Friday, March 7 - Travel
Fly to San Jose. If time and weather permit, drive to Volcán Poast NP - overview of crater, local hike Overview of agriculture and land use in the Central Valley and Highlands.
Saturday, March 8
Leave early for Irazu Volcano NP via Cartago - Volcanic history, crater lake - Study relationships between elevation and land use. Return toward San José, then NNE on Hwy 32, over low pass in Cordillera Central, through Braulio Carillo NP cloud forest, descend into the tropical lowlands of the Oriente . Again study altitudinal zonation of vegetation and land use. Arrive at La Selva Biological Station; afternoon forest walk.
Sunday, March 9
Study lowland tropical forest ecology at La Selva, organized morning hike; local raft trip on Rio Sarapiqui
Monday, March 10
Traverse lowlands and piedmont of Cordilleras Central and Tillarán, lowland sediments, soils and land use. La Fortuna and Volcan Arenal, afternoon hike at volcano, recent flows. Cleansing hot springs in the evening.
Tuesday, March 11
Drove around Laguna de Arenal, land use, wind power. At Tilarán ascemd southwest flank of Cordillera de Tilarán to Santa Elena & Monteverde. Afternoon walk in Santa Elena cloud forest
Wednesday, March 12
A morning canopy walk through Monteverde cloud forest; bird watching, topographic control of vegetation, impacts of land use and climate change on cloud forest ecology.
Thursday, March 13
Leave early, descend dry southwestern side of Cordillera de Tilarán, land use and landscape denudation. Drive to Puntarenas for ferry across Golfo de Nicoya to Paquera; overview of region’s tectonic and terrain history. Arrive at Curú Wildlife Reserve; afternoon exploration of coastal environments: beaches, mangroves, and tropical dry forests, shallow marine ecosystems; local bedrock exposures.
Friday, March 14
Study bedrock, tectonic history, marine terraces and coastal processes in vicinity of Montezuma, southern Nicoya Peninsula
Saturday, March 15
Explore Curú Wildlife reserve. Afternoon depart for Heredia, CR via ferry and Transamerican Highway.
Sunday, March 16
Possible Morning trip to Volcan Poaz, Butterfly Sanctuary. Drive to San Jose airport - depart for return flight to Columbus.
