The Wild is Calling
Go beyond being a tourist
in the Jungles of Costa Rica
Spend 8 days immersed in one of Costa Rica’s most extraordinary ecosystems alongside naturalists, educators and a small group of wildly curious humans.
Join the Expedition
WHAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS:
Explore, Discover, Expand
The Urban Botanist Expeditions were created for people who don't just want to see the natural world. They want to understand it.
For one week, the rainforest becomes our classroom. We'll explore Tortuguero by land and water, by day and night, learning about the plants, insects, wildlife and ecological relationships that make this corner of Costa Rica so extraordinary.
You'll learn in the field, get your hands dirty, ask a ridiculous number of questions and experience Costa Rica alongside people who get just as excited as you do about spotting something weird in the bushes.
And no—you don't need to be a scientist.
WELCOME TO TORTUGUERO
Where the rainforest meets the Caribbean
Located on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Tortuguero is a landscape shaped by tropical rainforest, beaches, wetlands and an extraordinary network of waterways. Pura Natura describes the region as the "Tropical Venice of Costa Rica" and one of the country's hidden gems, with experiences centered around its rainforest, wildlife and local culture. Our journey into Tortuguero is part of the adventure itself. We'll travel from San José to La Pavona before boarding a boat for the approximately one-hour journey into Tortuguero. Then, for seven nights, this ecosystem becomes our home.
THIS ISN'T A VACATION. IT'S AN EXPEDITION.
You don't need a biology degree. You just need to be wildly curious.
Join the ExpeditionWHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE
The Tortuguero Canals by Canoe
Wake up early and experience the rainforest from the water. We'll quietly paddle through Tortuguero's canals on a 2.5-hour guided canoe expedition with a certified bilingual naturalist guide. Without the sound of a motor, we'll be able to slow down, observe and listen. Potential wildlife sightings include monkeys, sloths, toucans, herons, iguanas and caimans—although, as with all wildlife experiences, sightings are never guaranteed. Pura Natura recommends the 6:00 AM departure as the best time for wildlife spotting.
Experience the Rainforest After Dark
When everyone else goes to bed...we're going looking for bugs.
The rainforest changes completely after sunset.
Armed with flashlights and accompanied by a certified bilingual guide, we'll spend approximately two hours exploring the jungle in search of the creatures that emerge after dark.
Potential encounters include red-eyed tree frogs, snakes, bats, armadillos and other nocturnal wildlife.
Expect flashlights, muddy shoes and at least one person getting way too excited about a frog. Probably us.
Hike Tortuguero National Park
Step into the tropical rainforest on a guided exploration of Tortuguero National Park.
We'll hike the famous Jaguar Trail, surrounded by towering trees, tropical plants and birdlife, before finishing along the Caribbean coastline.
The guided experience is approximately two hours and is led by a bilingual naturalist guide.
Become an Insect Detective
Some of the most fascinating animals in the rainforest are also the easiest to walk right past.
Throughout the expedition, we'll slow down and learn how to actually notice them.
Through field observation and identification activities, we'll explore the extraordinary diversity of tropical insects and learn more about their roles within rainforest ecosystems.
No insects will be collected as part of this expedition.
Observation, identification, photography and leaving wildlife where we found it are at the heart of the experience.
Look at the Rainforest Differently
A rainforest isn't simply a collection of beautiful plants. It's a network. Throughout the week we'll explore tropical botany, plant identification, adaptations and the relationships between plants, insects and other organisms. You'll start noticing details you probably would have walked straight past before. And that's kind of the point.
Turn the Rainforest Into Your Classroom
Learning doesn't happen in a conference room here. It happens beside a canal. Under a leaf. On a rainforest trail. At breakfast after someone photographed something bizarre the night before. Throughout the expedition, we'll incorporate hands-on learning, group discussions, identification activities and informal workshops that help connect what we're seeing in the field to the ecology happening around us.
SMALL GROUP. BIG EXPERIENCE.
This expedition is intentionally tiny.
7 guests. 3 facilitators. 10 humans total.
We're not interested in leading 30 people through the rainforest behind a flag.
Keeping the expedition small means more opportunities to ask questions, spend time observing wildlife, learn from one another and actually get to know the people you're sharing the experience with.
It's one of the things that makes a UB Expedition different from a traditional group tour.
YOUR HOME IN TORTUGUERO
Pura Natura Beachfront
For seven nights, we'll stay at Pura Natura Beachfront, a locally Costa Rican-owned property on the Caribbean coast.
Tortuguero is a small, walkable village, and our accommodations are within walking distance of town.
Your stay includes:
· Air conditioning
· Wi-Fi
· Hot water
· Private bathrooms
· Daily room cleaning
All accommodation is shared. Participants will share a room with one other expedition member. Single/private rooms are not available.
Travelling with someone? You can request to room together.
Coming solo? Amazing. Solo travelers will be paired with another participant based on same gender and similar age whenever possible.
Yes, we're feeding you!
We want you thinking about the rainforest—not figuring out where you're eating three times a day.
Your expedition includes:
Breakfast + lunch + dinner every day
Non-alcoholic beverages are included, and dietary accommodations can be made.
There will also be opportunities throughout the week to experience Tortuguero village and the surrounding community.
Getting to TORTUGUERO
We'll handle the complicated part
Guests are responsible for booking their own flights into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). From there, we've got you.
February 14
Our private group transportation will depart SJO at 10:00 AM for La Pavona. Because many international flights arrive in San José late in the evening, we strongly recommend flying into Costa Rica on February 13 and staying near the airport overnight.
