Eco-Friendly Travel - Sustainable Expeditions - Costa Rica

Minimum Contribution: $1,750

2012 Expedition Dates:

February 25 – March 3
June 2 – 9
August 4 – 11
October 6 – 13
December 1 – 8

Project Partner: Condo-Fish Artificial Reef Project

Gateway City: Miami

Trip Highlights:

• Roundtrip Air Miami/Liberia/Miami

• Roundtrip Airport Transfers & local transportation to the work site(s)

• Accommodations in El Coco or Playa Hermosa

• Diving tanks and air fills for project related activities

• Continental breakfast included each morning

Optional add-ons:

Adventure tours are available. These include:

• Hiking Arsenal Volcano

• Whitewater Rafting

• Trekking Cloud and Rain Forests

• Treetop Canopy Tours

And so much more. Contact us for details.

Please note:

• Add-on flights from any departure city available at an additional charge.

• Airfare portion of package not guaranteed until ticketed.

• No changes to the trip as shown and no refunds will be granted for unused services.
  

The Project:

• Design, build and install artificial reef systems and fish habitats to support sea life in coastal areas ravaged by recent storms and environmental issues.
• Additionally, grow and plant live corals to stimulate continued natural reef development.
• During summer and fall months, turtle nest monitoring may be included.

Background:

Thirty years ago the inshore reefs of northwest Costa Rica flourished, providing a lush habitat for marine life and reef inhabitants. Several major storms, coupled with general degradation of the local environment, ravaged the reefs and in many cases reduced them to near-lifeless rubble fields. With an improved awareness and improvement of the topside environmental factors, the time is ripe to restore the reef systems and provide the foundation for continued natural growth.

Our groups will travel to the land of adventure for one-week periods to help improve the reef systems around the coastal areas of El Coco and Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. The activities during our volunteer time include designing, building and installing the structures that will form the basis of the artificial reef system. Immediately we will witness fish and other marine creatures taking up residence in the newly constructed habitat. We will also monitor and document previously installed sections of the reef, and survey the marine life and growth of new corals, sponges, etc. During the summer and fall, our groups will head one hour south of Coco to the town of Ostional to witness the laying and hatching of eggs by Leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles.

The trip starts in the gateway airport of Miami, Florida and includes round trip direct air flights to Liberia, Costa Rica. A short transfer brings you to El Coco on the Pacific Coast. Lodging will be a combination of the local residences and hotels depending on availability, including a continental breakfast each day. Certified Scuba Divers and Non-Divers will work together on the project. Surrounded by the beauty of this land, our work schedule should allow ample opportunity to enjoy some local optional adventure activities, such as horseback riding, zip line canopy tours, ATV tours and more.