National Geographic Student Expeditions - Costa Rica - Travel Programs for High School Students

The Program

Costa Rica has protected nearly a quarter of its land from development, creating a refuge for countless species and ensuring that its cloud forests, steaming volcanoes, and pristine beaches will be around for generations to come. From rain forest to cloud forest to coastal flatlands, discover Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity—and the pioneering ecotourism efforts that help preserve it. Through an On Assignment project of your choice—Photography, Wildlife & Conservation, or Exploration—set out to further investigate and document Costa Rica's stewardship of its diverse ecosystems.

Settle into San Luis—a beautiful, self-sustaining town located on the southern edge of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve—our base as we explore this unique ecosystem and work in teams to develop our On Assignment projects.

A typical day begins with an exercise focused on your On Assignment project—such as an early morning photo shoot of toucans as they flock to feed in the papaya trees, a workshop on medicinal plants at the San Luis Botanical Garden, or meetings with local farmers and merchants to learn about their daily lives. We'll spend our afternoons discovering the region on field assignments and active excursions. A naturalist guide helps us get oriented on a hike along the San Luis River ridge. Work with field researchers and learn about their studies of the area's ecosystems. Visit a local coffee cooperative or volunteer to plant trees with the biological corridor project. Learn to cook traditional Costa Rican staples such as gallo pinto, tamales, and tortillas; and play soccer with the local schoolchildren. In the evenings, discuss your findings, review your photos, and participate in seminars and discussions with local naturalists and our National Geographic expert. Cap off the program with two days on one of Costa Rica's pristine beaches.

Active Excursions

Costa Rica brims with natural wonders—and the region of San Luis is particularly diverse. Swim under the spray of the spectacular San Luis waterfall, which emerges from the jungle mists and tumbles some 300 feet. Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest from top to bottom: hike the trails in search of the elusive quetzal, glide through the canopy on a zip line, and ride horseback deep into the forest to find untouched primary growth. Visit the frog pond, or take a night tour through the Bosque Eterno de los Niños on the lookout for nocturnal sloths, kinkajous, and porcupines. Go kayaking along the coast, or snorkel amid colorful marine life.

The Campus: San Luis Ecolodge

Once a tropical biology research station, the San Luis Ecolodge is now a hub for exploring the cloud forest. Students live in cozy bungalows nestled among the trees. A typical room has two bunk beds, a private bathroom, and a covered porch complete with rocking chairs and hammocks. The ecolodge campus includes open-air classrooms, a recreation center, a library, a laboratory, and its own organic farm. At the beach, we will stay in a family-run villa just 50 meters from the Pacific Ocean.

National Geographic Expert

Conservation biologist TAYLOR EDWARDS is a scientist at the University of Arizona where he oversees public testing for National Geographic's Genographic Project, an innovative project that traces geneology back 60,000 years using DNA. Taylor combines wildlife ecology and molecular biology in an emerging field called conservation genetics. Aside from his enthusiasm for hiking and scuba diving, Taylor is an aficionado of reptiles and amphibians, so be prepared to gain a new admiration for creepy and crawly things!

Choose one of these On Assignment projects. Throughout your expedition, break into teams to delve further into your selected area of focus.

icon for Photography On Assignment Project PHOTOGRAPHY: Explore Costa Rica's many ecosystems, camera in hand, and create a photo-essay on a theme of your choice. Shoot portraits of local coffee farmers in their fields. Capture images of the majestic sea turtles of Tortuguero or the lava formations of Arenal volcano.

icon for Wildlife and Conservation On Assignment Project WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION: Investigate the complex interactions of Costa Rica's ecosystems. Study the questions you find most intriguing, such as how climate change affects the types of species found in cloud forests. Work alongside scientists studying breeding populations of the endangered sea turtles, and learn how their efforts are making a difference.

icon for Exploration On Assignment Project EXPLORATION: Identify a topic that interests you and explore it in depth. Pitch in at the sustainable neighborhood farm to learn local methods for growing coffee, sugarcane, and other crops. Investigate the effects of ecotourism on the lives of villagers, or organize a soccer tournament for local kids. Spend the day learning how to make gallo pinto, tortillas, and horchata — then head to the local pulpería to cook up a feast for your friends!

Your participation in a National Geographic Student Expedition provides support to National Geographic's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.