El Sur: Rural Community Visit

Hike to the Local River
During a rural visit we enjoyed a hike to
(and refreshing dip in) the river.

Community Eco-lodge
We visited a small rural community and heard about the challenges and successes of
rural development first-hand. Here we are in fornt of one of two eco-lodges
they have constructed with the help of international donations.

Community Center of El Sur
Our visit to the community of El Sur included a typical lunch in the community center.

Amber & Alejandra at the River
Amber, a program participant (left), enjoying a visit to the
local river with Alejandra Maria, a local resident.

Two-toed Sloth
A baby two-toed sloth in Manuel Antonio National Park.

Poas National Park & Volcano

Cloud Forest Vegetation at Poas Volcano

Typical vegetation of a tropical cloud forest. This one was taken during a hike through 

Poas Volcano National Park, the second-most visited national park in Costa Rica. 

Laguna Poas
A crater lake at Poas Volcano National Park.

Cloud Forest Visit & Hike
Group shot in the cloud forest of Poas Volcano.

San Jose Area

Our Primary 'Classroom' near San Jose

The primary location for this trip was an environmentally-friendly hotel certified as a 'Sustainable Tourism Site' by an association of Costa Rican govermental and non-governmental organizations. It is located in the suburb of Ciudad Colon on the outscirts of San Jose.

The Peace Monument
A visit to Peace University and
the Monument to Peace.

 Learning About  Biological Diversity
A visit to INBIO Park to lear about the diversity of tropical ecosystems in Costa Rica.

Central American Free-Trade Presentation
A typical presentation: Patenting of biodiversity within the framework of CAFTA
(Tratado de Libre Commercio or TLC in Spanish) and international development,
accompanied by Costa Rican coffee and snacks.

Green Iguana
A green iguana at INBIO Park, a research & demonstration biological diversity park in Santo Domingo de Heredia.