Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24

Students and faculty from Longwood University will travel to Costa Rica; we will be immersing in the culture, observing the approach to sustainability, and seeing what we can learn from this developing country. Read more

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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Canopy Tour
December 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
In our predeparture class, students learned how Costa Rica has created a thriving tourism sector while keeping their natural environment intact. Today we experienced a fantastic zip line experience that existexists without removing any trees. We went to the original canopy tour… The first in the world. At the very end we were greeted by the most amazing rainbow I think I have ever seen but of course, we were in the middle of the jungle on a zip line and could not capture it. We do have it in our memories.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
And Some Students Begged to Do This
December 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Well I guess they are all adults and they can make their own decisions. Lol. I am not joining this.
TravelerLove it!! Gooo Corbin!!!
12/31/23Reply
Melanie MarksHe adds a lot of energy and laughs to this program. He is also so helpful and a gentleman.
12/31/23Reply
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Such Beautiful Birds
December 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Here is a better photo of those beautiful hybrid birds. They have been domesticated and they actually talk.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Curicancha Reserve Birds
December 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Two incredible bird sightings in a wonderful preserve. These are photos from my camera. The eagle is on the near threatened list and the toucan is iconic. Costa Rica has put a large portion of its land in reserves.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Cloud Forest
December 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Our afternoon was spent trekking the cloud forest. A cloud forest is a rainforest at high elevation and it looks a little different. This is secondary forest, because Costa Rica has a history of mass deforestation. But now much of the land is in reserves. In the pictures you see broad, mini orchids, wild avocados, and other beautiful vegetation.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Happy New Year
December 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
We had a wonderful dinner at our lodge and it is accompanied by a musical presentation and later we will turn on some music and dance. What a great way to culturally immerse...we are the only non-Ticos (Costa Ricans) at the party! Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's Eve.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Leaving Monteverde
January 1, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Students have had a great adventure in Monteverde, probably the most popular destination for ecotourism and adventure tourism activities. They have seen how Costa Rica has created a thriving tourism sector while protecting the environment. Our activities involved healthy forests which keep jtourist returning. The weather was a little damp and windy, But we got pockets of sunlight. Now we are heading to a warmer destination and I think we are all hoping to see some sun.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Crossing Lake Arenal
January 1, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌫 72 °F
We have crossed an important lake that is basically nationalized and owned by the power company. No development is allowed and you do not see recreational vessels. It is an important source of power generation for the country. We are usually treated to a fantastic view of the volcano when we get to the other side. But today is very cloudy. We will have to see it at another location.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Coati Sighting
January 1, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 73 °F
One downside of tourism is that wild animals get fed by visitors and then they start changing their behavior to rely on tourists. This population of coatis has been here as long as I can remember. I see them every year. And they are begging for food from the tourist.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Mistico Hanging Bridges
January 1, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
This morning we hiked through a hanging bridges park. The owner of this land receives ecosystem services payments because he is protecting the natural environment. This is another great example of how you can build attractions, employee people, and generate income while still protecting the environment.we did not see a lot of animals but we did see a monkey and a beautiful bird.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Volcanic Hot Springs
January 1, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F
We are now in the community of La Fortuna and it is known for Hot Springs. We are at the base of a volcano and so there are lots of facilities that tap into the hot water. You can actually soak in the river as well, which my group has done many times. It's a nice way to have a culturally immersive experience. However, our hotel included a trip to this beautiful Hot Springs so we took advantage.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Giant Iguanas
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
There is a very small village that has a high density of a kind of tree that the giant iguanas really like. That has resulted in unusually large population of these creatures, so we decided to stop to take a look.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Sustainability Workshop
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Students are participating in a sustainable art workshop where they will make paper. Interestingly, the first ingredient we are using is trunks of the banana trees that they cut down after the season. Banana trees can produce fruit once so they get cut down or else they compete with the new plantings for nutrients.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Coconut Picking
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Students are learning how you pick coconuts when they are far up in the tree.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Sugar Cane
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
We are in a rural community and we've cut down some sugarcane and are now using a trapiche to make sugarcane juice. This would've been done by oxen in the past.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Noni Fruit
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
I was introduced to a new fruit and that's very rare. This is the Noni fruit and it smells absolutely foul. So we dared Corbin to try it and he said it tastes as bad as it smells. Thank you ,Corbin, for being a good sport.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Juanilama
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
We had a great time spending half a day in this rural community. Students tried sugarcane, opened coconuts, painted their faces with achiote, fed the chickens, and learned a little about cacao. I am hoping next year we come for a full day and stay in the community. If we do we will add cow milking and cheese making workshop.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Beautiful Waterfall
January 2, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌙 68 °F
This was on the side of the road. So we pulled over and explored. Stunning.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Crocodiles of Rio Rarcoles
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
We just visited a river that is known for a huge population of crocodiles. I am told that they have always been there, but historically, the locals were feeding them and so now they hang around by the bridges. It's illegal to feed wildlife now.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Playa Hermosa
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F
Students had the opportunity to spend a half hour on a black sand beach. So we are now on the Pacific coast. But the water is warmer than when swimming in California. Beautiful volcanic rocks wash up on the shore.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Black Spined Iguana
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Great sighting of the black spine iguanas. It is mating season and you can see lots of them having fights to the point where they are drawing blood.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Scarlet Macaw Sighting
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
We have been looking for the Scarlet macaw today and, interestingly, our bus was parked right under a tree full of them. Our driver was asleep so he never even noticed. This is a picture from my super zoom camera that I am taking on my phone.Read more
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Sloth Sighting
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Manuel Antonio is a popular place to find the sloth. And we hit the jackpot. Three in about 20 minutes. Katelyn was a professional sloth finder.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
White Faced Capuchins
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica
The trees around the beach are full of monkeys. This group of white faced capuchins were having a good time.
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Longwood in Costa Rica 23/24 Melanie Marks
Manuel Antonio Beach
January 3, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Students got to spend a couple hours playing on the beach. And then the reward is the spectacular sunset.
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