Frequent Questions
Where does the program take place?
Students fly in and out of the capital city of San Jose, and then transfer by chartered bus to the Atlantic slope. The majority of time is spent at the Pacuare Nature reserve, located north of the town of Limon on the Caribbean coast. Additionally, students visit local communities and other rainforest preserves.
What are the accommodations like in Costa Rica?
On arrival and departure participants stay at a hotel outside the capital city of San Jose. For the remainder of the course, participants stay in rustic, dormitory style cabins that are single-gender.
What if I’ve never been rafting? Will I be OK?
Yes. EPI hires Explornatura, an award-winning outfitter, to lead the rafting trips on the Pacuare River. All participants are required to wear personal flotation devices and helmets. No prior rafting experience is necessary. If you group would like an alternative to rafting, contact our office as we can provide other rewarding opportunities. If a participant does not want to raft they are not required to do so.
Is there running water and electricity?
There is running water at all locations, but not hot water. There is no electricity at the Pacuare Nature Reserve.
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes! In locations where it’s necessary, EPI provides purified water to participants at all times on-course.
What if we want a custom itinerary?
We have ample flexibility in terms of the length and content of our courses. If you have a special request, please let us know and we will do everything possible to accommodate your request.
How long are the patrols?
Every night while at the Pacuare Nature Reserve, students go out to patrol the beach. They walk about 6 miles, which is around 4-5 hours of patrol to look for turtles nesting. The students will be divided in 3 different patrols to be on the beach the all night and make sure we work with as many turtles as possible.
Will we have time to buy souvenirs?
During the program we have tight itineraries to follow that include traveling from one place to another in order to finish our activities at each site. If we have time we’ll stop by a supermarket or shop to buy souvenirs to bring back home.
General
What programs do you offer and when do they take place?
January – April Baja California Whale Ecology Program
March – July Costa Rica Sea Turtle Ecology Program
March – July Galapagos Islands Ecology Program
June – August Greater Yellowstone Ecology Program
Oct – Dec & February – May Baja California Island Ecology Program
What’s the maximum group size?
The maximum group size depends on the course:
Baja – Islands: 16 participants
Baja – Whales: 10 participants
Costa Rica: 20 participants
Galapagos: 14 participants
Montana: 16 participants
What if I have fewer than the minimum students interested? Can we still go?
Yes, you can. We’ve got several options: run a smaller course, combine you with another group, and reach out to other students in your community.
What shots or immunizations are required?
No shots or immunizations are required for ANY of our programs. We do recommend that all participants are current with Hepatitis A and Tetanus.
What does EPI do to keep students safe?
Student safety is EPI’s number one priority and we take risk management very seriously. Our instructors are trained in wilderness first aid and we have at least one Wilderness First Responder on every course. We have a detailed emergency action plan and communication protocol for situations that require immediate attention. Additionally, we maintain a 24-hour emergency cell phone in the US in the event something needs to be communicated from the field to the US or vice-versa. Please contact our office with specific questions.
Does a physician have to sign the EPI medical form, or can we submit a different form signed by a doctor?
We require that all participants have a physical examination at least one year prior to their course, and we ask that they submit the EPI medical history form signed by an M.D. If a student has had another physical for other reasons (sports, etc.) within one year, we do not require an additional physical but we do require a physician’s signature on our form.
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes! In locations where it’s necessary, EPI provides purified water to participants at all times on-course.
Do I have to be part of a pre-established group to participate?
No. In addition to group enrollment, many courses are ‘open enrollment’. Individuals are welcome to join any open enrollment course.
Can individuals from outside the US participate?
Yes. We welcome students from any country in the world, and we’ve had participants from the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, and more!
Does EPI offer financial aid or scholarships?
Yes. We offer need-based financial aid and scholarships each year to our US participants in addition to the awards we offer our local students in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico. The deadline for financial aid is in late October. Please conact our office if you’d like a financial aid application.
Will I be able to check e-mail and use the internet while I am on-course?
No. EPI maintains an ‘unplugged’ policy at all time on-course, in part to help ensure that students maximize their time away from home (and away from cell phones, computers, and Ipods), and to minimize the chance of damaged and/ or lost electronic equipment. Participants are encouraged to bring cameras and take as many pictures as appropriate. If students wish to bring Ipods or similar devices to use on airplanes, they are welcome to do so. EPI instructors will collect the devices on-arrival to the host country and return them to students at the end of the course.
What kind of insurance does EPI carry?
Ecology Project International carries an International Commercial Insurance Policy. The $1,000,000 international liability policy covers our participants who are traveling outside of the US; the coverage is valid anywhere in the world.
Do participants prepare their own meals?
No. EPI hires local cooks to prepare meals during all international courses. Occasionally breakfast will be served buffet style. The only exception is the Montana/ Yellowstone course in which students help out with meals preparation.
What if we want a custom itinerary?
We have ample flexibility in terms of the length and content of our courses. If you have a special request, please let us know and we will do everything possible to accommodate your request.