My Costa Rica Journal — a Week Spent on a Road Scholar Adventure (Pt.1)

Meeting the other group members.

It was a pleasure getting to know each of the other 14 group members throughout the week. They hailed from New York, Virginia, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, Texas, California, Oregon and Washington (and I’m from Boston). Three of us were solo, there were three friend pairs and three married couples. Altogether, we were 11 women and four men, plus two more men who were with us the entire time — our Group Leader and driver. And they were very much a part of our group!

Our Group Leader.

Deynor Alfaro, our Group Leader, was born and raised in Costa Rica. He’s a certified naturalist, avid birder and talented wildlife photographer, and he led our group beautifully. 

Our first taste.

We ate at some superb restaurants throughout the week. But one popular local dish we sampled numerous times (so that we could eat like the locals do!) is called casado. It ‘marries’ all of the country’s favorite foods — rice and beans (the staple for breakfast, lunch … and dinner) and a protein (chicken, pork, etc.) plus heart of palm, sweet plantains and cassava or yucca fries, which are very tasty.

A local farm stand.

Driving down to the lowlands of Costa Rica, we stopped at one of Deynor’s favorite roadside markets to sample mouth-watering local produce. From bananas to passion fruit, this was a fabulous introduction to the tastes of Costa Rica.

Estebán!

Navigating steep mountain switchbacks and hairpin turns, we were thankful to have Estebán as our trustworthy driver. Always ready with a smile and a hand to help us into and out of his van, Estebán shared meals at our table, where he was able to practice his English and we worked on our Spanish. By week’s end, this wonderful Costa Rican man had become our friend.

Welcome to the jungle.

Our enormous and lovely cabins at Selva Verde Lodge were smack in the middle of a tropical jungle. Covered walkways around the property were designed to protect ancient forest soil while keeping us safe from snakes and downpours. This is a rainforest, after all, and the locals jokingly say it rains, oh, about 400 days a year! Our senses were on high alert with the Sarapiquí River rushing by, the eerie echo of howler monkeys (have you heard one?), chattering exotic birds and the fragrance of otherworldly flowers.

The birding!

Just before daybreak each morning, Deynor would take us birding. He’d bring his own scope and camera (with hyper zoom lenses) so that everyone would have the opportunity to view some fine-feathered friends up close. Afterwards, over breakfast on Selva Verde’s outdoor deck in the treetops, we’d sip fresh Costa Rican coffee while mesmerized by the mosaic of birds in every color of the rainbow feasting on mango and banana. This felt like being in a birdsong-filled paradise.

The river and the sloth.

During an in-depth lesson on white-water rafting, our guide noticed a three-toed sloth making its way down a tree. This discovery was a dream come true for many of us, since it turns out spotting a sloth is not as easy as you might think. Then, off we went on our rafts, paddling to the rhythm shouted by the guides. I'm happy to report that not one of us fell into the river! Actually, were only in mild rapids — enough to feel the exhilaration yet know we were safe. It’s difficult to put into words the excitement we felt during this hands-on, in-the-moment experience.

Visiting local families.

Through Selva Vere’s nonprofit linking visitors to the local community, we were invited guests in three Costa Rican homes. One family taught us about sustainable agriculture and how they use what they grow on their farm to prepare delicious meals. By visiting, we’re helping to support those who have chosen to farm their land instead of selling it off. Not only does this keep deforestation at bay, but it gives hope to parents that one day they’ll be able to pass down what’s theirs to their children. It was a joy to share a meal with such hardworking parents and their two sweet kids. 

The dancing.

It never hurts to get your hips shaking before dinner! Local dance instructors came to Selva Verde Lodge to entertain us with their Latin moves, then taught us the Bachata, Salsa and Merengue. It was a real hoot to get up and dance!

A riverboat safari.

In just one boat ride along the river, we spotted iguanas, macaws, egrets, vultures, eagles, ospreys, monkeys, turtles, herons, crocodiles, snakes, swallows, kingfishers, sandpipers, bitterns, ibis and toucans. Now that’s one satisfying safari! The rarest sighting was a river otter that caught a fish and ate it right in front of us, impressing even our group’s retired national park ranger.

Thanks for following along on my adventure — and stay tuned for the next post from my Costa Rica experience! In the meantime, if you’re curious, you can check out all of the exciting learning adventures that Road Scholar’s 2024 Campus of the Year has to offer.