After breakfast at the hotel, we got on the bus to go to the Maleku Reserve. Our guide, Elias gave us the history of the Malekus and the measures they take to preserve their culture and the environment. As with all our tours, students have been able to understand the presentations in Spanish and even learned a few words in Maleku Jaíka. Elias gave us a tour of the rain forest and instructed us on various plants and how they are used for health or medicinal purposes. During the tour we got to see a few howler monkeys. Thank goodness for bug spray because we also encountered loads of mosquitos! After the tour, they prepared lunch for us and then a Maleku traditional ceremony. The ceremony was followed by a brief presentation in Maleku Jaíka then translated into Spanish about the philosophy of the tribe that we are all united as one family and there are no differences and that we are all the same in our hearts.
Then we got back in the bus for Baldi hot springs which are naturally heated by the local volcano, Arenal which we can see from our hotel. The hot springs have multiple pools and water slides that students can enjoy. Many students watched the Costa Rica vs. Greece World Cup match from the various pools. Everyone was elated when Costa Rica won in penalty kicks!
Then we went to the restaurant at the hot springs for an all you can eat buffet. We stopped in the town of La Fortuna for some souvenir and snack shopping. Now students are hanging out at the pool or playing pool at the hotel.
Kapi kapi (hello, goodbye, etc. in Maleku Jaíka)
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