CURACAO FIELD COURSE

LENGTH: 10 Days/9 Nights

FIXED DEPARTURE DATES 2007: Please contact Rainforest and Reef for available dates by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.

*Our standard CURACAO FIELD COURSE itinerary can be modified in content and length for SPECIAL INTERESTS and NEEDS.

FIELD COURSE COST: 1495.00USD per person. Based on a minimum of 10 full-paying participants. One Group Leader FREE for the ground portion of our CURACAO FIELD COURSE with 10 full-paying participants. Cost is based on triple and quadruple occupancy. Double and single occupancy available upon request, usually at an extra cost.
Notes:

Group Leaders, please contact Rainforest and Reef for details about STIPENDS for bringing 10 or more full-paying participants.

For individuals, families or groups of less than 10 full-paying participants, please contact Rainforest and Reef for pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.

Includes: All INSTRUCTION and GUIDE SERVICES; all MEALS and LODGING as stated in the itinerary; all GROUND and WATER TRANSPORTATION within CURACAO; all ENTRANCE FEES to NATIONAL PARKS and OTHER SITES.

Does Not Include: ROUND-TRIP INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE to Curacao; INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX (20.00USD per person); GRATUITIES and PERSONAL ITEMS.

MEAL CODES: B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner

Note: On the MEDICAL INFORMATION FORM that you will be receiving shortly after registration, please make us aware of any special meal requests and/or dietary restrictions….vegan, vegetarian, etc., that you or members of your group may have. We will be pleased to fulfill your requests/needs.

DAY 1 ARRIVAL CURACAO SEA AQUARIUM-ORIENTATION and TOUR. Curacao Sea Aquarium staff will meet group at Hato Airport, transfer group to lodging and walk group to the aquarium. Students will meet the Curacao staff, receive an orientation to the Curacao program and a tour of the Sea Aquarium. Dinner and overnight Curacao. D

DAY 2 CORAL REEF FISH IDENTIFICATION-SNORKEL in ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS/SEA AQUARIUM REEF. The day begins with a slideshow discussion over fish form and function, includes an identification activity in the Curacao Sea Aquarium main hall, a snorkel in the Animal Encounters lagoon with sharks, turtles, stingrays and reef fish, another snorkel on the coral reef and concludes with a debriefing and a fish identification quiz. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 3 CORAL REEF ECOLOGY-SNORKEL on SEA AQUARIUM REEF-TOUR WILLEMSTAD and KURA HULANDA MUSEUM. The day begins with a 3 Dimension slide-show discussion covering ecological relationships in the coral reef ecosystem, followed by an activity in the aquarium hall, a snorkel over the coral reef and a debriefing. In the afternoon there will be a short ride into Willemstad and a tour will be given through this UNESCO World Heritage Site, culminating in a trip to the Kura Hulanda Museum featuring ancient civilizations of Africa up through the slave trade and its influence on Curacao. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 4 SEAGRASS ECOLOGY-BOAT TRIP to SNORKEL SEAGRASS BEDS-DOLPHIN PRESENTATION and ENCOUNTER. The day begins with a slide-show discussion covering seagrass ecology and important flora and fauna commonly found in the seagrass ecosystems of Curacao, followed by a short boat trip to snorkel over the seagrass beds. In the afternoon there will be an interactive classroom session profiling past and present dolphin research from around the world, including an introduction to cetaceans and dolphin anatomy and physiology, followed by a dolphin encounter. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 5 MANGROVE ECOLOGY-BOAT TRIP to SNORKEL MANGROVES-DOLPHIN PRESENTATION/SWIM. The day begins with a slide-show discussion covering mangrove ecology and important flora and fauna commonly found in the mangrove ecosystems of Curacao, followed by a boat trip to snorkel among the mangroves. In the afternoon the dolphin classroom sessions will resume, covering dolphin training lessons and dolphin senses, including a dolphin swim. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 6 SANDY BEACH ECOLOGY-SNORKEL OVER SANDY BEACH AREA and TUGBOAT WRECK-PARTICIPATE in CORAL REEF MONITORING PROTOCOL. The day begins with a slide-show discussion covering sandy bottom organisms and camouflage techniques necessary for survival in a habitat mostly devoid of shelter, followed by a short boat trip and snorkel over a sandy habitat and a side trip to a famous shipwreck snorkel site. In the afternoon, participants will be trained in a coral reef monitoring protocol and will assist Sea Aquarium Researchers collect data in the field. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 7 HIKE MT. CHRISTOFFEL-SNORKEL CORAL REEFS on WEST SIDE of CURACAO. The day begins with a bus ride to the west side of Curacao, where participants will meet at the visitors center for a briefing before setting out to climb to the highest point on Curacao, Mt Christoffel at 1230 feet. Along the way participants will have a chance to observe a variety of indigenous flora and fauna, including bromeliads, white-tailed deer and a variety of bird species. In the afternoon, our group will have a chance to cool off by snorkeling at some small bays on the west coast. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 8 HIKE MALPAIS TRAIL-SNORKEL CORAL REEFS on WEST SIDE of CURACAO. The day begins with a short bus ride to the Malpais, a unique area of Curacao in that it contains dry habitat and one of Curacao’s few wetland areas in the space of a short hike. Participants will meet at the park for a briefing and then hike through the area observing Curacao flora and fauna. In the afternoon our group will again have a chance to snorkel at different sites along the southwest coast, in order to gain a perspective of differences between the coral reefs around the island. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 9 HIKE HATO CAVES and HATO PLAINS on NORTH SIDE of CURACAO. The day begins with a bus ride to the Hato Plains, an arid landscape on the north coast of Curacao. The rising and falling sea level has created flat plains and several caves along the terraces. Some caves are closed to the public to protect large numbers of endemic bats. Participants will receive a briefing and then have an opportunity to explore some of the caves and surrounding area. Dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 10 WRAP-UP SESSION-DEPARTURE. Early this morning, we will have a brief wrap-up session on all facets of our Curacao experience. Following farewells to our Curacao Field Course Staff, our group will be transferred to the airport for the return flight home. B L

Note: Due to weather conditions and circumstances beyond the control of Field Course Staff, certain activities may be changed or done on different days in the best interest of the group.