3 Key Factors
Here’s How We Do Things Differently:
Purpose-Driven Travel
We believe travel should change you. Our experiences are designed to awaken wonder, deepen understanding, and leave a lasting impact—not just on our travelers but on the communities we visit.
Cultural Immersion & Community Partnerships
We go beyond surface-level tourism. With long-standing relationships in the places we work and live, and bilingual local guides who serve as cultural liaisons, we ensure authentic, meaningful interactions that foster connection and mutual respect.
Social Responsibility
Because we live where we design our programs, we are uniquely positioned to ensure that they foster a positive, lasting impact. Our deep-rooted connections allow us to create experiences that are responsible, respectful, and mutually beneficial to the communities we engage with.
Tailored experiences
What Sets Us Apart
Experts in Experiential Learning
With over 30 years of combined experience in education, ecology, and sustainable travel, we craft itineraries that aren’t just trips—they’re immersive learning experiences that inspire curiosity, engagement, and personal growth.
Personalized, Thoughtfully Designed Itineraries
No cookie-cutter trips here. We work closely with each client to custom-build itineraries that align with their unique goals—whether it’s hands-on conservation work, deep cultural exchange, or a blend of adventure and learning.
Seamless Logistics & Expert Planning
We take care of every detail so you can focus on the experience. Our team ensures smooth coordination, from transportation and lodging to permits and last-minute adjustments, making travel effortless and stress-free
Pre-Departure Support
From our initial discovery call to the final details before departure, we provide comprehensive support every step of the way. This includes a personalized packing list, a pre-trip virtual orientation for participants, detailed information and guidelines for parents on registration and travel insurance, an educational partner manual, and a dedicated team for contract negotiations with administration. We’ve got it all covered to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience for everyone involved.
HNE Signature Programming for Expeditions
Built from years of firsthand experience as trip leaders, we’ve distilled the most effective practices for driving true transformation into a powerful program that helps students fully engage with their journey. Packed with exercises, reflections, and activities, our program follows a clear structure with a beginning, middle, and end—encouraging students to dive deep and walk away with meaningful insights and lasting personal growth. Our Trip Leaders, expertly trained in this framework, guide students through every step of the process, fostering a deep, transformative experience.
Optional Mobile Library (Costa Rica trips only)
Choose your own adventure with our curated collection of field books, covering a wide range of topics, including conservation, cultural history, and the rich taxa and natural history of Costa Rica. Whether you’re delving into flora, fauna, or history, we bring the resources to enhance your exploration, right to your fingertips in the field!
Small, Female-Owned Business
We are a boutique, educational travel company founded and led by two experienced female leaders who are passionate about creating transformative travel experiences that inspire, educate, and connect.
Safety is Our Top Priority
At Human Nature, the safety of our travelers and staff is our number one priority. From risk management to attending medical emergencies, we are committed to keeping our participants and communities safe. We offer decades of combined experience in risk management, WFR-certified trip leaders, doctors on call, and a network of public and private in-country clinics and medical professionals who can mobilize to get us fast, expert service in the case of an emergency.
Our combined experience means a safer trip for you!
The Human Nature Expeditions team has been operating outdoor adventures since 2010, and we are experts in traveling safely, both abroad and domestically. We host hundreds of travelers each year, and we hold ourselves and all of our providers to the highest standards of safety, sanitation, and reliability.
We hold our community to the highest standards.
We only work with vetted providers with whom we have maintained personal relationships for decades, and trust deeply. Moreover, our trip leaders have extensive experience in group management, youth development and team building, first aid, and crisis management.
Risk management = a preventative mindset!
Our trip leaders are Wilderness First Responders. We carry comprehensive first aid kits and we have emergency action plans for any situation that could foreseeably arise on one of our adventures.
We’re Carbon Neutral!
HNE has partnered with the Costa Rican Conservation Foundation (https://fccmonteverde.org) to offset the carbon emissions of plane travel for our participants. This organization, based in Costa Rica, promotes the well-being of human and environmental habitats for present and future generations.
Their mission is to restore tropical forests that have functional ecosystems and social integrity on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica.
Their project works with local landowners and communities to restore forest while their scientific team researches the methods to efficiently attain diverse and functioning tropical forests.
