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Description

Uvita Tropical Studies Institute, hereafter UTSI, is a business dedicated to tropical ecological conservation and education. Serving as its base is Finca Carolina, a 55 acre tract on the first ridge of coastal mountains overlooking the Southwest coastline of Costa Rica. Finca Carolina hosts primary and secondary rainforest, mixed species agro-forests, a web of hiking trails, and extensive organic gardens. Wildlife abounds as the farm is surrounded by several large tracts of land in various conservation regiments. Finca Carolina makes an excellent home base for excursions through southwest Costa Rica and beyond.

The intersection of rivers, mountains, and sea make UTSI a premier destination for educational ecological projects and adventures. UTSI's field station boasts rustic living quarters for up to 20 students and professors. All buildings are built from local sustainably harvested timber and are enclosed with mosquito screens. One large two-storied cabin has a kitchen and dining area as the first floor and the second floor serves as a classroom. Two cabins complete with three sets of bunk-beds, attached shower, sink, and foot-wash lie just next to the central building. Each cabin also has its own detached dry-toilet outhouse

Our relationship with US and Costa Rican universities enables UTSI to provide a site for world-class research on marine, forest, and riparian ecology, ornithology, entomology, primatology, zoology, horticulture, medicinal plants, and issues related to development and habitat loss. UTSI plans to attract private businesses interested in the areas of fruit crop research, cultivar development, and tissue culture micropropagation of economically and botanically significant plants.

UTSI coordinates all in-country expenses for a group's educational adventure to Costa Rica. We work directly with numerous Costa Rican vendors to provide all accommodations, transport, guide services, food, and park entrances. Our trips showcase the southwestern region of Costa Rica, and are still off of the beaten path. Standard trip involves visits to several of the major bioregions of Costa Rica including the pristine cloud forest of the Cerros de Los Muertos, the lowland rainforest of Corcovado National Park, and the Southern Pacific slopes--home to Uvita Tropical Studies Institute and the township of Uvita. UTSI managers will work with professors to facilitate any additional sites to visit or activities to conduct.

Highlights

Trips can be tailored to fit specific interests and schedules of the group and instructors. Professors or instructors also have the opportunity to incorporate UTSI course offerings into their trip curriculum while staying at Finca Carolina. For groups with larger budgets, excursions to destinations such as Volcan Arenal, Mount Chirripo, and Panama can be arranged.

Travel Types

• 4th World Studies
• BackPacking Abroad
• Birdwatching
• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Geology
• Heritage Tourism
• Native Culture Studies
• Nature Tours
• Off Road / 4X4 Driving
• Photography
• RainForest Tours
• Safari
• Tours
• Trekking
• Volunteering

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Languages

• English

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Contact us

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel to Costa Rica

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

one week

EcoAbroad: Sustainable Student Travel's Mission Statement

Bringing Sustainable Travel to Study Abroad. We are a group of professionals, academics, and researchers who collectively strive to provide active, exciting, and sustainable study abroad programs in the Caribbean, Central America, and South Africa. We offer unique, academic, educational travel programs with an adventurous edge. These programs are experiential and most are travel intensive. Each allows you to be immersed into the local culture, experience the wild and natural surroundings, learn environmental philosophy and practices, and earn college credit. It is our goal to create a global knowledge regarding culture, community, conservation, and stewardship for our future leaders and scholars. We are committed to the principles of sustainable tourism which includes education about the importance of our protected areas and wild lands, embracing the local community and culture of these areas, and treading lightly while we do so. EcoAbroad: Providing Sustainable Student Travel since 2002.

Year Founded

2002