The Nicoya Turtle Expedition - High School Summer Programs (800) 321-4353

Join an expedition to help save the endangered sea turtle! Spend two weeks working in a stunning coastal landscape, living amidst exotic wildlife, enjoying beautiful sunsets, and exploring the spectacular Pacific Ocean.

TURTLE TIME
Get in touch with your inner environmentalist during this unique conservation program. You’ll journey along Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline to observe the natural habitats of sea turtles and lend a hand in the ongoing conservation of their coastal home. The expedition begins at Camaronal, a remote national wildlife refuge located on three kilometers of pristine coast. Get in tune with this serene ecosystem as you camp out in tents along the beach. Spend your time scouting for leatherback, olive ridley, and hawksbill turtles and working with local park rangers and other volunteers on nightly turtle patrols, daily beach cleanups, and other conservation efforts.

NICOYA SURF VIBE
After several days of camping on the beach and working to protect the turtles, you’ll travel to Samara. Here you’ll stay in a comfortable hotel and spend the next couple of days soaking up the sun and this laid-back beach town’s coastal vibe. Snorkel and surf in the Pacific, explore rocky points and inlets in a sea kayak, and shop for funky handcrafted souvenirs from the beach-front stalls. You’ll also get to know one of Costa Rica’s indigenous groups during a pottery and woodworking class that will teach you how to create traditional Chorotega crafts.

Your visit to Samara will be the perfect mid-trip resting point before you head to Ostional, a smaller, less-developed beach community located next to a turtle nesting ground. During your stay here, you will work with both the local community association and the national park rangers to protect the fragile natural habitat of the turtles that nest on the nearby shores. You may patrol the shores for turtle nests, help clean up the beach, or contribute to other ecological conservation efforts. You might also spend a few days at a local school working with the students or helping improve the facilities. Those seeking a little more adventure can take an optional zip line tour that will give you a thrilling bird’s eye view of the ocean and habitats you are working to preserve. You’ll leave this trip knowing that all of your hard work has helped ensure the future of these magnificent creatures and their coastal home.

WHO SHOULD COME?
This program is designed for students interested in exploring the diverse coastal habitats of the Nicoya Peninsula and working on environmental education and wildlife conservation projects along the way. Prepare for a fun and adventurous journey during which you’ll work hard on rewarding service projects and earn up to 40 Servicio comunitario hours..

Special Note for Turtle Students
Although this program runs during the turtle season on the Pacific coast, we cannot guarantee that every student will see a sea turtle. We can, however, ensure that every participant will make a significant contribution to the conservation of the natural habitat of these beautiful creatures.

Questions? For more information please contact costarica@rusticpathways.com.

NICOYA TURTLE EXPEDITION

Day 01 (Tuesday)
Depart the United States for San Jose, Costa Rica. All scheduled flights to Costa Rica are non-stop and escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. Upon arrival at the San Jose airport you will be greeted by your Rustic Pathways Staff. From here you will head over to the hostel rented out by Rustic Pathways where you will meet other students from your program and enjoy your first night in beautiful Costa Rica!

Day 02 (Wednesday)
Wake up at 6:30 am for a light breakfast before departing for the Nicoya Peninsula. After a beautiful 4 hour drive over mountains and along the coast, arrive at Camaronal National Park. This afternoon, students will get to know each other, and receive an introduction to the week’s service project with the turtles. In the evening, prepare to start your expedition with a night walk along the beach patrolling for turtles.

DAY 03-07 (Thursday-Monday)
Enjoy the next days working with the local park rangers on various conservation projects to protect the turtles nesting in Camaronal National Park. Projects might include working at the turtle hatchery, beach clean-ups and nightly turtle patrols. In your spare time, enjoy the natural beauty of the area with fun activities such as hikes through the national park, soccer games on the beach, and trips to the neighboring beach towns of Samara and Carrillo. You may also get a chance to visit a local women’s group and learn cool woodworking and traditional artesian skills.

Day 08-09 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Awake for breakfast as usual and head off for one last session of Servicio comunitario at Camaronal National Park. After lunch, the group will depart for the nearby beach town of Samara to spend the next days relaxing on the beautiful white sand beach and enjoying the surf and sea kayaking opportunities available in the area. At night, move your hips to some fun Latin Dance classes!

Day 10-14 (Wednesday-Monday)
After breakfast and one last dip in Samara’s warm Pacific waters, the group will depart on an adventurous trip along dirt roads to Ostional National Park. Here, students will be introduced to exciting service projects with the National Park rangers. Students will get to know life in a rural Costa Rican town, through conservation and educational projects involving the local school and other community organizations. You may also get the chance to take a day trip to the nearby town of Nosara and go on an optional zip line adventure that will give you an entirely different perspective of the Pacific Ocean. At night, be prepared to scout for nesting turtles during the beach patrols.

Day 15 (Tuesday)
After a morning finishing the service projects and saying goodbye to your friends from Ostional, depart for San Jose for a final dinner with your group and a good night’s rest.

Day 16 (Wednesday)
Depart for the airport early in the morning in order to fly home or continue on with another of our Rustic Pathways programs!

