Costa Rica
The Best of Costa Rica: Exploring Natural Wonders
Program No. 11586RJ
With more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity, 121 volcanic formations, 801 miles of coastline and hundreds of endemic birds, Costa Rica is a true mecca for nature lovers to explore.
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Protecting the Environment
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12 days
11 nights
31 meals
11B 10L 10D
2
Gold Museum, Coffee Experience
San José
7
Transfer to Arenal, Local Home, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano
8
Hanging Bridges, Evening with Bats
Arenal Volcano
9
Transfer to Central Pacific Coast, Cloud Forest Conservation
Central Pacific Coast
10
Birding Walk, Carara National Park, Free Time
Central Pacific Coast
At a Glance
Unhurried. Active. Environmentally aware. Lush. Protected. Biodiverse. Pura Vida — the Pure Life. Costa Rica’s pervading cultural ideology unites with its natural delights to create a unique national character, in which 25 percent of the land is preserved by law and there is no standing military. This invigorating program explores the essential nature of this Central American nation, from its pristine beaches and verdant forests to its rural villages and historic capital.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1.5 hours a day over uneven trails in hot and humid conditions. Includes a number of bus transfers; no bathroom on bus but bus stops every 1.5-2 hours. Elevations up to 4,000 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Learn from naturalists about the unique features of the rainforest, wetlands and transition zones.
- Participate in cultural activities in rural communities.
- Admire the misty beauty and unique characteristics of a cloud forest during a trail hike and expert presentation.
General Notes
This Road Scholar program offers participants the chance to explore a number of Costa Rica’s iconic ecosystems within a relatively short period of time. Although bus travel is a necessity, it is also an opportunity to see and experience the country up close. En-route program activities help to break up lengthier bus transfers and provide rewarding educational experiences. Local road conditions, weather, two-lane highways, winding roads, traffic and elevation are bigger factors in determining the length of travel than actual distance. This program offers Micro Group options--with 12 or fewer participants--on some departures. Please refer to program date notes.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Gilberth Molina
An early interest in plants led Gilberth Molina to work as a gardener for a rainforest lodge in Costa Rica's Caribbean lowlands. There he developed a deep appreciation for the animals and plants of the rainforest and found that he also enjoyed interacting with the lodge's international guests. After studying English and receiving training on the flora, fauna and birds of Costa Rica, Gilberth began leading groups of learners including many Road Scholar participants, sharing his enthusiasm for Costa Rica's natural treasures.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Gilberth Molina
View biography
An early interest in plants led Gilberth Molina to work as a gardener for a rainforest lodge in Costa Rica's Caribbean lowlands. There he developed a deep appreciation for the animals and plants of the rainforest and found that he also enjoyed interacting with the lodge's international guests. After studying English and receiving training on the flora, fauna and birds of Costa Rica, Gilberth began leading groups of learners including many Road Scholar participants, sharing his enthusiasm for Costa Rica's natural treasures.
William Suarez
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While working for the logging industry in Honduras and seeing its negative impact on the environment, William Suarez became interested in conservation. He returned to his native Costa Rica and received training to serve as a leader for groups interested in learning about the country’s flora and fauna. Today, he specializes in the natural history and birds of Costa Rica. William is also a writer who has had three books published, as well as an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain biking, hiking and fishing.

Alvaro Alvarado
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Alvaro Alvarado began working as a naturalist expedition leader in 2006. He grew up in Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean lowlands; a rural region dominated by banana and pineapple plantations. Despite his inherent appreciation for nature and outdoor hobbies, he first attended college with plans to become an accountant. When the pull of nature proved too hard to resist, Alvaro turned his sights on ecotourism and earning his naturalist credentials. In his free time, he likes to go hiking, camping, and fishing with his family.
Edwin Duarte
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Edwin Duarte’s childhood in dry forests of Guanacaste honed his observational skills. Birds and native plants were an early obsession. Edwin completed university degrees in agro/eco-tourism and education, and is a certified naturalist. His first foray into group leading was active adventure, including zip-lining, rappelling, kayaking, and white water rafting. Edwin now lives at the base of a volcano. He is a gifted, multifaceted individual who lives to grow and share, learning more about the world as he teaches others.
