2023 Spring Break Study Abroad
by Haleigh Ray, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Stetson students and professors spent a glorious week in Costa Rica. We started out in the Monteverde region which included a visit to the Monteverde Orchid Garden and afterwards, a choice of zip-lining or suspension bridge trails!
After these activities, we made our way hiking back to San Gerardo Station, a very remote biological station in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. We were the only group staying there, so everyone had a great opportunity to be fully surrounded by nature (no wifi at the station, either!)
During our time here, everyone did a lot of hiking (including a trail back to a waterfall), birdwatching (some students got up at 4:30 AM to go with our nature guide who was an Ornithologist), and small projects where the students were collecting field data. The station overlooked part of the cloud forest habitat, and had an amazing view of Arenal Volcano.
White-necked Puff bird
After three days at San Gerardo, we moved to the southwest coast of Costa Rica to a site called Hacienda Barú. Here they saw a lot more animal life, including sloths, coatis, monkeys, birds, and peccaries.
Capuchin Monkey, Coati and Red-eyed Stream Frog
While at Hacienda Barú, the lodge was located directly on the coast, so students were able to hike down to the beach and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
By the end of the trip many students were saying that they had a new appreciation for tropical biodiversity and rainforest ecosystems, and had stronger views on conservation of these habitats. They felt that they were really able to connect with nature while in Costa Rica, and some of them even said that the experience was life-changing for them!
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