Costa Rica | Science, Engineering, and Math in the Tropics!

Upon arrival in San José, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. This evening, have dinner and a program orientation at the hotel restaurant.

Early morning departure from the hotel with breakfast en route. Travel by bus to the Caribbean coast, between the town of Limón and Tortuguero National Park, where the Pacuare River meets the Caribbean Sea. Arrive near Goshen Dock where you will exit the bus and walk about half a mile to the dock (luggage will be transported by a small vehicle). Transfer by boat along La Suerte River to the lodge. Upon arrival have lunch and the station staff will welcome you and explain the mission, vision and goals of Pacuare Reserve. Take another boat ride to Pacuare Reserve's North Station for beach patrol program for training protocols introduction in preparation for the evening cenuses, approximately 1 hour. Then visit the hatchery for marine turtles research where you may have the opportunity to participate in a hatchlings release or an
exhumation, a process. Return to the lodge for dinner. In the evening, join researchers on the nearby beach to assist with their night census. During the census, you will be accompanied by a research assistant who will encourage you to participate in scientific activities related to sea turtle data collection and learn about their nesting process. There are three species of sea turtles that come to lay their eggs on the beaches of Pacuare Reserve from March to October, among them the Green turtle and Hawksbill turtle, however, the highest numbers are attributed to the Leatherback turtle, and therefore, there are more chances to observe turtles during the night census from March to early July. Collect data such as location of the nest, turtle measurements, and other biometric data. Abiotic data is also collected (e.g. time, temperature, etc.). Additionally, from May to October, you can assist with collecting eggs at the South Station and relocating them to a hatchery or to a safe area on the beach. Relocating the eggs helps researchers keep an eye on the development of the eggs and protect them from intruders, including animal predators. The capacity for each census is 8 people (not including station staff). The first shift is from 8 pm to 12 am; the second shift is from 10 pm to 2 am. Larger groups will need to be split up and alternate nights.

This morning, enjoy breakfast and then embark on a canal tour. The network of freshwater creeks and lagoons in the Tortuguero area is home to seven species of river turtles, spectacled caimans, southern river otters, many crustaceans, and more than 50 species of freshwater fish. Be on the lookout for spider, howler, and white faced capuchin monkeys, and expect to see several different species of birds. If lucky, you might even spot an endangered West Indian manatee. Return to the lodge for lunch then travel Pacuare Reserve's South Station. Meet the researchers for a brief talk on their ongoing projects and daily tasks before joining them in the field to assist with a service project. Groups can choose from one of the following projects, the following are offered all year: Felines, and prey monitoring program where student would assist researchers monitor big cats by collect data from trap cameras, clean scientific equipment, assist the Ecological Blue Flag Program by cleaning, identifying, and classifying reusable waste or assist in beach cleaning, or help clean green spaces and assist with making reserve signage. In January and February only, groups can assist with hatchery construction. This requires physical efforts to dig and strain sand 3 feet deep to build a structure half shaded from the sun. Next, visit the hatchery then return to the lodge for dinner. This evening, return to the beach and assist researchers with turtle patrols.

This morning you will travel by boat and bus to Selva Verde Lodge in the Sarapiquí region. Selva Verde is located along the Sarapiquí River and consists of 500 acres of secondary and primary forest. The lodge is designed to have a minimum impact on the environment and is a proud participant in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program (CST). After settling in, receive an orientation to Selva Verde's facilities and private reserve. Before dinner, attend an engaging lecture about the San Juan La Selva Biological Corridor. Learn about Sarapiquí demographics, ecological connectivity, the Maquenque Wildlife Refuge, the endangered Great Green Macaw, and how the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center is making a difference in linking communities and conservation. This evening take a guided night hike around the grounds of the lodge to observe nocturnal wildlife.

Early this morning, enjoy an introduction to the amazing tropical birds of Selva Verde during a short hike with your guide around the grounds of the lodge. The avifauna of Selva Verde is abundant, and feeding stations have been set up around the lodge to facilitate observation and identification of the many species that frequent the area. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then attend a "Welcome to the Rainforest" workshop, exploring the rainforest canopy in detail. Begin with a 30-minute discussion on general rainforest ecology, structure, and function in Selva Verde's rainforest classroom facility. Next, head out into the primary forest to get hands-on experience with ecological concepts. After lunch, visit the home of a resident from the Sarapiquí community for a cooking class. Make and sample traditional Costa Rican snacks while learning about the history and culture of the region. Later in the day, visit La Finca, an eco-farm and macaw rescue, for the opportunity to take photos of semi-wild, endangered macaws that are free to come and go as they please.

During the day, participate in a wildlife preservation/conservation service project. This evening, visit Tirimbina to learn about the biology of bats. With 113 species, bats represent almost 50% of the mammals in Costa Rica. During the workshop, you will have a multimedia presentation on the natural history of bats, their classification, diversity, adaptations, reproduction, threats, and more. At the end of the presentation, a trained guide will provide you with a safe opportunity for up-close observation of bats that were captured for research projects. Finally, visit a demonstration snare net, like the kind used in bat research, and learn more about the method of capturing bats for research. The bats are captured and held for less than two hours to ensure the well-being of the animals.

In the morning, go zip lining through the trees of the rainforest. After lunch, head back to San José, stopping at the Toucan Rescue Ranch en route. Here you can witness rescued birds and animals such as toucans, a variety of parrots, macaws, owls, two-toed and three-toed sloths, and kinkajous. This is a unique opportunity to see conservation and rehabilitation of rainforest animals in action. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner in San José.

This morning you will return to the airport for your flight home.