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 2026 plus a nine-day Costa Rica adventure March 25-April 2, 2026

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

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 nine-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 (link opens in new tab)
Blue Zones Founder Dan Buettner explains how to live to be 100+ in this TED Talk about Blue Zones (link opens in new tab)
Blue Zones Power 9, Lifestyle Habits of the World’s Healthiest, Longest-Lived People (link opens in new tab

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

Trip Details

Day 1 Hola Tamarindo. Meet your tour director, travel to Tamarindo and check into hotel.

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

Day 3 Tamarindo ‐ Arenal. Travel to Arenal. Hanging Bridges excursion. Baldi Hot Springs visit.

Day 4 Arenal. Arenal Volcano National Park visit. Coffee and Chocolate Tour at La Finca. Lake Arenal kayaking tour.

Trees along a stream bank with roots exposed by erosion.

Day 5 Arenal – Monteverde. Travel to Monteverde. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve night walk.

Day 6 Monteverde. Canopy Zipline tour. Santa Elena Biological Reserve visit.

Day 7 Monteverde – Nosara. Beach time.

Day 8 Nosara. Group arranged work session. Beach time.

Day 9 End Tour. Travel to Liberia.

Eligibility and How to Apply

Twelve students will be selected for this opportunity, which includes all tuition and travel expenses. Room, board, airfare and transportation in Costa Rica are provided. BC students over the age of 18 may apply. Note: Deadline to apply is November 15, 2025.

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 2026 (not including HLTH 297 Global Wellness — which is included in the award)
Enrollment in HLTH 297 Winter 2026; 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 2026; 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 2026, April 8 – 30.
Attend all pre- and post-trip meetings, no exceptions.

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.

Application period has closed