Today was our first full day in Costa Rica. We started out strong with our strawberry tour, volcano visit, and the waterfall gardens that were so incredible we didn’t have enough time to go to Doka. All three locations use their land to foster community, keep culture alive, and protect the environment. La Paz was especially notable for me. Everything about it was truly beautiful and incredible to see, from the monkeys to the magic waterfall. The animals in La Paz are all rescues and the expansive trails to the 6 waterfalls were all made without intrusive technology. However, as tourist locations, there are always some downsides.

Even in the US, people wrestle with whether or not someone should have to pay to view and experience nature. A day trip to the beach never goes without some expense. These expenses often go toward keeping up the environment and safety, ultimately stopping the land from becoming developed for something else. However, this does mean that there are limitations on who can experience certain beauties of the world. It felt somewhat similar in Costa Rica with its beautiful experiences and strong efforts to keep the country green. But, in order to benefit the economy, it has to be rather touristy. In the end, it seems like Costa Rica has the best intentions at heart. They treat their land well and support their local economies with tourism, all to balance and keep the country thriving, economically and environmentally. This was a great first day and I’m so excited to learn more.