I can’t believe that our two weeks in Costa Rica are almost up! I thought it would’ve felt like so much longer than it did. Today we did one of the most fun things this entire trip, a hike along the La Paz waterfalls. After that, we returned to Ulatina and finished working on our…
Tag: Zachary Baker
Oh, How Sweet Costa Rica Is!
Today we started our day off with a visit to Sibö Chocolate, a gourmet chocolate producer. I have to say, it was one of the sweetest tours to date. It was less of a tour, however, and more of a tasting and history lesson. We were walked through the history of chocolate making and how…
Going Bananas for Pineapple
Today we once again ventured to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, however this time we visited two plantations. The first we saw focused on bananas/plantains and the other grew pineapples. Right when we arrived I was struck by how different the supply chain for these fruits was from that of coffee. It is so…
A Week in Costa Rica, it has my heart
Today, we explored the Caribbean side of the continental divide and it was easy to tell when we arrived. As we stepped out of the bus the humidity hit us like a wall. Even if the humidity is annoying it allows for the growth of some super interesting crops, such as the heart of palm…
The Two Sides of Costa Rica
Today we started our day with a 4-hour bus ride to Monte Verde, a mountain in the west of Costa Rica. As we drove I was able to see our surroundings change from the mild hills of San José to the extreme peaks of the Tilaran mountain range. It was interesting to watch the land…
Going to Britt-sburgh
Today we toured Café Britt, a coffee roasting company built around marketing with tourists. We learned about how they make the majority of their money through sales in airports and hotels. Their business model incorporates the culture of the country that they exist in, as Café Britts in Costa Rica will have no resemblance to…
The Golden Beans
Coffee isn’t just an industry in Costa Rica, it is a way of life. Today we were able to tour a Doka coffee plantation, which belongs to the Vargas family. They walked us through the entire coffee-producing process, starting with growing the plant and ending with exporting the (unroasted) beans. For me, the most surprising…
La Buena Vida en Costa Rica
As we arrived in Costa Rica, I was immediately struck with the effortless peace and beauty of the country. Whether it be the band playing in the background as we toured the city or the soccer field overlooking a lake. Everywhere I looked there were vibrant colors and beautiful sounds. My most significant impression was…
Staying Sustainable: Costa Rica
Costa Rica is paving the way to prove sustainability is achievable nationally! Looking in from the outside gives me a lot of respect for this country that tries so hard to impact the environment as little as possible. Costa Rica has even been recognized by the UN as a template for sustainability, being called the…
Counting Down until Costa Rica!
Hey everyone! My name is Zach Baker and I am a first-year engineering student. I plan on majoring in Bioengineering with a minor in either industrial or mechanical engineering. I’m so excited to travel to Costa Rica and learn all about the culture and lifestyle. The opportunity to travel for education is amazing and I…