Red Rocks and School of Mines Costa Rica Biology Workshop

Upon arrival at the airport, meet your driver and travel to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner followed by group introductions and an orientation to the program by your naturalist guide.

Depart for Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve, located in the tropical lowlands of Sarapiquí. Upon arrival, attend an orientation for the lodge and facilities. After lunch, visit the nearby Best Chocolate cacao farm and see a demonstration of the chocolate-making process. Take a peek into the day-to-day lives of local people at this family-run chocolate farm and listen to the story of pre- and post-colonial chocolate in Costa Rica, while sampling chocolate that's been prepared on the spot using traditional methods. Return to the lodge, receive an introduction to the property and settle in. This evening after dinner, attend a lecture on the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Afterward, walk around the lodge with a naturalist guide in search of nocturnal creatures.

Early this morning, join your group leader for a bird walk to view some of the 300-plus avian species found on the grounds of the lodge. After breakfast, explore the primary rainforest reserve. During the hike, discover the unique ecosystem of the rainforest and its flora and fauna, as well as learn about the layers of the rainforest canopy and the overall ecosystem. Along the reserve's forest trails, you may see a superb variety of wildlife and avian life, including parrots, jacamars, hummingbirds, motmots, and other exotic lowland tropical birds. Have lunch back at the lodge and then walk next door to the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC). The SCLC is a non-profit organization that aims to support local conservation through educational programming and community development. During your visit, learn of the important role the SCLC plays in conservation in the agricultural area. This evening, attend a presentation on the Great Green Macaw and a documentary viewing.

Before breakfast, take another guided bird walk. After breakfast, take a boat ride along the Río Sarapiquí. This is a good opportunity to talk about how banana plantations along the river affect the environment and wildlife, yet are an important part of the local economy. Later, experience a white water rafting adventure (Class II and III rapids) on the Sarapiquí River. In the evening, take another nocturnal hike.

This morning, enjoy another bird hike before breakfast and then depart for the Southern Pacific coast. Along the way, stop for lunch and a boat ride on the Tárcoles River. During the boat ride, you will view the giant American crocodiles that reside in the river and learn about the regional importance of the mangrove ecosystem. Continue on to Uvita enjoying the coastal scenery along the way.

Early this morning, travel to the Sierpe River and board a speed boat to a mangrove reserve. Kayak through the mangroves and examine mangrove ecology. Re-board the boat and continue on to Campanario Biological Station, home to a wide array of rare and endangered flora and fauna. Upon arrival, attend an orientation for the field station. After lunch, take a hike and explore the trails. Later in the afternoon, visit bat caves. After dinner, enjoy another presentation.

Start the day with a bird and wildlife walk before breakfast, and then half the group will depart for Corcovado National Park (with a packed lunch). The other half of the group will visit Caño Island for snorkeling. In the late afternoon, the group will split up again and swap activities from the previous day with one going to the bat cave and the other attending a presentation.

Take another early morning bird and wildlife walk before breakfast, and then the group will split in half and swap the previous day's activities, with one half going to Corcovado National Park and the other going Caño Island. After dinner, take a night hike around the station.

This morning will be at leisure to enjoy the beach or an optional activity like kayaking. After lunch, board the boat back to Sierpe to take the bus back to San José.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.