Costa Rica Experience :: Wellness Center

Blue haze over the verdant green mountains in the distance with lush tropical foliage in the foreground.

HLTH 297 Winter 2025 plus an eight-day Costa Rica adventure March 27-April 3, 2025

A collaboration between the Wellness Center, the Office of Sustainability, and Earth Week.

Health 297 Global Wellness, which meets once a week in Winter Quarter, prepares students for the nine-day trip to Costa Rica in March. Explore Costa Rica while learning and experiencing the lifestyle and cultural attributes that make the Nicoya Peninsula one of Five Global “Blue Zones“.

Students and staff in orange life vests enjoying an outboard boat trip.

The eight-day trip includes time exploring the beach and trails of the Nicoya Peninsula as well as travel to the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest. Share this experience with fellow BC students who are learning to help our community and to leverage their future professions to be more mindful of well-being and the individual and societal choices affecting our lives and longevity.

World Economic Forum map of the current Blue Zones.

Want to learn more about Blue Zones?

NIcoya, Costa Rica, a Latin American Blue Zone
Blue Zones Founder Dan Buettner explains how to live to be 100+ in this TED Talk about Blue Zones;
Blue Zones Power 9, Lifestyle Habits of the World’s Healthiest, Longest-Lived People

Keel-billed Toucan, one of several species of Toucan in Costa Rica

Trip Details

Day 1 Travel to Costa Rica. Meet your tour director and travel to accommodations in Tamarindo.

Day 2 Tamarindo. Catamaran cruise, snorkeling excursion and Sea Turtle Evening Nesting Tour (pending availability.)

Day 3 Tamarindo ‐ Arenal. Hanging Bridges excursion and visit to local Hot Springs.

Day 4 Arenal – Monteverde. Arenal Volcano National Park visit and Lake Arenal kayaking tour.

Trees along a stream bank with roots exposed by erosion.

Day 5 Arenal – Monteverde. Travel to Monteverde. Santa Elena Biological Reserve visit, Canopy zipline tour.

Day 6 Monteverde. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve day walk and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve night walk.

Day 7 Monteverde – Guanacaste. Travel to Guanacaste. Travel to Papagayo Gulf. Free time on Guanacaste Beach.

Day 8 Guanacaste. Free time on Guanacaste Beach.

Day 9 End Tour.

Eligibility and How to Apply

Twelve students will be selected for this opportunity, which includes all tuition and travel expenses. BC students over the age of 18 may apply. Note: Deadline to apply is November 15, 2024.

Eligibility Requirements

Must be over 18 by travel date
Educational focus in Sustainability, Wellness Promotion or Outdoor Recreation
Taking at least 10 credits in Winter 2025 (not including HLTH 297 Global Wellness — which is included in the award)
Enrollment in HLTH 297 Winter 2025; three-credit Global Wellness. (Tuition included in the award)
- Research one or more Blue Zone attributes of Costa Rica and share findings in both written and oral formats.
- Present research/experiential learning project during Earth week 2025; group and individual presentation requirements.
- As part of HLTH 297 and the Costa Rica Experience, you’ll write a reflective narrative about how the trip changed your awareness of sustainable practices and how it will change your own personal lifestyle choices moving forward.
Volunteer four to eight hours during Earth Month 2025, April 8 – 30.
Attend all pre-trip and post-trip meetings

Complete the Application, which includes essays about expected learning outcomes and how you will use the experience to promote greater participation in reducing personal carbon footprints and increase student and employee wellness on campus.

Hurry and apply! Application closes Nov. 15