Costa Rica

ECO1013: Special Topics—Biodiversity in Costa Rica (4 credits)

Dates

January 5 - 24, 2025

• Arrival on campus Sunday, January 5
• On-campus classes Monday, January 6; Tuesday, January 7; and Wednesday, January 8
• Departure for Costa Rica Thursday, January 9
• January 9-17: the group will participate in a tour of Costa Rica, including stays in San Jose (1 night), the Monteverde Cloud Forest region (2 nights), the Arenal region (2 nights), and the Central Pacific Coast (2 nights), before returning to San Jose (1 night).
• January 17-24: the group will partner with a local organization to stay at a biological field station, exploring the richness of Costa Rica's abundant biodiversity and learning first-hand from local scientists. Return to the San Jose in preparation for the return home.
• Return from Costa Rica and end of course Friday, January 24

Program Fee

The fee for this program is $7,250. NOTE: For much of the program, we have arranged for all most meals to be included (see updated meals and cost information, below). To cover this expense, each student will be assessed a $350 fee for meals, making the total program fee $7,600. Please note that this reduces the recommended spending money (below) significantly.

Please note that any students applying to the program after Sunday, November 10 are subject to a $500 late fee incurred by our partner in Costa Rica, and can be accepted once availability is confirmed.

For details of program fee, expenses, and scholarships, see below.

Housing

Students will stay in on-campus housing for the first four nights of this program on campus in Putney. In Costa Rica, the group will stay in hotels for the first eight nights. For the remainder of the trip, the group will stay in scientific research station housing.

While we will strive to have students in twin rooms whenever possible, students may be housed in rooms of up to four.

Health

The risk of malaria in Costa Rica is low, but it is present in some locations the group will visit (Alajuela and Limon provinces). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that travelers to these locations take medications to prevent malaria. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend certain vaccinations, including Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and COVID-19) for travelers to Costa Rica.

Therefore, we ask that each student visit the Landmark Health Center or make an appointment with their own doctor to discuss medication and vaccine options. To make an appointment with Landmark College Health Services, please contact Cindy Brown between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 802-387-1636, or email [email protected].

Food and Drink

On campus, students will eat at the Landmark Dining Hall.

In Costa Rica, most meals will be provided through hotels or other housing providers, e.g. group dining hall. Rice and beans are a staple of Costa Rican cuisine, and students should expect to encounter this at most meals. Rice and beans may be accompanied by meat, fried plantains, and delicious fresh fruit, including some local fruits that may be new and different! In coastal regions, seafood may be available. Students may have the opportunity to visit local markets or small convenience stores to purchase snacks or otherwise supplement their diet. Program leaders are available to help students navigate new and unfamiliar foods, and ensure that their nutritional needs are met.

Students with dietary restrictions or allergies are encouraged to visit the study abroad office to discuss their restrictions and work together to understand what their diet may include while on this program. For instance, students who are vegetarian or vegan may encounter difficulty food not cooked in animal fat.

Outside of San Jose, tap water is not safe for consumption. Filtered water may be available but bottled water is available inexpensively everywhere.

Transportation

The group will travel by Landmark van to the airport and will fly on a commercial flight to San Jose, Costa Rica (detailed itinerary forthcoming). Within Costa Rica, most group travel will be by bus, although some local excursions may include boat journeys.

Resource Guide

Take a look at this resource guide put together by EF Education, our partner for the first week in Costa Rica. The guide includes the itinerary for the first part of the trip, and also includes helpful info about lodging, food, language, and other details.

Program Overview

Primary goal: to explore the rich and varied ecosystems of Costa Rica