2027 Laurentian Adventure in Costa Rica
January 8 - 15, 2027
Join fellow alumni, parents and friends on our next Laurentian journey as we learn about and explore Costa Rica!
Trip Highlights Include:
- Day of exploration of San Jose with current St. Lawrence Students.
- Visit and stay at Camaquiri Conservation Initiative, an immersive experience on the incredible, and privately owned, rainforest reserve.
- Tours of Finca La Luisa, Barra Colorado, Maleku Indigenous Reserve, and Café Cristina.
- Visits to Poás Volcano National Park, Lankester Botanical Gardens, Baldi Hot Springs, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Mistico Hanging Bridges.
- Learn from expert bilingual tour guides and local guides.
Itinerary (subject to changes):
Your Costa Rican adventure begins the moment you land! Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, you'll be warmly greeted and transferred to your hotel Aeropuerto.
Hotel Aeropuerto is a convenient hotel located just minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Surrounded by gardens and offering a relaxing atmosphere, it provides comfortable rooms, restaurant, and pool. It’s an ideal stop for travelers arriving in or departing from Costa Rica, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free stay.
Visit Poás Volcano National Park, home to one of Costa Rica’s most impressive active volcanoes. The park features a massive crater with steaming fumaroles, turquoise acidic lakes, and cool high elevation cloud forest. It’s an ideal place to learn about volcanic activity while enjoying breathtaking views.
Afterward, you will enjoy lunch near a beautiful waterfall, at a spot known for its hummingbird feeders and the frequent visits of colorful toucanets, creating a charming natural atmosphere. Later, you will stop at a cozy craft shop in the city of Alajuela to explore handmade items and find special souvenirs from your trip.
To end the day, you will have a special closing dinner with current students and spend the night at the comfortable Hotel Aeropuerto.
Today you will immerse yourselves in the lush Caribbean rainforest and get a taste of what it’s like to stay at a true field station, with cabins featuring bunk beds and shared accommodations. Transfer from Hotel Aeropuerto to Camaquiri Conservation Initiative.
In the afternoon, you will participate in a guided nature hike through the Camaquiri trail system, where you’ll explore the richness of the tropical rainforest. Along the way, you will learn about the local ecosystem, observe a variety of bird species, and have the chance to encounter other wildlife that thrives in this vibrant habitat. This experience offers a meaningful introduction to field-based conservation work and the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s Caribbean region.
Today offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to conservation efforts in Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge (RNVS). Located on the northeastern Caribbean coast, this vast refuge encompasses an incredible diversity of ecosystems. You'll travel to this remote and ecologically significant area, the second largest refuge in Costa Rica, spanning 50 km of coastline and 62,000 hectares of diverse habitats. Prepare to be immersed in a landscape of canals, lagoons, rivers, islands, forests, swamps, and low-lying hills.
Stop at Finca La Luisa organic farm.
Learn about sustainable farming from Maria Luisa. It is a sustainable farm focused on teaching environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Its main goal is to protect nature and provide visitors with the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna that inhabit it.
Your day begins with breakfast at the Camaquiri Conservation Initiative, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of the Caribbean rainforest. Afterward, you will begin your journey toward the Arenal region, transitioning from the dense tropical forest to the dramatic landscapes shaped by ancient volcanic activity.
Along the way, you will make a meaningful cultural stop at the Maleku Indigenous Reserve, where you’ll learn about the traditions, language, and craftsmanship of the Maleku people, one of Costa Rica’s few remaining Indigenous groups. This visit offers an enriching opportunity to understand their heritage and the importance of preserving their cultural identity.
You will then continue to your lodging at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, a unique property located at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, surrounded by stunning views, lush trails, and abundant wildlife. Here, you will settle in and enjoy the serenity of one of Costa Rica’s most iconic destinations.
Lodging and dinner at Arenal Observatory.
The day begins with an early morning bird and wildlife watching tour on the trails of the Arenal Observatory Lodge. As the forest awakens, you’ll walk through its lush surroundings while spotting a variety of birds, mammals, and other species that thrive in this vibrant ecosystem.
After the tour, you will enjoy breakfast before heading to the Mistico Hanging Bridges, where you’ll explore a network of elevated bridges that offer breathtaking views of the rainforest canopy.
Next, you will travel to the town of La Fortuna for lunch, enjoying local flavors before continuing your adventure to the iconic La Fortuna Waterfall. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to admire the powerful cascade and take in the surrounding natural beauty.
