As I sit down to write my last blog post from Costa Rica, I find myself genuinely struggling to put into words just how much this trip has meant to me. From the moment I arrived in Heredia, my host family made me feel completely at home. They were warm, patient, and endlessly generous, feeding…
Tag: Josh Holler
May 20- Cloud Forest Crazy
Limiting tourism in a place like Monteverde is a necessary tradeoff and honestly the right call. When you walk the trails and see areas that are closed off or restricted, it makes sense why. Monteverde is one of the most biodiverse places in the world and climate change has already taken a toll on it,…
May 19- Night Hike thrills
99% of Costa Rica’s energy comes from renewable sources. They make about 13000 kilowatts of energy in a day which is made up of biofuels and turbines. 70% of the renewable energy in Costa Rica is produced from hydroelectricity. Geothermal and Wind Turbines make up about 15% each and the rest is fossil fuels. The…
May 18th- Last day at La Fortuna :(
I feel like commercializing nature is definitely not the best way to save it because it puts the biodiversity of the planet at risk. When farmers or corporations grow single plant plantations, they damage the biodiversity of the area. In Canopy AMA xtreme, the production of the zip lines causes humans to clear out paths…
May 17th – Pino the I-spy Legend
I think the rain was actually pretty cool today. When we were hiking in the rainforest it was very humid and hot and I was sweating until the rain came. It also made the rainforest look much cooler. One thing I did notice was that the wildlife disappeared. We saw Geckos, three monkeys, and a…
May 16th- I miss Andres y Anna
The younger generation in Costa Rica is often more drawn to tourism than farming because tourism offers quicker income and more social interaction then farming. Farming also feels less appealing because it is very physically demanding and has unpredictability through weather. The Pineapple tour today was a great example of agrotourism, and it allowed tourists…
May 14th – Mas Chocolate Por Favor
One specific detail that stuck out to me was at Sibo Cafe when the tour guide spoke about how his company asked farmers to plant cacao seeds in their farms because it was good for the environment. He touched upon the idea that people’s first worry is themselves and this was shown when they were…
May 13th- Wired from all that Cafe!
For me, Cafe Britt’s model does lift up Costa Rican culture and economy, but it also packages it in a way that’s meant for outside consumption. I felt like they were formed a little by their tourism, but they are smart with their marketing to ensure that Costa Rica’s identity is shown well. I was…
May 12th- Leche Factory
Dos Pinos and Kyndryl both leave a long-term impact on Costa Rica. Kyndryl creates a lasting value by providing jobs and maintaining a strong work-life balance through flexibility on scheduling. On the other hand, Dos Pinos creates a lasting value by its supply of milk and dairy which is very essential for Costa Rica. If…
May 11th- Walking Tour & Crazy Fruits
One thing from my homestay that I did not expect was how Tico’s treat pets. Our family has a Golden Retriever named Cartida who is very well behaved. The thing that was different with Cartida was that they rarely let her go in the house and she sleeps outside. In America, I have never heard…
May 10th-La Paz was the best!
I believe that La Paz Waterfall gardens did have a sustainable relationship between the people, land, and commerce. La Paz Waterfall Gardens shows sustainability in how it blends tourism with conservation. The park protects rainforest land while also creating jobs through tourism that is environmentally friendly. By maintaining wildlife habitats and educating visitors about the…
May 8th Getting Hype for Costa Rica
As someone who has not been to Costa Rica before, the focus on sustainability makes the country seem organized and very aware of its environment. It gives me the sense that they take care of their land and try to protect what they have. That comes across as responsible and pretty cool. When I looked…