a walk around the property for an introduction to the bountiful flora and fauna in the area. In the evening, we will enjoy a delicious dinner made from ingredients sourced directly from the forest and nearby farms. Throughout the program, we'll have the opportunity to interact with community members in Spanish, participate in cultural exchanges, and explore Costa Rican culture | Pura Suerte |
| June 3 | Bella Vida | After breakfast we'll hike down to Nauyaca waterfall, one of the most beautiful in a country full of beautiful waterfalls! Spend the morning swimming and relaxing near a large swimming hole and the river below. We will take lunch at the waterfall and then hike back back up to start our drive to a Wildlife Conservation Field Station which is located on the central Pacific coast. Upon arrival we will settle in, meet the staff and researchers with whom we'll be spending the coming days, and learn about their different projects on which we'll be assisting. Dinner will be at the station. | RPT Field Station |
| June 4 | Field Station | After breakfast we'll get organized into the different groups will be working with for the next couple days. Groups may work collecting data for different research projects being conducted by the scientists and volunteers stationed at the Reserve and working alongside park rangers doing conservation work. We will also take a hike through the surrounding tropical rainforest in the morning to get our bearings on the local ecosystems in the Osa. Activities at the reserva will vary but may include surveying on monkeys and other mammals, setting up trap cameras, preparing the turtle hatchery, monitoring caimans, night walks and beach patrolling. | RPT Field Station |
| June 5 | Field Station | Today we will continue field research in small groups. In the evening, we will learn how to dance salsa, bachata, and merengue. We will also have some free time in the local town of Ojochal, where we can learn some useful Spanish phrases, visit the butterfly garden, and play board games or table tennis.. | RPT Field Station |
| June 6 | Field Station | Today we will continue field research in small groups. In the evening we'll have some free time in the local town of Ojochal, and learn some useful Spanish phrases, visit the butterfly garden, play board games or table tennis. If time allows, we can pay a visit to a nearby beach or spende time with the local communty. | RPT Field Station |
| June 7 | Field Station | We'll walk along the beach in the morning and conduct a clean-up of marine debris to ensure a clean nesting habitat for sea turtles. In the afternoon, we'll put the finishing touches on our different projects and also hold a reflection to discuss our experiences with Costa Rica’s conservations efforts. | RPT Field Station |
| June 8 | Field Station - Uvita | After breakfast, we will head to the small surfing town of Uvita. Here, students will take surf lessons from professional instructors along a wide, expansive, and empty stretch of coastline that has a reputation for breaks that are great for beginners. After surfing and enjoying the beach for the afternoon, we will have a delicious dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean. | Hotel el Tecal |
| June 9 | Uvita - Alajuela | Today, we will make our way back to San Jose, stopping first to soar through the rainforest canopy on a zip-line adventure. Once back in the city, we'll enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner ahead of the international departure the following morning. | Hotel Aeropuerto |
| June 10 | Alajuela - USA | Fly home, hasta luego! | 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.
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.
Reserva Playa Tortuga
Reserva Playa Tortuga is a non-profit biological research and education center committed to developing and implementing community-based real world projects and conservation management solutions. The Reserva can accommodate groups in rooms that are spacious with quality mattresses and fans. Each room has Wi-Fi access, storage, drawers and screens in the windows to keep the bugs away. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Cabinas El Tecal
Cabinas El Tecal is a locally owned and operated three star hotel close to playa Uvita in the Marino Ballena National Park. Off the beaten path, the hotel comes with modern amenities, a private pool, and great service. It’s the perfect place to relax away from the crowds. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Hotel Aeropuerto
Hotel Aeropuerto is located five minutes away from the Juan Santa María airport. Clean rooms and friendly staff will make you feel at home the moment you drop your bags. The swimming pool is surrounded by fruit trees and flowers, which attract a number of butterflies and birds, and even some iguanas and squirrels. Students will be grouped by gender. Wifi is available throughout the property.
Finca Pura Suerte
A grouping of bamboo cabins and impressive communal spaces, this farm is nestled deep in low-land rain forest with views of the Pacific coastline. The accommodations are comfortable, the food fantastic, and the surreal setting provides an ideal introduction to the country’s impressive flora and fauna.
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
Communication was excellent! We had absolutely all the info we needed from the moment we signed up. LOVED the blog with photos. The prep and follow up activities on culture shock, re-entry, etc. were fantastic!!! Thank you!!!
Erika
Parent of John, traveler on Peru 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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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.