Eco Era - Educational Tour

Rio Naranjo Biological Corridor Expedition

Summary | Description | Forward | Tour | Summary of Accomodations

A behind the scenes look at conservation efforts in the Manuel Antonio region of Costa Rica. See what it takes to save a monkey from extinction, save the last remaining rainforest, and bring back what has already been lost. A complete and thorough learning adventure of what no eco-tourist will ever see.

Description

While Costa Rica protects more of its land in national parks than any of its neighbors, it also has one of the highest deforestation rates in the areas that are unprotected. This rampant deforestation threatens to confine the protected areas to tiny islands of forest. Unfortunately, this exact scenario has unfolded around Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica’s smallest and most visited national park. The destruction of the Pacific lowland rainforest surrounding Manuel Antonio has led to the plight of its most famous inhabitant – the red-backed squirrel monkey.

More commonly known as the mono titi, fewer than 1500 of this subspecies of squirrel monkey exist in the entire world. Found only in the Manuel Antonio area, the population is divided between the park and the pre-mountain forests with thousands of hectares of rice fields, palm plantations, and cattle pasture separating the two.

In order to reconnect the populations to avoid genetic stagnation that threatens the survival of the mono titi, a biological corridor project is currently underway to connect Manuel Antonio to the Cerro Nara Rainforest Reserve. This educational tour focuses on the challenges of this conservation effort from the creation of the Cerro Nara Reserve, to the reforestation of the corridor, to the illegal over development of the land surrounding Manuel Antonio Park.

Forward

Given the unique nature of this expedition, it is essential that participants are self-selected to be prepared for the physical challenges and possible rugged conditions ahead.

Each night consists of a lecture and discussion of a particular topic that will be explored the following day. A hands-on approach is emphasized with a comprehensive real world examination of each lesson.

Day 1

Students will be picked up from the airport and will embark on a three-hour drive that winds through the mountains of central Costa Rica to the coastal highway that leads to Manuel Antonio. Accommodations will be at the Posada Quepoa, an eco-lodge located at the base of the Cerro Nara Reserve.

Lesson 1: Deforestation

Day 2

The first full day consists of a trek deep into the distant mountains to a community that is currently clearing the rainforest for use as cattle pasture. The trip will illustrate the reality of rainforest destruction currently underway in Costa Rica. Students will spend the night at an eco-lodge in the Cerro Nara Reserve with views of the corridor, stretching out to the Pacific Ocean.

Lesson 2: Reforestation Strategies

Day 3

From the eco-lodge the group will depart for a hike through the heart of the reserve where a 220-foot waterfall awaits. At the base of the mountain participants will hike through Cerro Nara’s largest reforestation area, a 14-year-old project that converted what was once pastureland to a vibrant secondary forest.

Lesson 3: The Corridor

Day 4

The morning will begin with a rafting trip down the Rio Naranjo. From the raft students will receive the best view of the erosion and deforestation along the banks of the river in order to see the necessity of the corridor. After the rafting, students will tour a spice farm where they will learn about analog forestry, the vanguard method of reforestation. Following this lesson, participants will visit an analog forestry project located in the corridor.

Lesson 4: Community Development

Day 5

After breakfast guests depart to a secluded sustainable rainforest community. Quebrada Arroyo is home to a system of waterfalls with a sky bridge stretching 416 feet across the canyon – 131 feet above the water below. The tourism project supplements the income of a farming co-operative of over 40 individuals and is a taste of authentic campesino culture. Since adopting a pro environmental policy, the cooperative has switched to exclusively organic agriculture and has set aside a large portion of land as a reserve used for educational tours.

Lesson 5: Lesson Plan Break for Cultural Immersion

Day 6

From Quebrada Arroyo participants will venture into the primary forest for a zip line tour of virgin rainforest canopy. Students will then travel to Manuel Antonio for an in-depth guided tour of the park focusing on the challenges surrounding it including water contamination and overuse. Following Manuel Antonio, the group will explore the area bordering the park which is currently suffering from a development explosion.

Lesson 6: Guest Lecturer from Local NGO

Day 7

The group will return to the area bordering Manuel Antonio in order to locate troops of mono titis and follow them through the fragmented forest dotted with hotels to take note of behavior and interaction with humans and human-made obstacles. Following a morning of observation, students will explore the coral reefs off the coast that are currently being suffocated by sediment from the eroding banks of the Naranjo and poisoned by effluent from hotels that drains into the ocean.

Day 8

Departure

Summary of accommodations

Posada Quepoa:

Consists of four spacious cabinas. Each has two rooms – one with a queen bed and one with two twin beds. There is one bathroom on the first story of each cabina with hot water for showers. There is an excellent variety of meals with vegetarian options readily available.

Quebrada Arroyo:

Two new cabins consisting of 4 sets of bunk beds per cabin. Bathrooms do not have hot water. Meals are typical Costa Rican food consisting primarily of fresh organic fruit and rice and beans.

Hacienda Baru:

Cabins with a view of the forest and a short walk from the beach. Restaurant serves typical Costa Rican food.

Coopesilencio:

Accommodations similar to Quebrada Arroyo in a rustic eco