We started off our day with a hanging bridges hike in Mistico Park, and then we went to a local farm for a chocolate and sugarcane tour. Throughout these main activities, there was intermittent heavy rain. It felt like a glimpse into how most days are in Costa Rica during the low season. The low season is the same as the rainy season. It goes from May to November, and the rain typically drives away tourists. This brings up the question of how Costa Rican businesses deal with these low periods.

Obviously, the rainforest experiences a lot of rainy weather which supports its ecosystem. While this weather made the experience more exciting, it also made the trails slippery and harder to walk on. The plantation tour had covered areas where we stopped for most of the program, so the rain didn’t really affect this activity. There are some solutions that Costa Rican businesses have employed. Many offer lower prices during rainy season and shift to advertising rain-friendly activities like white-water rafting and hot springs. Farmers could also this season to focus on tending to crops, fertilizing soil using the rain, and improving tourist amenities (like infrastructure). Overall, Costa Rican businesses have found a balance between the the business of the high season and the calmness of the rainy season.