Located in central America Costa Rica is a country covered by rainforest and full of wildlife. This is a must-see destination for anyone who loves the outdoors with stunning views, racing rapids and animals galore. This experience was one I won’t soon forget and I am so happy that SPC was able to provide this opportunity for us. As someone who is looking to get into any crazy adventure I can the itinerary was always full of fun and interesting things to do. The rafting was incredible with fast rapids and surrounded by forest. The Eco lodges that let us get unbelievably close with nature were both cool and comfortable, bug haters be warned (there are lots of them). The hikes we took while very humid were completely worth it to see all the animals and plants. Every five steps you would take you would see or hear a brand-new animal. Since SPC had advertised this trip, I was able to meet like-minded people who I was comfortable with talking to. Many friendships formed and after the trip we all had one large group chat where we talked to each other.

The beaches and reefs are incredible to see and a remarkable sight, which is something I would say if they were alive. This trip really helped open my eyes to the damage we are doing to the planet and how we are losing our reefs. The beaches of course were pretty, especially the black sand beaches. Unfortunately, under the waves there is mass decay, with coral reefs being bleached and covered in algae to nonexistent coral reefs that died because water was a few degrees to warm. Being someone who watched documentaries about coral reef bleaching they did not show the severity of it. Thankfully, the diversity of life is still there. The variety of colorful fish was still there but they didn’t have the structure they should be able to hide and reproduce. It’s a very eye-opening thing to see and it is something everyone should experience. Overall, this trip was fantastic, and I cannot believe I was able to go on this trip. It’s something I think everyone who can, should see. Not just for the beaches and forest but also for the people and the culture, being able to see the way others live and interact broadened my understanding of the world and made it just that little bit smaller.
– Emilio, SPC Costa Rica (Tropical Ecology) Study Abroad Program, May 2024