Sustainability is not something I think about that much in my day-to-day life, but Costa Rica has been doing some pretty impressive things. After doing some research, the two initiatives that stood out most to me were their renewable energy and their reforestation efforts. Almost all of their electricity comes from renewable sources like hydro, geothermal, and wind. They also managed to double their forest cover between 1987 and 2019, which is a huge turnaround. Both of those feel less like feel-good policies and more like things that actually work.

Coffee and agriculture definitely came up in my research, too. Sustainable farming is built into Costa Rica’s national plan, trying to make agriculture and conservation work together. Given how much of the country runs on coffee and banana exports, that makes a lot of sense. Overall, the focus on sustainability comes across as more impressive than anything else. It does not feel performative; it feels like something the country has actually committed to.

In Costa Rica, I am mostly excited to go somewhere and experience something completely new. I’m excited to go on different hikes, see waterfalls, and go to the beach, but I am also excited to try new coffee and their pineapple. Overall, I think this will be a trip that I will never forget.