Monteverde

Today after breakfast we went on a horseback riding excursion through the Monteverde cloud forest.  Students saddled up and were given instructions on how to ride western style.  The paths were windy and steep in some areas.  The horses loved to stop and eat the coffee plants.  Their  personalities were apparent, often matching their names! About halfway through the two hour tour it started pouring rain, common for summer months.  Students returned soaking wet but happy to have had such a unique experience.

 

 

 

Then it was an uncomfortable wet ride back to the hotel for a quick shower and time to pack up for our next destination. José deftly navigated the steep, unpaved roads through Monteverde.  After two hours we stopped for snacks and souvenirs and a little bit of the USA vs. Belgium World Cup game.  Then it was back on the bus for another two hours to get to Manuel Antonio.  Tomorrow is a beach day so we are hoping for some sun!

Hasta pronto.

Zip line

Today was the highly anticipated zip line tour.  Unfortunately it was pouring rain.  Students and Ms. Kaneda suited up in their harnesses and helmets for the adventure.  After a safety explanation, they climbed the tower of stairs to clip onto the cable that led them through the canopy tour of 11 platforms.  At first they thought the rain was going to be a problem but in the end they thought it made it more fun and faster. Overall everyone came back soaking wet but super excited from their adventure. (Thanks to Jen Rowan and her GoPro for photos)

After a change of clothes, we boarded the bus for Monteverde.  The roads were rough and windy but our driver Josė negotiated them with ease.  Along the way, we stopped for lunch at a local restaurant. Then it was back on the bumpy road to the hotel in Monteverde.  En route, we saw a a family of howler monkeys climbing a tree.  (Thanks Lindley for the amazing photo)

 

After settling into the hotel and of course accessing wi-fi, we made a brief stop in town for snacks and souvenirs.

Then it was back to the hotel restaurant for dinner.

¡Hasta luego!

Maleku + Baldi hot springs

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)

Man vs. wild

Today students left their host stays bright and early for more adventures.  We boarded the bus for Bosque Eterno de los Niños near the town of La Fortuna.  On the way we stopped for soccer jerseys in preparation for tomorrow's Costa Rica world cup match and souvenirs of their stay here.

After a couple hours, we arrived at the rain forest where we planted saplings to help combat erosion.  It was a unique cultural experience to navigate the slippery and at times steep trail to a hilltop to plant our baby trees.  

On the way back, we got lucky and saw a sloth posing for us.

After the rain forest, we headed to Eco-Finca Don Juan an eco-farm that provided us with a delicious lunch 60% of which came from the farm.  

After lunch, we got a tour of the farm by our guide/teacher, Jack Daniel.  He told the students about various plants and fruits in the farm and their health benefits.  He also explained how they extract methane gas for energy use in the community.  We got to taste maringo juice as well as sugar cane juice that students helped extract. 

No we are at La Pradera Hotel in La Fortuna where we will be for the next two nights.  Students are enjoying some pool time after a sticky, muddy day before our dinner later.

¡Pura vida!

You can check out the map Ms. Kaneda made to follow our travels. Costa Rica