After a long journey, we arrived in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, to be welcomed by Max and Carlos, our guide and bus driver, who would very quickly become part of our group.
On the first day, we headed to Irazú Volcano National Park (Irazú is the highest volcano in Costa Rica) and we made a short visit to San José.
On our second day, our music-filled journey led us through the cloud forest to a gorgeous fruit tasting workshop – passion fruit, spicy mango, pineapple and more!
We then went on to Finca el Jicaro, where students enjoyed tasting peppers from the field, smelling cinnamon trees, eating chocolate-tasting termites from a nest in a cacao tree, and smelling citronella and vanilla from the trees. Students were then put to work, digging, planting and depositing almond tree seeds in the ground. To thank them for their hard work, the students were each given a coconut to drink from and eat.
Our next day would bring us to the Tirimbina rainforest. After crossing a 200m hanging bridge, the group worked on two different sites to collect data from primary and secondary forests.
In the afternoon we enjoyed a chocolate plantation tour. Walking through the rainforest, we spotted the cacao trees and beans. Students were taught the process of chocolate making from start to finish in an interactive way that naturally led to tasting cacao in its different states.
Our next stop would be the most challenging part of the trip. Three small river boats took us to the very remote Pacuare reserve. There, students cleaned the beach, planted trees, discovered the wildlife, created hatcheries for turtle eggs and patrolled at night to spot turtles and help recover their eggs.
Our journey then took us to Cahuita for some zip-lining above the rainforest which allowed us to appreciate the wildlife from a different angle. In Cahuita, we then went snorkelling and the students enjoyed the beautiful view of the Caribbean beach surrounded by the rainforest.
I was very impressed by the students who took part in this character-building experience, filled with creepy crawlies and numerous challenges. They were keen to protect nature and rose to the challenge in sometimes difficult conditions. They came out of their comfort zone while remaining true to themselves – I am very proud of them.
Thank you to Ms de Bonadona and Mr Hammond for making this experience such a success, and thank you to Mr Lindsay and Ms Marie for making the trip possible.
Rice and beans, Playa, Montaña y Sol, Iguana Fire and always… pura vida.
