Costa Rica: Disconnecting from the world and connecting with those around us

One of my most memorable travel stories takes me back to a small hostel and farm in Costa Rica called La Isla. Me and a group of 15 other young adults were halfway through our 6 weeks in Costa Rica and we stopped at a small beach hostel where we helped plant trees and do beach cleanups for about 4 days. We were far away from town, but only 30 seconds from the beach. No wifi, no other people except for our group and the locals running the hostel, and a whole lot of stars. One night, our small little group of 15 ran out to the beach with nothing but our cameras and happy souls to watch the sunset. Somehow we all knew it would be one of the best sunsets of the trip because we were practically sprinting from our rooms to the beach. And we were all right because it was without a doubt one of the most amazing sunsets I’ve seen. The most memorable thing about that night though, was the joy, peace, and simplicity in all of us. For most of our 6 weeks in Costa Rica, there was absolutely no connection to the internet, so we became closer as a group than we ever could have been with technology in the way. As we were watching the sunset, we played in the water, drew pictures in the sand with our feet, and I was of course taking pictures of the ecstatic, joyful chaos of my friends around me. It showed me how simple humans can be. All we really need is good friends, lots of laughs and smiles, and to be connected to nature. And though it was one of the most simple experiences of my life, it was by far one of the most memorable.

“And though it was one of the most simple experiences of my life, it was by far one of the most memorable.”

While we’re here, I have to share another story about Costa Rica because it was truly one of the most colorful and unique places I’ve ever been, and it was probably the one place I felt the most at peace with myself and my surroundings. The first week into the 6 week journey, we volunteered for 5 days at Rancho Margot, a sustainable farm nestled in the jungle about an hour outside of La Fortuna. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone, especially if you want to learn more about sustainability. We helped out planting seeds for new crops, milking the cows, learning about agriculture, and making cheese! Yes we milked the cows at 5 in the morning, and later that day got to drink that milk in our coffee, and then use it to make cheese. The place got its power from Lake Arenal at the base of Arenal volcano, and was also solar powered. There was a big kitchen to feed the guests and volunteers who stayed there, a little bamboo porch for yoga in the mornings, and land for horses, cows, chickens, oh so many chickens, and crops. All the food we ate was directly from the farm there. I think of myself as a healthy eater and my parents have always tried to have an understanding of where our food comes from, but I had never eaten like this before. And it was the best food I have ever eaten and the best I have ever felt. One morning, about 5 of us girls got ready for yoga at 7 am. We walked from our bungalow through the jungle along a stone path to the spot where we would be doing yoga. Our teacher was from Utah and was staying for about a month volunteering and teaching yoga. I’ve never been a “yoga person” per se, but this was the best yoga I’ve ever done. Maybe it was partly the location, but it felt so revitalizing. I think we all agreed on that. After we finished class, we all walked back through the jungle to meet the rest of the group for breakfast. We had eggs and sausage that came from the pigs and chickens on the farm, coffee and cream also from the farm, and the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten. It was one of the best mornings of my life. I had never felt that kind of peace and simplicity before. One of my friends always said it was because all we had to decide during the day was whether we would play soccer, or read a book in a hammock. there was no stress about the future, or just life in general. I felt a level of simplicity within the Costa Rican culture and landscape that I’ve never felt before.