June 11 - 20th 2026
Join us in the lush cloud forests of Costa Rica for an unforgettable experience. We’ll begin at the a research station, where trails lead directly into the heart of the cloud forest. Then we’ll travel south to a high‑elevation reserve in the Talamanca range where the forests have never been cut and the páramo opens onto sweeping mountain vistas. Each day offers guided hikes through extraordinary habitats in search of little‑known species, alongside botanists, mycologists, and local experts. Enjoy fresh local meals and good company while helping document the remarkable biodiversity of Central America’s most highly conserved country, where more than a quarter of the land is permanently protected.
Scroll down to check out our questionnaire -it has all the juicy details you'll need for this trip!
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ARE YOU READY TO SEE RARE SPECIES?
Primary Oak Forest
Joey Santore of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't, irreverent superstar of plant ecology, will bring his signature blend of deep botanical knowledge, insolent humor, and streetwise storytelling.
Alan Rockefeller and Mandie Quark, founders of Mycena LLC, will bring deep fungal expertise and extensive field experience. Renowned mushroom photographers, together they inspire interest in mycology.
The team will collaborate with local guides. Joey will work alongside a botanist, making plants engaging and accessible to anyone. Alan and Mandie will be working with local mycologists, for specialized identifications.
Our group will host several locals in the beginning of this trip, as to democratize access to community science in Costa Rica. If you live in the country and would like to participate, email us!
Event Details
Remote Accommodations
We will stay in comfortable eco-lodges featuring charming wooden façades, with panoramic mountain views.
Guests can explore hiking trails that wind through highland landscapes straight from the properties. This will be an ideal retreat for nature lovers in Costa Rica’s breathtaking wilderness.
Forest Research Stations
We will utilize our lodging as research stations for immersive discovery, utilizing the proximity to the forest to our advantage with hands-on field studies.
Participants can attend workshops, join guided excursions, and contribute to biodiversity observations and research in Costa Rica.
Authentic Meals
Guests will enjoy fresh, locally sourced meals prepared with traditional flavors and seasonal ingredients. Each dish will offer a taste of local culture.
Meals are designed to fuel participants for long days of forest exploration. We are really excited about the food offered on this foray. Let us know if you have dietary restrictions in the questionnaire.
Rainy Season
June is the rainy season, when forests are lush, vibrant, and teeming with life. Be prepared for misty mornings and afternoon showers, we recommend bringing warm comfy outdoor clothing and rain gear.
During this season fungi will flourish, and the landscape bursts with bright colors and a symphony of wild sounds.
High Elevation Oak Forests (2,700m/9,000ft)
High elevation oak forests are one of the richest and most intact ecosystems in Mesoamerica. We will explore majestic woodlands dominated by towering oaks such as Quercus costaricensis and Quercus copeyensis, which can reach heights of up to 50 meters (165 feet).
These biodiverse ecosystems are a vital refuge for rare species like the tapirs, the resplendent quetzal, the emerald quick lizard, and Talamanca glass frog.
Páramo Costarricense (3,500m/11,500ft)
We will explore the biodiverse Costa Rican páramo. Sandwiched between treeline and snowline, the neotropical páramo is a singular environment found only in the mountains of Central America and the Andes.
These rugged, glacially-shaped landscapes contain a mosaic of grasslands, wetlands, and shrublands with a confluence of extremely interesting plants, and fungi that are virtually unknown.
Local Biodiversity
Mycena's forays bring the most delightful people together from a variety of fields and interests; novice to expert, with absolutely no air of elitism. Questions are welcome and enthusiastically answered. Trip leaders are extremely knowledgeable, nimble, and just fun to be around. It's like grown-up summer camp and I absolutely love traveling with them. The two trips I've taken have been nothing short of transformational.
Incredibly expansive and fulfilling experience! The expert guides, the stunning locations, the abundant nature and the enthusiastic energy opened up my perspective and reinvigorated my passion for life - in all of its shapes and forms. Highly recommended these experiences for anyone who wants to live fully!
I was a newcomer to many aspects of this experience, and I was apprehensive at the beginning. I'm not a trained scientist, and I hadn't been on a group trip in a long time. But it didn't matter. The people who go on these forays are incredibly talented, dedicated, kind, supportive, and inclusive, and you will come away wanting to be more like them, and excited see them again on the next trip.
Thank you sooooo much for all the work you do in conversation and sharing your knowledge with all of us. Not only was the trip amazing, but I think the community you were able to build will result in lasting friendships. This was the trip of a lifetime - I am so grateful I found the advertisement and signed up!
This trip [to Colombia] exceeded every expectation I had. Cannot recommend Alan and Mandie enough! The guides and all the other attendees on the trip were equally amazing. I hope to attend many more Mycena forays in the future!
I cried when we got home. The entire group connectedness and flow of our trip was quite unique and special. I did not expect to have such a deep and enriching experience, especially since I'm not a scientist. But your group experience is what I aspire toward.
Join Us!
Secure your spot for authentic adventures and expert-led explorations. Experience the carefree pura vida lifestyle in Costa Rica!
