Students will visit locations throughout central and northwestern Costa Rica in order to observe tropical soils, tropical crops and their environmental impacts. At each site in-depth discussions will be led by a combination of Costa Rican experts and the ISU faculty. We will also visit one of Costa Rica’s famous beaches and either go river rafting or complete a rain forest canopy tour.
At the end of the program, students will:
- Know the common types of Costa Rican soils and their management,
- Understand how tropical soils affect crop production,
- Evaluate the environmental strengths and challenges of the current agronomic systems used in Costa Rica.
- Appreciate Costa Rican culture and be able to evaluate the differences between it and Iowa/USA culture.
Tentative Travel Itinerary:
Day 0 |
Fly from Des Moines to San Jose International Airport, Alajuela,
Arrive at night, be picked up by Prof. Villalobos and Julio,
Check into Boutique Jade Hotel (Adriana Sequeira, 2224-2455). |
Day 1 |
Objective: Learn about education, outreach and extension programs available at high-impact public and NGO organizations.
- Visit the University of Costa Rica main campus,
- Visit the Center for Tropical Agricultural Research & Education (CATIE), Turrialba,
- Visit EARTH University; spend the night (Christopher, 2713-09248).
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Day 2 |
Objective: Review large-scale cash crop operations located in the eastern lowlands and mid-altitude plains that strive to balance profitability and environmental impacts.
- Visit the banana operation at EARTH University,
- Visit Finca Corsicana Pineapple Plantation, La Corsicana.
- Spend the night at Sarapiqui, La Tirimbina (Daniela, 2761-0333).
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Day 3 |
Objective: Examine mountain soils and cooperative organic farming systems.
- Describe Andisols (volcanic soils) at roadcuts and farm sites,
- Visit leading organic farms (coffee, vegetables) that actively participate in national and international cooperatives.
- Spend the night west of La Fortuna at Arenal Manoa Hotel (Roy Jimenez, 2479-1111).
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Day 4 |
Objective: Learn how tropical farming, water quality and ecotourism are being linked in the northwest lowlands.
- Visit Don Carlos Farm for ecotour as well as socioeconomic analyses of cropping, dairy system, and cheese manufacturing (Rodolfo Vargas 2479-8003)
- Return to Arenal Manoa Hotel; participate in a canopy tour & explore La Fortuna (both optional).
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Day 5 |
Objective: Study irrigation systems, hydroelectric production, and watershed management associated with mountain/coastal regions.
- Cross the “continental divide,” stopping at Lake Arenal.
- Visit the Enrique Jimenez Nunez Experiment Station, Canas (Gerardo Guevara, 2231-2344, ext. 332),
- Describe valley soils and their management using road cuts and farmers fields.
- Spend the night on the east edge of Liberia in the Las Espuelas Hotel (Jennifer, 2666-0144).
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Day 6 |
Objective: Examine citrus, corn and soybean production.
- Visit Los Chiles farms,
- Visit the Cano Negro wetlands (Leoncio Sequeira, 8826-3755),
- Return to Las Espuelas Hotel.
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Day 7 |
Objective: Learn about sugar cane production and processing inclusive of bioelectric production.
- Visit fields across the Azucarera El Viezjo sugar cane plantation near Filadelfia.
- Tour the plantation’s sugar processing & bioelectric plant (Fermin Subiros 2688-8000, ext. 140),
- Visit the Tamarindo Beach for swimming (optional) and tourism,
- Return to the Las Espuelas Hotel.
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Day 8 |
Objective: Study watershed-scale conservation programs linking water quality, bird habitat and soil management.
- Visit Los Llanos Experiment Station, Santa Elena,
- Spend the night at the experiment station (Sofia Arce 8337-1932).
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Day 9 |
Objective: Return to San Jose metropolitan area.
- Shop at handcrafting shops in Sarchi,
- Spend the night at Holiday Express Hotel, Alajuela (Monica Molina, 2443-0043).
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Day 10 |
Fly from San Jose to Des Moines. |
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Program Prerequisites :
Agronomy or Environmental Science Major
Term: Spring 2010 Travel Departure Date: 3/11/2010 Travel Return Date:3/20/2010
Application Deadline: 12/07/2009
To apply for this program, please go to http://isuabroad.iastate.edu/ |
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