COSTA RICA NATURAL HISTORY STUDENTS ITINERARY
Min. 20 students
Costa Rica, one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, and a treasure house of flora and fauna. It is a natural wonderland of tropical forest, scenic rivers, exotic animals, beautiful beaches, picturesque landscapes, majestic mountains and 
awesome active volcanoes.
The itinerary described bellow was carefully designed for students groups and includes guided visits to some of the most important national parks and equivalent reserves of Costa Rica,.
Day one
Arrival to International Airport. Our guide and an agent from our company will welcome you and will forward a booklet containing detailed description of activities during your visit, as well as general information on Costa Rican and the National Parks you will visit. Transfer to your hotel in San José.
Introductory Speech about Costa Rica. This speech includes an introduction to our cultural, political and natural history, as well as description of the different life zones and its biodiversity. Welcome dinner.
Day two
Early in the morning, our guide and driver will pick you up and will drive you to the beautiful Monteverde Area. Check in at Hotel Heliconia. Lunch .
After lunch, we will visit the Selvatura Project. It is a conservation project with over 700 acres of protected land. Here you will enjoy an interesting visit to the Canopy walkways. This a bridge system of over 1.6 miles of easy walking trails, where you will enjoy the marvels of the cloud forest and get the chance to see some of the world’s most amazing and beautiful flora and fauna. Our guide will accompany you during the visit to refer to the different species found.
The national parks and equivalent reserves of Costa Rica protect the best of the country’s natural and cultural heritage. These outstanding wilderness areas preserve a large number of the plant and animal species that live in the country. They provide shelter for 205 species of mammals, 845 of birds, 160 of amphibians, 218
of reptiles and 1,013 of salt and freshwater fish. At the same time, they protect most of the approximately 10,000 species of vascular plants that have been identified, which corresponds to almost 4% of the total number of plant species that exist in the world. They also conserve almost all of the existing habitats, such as deciduous forest, mangrove swamp, rain forest, herbaceous swamp, cloud forest, paramo, holillo forest, oak forest, coral reefs, riparian forest and swamp forest. Back to your hotel. Dinner.
Day three
Get prepared for an exciting nature hiking at the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. It has earned its fame as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropics. The Preserve supports six different vegetation communities (Life Zones). There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles and 2,500 species of plants, as well as tens of thousands of insect species. Spectacular wildlife includes de Jaguar, Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Bare necked Umbrella bird and Resplendent Quetzal...
Back to Hotel Heliconia for lunch. In the afternoon, Workshop with your guide. Enjoy a delicious dinner at Heliconia Hotel and overnight
Day four
Early in the morning, our driver will take you to the Palo Verde National Park. You will stay at the Palo Verde Biological Station, which is run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), a not-for-profit consortium of more than 55 universities and research institutions in the United States, Latin America and Australia
The Palo Verde Biological Station features more than 20,000 hectares of will lands in a rich complex of seasonal lowland habitats that cover much of the lower basin of the Tempisque River. Tropical dry forest, both deciduous and evergreen, in pristine, disturbed and regenerating successional stages. It is one of the most important sanctuaries in Central America for migrating and resident species of waterfowl. It was formed by three contrasting geologic substrates: limestone, sedimentary and volcanic.
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Lodging will be provided a the Station complex which includes a four –room, two bath building and a renovated dormitory for up to 30 people in bunk beds. The complex includes a separate building that houses two laboratories and a library, as well as separate unit for the kitchen and a screened dining room that opens onto the tropical setting. Lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a bout tour on the Tempisque River. This tour will allow you to see the different flora and fauna of the Park, and depending the time of the year, the great variety of migratory birds. Back to the Station. Enjoy a simple but healthy dinner.
Day seven
Today you have an interesting and exciting hike to the Arenal Lava flows. Be a witness of the incredible strength of this mountain of fire, which was considered in the past, a mountain. Back to Volcano Lodge for lunch.
