Costa Rica

Costa Rica Study Tour

 

Program Dates and Deadlines:
Term	Year	Deadline to Apply (or as space permits)	Start Date/Check-in	End Date/Check-out
Summer	2023	January 27 , 2023	May 6, 2023	May 12, 2023

 

 

 

 

Faculty leader name: Dr. Rupert Rhodd	Advisor name: Brendan Richardson
Position: Associate Dean, College of Business	Position: Associate Director
Phone number: 954-236-1278	Phone number: 561-297-3227
Email: rhodd@fau.edu	Email: brichardson@fau.edu

 

Location

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley, within San José Canton. La Fortuna is a small town in Costa Rica, northwest of the capital, San José. It’s known as a gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park, comprising 2 volcanoes.

Housing

Students will stay in a centrally located hotel. Rooms are single occupancy. Towels and linens are included.

 

Program Cost and Funding

 

Program Cost

$1,935.00 program fee + tuition for the required program summer course(s). FAU in-state or out-of-state rates apply. 

Program fee payment deadlines: 
1ST PAYMENT:       $400 Deposit due by February 3
2ND PAYMENT:      $1,485 Program Payment due by March 3
3RD PAYMENT:      $50 Cash Payment due at Pre-Trip Meeting on TBD

Accepted participants will receive detailed payment instructions from the Education Abroad team via email. 

Program Fee Includes:

• Accommodations from check-in through check-out date
• Guided tour of Volcano Arenal Park
• City tour of San Jose
• Welcome and Farewell meals
• Multiple company visits
• Roundtrip international airfare
• International Health Insurance

Activities and excursions are subject to change by faculty leader or program provider/vendor if needed. Replacement activity or excursion would be provided.

Program Fee Does Not Include :

• $200 administrative fee paid at time of application submission
• Tuition for courses/credits taken on program (FAU in-state and out-of-state rates apply)
• Most meals
• Personal spending money
• COVID-19 testing related to travel if applicable (entry or exit requirements) 

 

Health, Safety and Travel Documentation

All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad and your program faculty leaders will provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and location in the semester before your program. 

1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips. 
2) Mandatory pre-departure meeting hosted by program faculty leader. This session will cover program and location specific information such as arrival, expectations, itinerary, and course overview.

International health and travel insurance

All FAU students participating on an FAU Faculty-led Program will be registered in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. This is included in the program cost.

COVID-19

Check country specific information for requirements. Each country and region has different requirements in regard to COVID-19. Students may be required to quarantine once they have arrived to the study abroad destination or isolate at any point during the program. If quarantine is required, it is the student’s personal and financial responsibility to complete prior to the start of the program so that they are available to participate for the program start date. It is the student’s responsibility to know and adhere to the public health guidelines where they are traveling, and to factor those requirements into their travel arrangements and budget.

Resources

• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory – Country Information: Travel Advisories (state.gov)
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html
• FAU SHS: FAU - Health Advisory
• WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines-safety
• Access to vaccine: FAU - COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Benefits of being fully vaccinated prior to departure for your study abroad program:

1. Reduced risk of denied entry if a country requires vaccination for entry
2. Reduced risk of having to get vaccinated abroad if it becomes mandatory in the country of study
3. Reduced risk of denied acceptance to one of our foreign universities
4. Reduced risk of denied acceptance into campus housing or host accommodations abroad
5. Reduced risk of spreading COVID-19 and its variants to other parts of the world, including the communities where we have programs
6. Reduced risk of contracting COVID-19 while abroad, which could lead to missed classes and excursions, mandatory quarantine or isolation, and other disruptions to the program
7. Increases student access to local events, services, and travel while abroad
8. Provides more flexibility in planning study abroad extracurricular activities, including excursions
9. The WHO and U.S. CDC agree that the vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious illness and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19
10. Alongside our other prevention measures, the vaccine significantly increases protection for FAU faculty, staff, students, and international partners

Regarding increased access because of being vaccinated, please be aware that businesses and services may legally restrict access to exclude unvaccinated individuals. Local ordinances may allow the same. In such cases, FAU won’t be able to intervene or advocate on your behalf.

Travel Documentation

A valid passport is required for all international travel. If you are traveling anywhere abroad, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.

Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the Country Information to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling.  

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the Travel.State.Gov website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit U.S. Embassy.gov .