Costa Rica
Wildlife Ecology course:
Turtles, Primates, and Felines
THE POWER OF PARTNERS:
Join Stephanie Arne, in partnership with Ecology Project International, for a wildlife ecology field course in the Pacuare Reserve, where you will engage in hands-on science lessons and learn about environmental education principles. Participants will work with leatherback sea turtles, place camera traps, and observe and collect data on local primates and felines.
Photo Credit- ecology project international
HIGHLIGHTS
✔ 2 nights in Heredia, 4 nights lodging at the Pacuare Reserve South Station or Eco Lodge
✔ Boat transfers Dock-Reserve-Dock.
✔ All meals are provided for the duration of the course, except only dinner on Day 1 and breakfast on Day 7.
✔ Work with leatherback sea turtle adults & hatchlings
✔ Boat tour through the canals
✔ Hike in the rainforest trails and observe primates and felines
✔ Night census to watch the sea turtles nesting
✔ Birdwatching of Agami Herons
✔ Engage in hands-on science lessons and learning
✔ Gain knowledge of environmental education principles
✔ White water river rafting
Let's gO!
Location
Pacuare Reserve, Costa Rica
Dates
June 26th-July 2nd, 2026
Inclusions
Ground transportation from Hotel La Riviera to the Pacuare Reserve, accommodations, & meals at the reserve.
Exclusions
Cost
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$2,795 PP Based on triple occupancy in Pacure Reserve South Station
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$3,795 for single occupancy in the EcoLodge
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$350 due at time of booking
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$1,000 due January 14th
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Final payment due April 27th
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EcoLodge rooms are first-come, first-served. Please enroll in the course and email tyler@ecologyproject.org to reserve your single occupancy room
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All deposits made to EPI are subject to
International flights, personal travel insurance, personal purchases, and day 1 breakfast, day 7 lunch and dinner, optional college credit
Group Size
Minimum 6 participants
Maximum 18 participants
course description
Join Ecology Project International on a 7-day field course designed to immerse you in nature and inspire you with science. You’ll work alongside EPI instructors and research assistants at Pacuare Reserve on conservation projects focused on felines, primates, and sea turtles. Throughout the week, you’ll take part in hands-on fieldwork, including installing and monitoring camera traps to study wild cats, collecting behavioral data on three primate species, and helping release and measure sea turtle hatchlings in a thriving hatchery. The course is grounded in a rich academic curriculum, real-world research, and lessons that build environmental literacy. Each day, you’ll deepen your understanding of environmental systems, conservation, and biodiversity through guided instruction and field activities. At the end of the course, you’ll celebrate your hard work with an exhilarating whitewater rafting adventure on a nearby river.
itinerary
Day 1- Arrive in San Jose, meet your instructor team and stay overnight in a hotel outside of San Jose Days 2-5- Head to Pacuare Reserve for Field Research: Study feline migration, diet, and population density. Contribute to a monitoring project gathering data on abundance and social/diet patterns of primates. Collecte data on sea turtle hatchling and help with releases Day 6- Depart from Pacuare Reserve and head to Turrialba where you'll celebrate your hard work with a whitewater rafting trip before heading back to San Jose for your final night in a hotel. Day 7- Depart for home!
Flight requirements
Please arrange flights to arrive in San Jose (SJO) on June 26th between 12:00 PM and 8:00PM. For your departure flight from SJO, please look for flights that leave on July 2nd between 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM. If you plan on arriving early or departing late, please notify EPI and Stephanie!
itinerary
Lodging & meals
Three meals a day are included in the course tuition with the exception of day 1 breakfast and day 7 lunch and dinner. Pacuare Reserve South Station: The hub of EPI's groups and Research Assistants. These accommodations are "rustic, but comfortable" and you'll get the feel of what living in a field station is truly like. Rooms are bunk-style rooms with up to 3 participants per room. There is no electricity in the rooms and Wi-Fi is extremely limited to specific areas of the Reserve. Bathrooms are detached, but have clean running water. Fresh, filtered drinking water will be provided at all times. EcoLodge: For visitors who wish to live the Pacuare Reserve Experience but long for a bit more comfort, EcoLodge offers private and pleasant accommodations. For an additional $1,000, the EcoLodge is a timber structure with 4 guest rooms. The huge balcony offers views of the lagoon and the canals while the wildlife in the surrounding jungle presents a concert of nature sounds and chants. * Only 4 rooms available for single or double occupancy. First come, first served.
watch & learN