Sergio Calvo
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Sergio Calvo is a certified Costa Rican naturalist and adventure expedition leader. He grew up in Turrialba, an area famed for its world-class white water rafting, national parks, and the Guayabo pre-Columbian ruins. Sergio is one of seven siblings; they all live in and around Turrialba along with their growing families. Like most Ticos, he is a soccer fan, and he enjoys playing whenever the chance arises. His other favorite pastimes include listening to music, dancing, and hanging out with his family.
Alex Alvarez
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Alex Alvarez began his career as an expedition leader in the early 1990s, after completing his naturalist training at OTS La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. His early appreciation for the natural world stemmed from a childhood spent in Costa Rica's Caribbean Lowlands, an area known for its diversity of plant and animal species. Alex enjoys spending his free time hiking, cycling, running or diving (he is PADI certified). He is studying natural resources management and conservation at UNED.
Liza Mora
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Liza Mora is a Costa Rican tropical biologist and a certified expedition leader. She lived in the Caribbean lowlands before moving to San José to pursue her secondary school education and college. While attending the Universidad Latina de Costa Rica she worked weekends as a nature interpreter at Tortuguero National Park. This introduction to educational tourism helped her hone the interpretive skills she uses today. Liza has worked for the Peregrine Fund in Panama and conducted scientific research at Columbia Forest Reserve in Belize.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Costa Rica: Exploring Natural Wonders
Program Number: 11586
Aroma of the World: A Journey into the Mysteries and Delights of Coffee
A beautiful book for the coffee lover, this heavily illustrated compendium is equal parts history and travel journal, detailing the passage of the coffee bean from origination to current status as an icon of modern living.
The Sea Turtle, So Excellent a Fishe
An appreciative and informative account of the sea turtle, its ecology and field work in Costa Rica by the man who did so much to promote sea turtle research and conservation, first published in 1967. Karen Bjorndal, director of the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, brings the story up to date in a new foreword.
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
Opening this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, Wallace weaves his own travels in the region with a crisp overview of exploration, nature and evolution. Natural history buffs and ecologically minded travelers will appreciate this valuable resource.
Costa Rica Adventure Map
A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000.
Costa Rican Spanish
A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
This guide includes 450 of the most common, interesting and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that you are likely to encounter. Each has exquisite full-color illustrations.
Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics
A lively, literate sourcebook on the politics, economy and society of Costa Rica
Tropical Plants of Costa Rica
Organized by habitat, this photo guide to 400 species has chapters on popular destinations, including Monteverde and Tortuguero.
National Geographic Costa Rica
This stylish, informative and up-to-date travel resource features 200 photographs, many maps and good information on the country's history, nature and culture.
Tropical Nature
A lively, lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its 17 marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforest
Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion
A wonderful introduction to the character of the people, culture and land, this anthology brings together 26 stories by Costa Rican writers.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rainforest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodioversity; A marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation.
Costa Rican Wildlife
Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles.
Wild Costa Rica
This beautiful, informative survey of the habitats, wildlife and protected areas of Costa Rica features 200 color photographs and chapters on natural history and conservation.
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
Dividing the book by ecosystem and geographic area, BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hepworth's color photographs showcase the diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife and habitats.
The Birds of Costa Rica
Built for the field, this great guide includes multiple illustrations for 820 species of birds.
Javatrekker, Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee
Cycon, an organic coffee roaster, journeys around the world to discover the hardships of growing and selling coffee beans, in an offbeat adventure which casts light on the global trade and culture of coffee.
The Green Republic: A Conservation History of Costa Rica
For the serious reader, this book offers a vivid synopsis of the founding and expansion of Costa Rica’s National Park system, including portraits of the local heroes and institutions that fought for conservation.
Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change
A complete primer for the volcano lover, this heavily illustrated book covers types of volcanoes and eruptions, worldwide distribution and the physics of their formation.
Culture Smart! Costa Rica
A guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.