COSTA RICA FIELD TRIPS
Northern Arizona University (NAU) organizes cultural activities in San Jose and overnight excursion in the region. Some of the activities and excursions are included in the program fee while others are optional (not included in the program fee). The Onsite Director will inform students during orientation about which activities are included. Below are the most commonly organized activities and excursions. NAU reserves the right to change planned excursions for destinations of equal value and interest. Excursions may change based on availability, local festivals and interest. Academic year and multiple term students participate on planned excursions during their first term of study.
San Jose
San Jose is the vibrant capital of Costa Rica. Typical activities organized by NAU are listed below.
- Downtown (Spanish colonial & contemporary architecture)
- Jade Museum
- Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
- Cooking clases
- Latin dance classes
- Tropical fruits class
- Club Amigo
Caribbean Coast / Puerto Viejo & Cahuita (overnight)
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a town in southeast Costa Rica, on the Caribbean coast. It’s known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra. The Jaguar Rescue Center rehabilitates wild cats and other animals. Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge has rainforest, wetlands and mangroves.
Cahuita is renowned for its laid-back Afro-Caribbean culture, vibrant reggae music, and the biodiverse Cahuita National Park, which features some of the country’s best coral reefs, snorkeling, and white-sand beaches. It is famous for its “pura vida” atmosphere, distinct culinary traditions, and protected wildlife, including sloths and monkeys.
South Pacific Coast (overnight)
The South Pacific coast is Costa Rica’s wildest, most bio-diverse, and least-visited regions, where dense rainforest-covered mountains drop directly into secluded, rugged beaches. It is a premier destination for eco-tourism, featuring the renowned Corcovado National Park and the unique Marino Ballena National Park with its famous “Whale Tail” sandbar, which acts as a hotspot for humpback whale watching.
TESTIMONIALS
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I have now been in Costa Rica for two weeks. My Spanish professor is great and I have learned more Spanish in two weeks here than I would in a a month at home. Our Spanish class only has four people in it, so we have plenty of opportunities to practice.
I’ve heard before that Costa Rica is one of the happiest places on earth. And although I have been very few places in my life time, I can’t say I’d disagree. People here are (for the most part) friendly, outgoing, and happy to talk with you.
The classes are fantastic. I get a lot of practice daily that has helped my Spanish vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Read my blog.
