Explore The Costa Rica Rainforest With Expert Scientists

What’s better than being in the rainforest? Being in the rainforest with expert scientists who can tell you fascinating stories about the animals and plants that live there.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica has invited celebrated U.S. scientists Howard Topoff, Ph.D. and Carol Simon, Ph.D. – both professors’ emeriti of The City University of New York and former Research Associates at the American Museum of Natural History – to be special guest lecturers at the award-winning Costa Rica eco-lodge from March 22 to 28, 2016.

The husband-and-wife team specializes in animal behavior, tropical ecology and evolutionary biology. For the past 30 years, Drs. Topoff and Simon have been study trip leaders for The Smithsonian Institute, The American Museum of Natural History, Naturalist Journeys, Elderhostel, and several cruise lines. This will be the third year that they will lead an educational travel program at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. Dr. Topoff has spent over 40 years researching the social behavior of animals in Central and South America, Africa, and in the deserts and mountains of Arizona, USA. In addition to his publications in scientific journals, his popular articles have appeared in magazines such as National Geographic, Scientific American and Natural History.

His research has been featured on National Geographic Television and Scientific American Frontiers. Dr. Simon specializes in ecology, behavior and evolution, principally researching the social behavior of reptiles in North and Central America.   Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge offers a unique and exotic destination for the exciting six-night educational program. The flagship sustainable tourism eco-hotel in Costa Rica is located on 165 acres of private tropical rainforest preserve – accessible only by boat on the Pacific gulf of Golfo Dulce. The area is part of an immense biological corridor including the famous Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula and the Piedras Blancas National Park – some of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.

You will be surrounded by toucans, Scarlet Macaws, monkeys and other amazing wildlife in the lush Costa Rica rainforest and Pacific Ocean. With expert guides, you will spend your days exploring the surrounding forests for wildlife of all forms. In the evenings, Drs. Topoff and Simon will entertain you with fascinating multimedia presentations providing in-depth insights into what you have been seeing in the field.

Some of the interesting topics you will learn about include:

• Introduction to the Rainforest of Costa Rica
• Primates of the New World Tropics
• Venomous Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforest
• Butterflies of the Tropics
• Natural History of Rainforest Social Insects
• Bird Brains: Sensory Basis of Bird Behavior
• Animal Coloration
• The Evolution of Animal Communication
• Mating Strategies of Animals
• Introduction to Tropical Plants

Join Drs. Topoff and Simon in a week of exploration of tropical biodiversity at eco-friendly Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica from March 22 to 28, 2016. Check here for reservations in Nicuesa Lodge’s comfortable accommodations.

To get to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge: drive or fly (Nature Air or Sansa Airlines) to either Puerto Jimenez or Golfito in southern Costa Rica. Nicuesa Lodge will pick you up by boat and transfer you to the lodge (about 30 minutes). Included in lodge rates are all meals and snacks, boat transfers, taxes, and unlimited use of rainforest hiking trails, kayaks, snorkeling and fishing equipment. Be sure to try their adventure and nature tours, and the beautiful yoga deck by the beach. Article by Shannon Farley