Costa Rica is often cited as one of the world’s happiest, most sustainable countries. This project will explore firsthand what it means to live well, and how connecting to nature, and to others around us, can influence our own mental and physical health. We’ll explore natural sites to get a sense for the relationship between Costa Rican culture and its natural environment. We’ll hear from locals about what day to day life looks like in the Blue Zone of Nicoya and consider the relationship between wellness and culture as we work to uncover the real “secret” to a longer life - if there is one. From small farming villages to coastal beaches, we’ll work to determine, is there a “better” way to live? Does living longer mean living well? And are there lessons from Costa Rica that we can apply in our lives and communities at home?
Day 1
After a long and tiring travel day from the U.S. to Costa Rica, we were so happy to finally arrive. The warm air and beautiful scenery made the exhausting journey worth it. Even though we were tired, we enjoyed exploring, tasting our first local meal, and taking in the amazing sights. It’s only the beginning, but it already feels great to be here! -Alex
Day 3
Today our group embarked on a trip to one of the 8 indigenous communities in Costa Rica called the Chorotega . We travelled through the forest and learned about their dry ecosystem and how they utilize the plants around them for their natural purposes. We were able to spot some wild animals like monkeys and iguanas. We reached our destination, which had a little waterfall in the depths of the forest, which was beautiful and had live tadpoles in the water. After we made our way back up, and we ate the traditional food of the indigenous group called arroz y maize. It was very flavorful and delicious and came with a side of homemade tortillas which added complexity to the dish. We ended with a little background on the Chorotega and how they are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle to live a long and sustainable life. We were able to get the opportunity to play different games that were challenging but exciting. Finally we headed back to the hotel and ended the day with a nice sunset and beach swim. -Maive
Day 4
Today our group went on an exhibition to “La playa de avellanas” to clean up the beach and pick up trash. This was significant because it helped out the small local community and we even got some praise from the locals. This is important because in Costa Rica they have a high bio-diversity which means keeping the environment clean is super important. Later on in the day we went to a self sustained goat farm in avellanas where we learned about the history of the farm and did some tasks as well. The guy who owned the farm and gave us a tour has ran it for 46 years and has built it from the ground up. Everything was made from trees that he planted. We learned how to milk and feed goats and how the whole farm is ran. Then at the end we ate some different foods made directly from his goats! Like feta cheese, cream cheese and even yogurt! He praised living sustainable and living in the moment which is super important and that everyone can use in their daily life to obtain life longevity and happiness! -Jack Roche
Credits:
Created with images by Harry Collins - "Red-eyed Tree Frog in Costa Rica " • buunature - "Beautifal waterfall in Costa Rica Uvita with long-time exposure"