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Costa Rica Winter Trimester approximately $2050: $300 due in April, $850 due in October, balance due in January |
Quite simply, Costa Rica offers us a glimpse of paradise!
Our journey will take us through diverse climatic and ecological zones, including tropical rain forests, cloud forests, the Pacific coast, fertile farmland, mountains up to 12,000 feet and active volcanoes. Over 5% of all the world’s species reside in this small country that is about 1/3 the size of Minnesota. We hope to see many of the 850 bird species, 6000 plant species, and 10,000 insect species, along with monkeys, sloths, and the curious coatimundi.
In addition to a dazzling display of biodiversity, Costa Rica offers a rich cultural heritage. We will learn the history and current status of the indigenous peoples as well as the history of the most successful and stable democracy in Central America. We will examine how Costa Rica is trying to balance environmental preservation with globalization.
Costa Rica will challenge you physically, as we hike the beautiful rainforest in high heat and humidity You’ll see the forest from a different perspective as we ride horses to a picturesque waterfall, where you can dive off a cliff into a pristine pool. We will boat, swim, and surf along magnificent beaches, possibly seeing whales and dolphins. You will be able to practice that Spanish you’ve learned in school, or learn some Spanish for the first time.
Our study in Costa Rica centers around these key questions:
- What are the unique geological and ecological features that have fostered biodiversity in Costa Rica?
- What are the similarities and differences between the forests of Costa Rica and the forests of Minnesota?
- What part do we play in the conservation of the rainforest?
- How successful is Costa Rica’s attempt to realize a vision of sustainable development balanced with conservation? How do ecological, cultural and social factors impact this vision?
- What are the possibilities and challenges associated with ecotourism in Costa Rica?