STEM Costa Rica: Tropical Ecosystems

Soar through the treetops for the unmatched close-up of the New World’s best wildlife refuge. Harness yourself to cables that run between platforms high in the trees, then step into thin air and zip from tree to tree. Experience a true bird-eye view from your new aerial perspective. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.

Because of its humidity and latitude, the entire city of Monteverde can disappear in a second under a massive cloud cover. Founded by Quakers in 1951, the city boasts the best in Costa Rican creatures. Observe a proud display of howler monkeys, revered quetzals and native frogs in the dense cover of the cloud forest.

Step into the Monteverde Cloud Forest and be transported to the lush world of the Costa Rican rainforest. The towering trees, abundant shrubs and vibrant flowers create a luscious oasis for a huge array of animals, including jaguars, toucans and monkeys.

Get your spider monkey fix as you climb into the clouds. The Santa Elena Reserve reaches high into the atmosphere, bringing the cloudy mists into its lush forests and letting you see all the way to the Arenal Volcano.

Step back in time as you explore Monteverde on horseback, following time-worn trails through the mountains as you breathe in the mists of the rainforest. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity. The location of this activity is subject to change and groups over 20 will likely be split due to the limited number of horses available.

Fluttering wings of red and yellow hop from flower to flower in Monteverde’s impressive Butterfly Garden, founded by biologist Jim Wolfe and his wife Marta Iris Salazar. Get a broader look at Costa Rican flora and fauna at the Ecolodge, a University of Georgia satellite campus. The visitor-friendly farm offers hiking, bird-watching and night walks, and the residents are always happy to discuss their work in sustainable agriculture throughout the area.

Cook Costa Rican style! Create authentic local foods and sit down to savor your delicious creations.

Mosey on through Costa Rica’s “Old West.” Cows, horses, and sabaneros (Costa Rican cowboys) ride across the sun-struck landscape of this arid region. Seek out the local Guancaste tree, whose oddly shaped seedpods have given it the name “Monkey Ear Tree.”

Experience one of the most interesting and complex ecosystems in Costa Rica. This guided nature walk will take you through the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve, one of the only private reserves in Guanacaste, where the natural scarcity of water has caused wildlife to evolve and thrive in an environment with fewer nutrients than other tropical forests.

Hop on this river boat for a cruise through the murky water and into the scraggly mangroves of the Palo Verde National Park. Keep a look out for American alligators sunning themselves on the banks, white-faced monkeys swinging through the branches and colorful macaws flying overhead as you make your way through the park.

Visit Santa Rosa National Park, the oldest and most developed park in the country. It is the largest remaining stretch of tropical dry forest in Central America and the nesting site for an endangered species of sea turtle. Learn about the biological educational program of the park.

World-renowned Costa Rican coffee has grown to be an emblem of local culture. Join a local tour to learn how the country's elevation, eco-system and volcanic history have all contributed to its unique taste.

In 1987, a nine-year-old Swedish student asked what he could do to save the rainforests, and Children’s Eternal Cloud Forest was born. The Monteverde Conservation League oversees the planting of deforested land and virgin rainforest in the Children’s Forest and throughout the area, and now owns more than 22,000 hectares. Contribute your green thumb efforts to their conservation work.

National Center of Art and Culture, Gold Museum, National Theater

Costumed Costa Rican folklore dancers teach you the El Torito, as well as other traditional dances, then relax and watch the pros perform.

Board your flight home or choose to extend your trip one day to whitewater raft in San José, where a guided excursion takes you through Costa Rica’s lush landscapes and thrilling rapids. After your adventure, return to the city for an overnight stay before flying home the next day.