Tours for San Ramón, Costa Rica
USAC encourages every student to participate in these tours; however, they are optional and have an additional fee. Destinations may change at the discretion of the Resident Director.
The following are possible destinations, view term calendars for specifics.
Central and Southern Costa Rica
Summer term
The visit begins at the mountainous region of Zona de los Santos in the San José Province of Costa Rica. The region is recognized as a major coffee production zone in the country.
You'll also have the opportunity to spend time at Playa Dominical and Bahía Ballena beaches. Playa Dominical is world-renowned for its incredible surfing, drawing surf fans from all over the globe to this small village in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province.
Playa Bahia Ballena is a pristine beach located on Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast in Costa Ballena and is one of the best places in the country to see a wide variety of wildlife.
Northern Costa Rica
Spring term
This tour begins with a trip by bus to Caño Negro Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge where you can see everything from bull sharks to birds. This is one of the best places to see the Nicaraguan Grackle, whose only Costa Rican habitat is Caño Negro and other marshy areas just south of Lake Nicaragua. We will stop for a visit at The Venado Caves, which offer a rare glimpse into the mystical underground world – one that is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, caverns, rivers, fossils, and strange subterranean creatures.
After Caño Negro, be ready for a hike at Río Celeste, Río Celeste translates to ‘light blue river’. After crossing an Indiana-Jones style bridge and a series of picturesque fixed low bridges, you’ll arrive at one of the last highlights of the trail. El Teñidero is formed where the minerals of two rivers meet turning Rio Celeste bright blue.
Lastly, we'll visit Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste. Meaning ‘beautiful beach’ in Spanish, Playa Hermosa has made a name for itself with its idyllic beauty and lush surroundings. One of the best maintained beaches in the country, “Playa Hermosa” offers visitors crystal clear blue waters and gorgeous scenery, making it a very popular beach strip on the west coast.
Tortuguero and Caribbean Beaches
Fall term
The Tortuguero and Caribbean beaches tour is a great opportunity to explore the rain forest and biodiversity of this area of Costa Rica, enjoying beautiful beaches of this exotic region. Visit three National Parks of Costa Rica, having the opportunity to hike, go on boat rides and snorkling.