As I write my final blog post from Costa Rica, I am very sad that this experience is coming to an end because I truly do not want to leave. Over the past two weeks, this trip has given me such a wide variety of experiences that made it both educational and unforgettable. We were…

When visiting the cloud forest and the Monteverde Institute the complex relationship between tourism and conservation was exposed. In the cloud forest we were able to immerse ourselves in nature while following a designated trail through one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Nature walks like this are extremely common tourist activities in…

During our travels from La Fortuna to Monteverde we had the chance to see one of the many ways Costa Rica produces renewable energy, with windmills. Here we learned how Costa Rica generates almost all of its electricity from renewable energy sources including hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, wind turbines, and biofuels. Also that hydroelectricity is…

At Arenal Mundo Aventura we learned about the behind the scenes operations of the zip lining industry in La Fortuna. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country because it offers everything tourists are looking for, like waterfalls, rainforests, and adventure experiences. Because of this popularity, there is a lot of…

While exploring the rainforest on the hanging bridges trail, we experienced a couple of short periods of mild rain. I actually felt that the rain added authenticity to the experience because being in a rainforest without rain would almost feel unnatural. We also learned that the rain can make certain animals like sloths, less likely…

During our visit to the Best Pineapple Tour in Costa Rica, I learned around 20 percent of the pineapples grown in the plantation can’t be exported because of aesthetic qualifications. The pineapples must look perfect, including having the correct color and proportion between the crown and the fruit itself. I also learned how physically demanding…

Today’s visits demonstrated how the triple bottom line framework can operate across completely different industries and reflect Costa Rican values. The triple bottom line focuses on balancing profit, environmental sustainability, and positive community impact. First, at the bean-to-bar chocolate company, Sibö. One of the most interesting things I learned was that the founders entered the…

Our visit to Café Britt started with a tour of the plantation where we were able to see the coffee plants along with other crops grown on the property, like eucalyptus and bananas. I found it interesting to learn why Costa Rica has some of the best coffee-growing conditions in the world, thanks to its…

Today we visited Dos Pinos and Kyndryl where we were able to compare the cooperative business model with the multinational corporation model. I believe cooperatives create more value for the country because the benefits are directed to the local community. At Dos Pinos, the shareholders are farmers themselves, so the people doing the hard work…

An unexpected aspect of my homestay experience is the layout and security of the house, which is very different from what I am used to in the United States. The front door first leads into the garage, and then there is a second door that actually enters the home itself with no lock. Another thing…

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens and the strawberry farm were examples of businesses that prioritize environmental responsibility while still creating economic opportunities, demonstrating one of the core values of Costa Rica. One of the most interesting things I learned at the strawberry farm was that the strawberries are grown using zero pesticides. This benefits the…

Costa Rica’s environmentally sustainable initiatives have a positive connotation in my perspective. One thing that stood out to me was how Costa Rica has successfully built a large part of its economy around tourism while still prioritizing environmental protection. Tourism can easily become wasteful and damaging to the environment in other country’s models. However, Costa…