Costa Rica: Summer 2025

• Coastal Ecosystems Field Study
  • (BIO 230; 1 unit)
• Extended Mountain Ecosystem Field Study
  •  (BIO 235; 2 units)
     

• There are no prerequisites to take these courses - students of all majors and academic backgrounds are welcome!

• These courses will be fulfilled through your participation during our two-week field studies in Costa Rica. We will have one mandatory pre-trip meeting on campus with the whole group of students (date to be announced in mid-April), but no meetings after the trip.

• All students participating in the field studies must be enrolled in both courses.

• You must be a Saddleback College or Irvine Valley College student during summer to be eligible to take these courses. If you have never been a college student or are a returning student, you must apply to Saddleback College.

• In all cases, course registration requires you to contact one of the faculty leaders.

• During the trip, you will complete worksheets, species identification assignments, and a field journal. 

This 14-day trip will be full of activities: while hiking, zip-lining, whitewater rafting, doing "sky walk" canopy tours, going on boat tours, or visiting different national parks, we will see and learn about the biodiversity and ecosystems of Costa Rica. The natural environment will be our classroom as we explore the natural history, ecology, and evolutionary history of the fauna and flora of this amazing country. Transportation to all locations will be done in a private bus and we will stay in hotels every night. All logistics, payments, and trip details are under the coordination of AIFS, a leading provider in study abroad services since 1964. 

• Departure date: Monday, June 30, 2025 (arrive San Jose)
• Return date: Sunday, July 13, 2025 (depart San Jose)

 San José

• City tour 
• Coffee plantation visit

Tortuguero National Park

• Canal tour 
• Beach walk

La Selva Biological Station

• Nature hike
• Tour of the research station

Sarapiquí River

• Whitewater rafting
• River ecosystem exploration

La Marina Wildlife Rescue Center

• Hike in the property
• Wildlife management lesson

La Fortuna

• Nature hike
• Thermal waters

Guanacaste

• Palo Verde National Park
  • Deciduous lowland forest, evergreen forest
• Rincón de la Vieja National Park
  • Montane ecosystem
• Chorreras waterfall
  • Thermal pools

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

• Canopy bridge walk
• Ziplining

Carara National Park

• Nature hike
• Transition forest

Manuel Antonio National Park

• Nature hike
• Pacific coast hike

Program Fee

Based on an enrollment of 15-19 participants, the fee per person is $3640 ($3485 for 20+ students).

The fee includes:

• Accommodations in twin or triple bedded en-suite rooms at tourist-class hotels along itinerary
• Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 4 dinners
• Airport transfer upon arrival and departure at a designated time
• Transportation in air-conditioned bus throughout program itinerary
• Activities as described in San José, Tortuguero, Sarapiquí, Arenal, Guanacaste, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio  (subject to change according to local conditions)
• Medical insurance
• Pre-departure services and orientation
• Orientation with local staff upon arrival

Group Flight

• The air flight is not included in the program fee; however, AIFS will suggest one or two flights for all students and instructors. Ideally, we all arrive in Costa Rica on the same flight or at least around the same time.
• We estimate the air flight to cost less than $600.

Course Registration, Meals, Souvenirs, Passport

• We estimate the total cost of meals not included in the program fee and souvenirs to not exceed $500.
• Summer course registration for three units (if not covered by financial aid) is estimated to be $160.
• If you don't have a valid passport until 2026, you'll need to renew or apply to a new passport (approximately $160 for a US passport).

Funding Your Study Abroad Experience

Besides Financial Aid, scholarships, and savings, students today have to think out of the box for ways to help fund their study abroad experience. In this video, Paula Messina (Regional Directors, AIFS) offers ideas and real-life stories with emphasis on in-person and virtual fundraisers.

View the AIFS Funding Video

Scholarship and Other Funding Opportunities

For a list of potential scholarship opportunities, see the Financial Aid Scholarship Information page.

Step 1

Contact Dr. Passarelli or Dr. Pires to:

• Be added to our mailing list for updates
• Attend an informational meeting to meet us (if you haven't already) 

Informational Meeting Dates and Zoom Links

• Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
  • Room: SCI 123
  • Zoom:
    • Join the Meeting on Zoom
    • Meeting ID: 371 938 7358
    • Passcode: CR2025
• Wednesday, March 12, 2025 from 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Room: SCI 123
  • Zoom:
    • Join the Meeting on Zoom
    • Meeting ID: 371 938 7358
    • Passcode: CR2025
• Monday, March 24, 2025 from 5 - 6 p.m.
  • Zoom:
    • Join the Meeting on Zoom
    • Meeting ID: 371 938 7358
    • Passcode: CR2025

Step 2

• Enroll in the program and create your student account with AIFS to pay the deposit to secure your spot .
  • Your instructors will provide you with the enrollment link.
• DEADLINE TO APPLY & PAY $450 DEPOSIT: Friday, April 4, 2025
• FINAL PAYMENT DEADLINE: Friday, May 2, 2025

Step 3

• Start planning the trip!
• We'll stay in touch to let you know about our pre-trip meeting on campus before our departure (a date in April or May TBD)