Today we got to visit Best Pineapple farm, hike to and swim in the La Fortuna Waterfall, and finish the day at Baldi Hot Springs. The pineapple tour was especially cool for me because pineapple has been one of my favorite foods since I was little, and it was awesome getting to try what is definitely the best pineapple I’ve ever had (so juicy!). One thing that really stood out to me during the tour was how the guide talked about how nutrient dense the soil in Costa Rica is, as I don’t think I had really taken in how different it looks (deep red) and how important of a role it plays. We also learned how places like Hawaii have heavily damaged and exhausted their soil through pineapple farming over time, and it further made me realize how important sustainability and proper land management are for agriculture. One thing I’ll definitely remember was eating the leftover pineapple “umbrella” after the guide finished cutting up the fruit for everyone, and making a complete mess of myself in the process (worth it).

I think one of the reasons younger generations are more interested in tourism than farming is because tourism seems more exciting and modern, while farming requires a huge amount of patience, physical labor, and specialized knowledge that many people probably do not fully appreciate anymore. After touring the pineapple farm, I have continued to understand that there are so many small details and “tricks of the trade” involved in producing food in the best and most sustainable way. Most people only see the final product and never think about everything that goes into growing it responsibly. I also think younger generations today are much more disconnected from agriculture than people were in the past, so a lot of people do not fully realize how important farming is or how much effort goes into it every single day. I do think ecotourism and agrotourism are helping rural communities in Costa Rica because they allow people to experience and learn about these industries while also supporting the local economy. For example, we all got to experience the fun and beauty of the La Fortuna Waterfall, and Costa Rica seems to do a good job balancing tourism with preserving the natural beauty and environment that people come to experience in the first place. Experiences like the pineapple farm tour are also important because they help tourists gain a better appreciation for agriculture and where their food actually comes from instead of just treating it as something they buy at a store. I also think there are risks if some areas become too dependent on tourism, but from what I have seen so far, Costa Rica has done a makes tourism feel connected to nature, sustainability, and local communities rather than separating people from them.