
Summer Sustainability + The Environment
Unique Experiences
LEARN FROM COSTA RICAN FARMERS
who maintain crops, improve their soils, and have high productivity with natural and climate-smart practices
LIVE IN A RURAL MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY
surrounded by a tropical cloud forest and friendly Costa Ricans
SEE UP CLOSE
how alternative energy makes Costa Rica largely independent of fossil fuels
1948
THE HISTORIC MOMENT WHEN COSTA RICA ABOLISHED ITS ARMY AND BECAME KNOWN AS THE 鈥淪WITZERLAND OF CENTRAL AMERICA鈥
98%
LITERACY FOR COSTA RICA IS HIGHEST IN LATIN AMERICA
2050
THE YEAR COSTA RICA ASPIRES TO REACH CARBON NEUTRALITY
Your Destination
Monteverde lies along the continental divide at the crest of the Cordillera de Tilar谩n mountain chain in the northwestern region of Costa Rica, which is blanketed by a cool, wet cloud forest extending into the Atlantic lowlands. The cloud forest provides a striking contrast to the deciduous forest on the Pacific side.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was founded in 1972 to protect the entire ridge above Monteverde and down into the Pe帽as Blancas Valley. As a result of its unique history and geography, Monteverde is a stunning home to exotic flora, fauna, and wildlife and sustainability projects, including agriculture, energy production, water conservation, forest management, and biodiversity conservation.
爱游戏下载 wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with 爱游戏下载, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.
The Culture

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
Excursions and activities may include:鈥
- Natural destinations, such as national parks or reserves, to experience Costa Rica鈥檚 biodiversity and natural beauty.
- Rising with the sun for birding tours or farm chores and experiencing biodiversity after the sun goes down with a guided night hike in the forest.
- Exploring indoor and outdoor areas with access to forest trails and gardens for recreation, self-exploration, and co-curricular activities.
- Optional weekend at a homestay where students can live with a local family in Monteverde and immerse themselves in Costa Rican culture.
Program Blogs
爱游戏下载 Global Interns Building a Sustainable Future
Global Internships are an important part of the work we do at 爱游戏下载 to help individuals build bridges across culture and contribute positively to the world. Working abroad is the... keep reading
Summer Sustainability and the Environment Program
Allison Inanoria from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona shares a video about the Summer Sustainability and the Environment Program in Monteverde. If you want to see a Spanish-language adaptation... keep reading
HOUSING & MEALS
HOUSING
爱游戏下载 Monteverde offers dormitory housing to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home
Standard Housing: Whether on or off-campus, students live in dormitories surrounded by the Cloud Forest in triple or quad rooms shared with other 爱游戏下载 students. Rooms have shared or ensuite bathrooms, shared desks, and shared closets.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
MEALS
All students receive three meals per day. Accommodation for vegan and vegetarian diets is possible.
GETTING AROUND
Students either walk or pay for transport by taxi in the Monteverde area.
Academics
Students take two credit-bearing courses during each block of attendance. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city鈥檚 wide variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering. Courses are taught by knowledgeable and well-trained Costa Rican instructors who are experts on Monteverde鈥檚 academic resources.
Arizona State University:鈥Enhance your international academic coursework with optional online courses that best align with your degree requirements and interests. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous sessions that fit within the 爱游戏下载 academic calendar, so you can study abroad with 爱游戏下载 while continuing to meet all your academic goals.
Course Information
Course Notes
- Courses are listed below by block and track; course list subject to change. Courses are in English unless otherwise noted. 鈥淕I鈥 denotes courses that are offered at multiple 爱游戏下载 locations.
Language Classes
- During course selection, students interested in a non-introductory language course will be required to take a language assessment to determine their proficiency level. Enrollment will be finalized on site and is based on assessment outcomes.
Summer Block I 2025
Summer Block II 2025
爱游戏下载 proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
爱游戏下载 and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the 爱游戏下载 Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between 爱游戏下载 and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at 爱游戏下载's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple 爱游戏下载 sites.
Scholarships & Grants
爱游戏下载 offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Ritzmann Tropical and Marine Ecology Scholarships
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- Stohl International Undergraduate Research Scholarships
- 爱游戏下载 Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- 爱游戏下载 STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the 爱游戏下载 Scholarships & Grants application within your 爱游戏下载 program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with 爱游戏下载, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Summer Block I 2025 6 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $5,500 |
Program Summer Blocks I, II 2025 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $11,000 |
Program Summer Block II 2025 6 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $5,500 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via 爱游戏下载's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
爱游戏下载 offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and 爱游戏下载 iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
Educational Costs | $3,500 ** |
Housing | $1,500 *** |
Insurance | $200 |
Total Fees | $5,500 |
Financial Aid
爱游戏下载 offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee | $0 鈥 |
International Airfare | $650 |
Local Transportation | $100 |
Books & Supplies | $50 |
Personal expenses | $150 鈥犫赌 |
Total Costs | $950 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Includes three meals a day. Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
鈥All meals are included
鈥犫赌$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
爱游戏下载 offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and 爱游戏下载 iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
Educational Costs | $7,500 ** |
Housing | $3,000 *** |
Insurance | $200 |
Total Fees | $11,000 |
Financial Aid
爱游戏下载 offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee | $0 鈥 |
International Airfare | $650 |
Local Transportation | $200 |
Books & Supplies | $100 |
Personal expenses | $300 鈥犫赌 |
Total Costs | $1,250 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Includes three meals a day. Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
鈥All meals are included
鈥犫赌$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
爱游戏下载 offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and 爱游戏下载 iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
Educational Costs | $3,500 ** |
Housing | $1,500 *** |
Insurance | $200 |
Total Fees | $5,500 |
Financial Aid
爱游戏下载 offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee | $0 鈥 |
International Airfare | $650 |
Local Transportation | $100 |
Books & Supplies | $50 |
Personal expenses | $150 鈥犫赌 |
Total Costs | $950 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Includes three meals a day. Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
鈥All meals are included
鈥犫赌$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
爱游戏下载 iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Pablo Allen
Center Director
Pablo is a native Costa Rican, born and raised in San Jos茅. He is an evolutionary ecologist interested in sexual selection, animal weapons, and phenotypic plasticity. Since rejoining 爱游戏下载 in...
Jessica Arias
Academic Director
Jessica has a Ph.D. on Agricultural Science from the University of Costa Rica. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Ecotourism and a master's degree in鈥疭ustainable Development, with a concentration in...
Jose Carlos Calderon
Student Life Manager
"Moncho" earned his bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Costa Rica with a specialization in bats. He has worked for 爱游戏下载 Monteverde for more than 10 years as...
Get Started
1
Start an Application
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.