Planning a student educational trip to Costa Rica? Our amazing country has so much to offer students, with more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity, multiple climate zones, awe-inspiring natural beauty, and a fun, friendly local culture.
The Veragua Rainforest welcomes high school and university student groups traveling to Costa Rica throughout the year. We also receive educational groups from local schools and universities.
An excellent educational opportunity for students and educators to engage in hands-on research of rainforest life working closely with our resident biologists. Our nature reserve features a research station, wildlife habitats, walking trails, a river and waterfall, a Sky Gondola, a canopy zip line tour, group accommodations, and a restaurant and souvenir shop.
Since 2012, our biologists have partnered with the University of Costa Rica to document climate change effects to help Costa Rica meet its commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as the country’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality. We link our scientific investigations and climate change research with environmental educational programs that incorporate STEM educational elements of the natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics in a hands-on learning experiences.
Our adventure and nature park in Costa Rica’s Caribbean mountains is a hotspot of biodiversity in Latin America. More than 11 new animal species have been discovered, 44 bat species that represent a little less than the 50% of the bat species known for Costa Rica; nine of the ten tent-roosting bats known in Central America (Rodríguez-Herrera et al. 2007); and the first observations in the Central American lowlands for three bat species. at the Veragua Rainforest, and 15 endangered species have been recorded living in the area. More than 68 species of frogs and almost 23 percent of the known 379 species of butterflies in Costa Rica are found at Veragua.
International scientists regularly visit us to study the abundant populations of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects and birds.
An educational journey exploring the Monteverde cloud forest, the lowland rainforest and the Caribbean Sea in the company of biodiversity experts.
Veragua Rainforest: An Anole Mecca. The frog diversity is so great, it almost rivals the anoles in interest”. Veragua is much more than a fun place to stop-over. They have basic dormitory facilities for classes and researchers, more importantly, incredible biodiversity. A combination of primary and secondary rainforest, Veragua’s 1300 hectares are adjacent to the Chirripó National Park, an enormous park that is part of the Amistad International Park shared with Panama. As a result, the species richness is outstanding.
As a pure tourist, I would highly recommend this site. It is closest to my idea (from novels or books) of a tropical rainforest. A tremendous experience. But as a scientist (biologist), I found the research laboratory and possibilities for biological research incredible. The possibility for interaction between the scientific community and this institution are very good. Veragua can contribute to our knowledge on the biology of Costa Rica. The young people (Jose, Andrés Wagner, Huber), are to be given excellent credit and reviews. Please promote and encourage their Studies!
It was a real pleasure to get to know the Reserve. The hospitality and receptivity were wonderful. The crustaceous diversity was enormous. The research done by Jose, Andres, and all the team members, were very professional and qualified.
We stayed only two days, but we were impressed by the possibility to do research. It is a great place with a very good infrastructure. The scientific personnel are great, starting with Jose Salazar, the research coordinator. I will write a proposal with UCR (University of Costa Rica, to do research here).
It was great to see you and see everything you are doing, and to see the reserve. We were impressed with your Cruziohyla calcarifer work. It was great to see the lemur frogs too! You guys have such a diversity of species, the visit was inspirational.
This has been such an amazing experience. I cannot say enough how friendly and knowledgeable ALL of our staff were. I appreciate so much the opportunity for Veragua to open their doors for us and allow us to experience all that happens here. The access to the research + the researchers as well as the forest are something, we are so fortunate to be part of. I cannot thank everyone at Veragua + Ecoteach enough for the once in a lifetime experience.
“We loved our visit to Veragua. The opportunity to participate on some of the research projects was a great experience for our students. Thank you so much!”