Since 1992 small groups of TIP students have spent three weeks in the Central American country of Costa Rica, thanks to Duke University's partnership with the world renowned Organization for Tropical Studies.
Students actively participate in and conduct ecological studies throughout the course.
The peninsular country of Costa Rica presents an excellent opportunity to the student or professional biologist, because of its incredible range of tropical habitats in a small, well-organized setting. Bordered by Nicaragua and Panama, and both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is a small but incredibly diverse country. Also diverse are the locations and habitats that TIP students will experience. Students travel to the capital city of San Jos , located in the Valle Central and surrounded by a ring of impressive volcanoes. Students will visit Volc n Cacao, a rustic cloud forest site in the north of the country that is always the overwhelming favorite site of the students.