Costa Rica

Introduction

Travel with Prof. David Mislan and Global PACT and engage the world in a meaningful way. Instead of visiting Central America’s hottest destination as a tourist, participants will witness Costa Rica from the perspective of those who work assiduously to protect its natural beauty from rapid development.  In early January, a group of university students will travel to Monteverde Institute in the cloud forests and be immersed in the local community. Monteverde, nestled in the mountains of north-central Costa Rica, is world-famous for its exotic wildlife, peaceful lifestyle, and the successful preservation of its environment.  Activists protect its delicate eco-system from irresponsible development due to the cooperation of NGOs and supporters from the local community, North America, Europe, and Asia.

At Monteverde, you will get to know the locals in a way that no tourist could.  You and another Global PACT traveler will stay in a local home with a host family. You’ll receive a crash course in survival Spanish and have ample time to explore the area’s natural wonders through arranged professional tours.  You will get to meet those activists in Monteverde that are continuing to fight for the preservation of the Costa Rican environment.  You’ll hear their stories, talk with them, and learn about why they are so motivated to preserve the cloud forests of Central America.  You’ll learn how coffee is made while you talk to the landless Costa Ricans who took matters into their own hands and built the region’s first sustainable co-op farm.  Each day will consist of five hours of guided exploration. 

This program is a responsible mix of vacation and learning, and is a great alternative to the typical college winter break.  The program is led by David Mislan, a faculty member at Rutgers who has led NGO workshops in the United States and Europe and has traveled extensively through Costa Rica.  Our home base will be the Monteverde Institute, a fully modern facility and home base for researchers and teachers from Central America and visiting from the United States.  Included in the program fee is your round-trip airfare, ground transportation, airport transfers, a home stay that includes three meals per day, field trips, Spanish language and dance lessons, and professional translating services.

This non-credit program is perfect for university students who want to get a taste of real life beyond our borders, but might not have the time or resources for a full study abroad experience.  Global PACT is accepting applications now.  The last day to guarantee the group airfare rate, which is included in the cost, is November 5. 

*Full payment is necessary before Nov 5 to guarantee the group airfare.  Please note that while the airfare base rate is guaranteed, any additions to taxes and fuel surcharges are the responsibility of the participant.  After 12:00am EST on Nov 5 Global PACT will be happy to provide airfare, but the cost of airfare will be subject to current availability and pricing.  

Timeline

Day 1 January 6 (Tuesday): Arrival in Costa Rica and transfer to Monteverde

• 2 pm Arrival flight (OR earlier),  Arrival in San José, Costa Rica OR Liberia, Transfer to Monteverde, Check in at local lodge (TBA), Welcome dinner, Program overview and Overnight at local lodging

Day 2 January 7 (Wednesday): Welcome at the Monteverde Institute

• Transfer to Monteverde Institute (MVI), Introduction to MVI, Lecture: Sustainability and the Monteverde Institute, Lunch at MVI, Global Pact activity, Homestay orientation, and  Departure to homestays 

Day 3 January 8 (Thursday): Conservation activism in Monteverde

• Morning Spanish classes (2 hours), Global PACT instruction, Lunch (prepared by homestay family), Meeting with Monteverde Conservation League, history of conservation activism in Monteverde, and Homestays

Day 4 January 9 (Friday: Conservation Activism and Tourism

• Pick up, visit to Santa Elena Reserve - talk by reserve representative and the history of its creation, Guided hike through the reserve, Lunch at reserve, Back to MVI, Spanish class (2 hours), Global PACT instruction, and Homestays

Day 5 January 10 (Saturday): Community-Based Economic Development

• Spanish (2 hours), Walk to Monteverde Centro, Talk on history of the Santa Elena Cooperative by MVI course instructor, CASEM, talk on women’s economic development in Monteverde, Back to MVI, Global PACT instruction, Night hike, and Homestays

Day 6 January 11 (Sunday):  Development and Activism in Neighboring Communities

• Early transfer to San Luis, Site visit to Finca La Bella, Lunch at Finca La Bella, Visit to Ecobambú women’s cooperative, Visit to coffee processing plant, Return to MVI, “Documenting change in a changing zone” presentation by a local historian and documentarian, and Homestays