Visit Costa Rica with the Temple Ambler Field Station in 2025!
A Culture of Sustainability & Ecotourism in Costa Rica
March 1 to March 9, 2025
Cost: $4,200, double occupancy
(single supplement $320)
The Temple Ambler Field Station and Temple University University College are offering a unique opportunity to sustainability in 2025.
A Culture of Sustainability & Ecotourism in Costa Rica is the second in a series of global experiences — Temple Ambler Field Station Explorations.
Travelers will visit Costa Rica from March 1 through March 9 (9 days/8 nights) to see and discuss the Costa Rica’s approach to protecting the environment, conservation, sustainability and ecotourism. This trip is being offered in cooperation with AltruVistas.
The trip includes visits to national parks, nature preserves, a visit with an indigenous community and time to experience Costa Rican arts and music.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 — Bienvenido a Costa Rica
- Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica.
- A brief city tour around the capital and its major sites like the National Theater, the National Museum and the Central Market
A visit to the University of Costa Rica to enjoy a meeting and interactive musical workshop with Professor Manuel Monestel
Check in at the Hotel Balmoral in San Jose.
Welcome Dinner with Ricardo Valverde, your Costa Rica representative.
Day 2 — Café and Tortuguero National Park
- Check out of hotel after breakfast
Leave for the Caribbean through Sarapiquí — our highlight is an exchange with the CoopeSarapiqui coffee plantation.
- Lunch at the Cooperativa.
- Visit to La Pavona and boat transfer to our lodge at Tortuguero — the region has a special environment that houses biodiversity. There are no roads in Tortuguero, just narrow canals, a stretch of coastline, and dense jungle greenery.
- Before dinner Ricardo Valverde will speak about biodiversity conservation protocols in Costa Rica.
Day 3 — Eco Tourism in Tortuguero
- A guided row-boat eco-adventure through the Tortuguero canals to observe fauna biodiversity — early mornings are great for birdwatching!
- Free time to visit local cafés and the town of Tortuguero.
- Exchange with a local Sea Turtle Conservancy to learn about their conservation work.
- Beach clean-up service activity.
- Dinner at lodge.
- A guided night hike!
Day 4 — Puerto Limon to Cahuita
- Check out and leave for La Pavona.
- Arrival in Puerto Limón for lunch. Limón is known for its thriving Afro-Caribbean community. Part of the community traces its roots to Jamaican laborers who worked on a late nineteenth-century railroad project that connected San José to Puerto Limón. Others trace their roots to the Nicaraguan, Panamanian, and Colombian turtle-hunters who eventually settled along the Province of Limón's coast.
- During the tour we will see the rich cultural diversity of the region. La Uvita Island, 20 minutes offshore, is where Columbus first arrived in 1502. Talamanca, one of Limón’s counties, shelters the two most numerous Indian groups, the Bribri and Cabecar, as well as the richest biodiversity.
- Departure for the hotel in Cahuita and preparation for our time at Cahuita National Park. — this coastal national park is home to white sandy beaches and coral reefs, and strong biodiversity.
- Beach time in the afternoon.
- Afternoon exchange with Laura Wilson to learn about the culture, history and the Afrodescendiente community in Costa Rica. She will also share information about women’s rights in the region and the climate change challenges that will impact her community.
Day 5 — Cahuita National Park
- Morning discussion about biodiversity and climate change with Ricardo Valverde.
- Eco activities like hiking in Cahuita National Park.
- Leave for Puerto Viejo.
- Free time for dinner, shopping, and exploring Puerto Viejo!
Day 6 — Cahuita Sloths and Chocolate
- Breakfast.
- Learn about sloths at the Sloth Sanctuary.
- Snorkeling at Puerto Vargas in Cahuita National Park.
- A visit to Puerto Viejo for a chocolate making class.
- Free time for dinner, shopping, and exploring Puerto Viejo.
Day 7 — To the Bribri Nation
- Hotel check out.
- Head to Bambu to board a boat to Yorkin where we will have an engaging visit with the Bribri indigenous community.
- Tour of the Bribri community, learning about this matriarchal society.
- Visit the Stibrawpa Women Organization to learn about the role of women and girls.
Day 8 — Bribri Immersion
- Breakfast at the lodge in Yorkin.
- A visit to Watsi, one of the Bribri native villages, to meet Indian Chief Timoteo Jackson. Learn about indigenous cosmology and their practices of living in balance with nature.
- Lunch at Timoteo’s.
- Open afternoon for more exchanges with local community hosts.
- Service Exchange with local school and children (you may bring donations here).
- Wrap up discussion about climate change and Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan.
- Community farewell dinner celebration.
Day 9 — Hasta Luego Pura Vida!
- Breakfast.
- Check out and return to Limon.
- Transfer to the Limon International Airport
- Departure home.
Registration
For additional information, contact Link Martin at [click-for-email].