Tropical Ecology Tentative Itinerary
March 29 - April 6, 2025
Travel to Costa Rica for Spring Break
Scholarships are Available!
Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and academic merit. Awardees will be expected to share about their experiences upon their return.
Scholarship application deadline for Spring 2025 trip will be November 1, 2025.
Day 1: Saturday Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Early morning departure from San Jose, CA Airport
- Airport pickup from San Jose, Costa Rica; orientation and dinner en-route.
- Check-in at Wyndham Herradura Hotel near airport
Day 2: Sunday Activities
- Travel to Monteverde
- Orientation and check-in at La Casona de Monteverde Lodge
- Natural History walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
- Review of research projects and methods
Day 3: Monday Activities
- Sky Walk Suspension Bridges
- Biodiversity study at Sky Walk
- Insect identification workshop at Monteverde
- Data and analysis. Create Time/Species curves
- Night walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve with focus on insects
Day 4: Tuesday Activities
- Observational study
- Biodiversity Conservation through Agroforestry in Biological Corridors-a diversified coffee farm and reforestation project
- Lunch with local family in San Luis
- Monteverde Butterfly garden
- Camera Traps in field research
- Continue with data analysis
Day 5: Wednesday Activities
- Travel to Cabo Blanco via Gulf of Nicoya with a scavenger hunt. Board ferry in Puntarenas
- Tree walk into the reserve
- Check in to San Miguel Biological Station
- Review of research projects methods
Day 6: Thursday Activities
- Early morning birdwatching
- Snorkeling and tidepooling
- Coastal vs inland forest composition research
- Data analysis and preparation for symposium
Day 7: Friday Activities
- Observational study
- Snorkeling
- Data analysis and preparation for research symposium
- Research symposium
Day 8: Saturday Activities
- Depart San Miguel Biological Station
- Visit Tempisque River Mangroves
- Visit Santa Rosa National Park
Day 9: Sunday Activities
- Afternoon departure back to US from Liberia airport (LIR), Costa Rica
- Late night arrival at San Jose, CA airport
Total program fee for travel to Costa Rica over Spring break including airfare, lodging, meals, transportation, entrance fees, and all activities are still being determined and estimated to be approximately $2600. Students must have a current and valid passport.