Today we visited La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and it was definitely one of my favorite days of the entire trip! I had a lot of fun seeing all of the waterfalls, and I spent a lot of time watching the monkeys swing around, play, and eat! In addition to all the great memories I made…

Today, we visited Sibö Chocolate, where we got to learn about the history of chocolate, and more importantly, taste some! Chocolate began as a drink used for energy and its medicinal properties of helping stomach issues. Spices were also mixed in to help mask the bitter taste of the cocoa. After a happy accident of…

Today, we visited local farms and had a unique experience. So far, most of the plantations we have visited have been large farms with lots of land, workers, and machinery. However, today, on the smaller farms, we saw the amount of creativity and determination it takes to run a small family-owned farm. Despite the success…

I had never really thought about how pineapples grew until today, when I got to see them at a pineapple farm. It turns out that they grow in a ground plant, and it can take over a year for one to grow! On the farm, we rode around in a wagon that was pulled by…

Today we left Monteverde, which I will miss greatly. Other than the surprise salamander in my hotel room last night, I loved spending time in the quiet, calm mountains. After breakfast, we visited Life Monteverde, where we got to learn all about the life of a Tico farmer. I really appreciated this view because it…

As a kid, I used to stare out the window of airplanes and dream about touching a cloud. They seemed so interesting to me, and I just wanted to reach my arm out. Today, hiking through the Monteverde cloud forest, I finally got to do essentially that by being in and walking through a cloud!…

Today’s long travel day had me asleep for most of the four-hour bus ride, but when we finally reached Monteverde, my eyes could not leave the window. It is so beautiful here, and being able to see the Pacific Ocean from our hotel room is amazing. It feels like an entirely different place up here….

Tourists love Britt because it’s not just coffee, it’s a whole experience. At Britt, you are essentially buying a fancy bag of beans that shows you have been to Costa Rica. Britt nails their design in order to market to consumers and differentiate themselves from other brands. The gourmet title is what draws customers in….

After a tasty breakfast of eggs, toast, and a spread of fruit at the home stay, we headed up to Alajuela to visit the Doka Coffee plantation, followed by a local strawberry farm. Throughout the day, we learned about production techniques and strategies for both plants. These proved to be quite different for each in…

Our first official day in Heredia was already so much fun! It consisted of walking around the town and experiencing many differences in culture. One of the first things I noticed was the architecture. The buildings can be described as being built organically around one another. They are very condensed, but in a natural way…

Hi everyone! My name is Danielle Berdik, and I just finished my first year at Pitt! I am majoring in Industrial Engineering and planning to pursue a certificate in supply chain management. Outside of academics, I am active in the service sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma as well as the Society of Women Engineers and the…