Compared to Minneapolis, the land of Howler Monkeys is beautiful Costa Rica. A unique setting my high school, the School of Environmental Studies embarked on. Joining Ruta Verde Nature Tours http://www.rutaverde.cr/aboutus.php my fellow classmates and I experienced paradise. Being Eco-friendly is a high priority to us and this incredible Eco-lodge, La Cusinga http://lacusingalodge.com/ practiced retaining supreme luxury while using environmentally sound practices. We made every effort to minimize our footprints. Staying at an Ecolodge is a critical choice. With the warm friendly Costa Rican staff it makes the Costa Rica experience complete. By supporting local Costan Rican enterprises, the people are able to live a more prosperous life.
My school group underwent amazing adventures while protecting the precious Costa Rican wildlife. One of the nonpareil escapades was to Don Lulu’s Nauyaca Waterfalls http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/ You embark the property by horseback, and ride to eat a light brunch and change to swimsuits. A short hike to the waterfall and I understand why I came here. This is why I am alive; to see the untouched heavenliness of the waterfalls. My camera was not able to capture the sounds, smells and feeling while swimming under the waterfall.
The next place we stayed was Danta Corcovado Lodge http://www.dantalodge.com/ in Guadelupe. The meals are fabulous, and even those with light stomachs can handle the food. The lodge is encircled by wildlife. Waking up with a large bullfrog by your toilet is natural! One instructor led us on a night hike around the lodge. Being completely silent, trudging through the jungle with little headlights, I saw millions of eyes peering at me. Towards the end of the night hike, I almost stepped on a very poisionous snake! The Ferdinand snake.
Another crowning moment was rappelling two waterfalls at Pyschotours http://www.psychotours.com/! The night hike is a character builder, however is nothing in comparison to the adrenaline jolt of rappelling waterfalls. With the first waterfall 45 feet and the second about 100 feet, the view is astounding cutting my breath to pure awe. I mentally endure this accomplishment regularly and is one that you can experience too! After waterfall rappelling, I climbed a 400 year old tree barefoot, just like Howler Monkeys. Upon reaching the top, I rang the bell. How to get down? Type A personalities have trouble with this, to just jump! Swinging like Tarzan high in the tree is staggering.
A succeeding adventure my group braved was kayaking through mangroves, and then around Golfo Dolce with Aventura Tropicales http://www.aventurastropicales.com/
With temperatures around 85 degrees Fahrenheit, fresh pineapple on the sand, we continued to kayak around Golfo Dolce. This was a slice of heaven that was short lived.
As a young person, these spectacular settings inspire me to live a long life, full of balance as the Costa Ricans employ. I learned that trust is an element one must continually build, and descending waterfalls was a true test by trusting the rope and the person belaying you. Believing in yourself is easy to say, and by having the intrepidity to travel to Costa Rica and engage in these adventures as a young person has given me the confidence to believe that I can explore other places around the world.
http://www.rutaverde.cr/aboutus.php
http://lacusingalodge.com/
http://www.dantalodge.com/
http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/
http://www.psychotours.com/
http://www.aventurastropicales.com/
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