Location
Costa Rica is the third-smallest country in Central America, roughly the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It’s bordered by Nicaragua to the North, Panama to the South, the Caribbean Sea to the East, and the Pacific Ocean to the West. The country also boasts diverse climatic and ecological zones, including tropical coastal areas and rain forests, saltwater marshes, fertile farming areas, subalpine regions, mountains up to 12,000 feet, and active volcanoes. Nearly all of the National Parks in Costa Rica are home to an incredible variety of plant and animal life (including more than 850 species of birds – more than in all of North America), presenting unusual opportunities for students of tropical biology and ecology.
Costa Ricans (or “Ticos”) have a Spanish colonial heritage, an economy traditionally dependent on the export of coffee and bananas, and face many of the same questions confronting small nations throughout Latin America and the developing world, such as defining the role of government in combating poverty, providing education and public services, and conserving biodiversity. The Costa Rican government has been uniquely accessible to the demands of its citizens, with a strong commitment to public education, universal health care, social programs, and a democratic government.
The ACM Costa Rica center is where students will be based at the beginning and end of the program, and is located in a residential neighborhood of San Pedro de Montes de Oca, just outside of central San José. It is situated a few blocks from a bus stop, is a short taxi ride to San José, and is a 5-minute walk from the University of Costa Rica (where ACM students have access to library and sports facilities, and can join clubs and teams). The neighborhood has a wide array of shops and restaurants within easy walking distance, including a mall with a food court.
The ACM center is a Spanish-only environment, and consists of a large, converted house with offices, classrooms, a library, computer and audiovisual facilities, a kitchen, and a lounge. In the rear of the building, there’s also a large garden area, with beautiful views of the surrounding neighborhood.
During the field research portion of the program, students are placed in locations around Costa Rica ideal for their research, where they will live with local host families.