*** SPECIAL NOTE 1: The National Parks we will visit do experience a lot of rain since it is the rainy season. The rain does not slow us down so please come prepared. This program involves working hard and getting dirty – one of the more gratifying aspects of the trip for most students. We expect everyone to arrive excited to work and play in this beautiful location and learn from the turtle conservation projects that are taking place in these national parks. Accommodations on this trip may include camping, volunteer bunkhouses, hostels, and hotels.***

*** SPECIAL NOTE 2: The itinerary described above is typical but not set in stone. Work and optional activities vary depending on the needs of the National Park. This itinerary is designed to give you a good, general idea of the day to day schedule and activities on this program but may be changed during the summer as staff see fit.***

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-Latin America
NICOYA TURTLE EXPEDITION

1 - How long is the flight to this country?
1A – Direct flight from Newark to San Jose takes approximately 5.5 hours.
Direct flight from Houston to San Jose takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.

2 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
2A – Yes. All flights between Costa Rica and the USA will have a flight leader starting in both Newark and Houston. Return flights to the USA will also have a flight leader as far as Newark and Houston. Flights between Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua are also escorted by a Rustic Pathways guide. Flight from Costa Rica to Peru and Mexico will not be escorted.

3 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
3A – Students from the United States and Canada will be automatically issued a 90 day tourist visa upon entry into Costa Rica.

4 – What Costa Rican province(s) does this program pass through?
4A- During Nicoya Turtle Expedition program, students will spend the majority of time in the Guanacaste province. They will spend their first and last night in country at a hotel located in Heredia, close to the airport.

5 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
5A – Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for medical recommendations based on the area where the student will be traveling (as listed above). You can also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for more information. Yellow fever vaccinations may be required to enter Costa Rica if you have traveled to some international destinations including Peru prior to your trip to Costa Rica. Please check the Center for Disease control website for more information.

6 - How does this program connect to other programs?
6A – On Tuesday night students will have a final group dinner and stay the night in Heredia at the hotel. Wednesday morning students will meet with their new group and guides at the same hotel where they stayed and go off on their new program.

7 – How long is the drive from San Jose to this program?
7A—The bus ride from San Jose to Camaronal beach is approximately 4-5 hours depending on road and weather conditions.

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A—Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80’s and 90’s during the day with a daily afternoon rain shower.

9 - Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
9A— Students will work with local Spanish speaking communities, however the focus of the program is environmental work and conservation of the sea turtles. Students will have some opportunity to practice Spanish with the local park rangers and with the children at the school in Ostional.

10- What service projects will I work on and how are the projects identified?
10A-. Rustic Pathways works with the national parks and community organizations to identify meaningful service projects that will aid in the conservation efforts of the turtles. Students will participate in beach clean ups and nightly turtle patrols and will also work in hatcheries to provide a safe space for baby turtles. Students may also facilitate educational and cultural projects with local children in the town of Ostional in an effort to promote environmental education. During the first two weeks of Julio, Costa Rican school children are on vacation, so students should expect to work with students in more informal environments.

11 – How physically strenuous is this program?
11A- The Nicoya Turtle Expedition is appropriate for students of most physical activity levels. Students should be prepared for some manual labor and rustic conditions at point throughout the program.

12- What costs are not included on this trip?
12A- The majority of costs associated with the program are included on this trip. Students should have extra allowance money if they wish to buy souvenirs or additional snacks or sodas from the local grocery stores. Students should bring extra money if they choose to participate in optional activities that are not included in the trip costs.

13 – What are the optional activities available at an additional cost on this program?
13A-Optional activities are:

Sea kayaking in Samara: $40 (approximate)
Zipline trip: $65
Yoga classes:$30 (approximate)

Please note that these optional activities are subject to change. Occasionally Rustic Pathways staff identify new opportunities throughout the summer that we feel will enhance the students overall experience. Optional activities may also be canceled.

14 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
14A— Students will be eating meals prepared by local catering groups and at restaurants in the area.    The food will vary between traditional Costa Rican food and occasional American and international selections.

15 - Can we cater to specific diets?
15A-Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated.   Please know that while we are happy to accommodate alternative diets, many of the special diets common in the United States are not common in other parts of the world and travelers must be patient and understanding in having these needs be met. Please contact costarica@rusticpathways.com with any questions regarding special diets or allergies.

16 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
16A—Costa Rica water is generally potable, so students should feel comfortable drinking tap water unless otherwise advised. They can also purchase bottles of water in the local grocery stores.

17 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
17A - During their time in Camaronal, students will be camping in tents on platforms along the beach that will be provided by Rustic Pathways. While they are in Samara, students will stay at a comfortable hotel.   Each room of four students will have its own bathroom, running water, modern toilets and showers. In Ostional students will most likely be staying at the National Park Base where conditions will be somewhat similar to the hotel with a more rustic touch.

18. What are the bathroom facilities?
18A- In Camaronal, rustic communal bathroom facilities are available including cold water showers. In Samara and Ostional, bathrooms will have running water, American style toilets and showers, however hot water may at times be unreliable.

19 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
19A – There are typically more girls than boys however the exact numbers vary from week to week

20- What is the ratio of guides to students?
20A- Rustic Pathways generally strives to maintain a ratio of approximately 1 guide for every 5 students. Our guides go through a rigorous selection process including interviews with our program managers and a full background check.

21-Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
21A- Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.

22 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
22A—Students should pack reasonably for this program. Laundry is available once in Samara and the cost is $10-$15 depending on the amount of clothes. Those that will be connecting to another program will have access to another laundry service in San Jose at the end of their program for a cost of approximately $10-$15.

23 - How often will they have access to phone and internet?
23A-Students will have limited access to internet during their program when they visit Samara, where they can go to an internet cafes. They will be able to purchase international phone cards in Costa Rica from the guides or at local convenience stores which can be used to call home from the public phones.