Our Costa Rica campus is located Vara Blanca, one hour north from the airport. Vara Blanca is 6,000 feet (1830 meters) above sea level in the beautiful cloud forests of Costa Rica. Au Sable is hosted by Association for Development through Education (ADE), a Costa Rican nonprofit focused on sustainable development and education. Students who attend our Costa Rica campus spend time at the ADE campus and travel throughout Costa Rica.

Student Housing

Housing is arranged by the ADE and Au Sable staff for your entire time in Costa Rica. While staying in Vara Blanca, students will stay at the ADE Center which is set back off the road alongside a river. Students should expect dorm style accommodation with a twin bunk bed and shared bathrooms.

Dining

While in Costa Rica, students will have the privilege to experience Costa Rican cuisine! While in Vara Blanca, students eat meals prepared by ADE staff at the ADE Center’s dining hall that resembles a big family table. ADE staff are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions, and work hard to make prepare local, fresh and tasty meals for you that showcase the Costa Rican culture and environment.

Classrooms

Classroom and study space is provided at the ADE Center. Beyond that, the “classroom” is the great outdoors, the farm visits, and the field trips the students will experience during this three-week course. Students should come prepared to get their hands dirty as students participate in hands on learning as they interact with Costa Rican farmers and learn about sustainable tropical agriculture through seeing and doing.

Travel and Field Trips

This course is all about experiencing! While students spend a majority of their time in Vara Blanca, this course has several field trips to different farms in the region, including a strawberry farm and coffee farm. There are also two longer field trips to the lowlands of Costa Rica, including a trip to the coast. More information about these trips will be sent to students who are enrolled in the course as they start preparing for their time in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Travel Information

You will receive information about specific travel information, in the beginning of February. In the meantime, you can view general travel here: Au Sable Costa Rica General Travel Info. Please note, the suggested times and dates in this information is subject to change. Please check your email, regularly, to get the most up to date information if you are participating at our Costa Rica campus.