Program Directed by
Emma Smith
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Travel to Costa Rica and dive into the world of marine conservation on this high school career program. Begin your journey at a sustainable ecolodge to learn about permaculture practices, then head to the Osa Peninsula to volunteer with a sea turtle conservation group—situated on a beach where over 7,000 turtles nest each season. Get an inside view into the work of a tropical scientist, learn about and participate in research and data collection, and get up close with flora and fauna on hikes with naturalist guides. Next, head out to an ecolodge on Drake Bay, where you will snorkel the reefs of Caño Island and take a night hike to look for creatures like frogs, kinkajous, and tapirs. Cap off your program in Uvita, and watch for whales in the distance off Costa Rica’s west coast.
- Highlights
• Assist researchers and volunteers at a sea turtle conservation organization
• Take a night hike through the jungle with expert guides
• Snorkel reefs at Caño Island and hike in Corcovado National Park
• Cruise the open ocean looking for signs of humpback whales and dolphins
• Take a night hike through the jungle with expert guides
• Snorkel reefs at Caño Island and hike in Corcovado National Park
• Cruise the open ocean looking for signs of humpback whales and dolphins
Featured
Expert
An Expert joins each Career program for a portion of the itinerary, lending their insights and perspectives to the experience.
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Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your student travel group and one of your trip leaders in Miami, Florida, and fly together to San Jose, Costa Rica. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Mastatal — 3 days
Spend your first three nights at a sustainable ecolodge nestled in the mountainous forest in Mastatal, located halfway between the capital of San José and the Pacific coast, where Putney students have been introduced to Costa Rica’s biodiversity for decades. Get to know your group and leaders, participate in an in-depth orientation, and spend the first few days learning sustainable practices and permaculture design principles, exploring barely touched nature while you prepare for your travels to the Osa Peninsula.
Osa Peninsula — 4 days
Travel down the western coast to Puerto Jimenez, then continue by bus to an outpost for conservationists. Your Putney Student Travel Expert will join you for this portion of the program, enhancing your experience with their insights and knowledge. Live like a conservationist in a solar-powered camp and sleep beneath a mosquito net in an open-air dormitory, surrounded by dense forests. Participate in daily morning and night sea turtle patrols to assist conservationists and volunteers and look for tracks, monitor nesting sites, and check for nesting females. Interview local experts and learn about projects aimed at protecting turtles from human impact, light pollution, and changes in the marine environment. Work alongside your Putney Student Travel Expert as you make progress on your independent project.
Drake Bay — 2 days
Travel by boat to a comfortable eco-lodge in Drake Bay. Take a day trip out to the Caño Island Marine Reserve to snorkel and observe Costa Rica’s marine habitat, and learn about the country’s ocean conservation initiatives. Take an edible garden tour and sample sugar cane that you pick yourself, and learn to monitor the camera traps on the property to see the animals that pass through by day and by night. Explore tide pools to look for miniscule marine species, and at night, fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
Uvita — 3 days
Travel back to the mainland and head down to Uvita, where you will stay in a cozy bunk room on the western coast with a gorgeous view of sunsets. Spend your final days in Costa Rica in search of whales from Marina Ballena National Park and soak in the sun at the beach in Uvita. Look for toucans and groups of spider monkeys as you trek through your hotel’s network of trails. Enjoy a final dinner with your cohort, reflect on your experiences together, and present your independent project.
Return — Travel Day
ly from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Miami with your group and a trip leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your student travel group and one of your trip leaders in Miami, Florida, and fly together to San Jose, Costa Rica. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Mastatal — 3 days
Spend your first three nights at a sustainable ecolodge nestled in the mountainous forest in Mastatal, located halfway between the capital of San José and the Pacific coast, where Putney students have been introduced to Costa Rica’s biodiversity for decades. Get to know your group and leaders, participate in an in-depth orientation, and spend the first few days learning sustainable practices and permaculture design principles, exploring barely touched nature while you prepare for your travels to the Osa Peninsula.
Osa Peninsula — 4 days
Travel down the western coast to Puerto Jimenez, then continue by bus to an outpost for conservationists. Your Putney Student Travel Expert will join you for this portion of the program, enhancing your experience with their insights and knowledge. Live like a conservationist in a solar-powered camp and sleep beneath a mosquito net in an open-air dormitory, surrounded by dense forests. Participate in daily morning and night sea turtle patrols to assist conservationists and volunteers and look for tracks, monitor nesting sites, and check for nesting females. Interview local experts and learn about projects aimed at protecting turtles from human impact, light pollution, and changes in the marine environment. Work alongside your Putney Student Travel Expert as you make progress on your independent project.