Your February 13 accommodation is not included.
From La Pavona, we'll board a boat for the approximately one-hour journey into Tortuguero.
February 21
We'll travel together from Tortuguero → La Pavona → SJO.Please book departing flights for 3:00 PM or later.
EVERYTHING THAT'S INCLUDED
✓ 8-day / 7-night UB Expedition
✓ 7 nights shared accommodation at Pura Natura Beachfront
✓ Breakfast, lunch + dinner daily
✓ Non-alcoholic beverages
✓ Dietary accommodations
✓ Round-trip SJO ↔ La Pavona group transportation
✓ Round-trip La Pavona ↔ Tortuguero boat transportation
✓ Tortuguero National Park admission
✓ Guided Tortuguero canal canoe expedition
✓ Guided rainforest night walk
✓ Guided Jaguar Trail / Tortuguero National Park hike
✓ Insect observation + identification experiences
✓ Tropical plant + botany learning experiences
✓ Group field-learning activities + workshops
✓ Three expedition facilitators
✓ Custom UB Expeditions 2027 shirt
✓ Custom UB Expeditions hat
✓ A very nerdy week in the rainforest
What's not included
Your expedition fee does not include:
✕ Flights to/from Costa Rica
✕ Accommodation on February 13 before the expedition
✕ Mandatory travel insurance
✕ Alcoholic beverages
✕ Gratuities
✕ Personal purchases + souvenirs
✕ Optional activities outside the scheduled itinerary
✕ Transportation outside scheduled group transfers
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This expedition might be for you when...
You get genuinely excited when someone spots a weird insect. You'd rather spend two hours looking for wildlife than two hours sitting beside a resort pool.
You love plants, insects, wildlife, ecology, conservation or science. You want to understand the places you travel to—not just photograph them.
You want to meet people who share your curiosity about the natural world. You're okay with early mornings, humidity, rain and occasionally muddy shoes.
You don't mind asking questions. Lots of them. And you want to come home from Costa Rica knowing more than when you arrived.
You don't need previous field experience.
You don't need a science background.
Curiosity is enough.
HOW PHYSICAL IS THE EXPEDITION?
TRAVELLING SOLO?
Please do.
You absolutely do not need a travel partner to join UB Expeditions. In fact, joining a group of strangers who are all irrationally excited about nature is part of what makes this experience so special. Solo travelers will be paired with another participant based on same gender and similar age whenever possible. When you're travelling with someone, you can request to share a room.
Investment
$3,200 USD / PERSON
8 days · 7 nights · Only 7 guest spots
A $500 USD deposit reserves your spot. Your deposit is applied toward the full expedition price. Two installment payments are available, and your full balance must be paid by February 1, 2027.
Your reservation process:
1.
Reserve your spot with a $500 USD deposit.
2.
Complete a short 1:1 interview with the UB Expeditions team.
3.
Once approved, you're officially coming to Costa Rica.
Your reservation is held while your interview is completed.
Once your participation has been approved, your $500 deposit becomes non-refundable.
When UB Expeditions determines during the interview that the expedition isn't the right fit, your $500 deposit will be refunded immediately in full.
Additional cancellation and refund terms are provided through TourHero during the booking process.
TRAVEL INSURANCE IS REQUIRED
All participants are required to purchase their own travel insurance. Your policy should provide appropriate coverage for your individual circumstances and travel plans.P roof of coverage may be required before departure.
What's Included:
Expert leadership, Scientists, and guiding throughout
Special access to world class biological station, Soltis Centre
All accommodations (8 days, 7 nights)
All meals
All transportation within itinerary, including airport transfers
Specialty Equipment, workshops, and excursions- Contribution the Soltis Centre (you are directly supporting conservation!)
Not Included:
International airfare to/from Costa Rica
Day 1 optional restaurant meal and grocery shopping
Alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance (required)
MEET YOUR GUIDES
DAVE KB CHEUNG
An entomologist, photographer, and designer who grew up chasing insects and tinkering with tech—and still does, now with a bigger net and a much faster computer. Formerly the entomology collections manager at the State Natural History Museum of Denmark, now running DKB Digital Designs to build visually stunning educational software like Bugdex and BugFinder. He is passionate about connecting people with nature through photography, design, technology, and science education.
MARVIN GUNDERMAN
A beloved instructor from McMaster University, known on campus as “the Bug Man”/“DaBugster,” he spent decades managing technical services in Biology while inspiring generations of students to see insects as essential and awe‑inspiring. An award‑winning educator and insect taxonomist with a soft spot for tiger beetles, he built McMaster’s insect outreach culture through lectures, media appearances, and hands‑on field courses that shaped many budding biologists. Now retired, he continues to teach, mentor, and energize our community.
Emma Terra
The Urban Botanist
Adventurer, insect enthusiast, and wildlife conservationist Emma Terra is the renowned Urban Botanist. Featured on CBC, Rogers TV, Canada’s Home and Garden Shows, BBC News, Gusto Television, Lee Valley, and CTV News, Emma continues to push the boundaries of nature exploration. This time, she’s inviting you to join her in discovering the untamed beauty of The Rainforest in Costa Rica as a fellow citizen scientist.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE SHOULD TEACH YOU SOMETHING.
You could visit Costa Rica. Or you could spend a week learning how to see it differently. Come paddle the canals before breakfast. Look under leaves. Stay out after dark. Ask questions. Learn names. Meet people who get excited about the same wonderfully weird things you do. And experience what happens when the rainforest becomes your classroom.
Join the Expedition
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