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Upon arrival in San Jose you will be met at the airport and transferred to Selva Verde Lodge situated in the lush lowlands of north central Costa Rica on a large private tract of primary and secondary tropical rainforest.
This morning you will receive an orientation to the area and Selva Verde. In the afternoon you will work on course projects.
After breakfast you will participate in course projects. In the afternoon you will visit a local pineapple plantation to learn about farming and harvesting techniques. Discuss the importance of pineapples as a source of foreign exchange and the controversy surrounding the agricultural industry's impact on the environment, including the resulting reforms and compromises.
This morning visit La Selva Biological Station for a special orientation about the current research taking place there. This afternoon return to Selva Verde to work on course projects.
Today will be spent working on course projects at Selva Verde.
Day of tropical rainforest ecology projects and course work.
Day of tropical rainforest ecology projects and course work.
You will depart early this morning for a day trip to the Arenal Volcano area. Once there you will take a hike in Arenal National Park. Your hike begins along the base of Arenal Volcano, through the forest over old lava flows and to the destroyed area now in the process of regeneration. Visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a mountainside reserve that features multiple hanging bridges in the canopies, numerous trails, and a waterfall along the way.
Today you will travel up to Monteverde. Monteverde's consistently cool and wet environment receives more than three meters of rain annually and is home to an astounding variety of flora and fauna. Over 2,500 plant species alone have been identified, including 300 individual orchid species and more than 200 species of ferns. After checking in, attend an orientation about the history and founding of the Monteverde Reserve.
Today you will visit the Santa Elena Cloud Forest to continue your studies. This afternoon visit the Cafe Monteverde coffee plantation. Learn the about harvesting and processing of coffee as well as the history of this crop from its beginning. Discover the importance of the golden bean ¨grano de oro¨ and its impact on the social, cultural, and economic development of Costa Rica. Additionally, you will visit the fertilizer and paper making plants and learn about the sustainable relationship between these two products.
Morning lecture and some leisure to explore the area before returning to San Jose.
Transfer to the airport for flight home