Day eight
Early in the morning, departure to the Sarapiquí area. Check in at Selva Verde Lodge., located at a private rain forest reserve. After lunch, enjoy an exciting white water rafting at the Sarapiquí River. Back to Selva Verde Lodge, where you will be able to enjoy nature directly from your room. Dinner and overnight.
Day nine
Prepare yourself for a guided hiking tour to La Selva Biological Station.
La Selva's protected environs and the Park, has four major tropical life zones and includes more than 5,000 species of vascular plants, of which more than 700 species are trees.
The fauna is sim
ilarly diverse. Large predators include jaguars, pumas, and bushmasters. Thousands of arthropod species are being currently recorded at La Selva, and more than 400 species of resident and migratory birds have been sighted in the reserve, representing almost half of Costa Rica's bird species.
Building on a strong base of systematic biology and evolutionary biology, research at La Selva has diversified to include ecosystem-level projects, physiological ecology, soil science, and forestry trials of native tree species. These studies have resulted in the publication of more than 1,600 scientific articles, theses, and books and perhaps another 1,000 write-ups of course projects.
Back to Selva Verde for lunch.
Day tenth
Early in the morning, our driver will take you to Caño Blanco dock to continue the trip to Tortuguero National Park. Here you will board a boat which will take you to the amazing Tortuguero area.
Tortuguero is one of the wilderness areas in Costa Rica, with the greatest biological variety. 11 habitats have been identified, 200 species of plants and 400 species of trees. Abundance and variety of wildlife includes: 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, 309 species of birds recorded , 30 species of fresh water fish and 60 species of mammals
This tour presents one of the finest wild life viewing opportunities in Central America. From our river boats, you will be able to see monkeys, small cocodriles, sloths, iguanas, toucans, and many other species.
The Tortuguero beaches are famous for the giant “Green Turtles”, which nest their eggs in the Caribbean sand. (July through September) . Silently padding throughout the jungle lagoons and waterways, searching for wildlife and listening to the jungle sounds, will prove to be a unique and memorable experience.
Check in at Jungle Lodge. Lunch. Guided visit to the picturesque town of Tortuguero and to the Museum. A delightful dinner will be served upon arrival to the lo
dge
For groups coming from July to September, a night tour is included. Walk on the beach and admire the green turtles nesting.
Day eleventh
Early in the morning, enjoy nature at its best as you undertake a journey through the canals at dawn, and take your best shots of a real Caribbean sunrise. Your guide will point out and talk about some of the flora and fauna you will have the opportunity to find. Back to the lodge for a succulent breakfast. Hike to Tortuguero Hill. Dinner will be served at the lodge’s restaurant, accompanied by a typical calypso band. Feel the rhythm of the Caribbean, as you relish a delicious dinner.
Day twelve
After breakfast, the boat will take you back to the dock, where our van will be waiting for you to continue the trip to San José. Lunch will be served en route. Check in at Hotel Quality Centro Colon.
7:00 p.m. Welfare dinner at a local restaurant.
Day thirteen
Breakfast and transfer to the International Airport for your flight back.
This itinerary includes:
- all land transportation
- biologist guide during all the tour
- 2 nights lodging at Hotel Quality Colón or similar
- all meals
- 2 nights lodging at Hotel Heliconia in Monteverde
- Hiking at Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
- Selvatura Walkways
- 2 nights lodging at Palo Verde Biological Station
- Guided walking tour to Palo Verde National Park
- Boat tour at the Tespisque River
- 2 nights lodging at Volcano Lodge in Arenal
- Guided walking tour to the Lava Flows
- 2 nights lodging at Selva Verde Lodge in Sarapiquí
- Hiking tour trough La Selva Biological Station
- White Water Rafting tour at the Sarapiquì River
- 2 nights lodging at Jungle Lodge in Tortuguero
- Visit to Tortuguero Village and hiking to Tortuguero Hill
- Bout tour through Tortuguero Canals
- Night tour when in season
*Available from May to November *
Please request our prices for groups coming on the high season
This itinerary can be modified according to your needs and specifications
*Expenses of professors as indicated above are included at the price per Student*
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For further information or reservation contact Costa Rican Treasures at packages@costaricantreasures.com
