Nacho Escorriola is the director of education for Scholastic Expeditions. He is a marine biologist and environmental educator from Costa Rica with over 20 years of experience. The 8-day, 7-night Costa Rica trip includes visits to Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio National Park, and activities like hiking, zip lining, surfing, and wildlife viewing. The itinerary provides opportunities for academic activities focused on environmental science.

1. Costa Rica 2012
8 days, 7 nights, Manuel Antonio destination

2. Destinations

3. Ignacio (Nacho)
Ignacio (Nacho) Escorriola
Director of Education
Nacho (short for Ignacio) is a born and raised Costa Rican who has been interested and
involved in the natural sciences since he was a child. Even though he grew up in San
Jose, (the capital city located in the Central Valley), his access to two oceans provided the
perfect inspiration to become the marine biologist he is today. Nacho comes to Scholastic
Expeditions with a vast and varied background in outdoor science education. He has
worked for over 20 years as an Environmental Consultant and Environmental Educator.
He has performed numerous services in both tourism and with rural communities doing
Community Development Projects. Nacho has led and continues to lead students on
programs throughout his country’s many ecosystems. He loves his job as it unites his
duel passions for teaching ecology and his beloved Costa Rica!
Nacho creates and develops all Scholastic Expeditions hands-on curriculum and trains
our guides on any necessary methodologies.
In his spare time, he enjoys photography and being outdoors with his family hiking,
mountain biking, and participating in waters sports.
Education:
• 1982-1988 – Bachelor of Science - Marine Biology from Universidad Nacional,
Heredia, Cost Rica
• 1987-1988 – Student Exchange Program with East Carolina University
• 1988-1991 – Masters of Science -Marine Biology from University of North Carolina
• 1991-1992 – International Development Policies Graduate Program, Duke University
North Carolina
• 1999-2001 – Masters of Science - Interdisciplinary Ecology from University of Florida
through a Fulbright Scholarship
• 2001-current – Ph. D in progress “Freshwater Wetlands”

