A Letter Home from Ecuador

I have had the pleasure of working with Alexa and Rayna at Human Nature Expeditions for several years, and have been so impressed with their ability to deliver a rich, completely customized itinerary in a variety of environments and areas of expertise. Their teams in Costa Rica and Ecuador are professional and responsive, with a priority on student and guest safety. They possess such an intimate knowledge of the areas in which they operate, and do an amazing job communicating their expertise with our students. I would highly recommend them for any student or family travel experiences.

I've had Alexa Stickel from Human Nature Expeditions do my logistics for traveling with students in Costa Rica and I can say that it has been the best experience possible. She is responsive, knowledgeable, and highly tuned into the happenings within Costa Rica at all times. When I am on the ground in Costa Rica, working with students in Costa Rica, and understandably busy, she makes sure everything goes smoothly and all problems are solved with speed. The best part of working with with Alexa and Human Nature Expeditions is that she (and the company) ask what you are seeking, find the ideal experience for your goals, and are also willing to suggest ways to improve your program. I can say with confidence that my programs with students went better because of the hard work of this company. Matt Moran, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Hendrix College

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Human Nature Expeditions on a highly customized student travel program, and I cannot speak highly enough of the team's exceptional professionalism, expertise, level of dedication, and attention to detail. Specifically, Alexa, one of the key persons in our collaboration, played a pivotal role in ensuring the program's success. Not only did she provide invaluable logistical support, but her expertise in designing experiential education and prioritizing student health and safety was commendable. With her guidance, we were able to create a program that offered a uniquely enriching and safe learning environment for our students. Their ability to tailor the program to our specific needs was remarkable, and they went above and beyond to make our vision come to life. Throughout the entire process, they were responsive, flexible, and accommodating, making it a smooth, that enjoyable partnership that will continue to grow stronger.

We have worked with Alexa many times over the years, and she and others on the team have consistently provided an experience second to none. You can expect first rate guiding across different ecosystems, with particular expertise in birding. But you will also find her to be an extremely knowledgeable source of information and anecdotes covering all groups of tropical organisms (such as amphibians, insects, plants, fungi, etc.), regarding their natural history, biology and ecology. Among the advantages of working with this group is their strong connection to the local communities and cultures. In addition to their guiding expertise, they convey a high level of excitement, enthusiasm, and sincerity that engages students and tourists across all ages. You would be very hard pressed to find equally expert and professional guiding in the tropics. - Scott Connelly, PhD, Faculty, University of Georgia

We had a wonderful experience with Alexa from Human Nature during our Tropical Ecology course trip to Costa Rica. She led us on a really fun and informative natural history hike at Finca Ecológica in San Luis de Monteverde. She helped with the logistics of visiting the reserve and setting up lunch. We were able to process the payment through Payment Works to transfer funds directly from the university which was greatly helpful- if you work in international education at a university you know how valuable that is! Alexa is a joy and full to the brim with knowledge and passion. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she is very gifted at engaging students. I highly recommend working with her, whether for a one-day natural history guided hike or to plan an entire course abroad.