Costa Rica 20128 days, 7 nights, Tortuguero destination

Destinations

SARAPIQUI

Ignacio (Nacho)Ignacio (Nacho) EscorriolaDirector of Education

Nacho (short for Ignacio) is a born and raised Costa Rican who has been interested and involved in the natural sciences since he was a child. Even though he grew up in San Jose, (the capital city located in the Central Valley), his access to two oceans provided the perfect inspiration to become the marine biologist he is today. Nacho comes to Scholastic Expeditions with a vast and varied background in outdoor science education. He has worked for over 20 years as an Environmental Consultant and Environmental Educator. He has performed numerous services in both tourism and with rural communities doing Community Development Projects. Nacho has led and continues to lead students on programs throughout his country’s many ecosystems. He loves his job as it unites his duel passions for teaching ecology and his beloved Costa Rica!

Nacho creates and develops all Scholastic Expeditions hands-on curriculum and trains our guides on any necessary methodologies.

In his spare time, he enjoys photography and being outdoors with his family hiking, mountain biking, and participating in waters sports. Education:

• 1982-1988 – Bachelor of Science - Marine Biology from Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Cost Rica• 1987-1988 – Student Exchange Program with East Carolina University• 1988-1991 – Masters of Science -Marine Biology from University of North Carolina • 1991-1992 – International Development Policies Graduate Program, Duke University North Carolina• 1999-2001 – Masters of Science - Interdisciplinary Ecology from University of Florida through a Fulbright Scholarship• 2001-current – Ph. D in progress “Freshwater Wetlands”

Cielo Azul Bus

Ride into Costa Rica!

• Begin your adventure...

Tortuguero Canals

Earth University Campus

• Learn sustainable farming

• Interact with professors and students

Earth University Recycling Center

• Find out how paper is made... from bananas!

Water Testing

• Test for water quality at various locations in Costa Rica

Tirimbina• Collect and analyze data in a rainforest

setting

Tirimbina Rainforest Center

• Examining various bat species

Tortuguero National Park

• Sendero Gavilan walking trail

Arenal Volcano National Park

• Hike through lava flows

• Become a volcanologist for the day

Volcanic Hot Springs

• Spend the evening relaxing in Arenal’s natural volcanic hot springs

White Water RaftingOn Rio Sarapiqui

Wildlife in Monteverde

Gray Fox

Quetzal

Monteverde Canopy Tour

• Zipline through the cloud forest!

Butterfly Gardens

• Examine caterpillars, pupae, walking sticks and butterflies

Sea Turtle Conservancy

• Special lecture on sea turtle migration to Tortuguero

Community Service

• Helping out at a Costa Rican school

Community Service

• Harvesting medicinal plants

Community Service

• Bagging bananas

Eco-farm• Learn about sustainable farming

El Establo Hotel

Volcano Lodge Hotel

View of Arenal Volcano

Mawamba Lodge

Costa Rican Food

Costa Rican Culture

• Traditional dance parade at San Jose

Fauna

Flora

ItineraryDAY ONE• Group met by Scholastic Expeditions upon arrival in Costa Rica.• Orientation Dinner & Hotel Check-In• Dinner• **Optional red-eye flight which will allow for tour of Poas Volcano

and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.DAY TWO• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out Depart for Tortuguero• Aerial Tram

This amazing experience will allow students to see the rainforest from both the forest canopy & floor.

• Lunch• Earth University

Students will have an opportunity to interact with professors & students at the university and participate in sustainable farming activities.

• Canal boat ride to Tortuguero Dinner & Hotel Check-In• Night Turtle Beach WalkDAY THREE• Breakfast• Private Boat Tour

Students take a guided early-morning tour along the canals to look for birds, monkeys, and Cayman in this isolated wilderness.

• Walking Tour of Sendero Gavilan National Park• Caribbean Conservation Corporation

Students will get a special lecture about the sea turtle migration to Tortuguero. They will also learn about sustainable economics from the locals.

• Lunch• Town of Tortuguero Tour

Depart for Sarapiqui Dinner• Night Bat TourDAY FOUR• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out

• La Tirimbina Rainforest CenterStudents collect specimens and data in the rainforest and then come back to the classroom to analyze and present their findings to their peers.

