Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica with cinder + salt

Upon arrival, after clearing customs and immigrations at the airport, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel. Before dinner, gather with your fellow travelers for your program orientation. In order to arrive in time for orientation, participants must book flights that arrive in San José no later than 4:30 pm. Check in starts at 3 pm.

This morning, check out early and begin your transfer from San José to Tortuguero, first by bus. Located on the northern Caribbean coast, Tortuguero consists of a series of natural interconnecting canals and provides a unique opportunity to observe wildlife by boat. Throughout the year Tortuguero is an important nesting site in the western Caribbean for the endangered green and leatherback sea turtles. En route, admire the beauty and biodiversity of the rainforest while driving through Braulio Carrillo National Park. In Guápiles, stop for a hearty breakfast buffet, and if time and weather allow, visit a banana processing plant to learn more about one of Costa Rica's prime exports. Continue your journey to the dock, where you will board a private boat for the water transfer to Mawamba Lodge in Tortuguero. Upon arrival at the lodge, have lunch. This afternoon, walk to the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) to meet with a STC research biologist at the John H. Phipps Biological Field Station for an orientation and slide presentation in preparation for your first evening of turtle monitoring, which will begin the next night. Have this evening at leisure.

Rise early this morning to get out to the beach for morning nest surveys with STC from 6-9am. This afternoon, explore the canal waterways in search of wildlife. The extensive network of freshwater creeks and lagoons in Tortuguero are home to seven species of river turtles, spectacled caiman, 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. Later this afternoon is at leisure. This evening, meet with researchers for your first experiences of night turtle monitoring during the nightly sea turtle patrol shifts. Turtle monitoring is done in small groups in two shifts, 8 pm to 12 am and 12 am to 4 am. During shifts, walk along the beach in search of nesting females and assist researchers with measuring and collecting data including each turtle's size and nesting location.

This morning enjoy a 10am Coconut Tour by Mr. Cloeid Taylor Martinez. Hear stories about the history of the area as well as learning exciting ways to cook with coconut milk! The afternoon is at leisure. This evening, continue the sea turtle patrols.

Begin the day at 8am with a guided hike at Cerro del Tortuguero. If you wish, join your fellow travelers in a beach clean-up with STC this afternoon. A special happy hour and dinner can be enjoyed this evening on the floating barge at Mawamba. This evening either enjoy free time or continue the sea turtle patrols.

This morning, take an optional canal boat tour, departing from the lodge by boat to the ranger station at Tortuguero National Park for admission and park fees. Then, venture on a 2-hour boat tour inside the canals. Explore the beautiful flora and fauna along the waterway with more than 350 bird species, as well as monkeys, caimans, crocodiles, toucans, sloths, and much more. This evening, continue the sea turtle patrols.

Today is at leisure to explore on your own. This evening, continue the sea turtle patrols.

After breakfast, board a boat to begin the scenic return to the dock near Guapiles. Transfer by bus to San Jose. Dinner is on own this evening.

This morning transfer to the airport for flights back to the U.S. Check out is at 12 pm.