In the evening, you will unwind at the soothing Baldi Hot Springs, where a series of thermal pools provide the perfect setting to relax and reflect on the day’s experiences. You will also enjoy dinner at Baldi before returning to your accommodation at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, where you will spend the night surrounded by nature.
This day begins with a scenic drive from La Fortuna to the historic city of Cartago, a journey of approximately four hours through picturesque valleys and mountain landscapes. Upon arrival, you will enjoy lunch in Cartago before continuing with an afternoon immersed in natural beauty.
Your first stop is the Lankester Botanical Garden, a world-renowned research center and botanical sanctuary. Here, you will discover an extraordinary collection of orchids, bromeliads, and other tropical plants, all displayed within peaceful, beautifully curated gardens that highlight the biodiversity of Costa Rica.
Later in the afternoon, you will visit Café Cristina, a small, family-run coffee farm dedicated to organic, shade-grown production. During the tour, you’ll learn about every step of the coffee-making process, from cultivation and harvesting to roasting, ending with a freshly brewed tasting that showcases their exceptional quality.
As evening approaches, you will return to the elegant Hotel Bougainvillea, where you will enjoy a memorable farewell dinner surrounded by the hotel’s beautifully landscaped gardens.
Transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for afternoon departures.
Trip Leader:
Diane White Husic, the inaugural Dick ’64 and Gail Stradling Executive Director of the Center for the Environment, is a seasoned environmental advocate, teacher, and researcher widely respected in her field. Diane is an experienced world traveler and has led student and intergenerational trips to Costa Rica for over a decade.
Husic joined St. Lawrence from Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she served the founding Dean of the Center for Scholarship, Research, and Creative Endeavors and previously as the founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences. She was also the Director for the Environmental academic programs at Moravian and a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. Her recent research spans a wide range of topics, including reframing sustainability in higher education, climate change impacts on ecosystems, the transformational role of undergraduate research experiences, and developing climate change leaders.
In addition to her administrative and academic work, Husic has extensive experience working with environmental non-profit and non-governmental organizations. She currently serves as a member of the steering committee for the Research and Independent NGOs constituency group for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She is also a member of several groups focused on early warning systems and the nexus of technology and food security as nations adapt to climate change as a part of the Technology Executive Committee under the UNFCCC. During her work with the UNFCCC she has brought students with her to UN climate change meetings. She currently serves or has leadership roles on the boards of non-profit organizations as varied as the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Camaquiri Conservation Institute (Costa Rica), and the Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network.
Husic has been recognized with numerous honors, including as a Senior Fellow, Global Council for Science and the Environment, and she was President of the Council on Undergraduate Research and President of the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (for the NCAA).
Trained as a biochemist, Husic earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at Northern Michigan University and her doctoral degree in biochemistry at Michigan State University. She has authored nearly 60 scholarly articles and contributed to numerous state, national, and international reports. She is co-editor of a forthcoming book about her work on the ecological restoration of a Lehigh Gap Superfund site, which is collaborative work that involved undergraduates, colleagues, community groups, and government agencies.
Cost (airfare not included):
$2,500 per person (for double occupancy/sharing)
$3,100 per person (for single occupancy)
Cost includes lodging, transportation, all meals (excludes alcoholic beverages), tour guides, tours, entrance fees, and tips. Travel insurance coverage during the duration of the trip is included.
Health care insurance coverage during the duration of the trip is required.
Maximum of 14 Laurentian participants - family members above age 18 are welcome to join.
Housing Information
Single and double occupancy is available for hotels (Hotel Aeropuerto and Hotel Bougainvillea). Travelers will share cabins with bunk beds while being immersed in the incredible, privately owned rainforest at the Camaquiri Conservation Initiative. While staying in the Arenal Observatory Lodge, travelers will have accommodations with shared bathrooms.
Registration
Deposit of $500 per person is due no later than June 30, 2026. This travel experience is first come, first serve and space is extremely limited.
Full payment is due by August 31, 2026. If the University cancels this experience, we will work with travelers on a future visit to Costa Rica or work to refund the full or partial deposit amounts as circumstances allow.
Questions?
Please contact Joe Keniston via email at jkeniston@stlawu.edu or by calling 315-229-1858, or email Dr. Diane Husic at dhusic@stlawu.edu.