• Lunch• White Water Rafting

This is an amazing experience that allows them to traverse through several different ecosystems while viewing Costa Rican wildlife along the banks of the river.

• Depart for Arenal Dinner & Hotel Check-In• Nighttime Volcanic ObservationDAY FIVE• Breakfast• Arenal Volcano National Park & Waterfalls

Students will hike through the lava flows of this active volcano and participate in activities that allow them to become volcanologists for the day!

• Lunch• Community Service or Eco-Farm

Visit with Costa Rican students at a local school. Learn about their culture and their day to day living and learning environments. Alternatively, students will work on an eco-farm and learn about sustainable farming.

• Leisure time in historic La Fortuna• Dinner• Arenal Volcanic Hot Springs

Spend the evening relaxing in the natural hot springs.DAY SIX• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out Depart for Monteverde• Boat ride across Lake Arenal• Lunch• Butterfly Garden

Students spend the afternoon learning about all of the different species of butterflies as well as the adaptations each has made.

• Leisure time in beautiful Santa Elena

Itinerary• Dinner• Frog Pond

Students view all of the famous species of frogs and learn about the adaptations each has made to thrive in their environment

DAY SEVEN• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out• Monteverde Canopy Tour

Students will zip line through the cloud forest for an exhilarating once in a lifetime experience!

• Lunch• Depart for San Jose• Farewell Dinner & Hotel Check-InDAY EIGHT• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out• Time permitting, visit museums & historical sites• Depart for home

Academic PointsWater and Soil Testing at 5 locations throughout the country. Five sites in 5 different ecological zones (i.e. tropical forest, dry tropical forest, brackish waters, etc.). Comparison and analysis of the data and presentation of findings at the end of the trip.

Monteverde Butterfly Gardens ProgramsOffers lab where students get to work with a variety of insects and arachnids. Typical lab is where students will divide into groups and each group will get either a group of ants, butterflies, cockroaches or spiders. Depending on level of group and preparation, students give each other presentations that cover roles of bugs in their eco-system and the potential for human interference.

Monteverde Forest Research Possibilities

Tree Measurement Project: comparison of tree density between a cloud forest and other regions visited. Contrast forested areas with protected and hypothesize reasons for any variances discovered.

Discussions on Golden Frog extinction. Numerous research or suggested topics students can participate in, i.e. role of biological adaptations, habitat loss, conservation measures, etc.

Freshwater Organisms Survey (aquatic insects) of small streams in Monteverde and perhaps other water bodies visited.

Los Pumas Rescue Center

Learn about Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species such as : Gray Fox, White-faced Monkey, Scarlet Macaw, and 5 of the 6 Costa Rican Feline Species: Ocelot, Jaguarondi, Margay, Puma and Jaguar, all of which are present at the Los Pumas Rescue Center. Learn also

about how a Wildlife Rescue Center works and what socio-economic and political realities affect habitat destruction.

Community Service

Numerous projects available. Here is some options of what students do: reforestation, painting School Grounds, Community Centers, building infrastructure, working in children’s or elderly centers, assisting in various groups, i.e. Women groups that need help harvesting medicinal plants and packing them, Tilapia farms, preparing vegetables at school grounds etc.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Beach/Rocky Shore Organisms Survey: with equipment perform a scientific survey of small aquatic organisms here. Possible comparison to Monteverde results.

Discussion of Biological Corridors Project, National Park History and its role in the Costa Rican Conservation Efforts, discussion of CR’s Conservation Area System, ER’s Environmental Education Efforts and Results, how Scarlet Macaw and /or Squirrel Monkey Studies are conducted in a Protected Area and Buffer zones, how dolphin and whale research is conducted in CR, and marine and shore bird studies are done. Depending on season, Turtle walk may be possible or Turtle Night Patrol in Playa Rey with Local Ministry of the Environment and other NGO officials.

Sunsets

• Just another great reason to come to Costa Rica!

Make it Happen!

• Contact your supervising teacher or Susan Schai at (831) 440-1041

• The adventure of a lifetime awaits you!

How to Register• Two part process:

1. Sign up online at scholasticexpeditions.org

2. Send deposit of $250 to:

• 5601 Scotts Valley Dr. Ste. 313

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

• And you’re all set!