Catherine Crook and Simone Hoffer

On July 6th 2005 began our journey to Mastatal, Costa Rica for the TESC 404 Costa Rica Field Studies research trip….

This field-study course was designed for students to take on two weeks of fieldwork in a tropical environment on the pacific coast of Costa Rica and experience the rainforest and many other treasures Costa Rica has to offer. Each student or student team chose their own project according to their interests, availability of equipment and sites, and started engaging in their research project with support from Dr. John Banks and Patti Sandirk.

Mastatal is a small village (~150 inhabitants) in Puriscal County, located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. While in Mastatal we stayed at Rancho Mastatal, “an environmental learning and sustainable living center, retreat and lodge (www.ranchomastatal.com). Mastatal does not only offer picturesque waterfalls, rivers, hiking trails, tons of exotic and endangered animal and plant species, but it is also “located in the last virgin rainforest of Costa Rica’s Puriscal County.” It is considered a “transition zone between wet and pre-montane rainforest” and is as expected hot and humid. Our stay was within the rainy season, July, therefore there was sunny, hot weather in the morning and often overcast, rainy weather in the afternoon.

Mastatal also borders La Cangreja National Park and thousands of interesting species can be spotted when taking a hike around the area (e.g. sloths, terciopelos, capuchin monkeys, poison-dart frogs, toucans, kinkajous, etc.).

Besides all the work, we were able to see numerous exotic plants and animals, interact and socialize with the locals, learn about sustainable living, visit indigenous people, travel to different beaches, and spend a few days in the city.