4. Cielo Azul Bus

5. Ride into Costa Rica!
• Begin your
adventure...

6. Arenal Volcano National
Park
• Hike through lava
flows
• Become a volcanologist
for the day

7. Volcanic Hot Springs
• Students spend the
evening relaxing in
Arenal’s natural
volcanic hot springs

8. Rainmaker Plantation
• Tour a private
rainforest

9. Estero Damas Canals
• Mangrove trees near the canal

10. Water Testing
• Test for water
quality at
various locations
in Costa Rica

11. Wildlife in Manuel Antonio
Three-Toed Sloth
Boa Constrictor

12. Snorkeling

13. Surfing Lessons

14. White Water Rafting
On the Sarapiqui River

15. Wildlife in Monteverde
Quetzal
Gray Fox

16. Monteverde Canopy Tour
• Zipline through the cloud forest!

17. Rainforest Hike
• Explore the tropical
rainforest

18. Butterfly Gardens
• Examine caterpillars, pupae, walking
sticks and butterflies

19. Community Service
• Helping out at a
Costa Rican
school

20. Community Service
• Harvesting
medicinal plants

21. Community Service
• Bagging bananas

22. Eco-farm
• Learn about sustainable farming

23. El Establo Hotel

24. Volcano Lodge Hotel

25. View of Arenal Volcano

26. Costa Rican Food

27. Costa Rican Culture
• Traditional dance parade at San Jose

28. Fauna

29. Flora

30. Itinerary
• Breakfast
DAY ONE • Monteverde Canopy Tour
• Group is met by Scholastic Expeditions upon arrival in Costa
Students will zip line through the cloud forest for an exhilarating
Rica.
once in a lifetime experience!
• Drive to Arenal...Orientation Dinner & Hotel Check-In
• Lunch
• **Optional red-eye flight which will allow for tour of Poas
• Butterfly Garden
Volcano & La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Students spend the afternoon learning about all of the different
DAY TWO species of butterflies as well as the adaptations each has made.
• Breakfast • Leisure time in beautiful Santa Elana
• Arenal Volcano National Park • Dinner
Students will hike through the lava flows of this active volcano
DAY FIVE
and participate in activities that allow them to become
• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out Depart for Manuel Antonio
volcanologists for the day!
• ECMAR
• Lunch
Student participant in a mangrove tour along the Tempiske River.
• Community Service or Eco-Farm
• Lunch
Visit with Costa Rican students at a local school. Learn about
• Rainmaker Plantation
their culture and their day to day living and learning
Students embark on an exhilarating tour of a private rain forest
environments. Alternatively, students will work on an eco-farm
complete with hanging bridges and natural swimming holes.
and learn about sustainable farming.
• Arrive in Manuel Antonio…Dinner & Hotel Check-In
• Dinner
DAY SIX
• Arenal Volcanic Hot Springs
• Breakfast
Spend the evening relaxing in the natural hot springs.
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Nighttime volcanic observation
Students hike through this spectacular park looking for the
DAY THREE multitude of native flora and fauna that call this park home.
• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out Depart for Monteverde Boat across
• Lunch
Lake Arenal
• Snorkel tour
• Lunch in Tilaran
Embark on an afternoon dinner cruise to snorkel near the reefs
• Enjoy an opportunity to spend time with local Costa Ricans in a
and explore the marine life. On most trips, you will see dolphins
quaint town on the banks of Lake Arenal.
swimming in the boats wake as well as dolphins feeding on the
• Dinner & Hotel Check-In
amazing California Flying Fish!
• Frog Pond
• Dinner
Students view all of the famous species of frogs and learn about
DAY SEVEN
the adaptations each has made to thrive in their specific
• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out
environment.
• White Water Rafting
DAY FOUR • This is an amazing experience that allows them to traverse

31. Itinerary
through several different ecosystems while viewing Costa Rican
wildlife along the banks of the river.
• Lunch
• Depart for San Jose, Costa Rica
• Farewell Dinner & Hotel Check-In
DAY EIGHT
• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out
• Time permitting, visit museums & historical sites
• Depart for home

32. Academic Points
Water and Soil Testing at 5 locations throughout the country. Five about how a Wildlife Rescue Center works and what socio-economic
sites in 5 different ecological zones (i.e. tropical forest, dry tropical and political realities affect habitat destruction.
forest, brackish waters, etc.). Comparison and analysis of the data
and presentation of findings at the end of the trip. Community Service
Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Programs Numerous projects available. Here is some options of what
Offers lab where students get to work with a variety of insects and students do: reforestation, painting School Grounds, Community
arachnids. Typical lab is where students will divide into groups and Centers, building infrastructure, working in children’s or elderly
each group will get either a group of ants, butterflies, cockroaches centers, assisting in various groups, i.e. Women groups that need
or spiders. Depending on level of group and preparation, students help harvesting medicinal plants and packing them, Tilapia farms,
give each other presentations that cover roles of bugs in their eco- preparing vegetables at school grounds etc.
system and the potential for human interference. Manuel Antonio National Park
Monteverde Forest Research Possibilities Beach/Rocky Shore Organisms Survey: with equipment perform a
Tree Measurement Project: comparison of tree density between a scientific survey of small aquatic organisms here. Possible
cloud forest and other regions visited. Contrast forested areas with comparison to Monteverde results.
protected and hypothesize reasons for any variances discovered. Discussion of Biological Corridors Project, National Park History and
Discussions on Golden Frog extinction. Numerous research or its role in the Costa Rican Conservation Efforts, discussion of CR’s
suggested topics students can participate in, i.e. role of biological Conservation Area System, ER’s Environmental Education Efforts and
adaptations, habitat loss, conservation measures, etc. Results, how Scarlet Macaw and /or Squirrel Monkey Studies are
conducted in a Protected Area and Buffer zones, how dolphin and
Freshwater Organisms Survey (aquatic insects) of small streams in whale research is conducted in CR, and marine and shore bird
Monteverde and perhaps other water bodies visited. studies are done. Depending on season, Turtle walk may be
Los Pumas Rescue Center possible or Turtle Night Patrol in Playa Rey with Local Ministry of the
Environment and other NGO officials.
Learn about Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species such as :
Gray Fox, White-faced Monkey, Scarlet Macaw, and 5 of the 6 Costa
Rican Feline Species: Ocelot, Jaguarondi, Margay, Puma and Jaguar,
all of which are present at the Los Pumas Rescue Center. Learn also

33. Sunsets
• Just another great reason to come to Costa Rica!

34. Make it Happen!
• Contact your supervising teacher or
Susan Schai at (831) 440-1041
• The adventure of a lifetime awaits you!

35. How to Register
• Two part process:
1. Sign up online at
scholasticexpeditions.org
2. Send deposit of $250 to:
• 5601 Scotts Valley Dr. Ste. 313
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
• And you’re all set!