Immersion Program
January Turtle & Ray Research
Students travel to Playa Cabuyal to do turtle nesting research with the Leatherback Trust (4 days) and then go to El Jobo to do ray and turtle capture/release research with Equipo Tora Carey (3 days). This trip takes place in January during the high season for Pacific coast sea turtle nesting. At Cabuyal students learn how researchers tag turtles, distinguish sea turtle species, relocate eggs from poor nesting locations, and record nesting location, # eggs laid, and carapace measurements. In El Jobo students stay with a Costa Rican family for a cultural experience while they work with Equipo Tora Carey to secure both sea turtles and rays while snorkeling for species identification, measurements, and tissue samples for genetic testing.
Students experience the awe-inspiring feat of
a sea turtle laying her eggs.
Overall Itinerary:
Students arrive at Liberia or San Jose airport.
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They travel by van to the Estacion Experimental Forestal Horizontes (4 days) in the dry forest to work with volunteers with the Leatherback Trust to conduct sea turtle nesting sweeps.
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They travel north to El Jobo (3 days) where they continue to monitor sea turtle nesting with Equipo Tora Carey in the evening until midnight. During the day they help researchers capture, collect research data and release both rays and sea turtles. For these activities, the students snorkel to help capture the rays and see how researchers set the turtle nets.
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In El Jobo students stay with local families that live within earshot of each other for a treasured cultural connection.
Host Sites: Horizontes Research Station & El Jobo
Host Amenities:
Horizontes Forest Research Station is located in the dry forest a short drive from Playa Cabuyal where students will conduct turtle nesting research. The chef and his family prepare meals for the group and students stay 2-4 in a room.
In El Jobo, students will stay with families and enjoy traditional home cooked meals. The chaperone(s) stay in a home within earshot of all student accommodations.
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