Written by Ashlynn
The Journey Begins
We have been having a blast exploring Costa Rica! We spent our first night at Hotel Pacande in San Isidro after a five-hour flight to San Jose. We got up early to travel to Hotel Mirador at Valle Del General via a four-hour bus ride. The views here are amazing! There are hummingbirds on the balcony and Cherrie’s tanagers in the trees. We watch the clouds cover the rainforest and have been treated to many fancy juices and meals.
Into the Rainforest
After a night of indulgence and bird watching, we took a two-hour off-roading drive to the starting point of a long hike at the Rainforest Adventure Center. We took two cable cars over the river and hiked another two hours. We stayed with Mauricio and his family in an open-air treehouse on the river with a giant waterfall. We learned to cook and dance and spent a lot of time swimming in the river. On Day 6, we tearfully bid goodbye and returned to Hotel Mirador. We are so excited to meet our homestay families tomorrow and will update you soon!
Highlights of the Week
🏊🏻♀️ Swimming in the River: Refreshing dips in the river were a perfect way to cool off and enjoy nature.
🕺 Family Time with Mauricio: We learned about medicinal plants and native animals. We foraged for food and made soup with all the ingredients. Mauricio’s mother, Doña Rosa, showed us how to make tortillas and chocolate. Mauricio and his son, Manfred, taught us how to dance salsa.
🧖🏽♀️ Sweat Lodge Ritual: We participated in a cleansing ritual where we spent 10 minutes inside a traditional sauna, and then fully submerged ourselves in the river. We repeated that process three times in complete silence. It was so refreshing and cleansing, and a great experience.
Overcoming Challenges
This week, we were challenged with various daily activities of Costa Rican citizens. It has been really hard for us to adjust to being more active in the morning instead of at night. We have also struggled with eating rice and beans with every single meal. We were super exhausted after hiking to the RAC, but Mauricio and his family do it daily.
Looking Ahead
Next week, we will be meeting our host families and beginning our service project! We are so excited to get involved in the community and participate in their traditions. We are also super excited to zipline before we leave the Mirador!
Stay tuned for more updates from our incredible journey in Costa Rica!