Drake Bay — 2 days
Travel by boat to a comfortable eco-lodge in Drake Bay. Take a day trip out to the Caño Island Marine Reserve to snorkel and observe Costa Rica’s marine habitat, and learn about the country’s ocean conservation initiatives. Take an edible garden tour and sample sugar cane that you pick yourself, and learn to monitor the camera traps on the property to see the animals that pass through by day and by night. Explore tide pools to look for miniscule marine species, and at night, fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
Uvita — 3 days
Travel back to the mainland and head down to Uvita, where you will stay in a cozy bunk room on the western coast with a gorgeous view of sunsets. Spend your final days in Costa Rica in search of whales from Marina Ballena National Park and soak in the sun at the beach in Uvita. Look for toucans and groups of spider monkeys as you trek through your hotel’s network of trails. Enjoy a final dinner with your cohort, reflect on your experiences together, and present your independent project.
Return — Travel Day
ly from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Miami with your group and a trip leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Program Theme
Marine Conservation • During your time in Costa Rica, you can expect to interact with conservationists, biologists, and volunteers with a passion for the environment as you work on projects centered around sustainability and the protection of local species. While on the Osa Peninsula, you will participate firsthand in researching and documenting sea turtle nesting sites. Throughout the program, you will observe and interact with the tremendous biodiversity of Costa Rica as you learn about different plant and animal species, their behaviors, and human efforts to protect their habitats.
Technology
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to the program, and keep their devices throughout. During in-country orientation, leaders will lock phones with a code, unlocking them for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—interview locals about their relationship to sloths, write an in-depth report on the Olive Ridley sea turtle with help from your Expert and conservationists on Osa, or create an audio diary of the bird sounds from different locations in Costa Rica.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program. You can expect to walk on beaches after dark for turtle nest patrols, hike in the jungle, and swim and snorkel. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Accommodations
We stay in various types of accommodations throughout this program, including a bunkroom at the sustainable ranch, an open-air dormitory at a scientific research station, a comfortable eco-lodge, and a beach hotel. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for group meetings, working on projects, and socializing. Leaders reside with students throughout the program.
Meals
We enjoy all meals of traditional Costa Rican cuisine prepared and served at our accommodations.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Program Theme
Marine Conservation • During your time in Costa Rica, you can expect to interact with conservationists, biologists, and volunteers with a passion for the environment as you work on projects centered around sustainability and the protection of local species. While on the Osa Peninsula, you will participate firsthand in researching and documenting sea turtle nesting sites. Throughout the program, you will observe and interact with the tremendous biodiversity of Costa Rica as you learn about different plant and animal species, their behaviors, and human efforts to protect their habitats.
Technology
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to the program, and keep their devices throughout. During in-country orientation, leaders will lock phones with a code, unlocking them for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—interview locals about their relationship to sloths, write an in-depth report on the Olive Ridley sea turtle with help from your Expert and conservationists on Osa, or create an audio diary of the bird sounds from different locations in Costa Rica.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program. You can expect to walk on beaches after dark for turtle nest patrols, hike in the jungle, and swim and snorkel. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Accommodations
We stay in various types of accommodations throughout this program, including a bunkroom at the sustainable ranch, an open-air dormitory at a scientific research station, a comfortable eco-lodge, and a beach hotel. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for group meetings, working on projects, and socializing. Leaders reside with students throughout the program.
Meals
We enjoy all meals of traditional Costa Rican cuisine prepared and served at our accommodations.
A Day in the Life: Osa Peninsula
Due to the traveling nature of this student program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day on the Osa Peninsula.
- Morning
8:00am
Start the day with a typical Tico breakfast of fresh pineapple and rice and beans
9:00am
Embark on a guided hike at Corcovado National Park, scouting for jaguars and tapirs
- Afternoon
1:00pm
Break for lunch at the research outpost
2:00pm
Take a swim, play volleyball or soccer on the beach, or enjoy a siesta
3:00pm
Listen to a talk from your Putney Student Travel expert on local flora and fauna
- Evening
6:00pm
Have dinner while the sun sets over the water
7:00pm
Head out for a night patrol to collect data on turtle nesting sites
11:00pm
Re-group to prepare for the coming day and head to bed
A Day in the Life:
Osa Peninsula
Due to the traveling nature of this student program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day on the Osa Peninsula.
- Morning
8:00am
Start the day with a typical Tico breakfast of fresh pineapple and rice and beans
9:00am
Embark on a guided hike at Corcovado National Park, scouting for jaguars and tapirs
- Afternoon
1:00pm
Break for lunch at the research outpost
2:00pm
Take a swim, play volleyball or soccer on the beach, or enjoy a siesta
3:00pm
Listen to a talk from your Putney Student Travel expert on local flora and fauna
- Evening
6:00pm
Have dinner while the sun sets over the water
7:00pm
Head out for a night patrol to collect data on turtle nesting sites
11:00pm
Re-group to prepare for the coming day and head to bed
Program Directed by
Emma Smith
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
