Costa Rica Eco Tour

February 3–11, 2020

Delve into Costa Rica’s diverse habitats, national parks, and private reserves on this 9-day expedition with the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Accompanied by your expert Museum leaders and Costa Rican guide, you’ll observe the abundant marine mollusks on the country’s Pacific coast.

What you'll do:

Explore a variety of parks and reserves like the Danaus Eco Center, a private ecological reserve in La Fortuna, and Marino Ballena National Park, Costa Rica’s first marine park.
Discuss Costa Rica’s geological history while hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park.
Snorkel at Caño Island, where you'll see marine mollusks and other Costa Rican sea life.
Examine issues of conservation and sustainability as they relate to tourism.

A word from your guide, Dr. José H. Leal

In 2018, our first international Eco Tour took us on an immersive natural history experience in one of the most remarkable tropical regions in the world. We saw a wide array of wildlife in some of Costa Rica's terrestrial environments, and explored the Pacific coast in the southern part of the country. We saw many local mollusks while exploring the beaches and snorkeling at Caño Island.

When we return to Costa Rica in February 2020, we will spend time exploring the Arenal Volcano and adventuring through the beaches and coastal ecosystems along the central and southern Pacific coasts. This immersion in Costa Rica's nature and culture coupled with rich science-oriented discussions make this Eco Tour truly unique!