A Traveler's Guide to Costa Rica

Day Seven

Fellow travelers,

Having experienced first-hand many of the attractions of Costa Rica, we have put together a list of must do's and must have's when traveling to one of our favorite new countries.   Read on if you are considering a trip to this tropical paradise!

Must Have's:
1.  Most importantly, a rain jacket.  No matter dry season or rainy season, the rain stops for no one.
2.  Extra spending money for snacks, ice cream, souvenirs, and for the quick stop at the cart with the lady selling fresh mango on the side of the street - it's delicious.
3.  Bug spray and sunscreen because as two people coming back with several bites and sunburn, we know that even in a beautiful beachy country, it is still sunny and buggy.

Must Do's:
1.  Make sure your white water rafting trip gets cancelled, because while it may sound fun, the pineapple plantation tour you do instead is so much better and WAY more delicious.  But still have lunch with the rafting guides; it was our favorite meal.
2.  Stop at a local supermarket, no matter how sketchy it seems.  Buy Yipis, Quesitos, yuca chips, Taquitos, Rumbas, and Soldanza Lime Platanitos if you want to try the best snacks ever.
3.  Try juice whenever it's offered - you probably cannot find starfruit, passion fruit, pineapple, or guava juice in Texas as good as in Costa Rica.
4.  Look for animals wherever you go.  We saw everything from monkeys, to two- and three-toed sloths, scarlet macaws, baby sea turtles, piglets, and everything in between.
5.  Play in the waves meant only for surfers.  This was one of the best things we did as a group, wave jumping in clean, crystal clear water on a black sand beach with big waves.
6.  Go to EcoGlide and do zip-lining.  One of the most famous activities in Costa Rica and definitely one of the most fun.  The Tarzan Swing was even better than the zip line course.

Overall, this was quite an unforgettable adventure, and we can't wait to come back!

XOXO,

Claire and Molly

Exceeding Expectations

Playa Hermosa  Day Six

Before leaving on this trip our expectations were to try local foods and do things that pushed us out of our comfort zone. Now, as we pack for our trip back to Houston, it is safe to say that we succeeded in going beyond our expectations. We tried everything from exotic fruits to papaya ice cream. The best part about all of our culinary adventures is that they were as fresh as they could possibly be. We went straight to the source with trips to a coffee farm as well as an organic pineapple plantation. Our comfort zones were also pushed with several hikes into the beautiful rainforests of Costa Rica. However, the greatest example of pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone happened far above the rainforest during our zipline adventure. Overall, we will take away the amazing food, stunning landscape, and the kindness of the great people of Costa Rica.

Pura Vida!

Parker and William

Zipping Through Costa Rica

Fortuna      Day Four

Today we zip lined through the rain forests of Costa Rica. After zipping through the trees and swinging on vines like Tarzan, we learned about the daily lives of working Ticos. We were fortunate enough to visit a pasture for vacas lecheras, or milk cows.   Not only did we learn the process, but we got to milk the vacas as well!  Families work together to make sure the cows get milked at 3 am and again at 3 pm.  It's obvious that Costa Ricans are so hard-working, just like many Americans.  Though there are a lot of similarities between the two cultures, there are many differences as well. Costa Ricans are incredibly humble and are not jealous of others.  They really do practice the pura vida philosophy and are so kind and patient.  When we get back to Houston, we plan to make the effort to live by pura vida and share its positive message.

We'll catch you on the Pacific Coast!
Charlotte & Callan

Sustainable Success

Monteverde      Day Five

We started our day the same way that many people throughout the world do- with a cup of coffee! The only difference is that we were able to go right to the source with a trip to a Cafe de Monteverde coffee farm. On the farm, we learned about sustainability, and protecting our environment. One of the growers on the plantation shared how they have had to make changes to the plantation due to climate change. The ten families that own the farm are seeking ways to give back to the environment while paying a living wage to its seasonal workers.  We were also able to participate in the process of coffee making, from the picking of the berries, to the roasting of the beans. At the end of the tour, we had the chance to taste all of the different varieties of coffee the farm has to offer. The next time that we put our hands on a cup of hot coffee, we will remember all of the people that had a hand in it making its way to us.

Catherine and Michael

Pura Vida: A Way Of Life

Fortuna      Day Three

The local people of Costa Rica, known as Ticos, live by the saying pura vida which translates to "pure life". They always remain positive even if the situation is rough. This is evident in the way Adrián, our tour guide, speaks to us because even though the weather hasn't been how we have desired, he always remains hopeful and encourages us to do the same. Although we were hiking in the rain today, we all had a positive mindset and made the best of the situation.  Towards the end of our hike, we were all happy to see the sun come out!  We also lived by pura vida later in the day when we went to an organic farm and tasted many new fruits and even leaves (something we never would have tried in Houston).  Overall, the same pura vida is really shown throughout Costa Rica and is a part of their culture which we are grateful and willing to experience.

Pura Vida from Costa Rica!
Brooke and Isabella

Pineapple Upside-down Day

Sarapiquí      Day Two

Today was so much fun! We took a tour of the biggest organic pineapple farm in Costa Rica. It was an incredible adventure, but it wasn't our original plan. We woke up expecting to go whitewater rafting, but heavy rains overnight caused us to make an adjustment. Even though our day took an expected turn, the pineapple plantation was the highlight of the day for the group. We experienced the farm with all of our five senses, but the best part was tasting the freshest pineapple in the world. This particular farm sells its organic pineapples to many stores in the United States including Whole Foods. At the end of the tour, we were treated to pineapple upside-down cake, marmalade, and refreshing piña coladas. As a group, we decided that even though it wasn't our original plan it ended up being an awesome experience! Sometimes things don't go according to plan when traveling, but if you are willing to go with the flow, you end up having a great experience in the end.

Madelyn and Sydney

In the mighty jungle

Sarapiquí.       Day One

Hola amigos!
Bienvenidos a nuestro blog.  It's Madison and Ellie here.  Keep reading to hear about our first day in Costa Rica.  As the turbulent plane landed, our faces lit up with smiles until TSA confiscated Callan's apple... Our first impressions of the country were formed on the hour and a half bus ride to lunch.  We took in the breathtaking views of mountains, waterfalls, wildlife, and endless jungle.  Our tour guide, who is a real jokester, shared some interesting facts about the trip ahead.  Despite being in dry season (November - April), it's raining monkeys and sloths here.  Another fun fact of the day: there are 127 different species of venomous snake in Costa Rica.

Then the squad ventured out to the Pierella Butterfly Farm where we made everlasting memories.  All together, we became the new Willy Wonkas by making our own chocolate from the cacao pods.  Some of the exotic animals we saw were green tree frogs, three species of butterflies/caterpillars, and a praying mantis.  However, our favorite animal of the day was the baby boa constrictor that we got to handle.

Overall, it was such a great first day here and we can't wait for what's to come.  Thanks for letting us start this blogging experience with all of you back home!

Pura Vida,
Madison & Ellie