School trips to Costa Rica; Travel Safety and Security Tips while traveling

Here are a few simple steps that will provide added security while traveling to Costa Rica with a school group.

Step 1: You've chosen your trip to Costa Rica. Now let's research the web to see what information we can learn about the nation's history, language, culture and weather. Why? Let’s say that during your planning you discovered that it is culturally insensitive for female travelers to be seen in public wearing shorts.  In many countries wearing shorts means that you are single and looking for male companionship.  A good resource for this information can be found at Central America Etiquette

Next, you check the websites of foreign ministries to see what travel planning tips and information are available on the crime and security situation within Costa Rica.  A good resource can be found at State Dept. Info

Step 2: Let’s do some travel planning about what to pack. You should use the information you found on the web about culture and weather to choose the appropriate travel clothing. Also, don’t forget to pack extra medications that you need on a regular basis. This is especially important if you are a traveling with students.  Some students are more concerned with appearance rather than clothing that is appropriate for varied weather conditions.  Costa Rica has twelve different micro-climates from the cool mountains to the very warm coastal areas. Therefore, students will need to pack for both cool weather and tropical climates.  Below you will also see an attached suggested packing list for your students. After you're all packed and have everything you need, be sure to secure your baggage with travel security locks.  If students are carrying back packs, make sure they keep their valuables deep inside their pack.  Pickpocketing is common in Costa Rica, and many people lose their valuables because they leave them in easily accessible outer pockets of their bags.

Step 3: Make sure you arrive at your departure airport with at least three hours to spare.  Going through security is time-consuming, and takes more time than usual when traveling with a group. However, you must understand that these security precautions are necessary to ensure the safety of all travelers. Also, since you arrived early, you can avoid being rushed, and therefore lessen the chance of theft of your laptop computer or other items while going through airport screening.  

Step 4: While seated on the plane, think about situations which could occur.  Many foreigners will work in partnership with people in Costa Rica.  Make sure your students are vigilant about with whom they share information.  Have your students keep hotel information and other details of the trip private.  This in precaution will help keep your group from being targeted.  It is important to be aware that Costa Rica does not have an issue with violent crime, but theft is always a concern.

Step 5 : When deciding on a student tour company, remember to find the right balance between budget and safety. The cheapest tour company is not always the safest.  Many student tour companies do not offer full-time hotel security or a full-time guide.  Some inexpensive companies offer a guided tour in the morning, and then free time in the afternoon.  While this may sound nice on its face value, knowing that your group will be left without a guide the rest of the day and evening can be precarious in a foreign country.

Step 6: Be wary of public transportation while in a foreign country. Often, criminals frequent public transportation hubs to victimize foreigners.  If your tour company is picking your group up at the airport, make sure that you have the contact information of your guide, bus driver, and hotel.  Once you arrive to the San Jose airport, you will want to look for your guide.  If you cannot find your guide, make sure you take your entire group to the right of the exit door near the pay phones.  Have your group wait there while you make change for the public phones.  If your guide and bus driver do not answer the phone, call the hotel and let them know your group is taking taxis to the hotel.  Please note: Only take the red taxis that are authorized by the airport officials.

Step 7: Be vigilant over your group’s luggage.  Put a chaperone in charge of monitoring the group’s luggage when loading and unloading your bus.  A chaperone can follow the group from behind, and watch over luggage as you exit the airport and hotels.  This will ensure that people will not target your student’s luggage or valuables.

Step 8: Make sure that your tour company offers security at your hotel.  In light of the tragedy that happened to a student last May in Costa Rica by another hotel's security personnel, it is important that your tour group arranges private security specific to your group.  Make sure that your tour company hires a security guard that enforces the curfew set by the trip leaders.  Additionally, make sure that the tour company hires a security guard that can communicate with your trip leaders about schedules, curfews, and rules established by your school or trip leaders.

Step 9: Check on the tour company references.   Have the tour company give you a list of references that have previously traveled with them.  When contacting these references, ask them about accommodations and security. Does the company mix groups? Be sure to ask them if they would ever travel with this company again.

Step 10: Get a list of all the hotels and accommodations that the tour company is using.  After getting the names of the hotels, research the hotels on Trip Advisor. This review site will give you up-to-date reviews from people who have stayed at these same hotels within the last six months.  

