Cloud Forest Adventures

Welcome to Santa Elena, the largest town in Monteverde! Surrounded by cloud forests and countless options for adventure, the area has certainly earned its strong reputation in the adventurous traveler circles. Today, our students enjoyed a farm tour, zip lining, and some time exploring town. 

The farm tour covered a wide range of topic in a short time with hands-on demonstrations and, best of all, tasty samples! Zip lining is always a crowd pleaser, as students put their trust in a thin metal wire and climbing harness and fly through the treetops. Exploring Santa Elena offered students the chance to practice their Spanish and step outside their comfort zone as they participated in a scavenger hunt (while leaving plenty of time for snacks and souvenir shopping).

Passing the halfway point of the trip, we’ve settled in to a groove as a group. Students are starting to feel more comfortable with the trip’s rigorous pace and starting to find their own fun. For example, we are currently waiting for the bus to dinner and our students have organized themselves in to groups watching the stars on a balcony, playing pool, and trying desperately to play one more game of soccer before the light completely fades. 

Tomorrow we will again hop on the buses for a travel day as we make our way to the beach. Sunshine and sand (and a crocodile tour) await!

La Fortuna to Monteverde

Today’s travel-heavy day brought us from La Fortuna to the lush cloud forests of Monteverde. Before leaving town, our students had a chance to explore the square and its surrounding stores. Our students hit the supermarket (some bought takis, but most tried something new), the souvenir shops, the ice cream shop (before 10 AM? Why not!), and some even picked up some ripe mangos from the produce store. 

Winding around Lake Arenal and up the mountains, Johnny, our bus driver, impressed us again and again with his ability to navigate the narrow twists and bridges. Our views of mountains dotted with cows and massive wind turbines were spectacular. Our region is now more rural, which means the food is sourced locally and mostly purchased from small, family-run businesses. Our lunch was spectacular, but more than one student noticed the judgmental stares of the neighboring cows. 

Once in Monteverde, our first stop was the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. A short hike brought spectacular insights on the wide variety of plants and animals supported by this region’s unique conditions (both climate and human). While all students marveled in the surrounding vegetation, some observant scholars enjoyed fleeting glimpses of remarkable birds.

Our day ended with each bus parking at a separate hotel. The hotels in this region are typically smaller and, like the restaurants, family affairs. The hotel bus 2 lucked upon offers a cabin-esque aesthetic, friendly staff, remarkable views, a sweet old dog, a hanging bridge, and… a pool table! Our students are quite impressed. 

Tomorrow brings a deep dive in to Costa Rican food, zip lining, and some time in the picturesque town of Santa Elena. Each day seems to impress more than the last!