Taking the step into a magical world . . .

Getting prepared . . .

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Here are a few reading suggestions to help you prepare yourself for your trip and for overall environmental awareness.  The books are listed in no particular order, and we will be adding more as time goes on.  In addition there are many travel handbooks about Costa Rica which are always useful.  Also, we highly recommend the books published by INBio.  They can be found at: www.inbio.ac.cr/editorial.  Most of their books are in both English and Spanish.

You, no doubt, have other books and materials as well.  We are interested in what you would recommend.

Dr. Seuss; The Lorax, Random House, Inc., 1971

Wilson, Edward O.; The Diversity of Life; W.W. Norton and Company; 1992.

Reid, Fiona; A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico; Oxford University Press; 1997.

Janzen, Daniel, ed.; Costa Rican Natural History; University of Chicago Press; 1983.

Kricher, John; A Neotropical Companion; Princeton University Press, 1996

Stiles, Gary and Skutch, Alexander; A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica; Cornell University Press, 1989.

Perry, Donald, Life Above the Jungle Floor, Don Perro Press, 1986

DeVries, Philip J.; The Butterflies of Costa Ric, Vol I and II; Princeton University Press; 1987.

Blatt, Harvey, America’s Environmental Report Card, 2nd Edition, The MIT Press, 2011

Brown, Lester, World on the Edge, How to Prevent Environmentl and Economic Collapse, Earth Policy Institute, 2011

Baker, Christopher; Costa Rica Handbook; Moon Publications, 1996.

Rachowiecki, Rob; Costa Rica; Lonely Planet Publications, 1997.

Franke, Joseph; Costa Rica’s National Parks and Preserves; The Mountaineers Press; 1993

Barnes, Peter, Capitalism 3.0, a Guide to Reclaiming the Commons, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2006

Hawken, Paul, The Ecology of Commerce, A Declaration of Sustainability, HarperCollins Publishers, 1993

Mitchell, Meg Tyler and Scott Pentzer, Costa Rica, A Global Studies Handbook, ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2008

Daily, Gretchen C. ed.; Nature’s Services, Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems, Island Press, 1997

Evans, Sterling; The Green Republic, A Conservation History of Costa Rica, U. of Texas Press, 1999

Forsythe, Adrian and Ken Miyata; Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America
, Simon and Schuster, 1984

Savage, Jay M.; The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica, The University of Chicago Press, 2002

Vandermeer, John and Ivette Perfecto, Breakfast of Biodiversity, Institute for Food and Development Policy, 1995

Wackernagel, Mathis and William Rees, Our Ecological Footprint, Reducing Human Impact on the Earth, New Society Publishers,
1996

Cortés, Jorge and Alberto León, The Coral Reefs of Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, 2002

McDonough, William and Michael Braungart, Cradle to Cradle, North Point Press, 2002

Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2006

Anderson, Ray, Mid-Course Correction, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 1998

Hardin, Garrett, Tragedy of the Commons, article published in 1968

Making a list and checking it twice . . .

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Dear Visitor,

Because you will be heading off to a remote location, it’s important to pack carefully. Please bring everything 
in the first two categories below. This list is essential. Please do not leave items behind, as they are for your
safety, and for the activities planned during your stay in Campanario. Once in Campanario, there is no place
to purchase additional items.

WEAR OR CARRY WITH YOU TO KEEP HANDY (in small day pack for boat trip)

• footwear for boat, walking in water, on rocks (something which straps onto your feet, not flipflops)
• old shorts and T-shirt (guaranteed to get wet on the journey)
• lightweight rain poncho/jacket
• sun hat/cap which cannot be blown off easily, sunscreen, and UV protective sunglasses
• copy of passport, cash in small bills (no larger than $10), and credit cards
• reusable water bottle (to not create more trash)
• prescriptions and medications for motion sickness, diarrhea, headaches, colds, etc.
• DEET-free insect repellent
• plastic coated card carrying name, address, contacts and telephone numbers, insurance company and
  policy number, in case of an emergency, and any special medical information, allergies, etc.

MANDATORY ITEMS TO PACK IN LUGGAGE (in addition to above)

• comfortable and sturdy high-topped hiking boots with good “tread” on the soles
• 2 pairs of knee high socks (soccer socks) to wear with high rubber boots
• flashlight and head lamp with extra batteries (old batteries must be taken back out)
• toiletries, lip balm, lotions (including Aloe for sunburn)
• small personal first aid kit (please find list of necessary items at end of this packing list)
• 2 small lightweight towels
• lightweight long pants and shorts for hiking and snorkeling (preferably dark colors)
• T-shirts, and long-sleeved shirts, for hiking and snorkeling (preferably dark colors)
• towel
• quick-drying underwear and socks
• swim suit
• plastic bags in a variety of sizes, at least 2 should be large enough to cover your bag/backpack during
  the boat trips. We recommend zip-lock style for all other uses, especially for packing out wet and/or dirty clothes.

WORTHWHILE TO PACK, BUT NOT ESSENTIAL (best to pack in watertight casings)

• camera and extra batteries
• binoculars
• special research and study equipment and supplies, including: clipboard; field guides, bird books,
  waterproof notebooks and writing equipment (several pens)
• water resistant watch
• small umbrella (for rain and sun)
• compass
• fishing equipment
• writing and drawing materials, books, cards, games

IMPRACTICAL, NOT RECOMMENDED (remember you are in a remote location with high humitity and corrosive salty air)

• electrical equipment (radios, razors, etc.)
• electronic games, music players, computers, etc.
• jewelry, cosmetics
• anything of great monetary or sentimental value

PROHIBITED

• illegal drugs/substances
• firearms and all types of hunting equipment
• firecrackers or other explosives
• hair dryers and/or other electrical gizmos requiring a lot of electricity
• pets

PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT

ADDITIONAL PACKING LIST FOR TALAMANCAS (should your trip include this)

* Sweater or jacket suitable for very cold weather (It gets down to freezing at night)
* warm hat, gloves

ADDITIONAL PACKING LIST FOR SAN JOSE (should your trip include this)

* Casual clothing appropriate for the city (long pants, no skimpy / revealing clothing)
* Dress shoes and clothing (for any special event)