Environmental Studies in Costa Rica

Please note, this program is open to faculty and staff along with students. If faculty are interested in taking a group of students this program, please contact us to learn about possibilities. 

To read more of our itinerary, click “Register Now” to view the registration portal.

Environmental Studies in Costa Rica
March 28, 2020 – April 5, 2020 : Register Now (use Trip ID 182777)

• Site Visits: Learn about the efforts made in Sustainable Development in Costa Rica, and compare to how the United States works in conservation. Explore Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity and understand how the country has made strides in environmental preservation.
• Guest Lectures: Guest lectures will be given by host university professors, and will discuss environmental issues in Costa Rica. Topics will include Sustainable Development and Energies of Costa Rica, Biodiversity of Costa Rica, and the history of environmental preservation.
• Poás Volcano (or Irazu Volcano): Poás Volcano is one of the major attractions in the Central Valley of Costa Rica and one of the most visited national parks in the country. Poás is home to many species of birds including hummingbirds, tanagers, flycatchers, toucans and the quetzal that can be seen while hiking on the trails around the park.
• Cafe Britt: Café Britt was founded in 1985 as the first gourmet coffee roaster in Costa Rica. It has grown into a thriving company with access to the quality gourmet coffee beans from the country’s best plantations, the finest mills, knowledgeable roasters, an obsession with quality. Cafe Britt gives students the unique chance to learn from a local coffee company about their efforts to remain environmentally responsible. As a major agricultural product grown in the tropics, coffee is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. The overall result will be a decrease in both quantity and quality of coffee, as well as an increase in the cost of production. Although many major changes are still to come, producers are already taking steps to adapt their production in light of alterations to precipitation, temperature, humidity, pests, and more. Learn about how Cafe Britt is adopting new agricultural practices due to climate change.
• Service Project: Give back to the community by participating in a service learning project, details TBA. Give back to the community by participating in a service learning project, details TBA. Find more information about potential service learning projects on the Costa Rica ISA Service Project website.
• Homestays: Students will  have the unique experience of living with a family for the duration of your program. This gives students the ability to understand environmental concerns from local Costa Rican families, and source information to supplement the focus of assignments or coursework.
• Independent Study: Students are given time to work on independent projects or coursework assigned by home universities.