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Appleseed Expeditions.  You can email us at info@appleseedexpeditions.com,  or go to our website at  Appleseed Expeditions  (http://www.appleseedexpeditions.com/somepage.html) We can also arrange a great, safe student trip for your school to Costa Rica.

Recommended packing list for your students:
• Binoculars, Camera, and Film
• Costa Rica Guide Book (we recommend “Costa Rica Handbook” by Christopher P. Baker).
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Light, cool clothing—cotton or light synthetic. At least one pair of pants for insect protection and dressier occasions.
• Light jacket or sweater
• Footwear- waterproof lightweight hiking boots, river sandals (Teva-type sandals) and comfortable walking shoes
• Hat for sun protection
• Plastic water bottle for hikes
• Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb for night hikes
• Medication and travel sickness medication if necessary
• Small day pack or fanny pack for hikes
• Plastic garbage bags for wet items
• Swimwear



http://www.appleseedexpeditions.com

Appleseed Expeditions provides educational trips for schools that incorporate learning, adventure and service. Students learn about fragile ecosystems, experience new cultures and volunteer at orphanages and wildlife rescue centers.  Appleseed Expeditions  (http://www.appleseedexpeditions.com/somepage.html)

Planning a Florida Keys Science Trip: What Should I Expect?

I've had the amazing honor and privilege of leading several Appleseed Expeditions school science trips down to the Florida Keys. Every single time, I got way more than I bargained for... in the best way possible!  Even if you set your expectations high for this trip, I believe you will still be blown away.  Not only is there so much to learn, see, and do; but the bond cultivated out of a community doing those things together is priceless.  I've seen many go on this trip for a little break, and go home feeling inspired and ready to get even more out of life. 

As a parent or teacher, it's important to be prepared in many ways.  "Tending of the sheep" is such a crucial role you play as you place them in the loving hands of the AE staff.  It's equally as important to always find ways to support and encourage each other, and the students along the way.  So as the young minds soak up all of the knowledge, and their hands experience it first-hand... their hearts can't help but become full.  Expect everyone to come back with a new energy and love for learning.

 

Some of the things you will experience on this trip are:  

1. Discovering the fragile ecosystems and the marine biodiversity of the Florida barrier reef

The students will get an up-close and personal look as we snorkel through the reef, and kayak through the mangroves.  Every time I go I am shocked by the damage that's been done thus far, but encouraged by the sense of hope you'll see in each living thing that calls this place home.  You might expect to see stingrays, small nurse sharks, and a variety of other shallow bay inhabitants on this adventure. We will collect a variety invertebrates, fish, crabs, sponges, and calcareous algae. Then we'll discuss ecological niches, and how each organism aids in the balance of this fragile ecosystem.

 

 

2. Learning about how the reef provides habitat to an abundance of tropical marine organisms

The students will  conduct a hands-on study of nocturnal marine life with a night wade in the coastal bay area of Islamorada.  This activity is a blast!  Everyone loves taking their little flash lights and discovering all sorts of creatures in the dark.  It especially gets fun when the boys start competing to find the weirdest looking organism.

 3. Assisting with mentoring programs to communities in need

The group will be able to spend some time with migrant children through game activities at the RCMA center.  This is one of my favorite things we do because we get to see how our love and service to them does make a difference in their lives.  Sometimes all they need to succeed is for someone to give them a sense of value and worth.

4. Exploring natural habitats

The group will also travel to the back country bay lagoon where they will study mangroves, collect sponges for dissection, and dissect squid and sharks.  Here we will analyze the coral inhabitant nursery system, and the morphology of chondrichthyes in order to understand how predator/ prey relationships impact the reef ecosystem.

5. Actively discovering history

The History of the Florida Keys is best discovered as we kayak to and explore Indian Key.   The doctor who inhabited this island was massacred by Seminole Indians in the late 1800’s.  Additionally, we will study the marine fossils and intertidal habitats on this island.

We hope you enjoy your trip fully, and that every single person drives away from Florida inspired to teach others what you've learned here. Please feel free to contact Appleseed Expeditions for more information, or go to our educational science trip page at Appleseed Science Trips.