Costa Rica Field Course

"According to the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the "greenest" country in the world." - Wikipedia

ESE 389 Costa Rica, Spring 2025!

Are you looking for a life-changing educational adventure?

Consider ESE 389, Field Expedition to Costa Rica, which is run by the School of Earth, Society, and Environment in cooperation with LAS International Programs and the Monteverde Institute, a Costa Rican non-profit dedicated to sustainability education.

ESE 389 meets in a weekly seminar over the course of the spring semester, but the heart of the course is a nine-day trip to Costa Rica over spring break. Some of the activities included in the tour include hiking to observe volcanoes, touring a sustainable coffee farm, spending two days at a field station in the cloud forest, a boat tour of coastal mangroves, and snorkeling in the Pacific.

All current University of Illinois students are welcome to apply. Please be aware the application period for this course is in the fall; the deadline to submit applications for the upcoming semester has been extended to November 1, 2024.

To make an appointment to learn more about the course please email one of the professors, either Rob Kanter [rkanter@illinois.edu] or Nooreen Meghani [nooreen2@illinois.edu]. You can also find other information about the course via LAS Abroad at this link.

Field Trip Itinerary, Spring 2025
March 14^th – 23^rd

DAY 1, Friday, March 14: Arrival in Costa Rica

Depart Chicago O’Hare 10:05 AM, arrive San Jose Juan Santamaría Airport 5:37 PM.
Transfer to hotel and check-in 
Dinner at restaurant
Program and country orientation
Health and safety briefing
Lodging: Hotel 1915 (1)

DAY 2, Saturday, March 15: Poas volcano, Travel to Arenal, Hot springs

Breakfast at hotel
Load bags on to bus
Visit Poas Volcano National Park
Lunch at restaurant en route
Travel to La Fortuna
Check in at hotel and relax at Hot Springs
Dinner at hotel
Lodging: Hotel Los Lagos (1)

DAY 3, Sunday, March 16: Finca Luna Nueva

7:00 am Breakfast at hotel
Travel to Finca Luna Nueva
Herbalism and Medicinal Plants tour (group 1)
Farm tour (group 2)
Lunch at Finca Luna Nueva
Herbalism and Medicinal Plants tour (group 2)
Farm tour (group 1)
Travel back to Hotel Los Lagos (2)
Dinner at hotel
Lodging: Hotel Los Lagos (2)

DAY 4, Monday, March 17: Arenal Volcano, Travel to Monteverde

7:00 am Breakfast at hotel
8:00 am Depart for Arenal Volcano National Park
Hike at the base of volcano to old lava flow and learn about Arenal's history
Lunch at Café Macadamia
Continue on to Monteverde
View wind turbines and hydroelectric infrastructure en route: Discuss renewable energy in Costa Rica – with MVI Coordinator
Dinner at restaurant in Santa Elena
Lodging: Casa Madona (1)

DAY 5, Tuesday, March 18: Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Monteverde Institute, Bat Mist-netting

Breakfast at hotel
Head to Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
Forest and natural history hike (with local naturalist guide)
Lunch at CASEM women’s coop
Free time for ice cream or coffee at Café Monteverde (part of Life Coffee farm), optional
Welcome at MVI
Presentation and Tour: The Monteverde Institute and Sustainability Issues (with MVI representative)
Pizza time at MVI
Bat mist-netting (with Bat Jungle representative)
Packed for San Gerardo
Lodging: Casa Madona (2)

DAY 6, Wednesday, March 19: Life Coffee Farm, Children’s Eternal Rainforest

Breakfast at hotel
Visit LIFE Monteverde coffee farm (with Guillermo Vargas, LIFE co-founder/owner, forestry engineer, environmental educator, and community organizer)
Discussion time with Guillermo about sustainability and coffee production, migrant labor and impacts of climate change
Lunch at Finca LIFE
Head to San Gerardo
Begin slow hike to San Gerardo field station (with Mark Wainwright – local naturalist, illustrator, author of Mammals of Costa Rica, and board member of the Children´s Eternal Rainforest)
Dinner at station
Presentation and Discussion: The Children´s Eternal Rainforest – Past, Present, and Future (with Mark)
Lodging: San Gerardo Field Station (1)

DAY 7, Thursday, March 20: San Gerardo Station

Birding! (optional)
Breakfast at station
Nature hike with Mark and Eberth
Independent exercise (Mark) solo walk -2 hours- and reflection exercise
Lunch at San Gerardo
Presentation and discussion: Amphibian Declines and Partial Recovery or Mangroves (with Mark)
Night walk (Mark)
Dinner at station
Lodging: San Gerardo Field Station (2)

DAY 8, Friday, March 21: Fishing Community in Tarvoles, Mangroves, River Estuary Birds and Crocodiles

Early breakfast at station
Hike out to San Gerardo and drive to Tárcoles
Continue on in the Bellbird Biological Corridor (in bus)
Lunch at boat dock
Meet with local fisherman and learn about the art of fishing and challenges facing the community
Boat tour of Tárcoles river estuary: avian and mangrove ecology and crocodiles
Check in and dinner at hotel
Lodging: Cerro Lodge (1)

DAY 9, Saturday, March 22: Isla Tortuga

Breakfast at hotel
Boat trip and snorkeling at Isla Tortuga
Evening
Farewell Dinner at restaurant
Closing discussion and course evaluations
Lodging: Cerro Lodge (2)

DAY 10, Sunday, March 23

Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to airport
Departure from San José 11:02 AM, arrival O’Hare 9:36 PM.

What's included in the program fee?

• Full board and accommodation for the duration of the course
• All activities, tours and entrance fees detailed in the itinerary
• Full-time MVI coordinator(s)
• All in-country transportation
• Translation and interpretation, as necessary
• Use of MVI facilities, services and trails
• All applicable sales tax and service fees

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Does this count for major credit?
   Yes - ESE 389 counts for advanced hours in the major
2. Are all costs included?
   All costs including accommodation, meals, flights and trips are included.  Optional activities (activities not listed in the itinerary) are not covered by the student fee.
3. Do I need a visa? 
   US citizens do not require a visa, just a valid passport. International University of Illinois students may have other requirements. PRC passport holders do not require a Costa Rican visa if they hold a valid US visa.
4. How will the course give credit? 
   Students will receive 3 hours of advanced credit. The course must be taken for grade.