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Application Closed.
Course Dates: May 13- June 14, 2024
Travel Dates: May 27-June 4, 2024
Study Abroad with SPC in Costa Rica!
Experience an exciting program to Costa Rica. Students will visit a biological station and experience the country’s diverse climates. The group will have the opportunity to take part in various activities such as bat netting, nature walks, tropical plant identification, snorkeling, visiting an indigenous community, and participating in a sea turtle conservation project.
SPC students will visit Turrialba, which is the starting point of the best possible rafting experience in Costa Rica. We will be rafting on Pacuare River, which has been included amongst the top 10 rivers with the best sceneries in the world.
Explore the Cahuita National Park where we can spot monkeys, sloths, raccoons and more. We will also have some beach time to make preliminary observations and collect data on coastal and marine species as well as habitats on the Caribbean/Gulf coast.
Think you can’t afford to study abroad? Scholarships and other ways to fund your study abroad program are available. Explore scholarship options now.
Available courses – Please talk to an advisor to ensure you have met all college enrollment requirements AND course prerequisites. Students must enroll in one of the options below.
Professor: Dr. Stephanie JW Palomino
Professor: Dr. Teresa Restom Gaskill
Lead faculty contacts
After you submit the application online, we will review your application and e-mail you with details of scheduling your interview with the Costa Rica program lead faculty, Stephanie Palomino (727) 302-6892.
Other SPC Study Abroad programs
Learn more about other Study Abroad countries where SPC students have made their mark.
Student Study Abroad Blog – For a taste of what it’s like to study abroad, read posts from other SPC students below.
Hi, my name is Jalen, I am a MIRA student and attended my first study abroad thispast semester to Costa Rica. To start off my teachers, Professor Palomino and Dr. Gaskill, werevery informative both pre-trip and during the trip. Before the trip they gave me a lot of handouts and resources on my courses that … Continue reading SPC Study Abroad: I can’t wait to take another one.
Are you a global traveler? It’s a question SPC study abroad programs love to ask. To me, it means having the superpower to see life through the eyes of people from different cultures. Take Costa Rica, for instance. This amazing country taught me so much about career goals and shaping the world. I’ve traveled to … Continue reading SPC Costa Rica: The Incredible Journey
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 … Continue reading SPC Costa Rica: An Experience you won’t Forget!
Studying Abroad in Costa Rica was filled with so many eye opening and diverse learning opportunities. We met people from differing backgrounds eager to share their beautiful lives with us. When meeting a kind man from the BriBri indigenous community we shared humor and laughs, sympathy and compassion that transcended our language barrier into life … Continue reading SPC Costa Rica: An experience never easily forgotten
Studying biology abroad in Costa Rica was an opportunity which completely changed my educational career, along with my overall view of biology and culture. I am so unbelievably lucky to have been able to participate in such an incredible program and experience. Everyone involved, including teachers, trip organizers, and students, were all incredible to work … Continue reading SPC Costa Rica: Such a life changing experience!
As a first-time study abroad student, I would have to say I was super nervous about living in Costa Rica for two weeks. Nervous about flights, not being a native Spanish speaker, the food (I love food), being away from home, living with new people. It was surreal to me until we landed in beautiful … Continue reading If you ever needed convincing on studying abroad, THIS IS IT!
I went on study abroad in Costa Rica to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone with the intention of learning about endemic organisms and Costa Rica culture. ChallengeMy name is Julie Weaver and I am a 64 year old organismal biology major returning to college for a second Bachelor’s degree after 38 … Continue reading I can’t recommend study abroad SPC enough.
Today was our first day of not working with the sea turtles, it was bittersweet. As much as I wanted to continue to hang out on a beautiful beach and work on turtle conservation, I was ready for something different. Sophie, our program director took us on a 30 minute walk to a cabina just … Continue reading Mangrove and Macaws in Costa Rica by Kristina Cascone
When I tell other people that I’m going to study abroad in Costa Rica for two weeks, they usually ask if I’m excited. The truth is no – at least not yet. I was really happy when I found out that I’m going, but since then, my mind has been filled with thoughts of running … Continue reading “Are you excited?” Preparing for my Costa Rica Study Abroad program! by Sinan Muong