MARINE CONSERVATION & SEA TURTLE EXPEDITION

Fly into San José (SJO) where staff will be waiting to greet you with open arms. Meet up with your fellow travelers and get acquainted with your new travel cohort. We will stay one night near San José to recover from travel and use the time to get to know other students and staff, as well as our new country and culture for the next two to three weeks.

Wake up to the sounds of the native birds around our Home Base, then get ready for a welcome orientation before departing on our two-hour journey to our remote Home Base on the Caribbean coast, an ecolodge surrounded by an organic farm, built by one of our long-time program partners.

Spend your days exploring the lush surroundings of Home Base, spotting wildlife like sloths and howler monkeys, enjoying a boat tour through the canals and supporting local conservation through beach cleanups and environmental projects. At night, join turtle patrols to protect nesting turtles and collect eggs for safekeeping at the hatchery. You’ll also visit the nearby town of Parismina to meet locals, enjoy cultural activities and learn about ongoing sea turtle conservation efforts.

Please note: Sea turtle nesting on the beaches of Costa Rica is a natural phenomenon that occurs annually throughout the spring and summer months. While every opportunity is given to maximize the chances for GLA students to witness this phenomenon in person, we unfortunately cannot control or predict the exact time a turtle will emerge to nest or baby turtles will be ready to be released into the ocean and therefore we cannot guarantee that students on any specific session will see a turtle in person. However, the service work students do on this program has a direct and lasting impact on local sea turtle conservation efforts.

Conclude your final service project in Parismina before traveling to Cartago, where you’ll explore a new ecosystem and spend a day hiking through Irazú Volcano National Park and Costa Rica’s magical forests.

Travel the scenic back roads of Costa Rica along the Pacific coast, including a ferry ride with possible dolphin sightings. Arrive at your Pacific Ocean home base by afternoon, then spend the evening reflecting on the journey and what’s ahead.

Support local conservation efforts by building hatcheries, patrolling beaches and reforesting turtle habitats while practicing your Spanish with community members. Between service, enjoy adventures like hiking to waterfalls, exploring a wildlife reserve and kayaking through bioluminescent waters, followed by evening reflections with your group.

For the 14-day program, enjoy a final adventure morning ziplining through the canopy before returning to San José for a celebratory dinner and departure preparations.

For the 21-day program, continue on to Puerto Jiménez with a beach stop along the way, then meet your sea turtle conservation partners and tour downtown as you settle into the Osa Peninsula.

In the Osa Peninsula, home to over 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, you’ll partner with a local sea turtle foundation on conservation work such as habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and beach clean-ups. Highlights include guest speakers and a snorkeling trip to Caño Island, fostering environmental stewardship and a lasting connection to this remarkable region.

Travel back to central Costa Rica near San José for a final adventure day featuring ziplining and optional nature walks and exhibits. The program concludes with group reflections, leadership activities, and a celebratory dinner before departure preparations.

After breakfast and final goodbyes, head to the airport where GLA staff will check students in for their journey home. ¡Adiós!, or better yet, ¡Hasta luego!