Blogs from Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 2

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Five and half hours west from San Jose on a bus (seven and half on the way back thanks to a crash) is the town of Nosara. If you like surfing, exotic animals and feeling almost totally isolated then head on over because I can't imagine there are many more suitable places in the world. The realisation of just how remote a place it is comes during the journey when you notice that the road you've been driving on for the last hour is essentially a dirt track of the type that if you knew someone who was going to walk on a road like that, you'd tell them to be careful because it's quite bumpy and there's lots of potholes. Further realisation comes when after seeing this, you carry on driving down the road for ... read more
David the Vulture (probably not his real name)


UNA MÁSCARA CON MUCHA PERSONALIDAD, Y UN TRAYECTO DE MONTAÑA RUSA 9h20- Nos despertamos más tarde que nunca en Tamarindo. Será el efecto de haberse bañado en el océano el día anterior. Nos ponemos en marcha, listos para el desayuno. Sonia se levantó con ganas de comer un bagel con salmón y queso tipo philadelphia. Justo en la esquina de la calle que bajaba, había un sitio de desayunos "Olga's Coffee Shop", por lo visto, la dueña es una rusa que lleva 12 restaurantes en Rusia y que se enamoró de Costa Rica y de su café... allá que vamos. Sorpresa! hay Bagels de salmón! (a lo mejor el subconsciente de Sonia se fijó el día anterior sin que se diera cuenta y le entró ganas de comerse esto en particular... si no, menuda coincidencia!) El ... read more
sonia en la playa de Montezuma
Un tronquito de madera
Autofoto Sonia y Tamim


In March of 2010 we were super excited to return to one of our homes away from home ... COSTA RICA. Andy was lucky enough to be asked to be the best man in Brock's wedding so we were able to escape the cold and snow of Wisconsin for a little fun in the sun in Central America. We were only able to be there for 5 days but we made the most of our time. We arrived early on a Saturday morning after having taught that Friday. Upon arrival we were greeted by our good friend Abel who would be our chaufer from the airport to the beach. It is about a 2 hour drive to get from Liberia to Nosara and Abel was a great driver. He filled us in on a lot of ... read more
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After a few days in Liberia, we left well rested although a bit dusty from the high winds and general dryness of the area. We headed to Playa Hermosa, just a short drive away. Playa Hermosa is a small town - really just an intersection right next to the beach. There are about 8-10 hotels, and about 5 restaurant/bars. The beach is about 2km long and with very soft, fine sand and palm trees lining the beach. We spent our first day walking up and down along the water, people watching and catching the sunset. In the evening the stars were brillant and we could hear the sound of the ocean at our little hotel. The next day, we decided to check out the neighboring beach - Playa Coco. Its a bigger town - the main ... read more
Good morning!
Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa


Today was a terrible day. Terrible. The word can´t be repeated enough. Lets start at the beginning. Got up at 5am (!) to catch the 6am bus next to the hostel. Saw a lovely sunrise, but the bus was half an hour late. 1.5 hours and one incredibly whiney child and smelly man later, our bus arrived at Paquera, dropping us to catch the Ferry, which was fine fine fine and we arrived at Punta Arenas on mainland at 10.15. Now, riddle me this; why would the harbour arrange for a boat to come from south of the peninsula to mainland so that it arrives at 10.15, when another boat leaving mainland to go north of the peninsular at 10.00. Why not just wait 15 mins and see if anyone from the South wanted to go ... read more


The Nicaragua-Costa Rica border was always going to be the worst crossing. Initially everything was running very smoothly, far too smoothly in fact. We arrived at 8:00 and negotiated all the parked trucks to get into the border compound (entrance fee $1). Getting out of Nicaragua was fine, plus we'd been successfully decontaminated and moved into the Costa Rican area taking with us a very important scrap of paper with some stamps on it - we have to had this in to get out, if we loose its there's a US$100 fine. Costa Rica involved a lot of forms and queueing but was going ok - fill in entry form then queue to hand in the form and get entry stamp - queue to buy Costa Rican insurance (from a man in a building rather than ... read more
being fumigated
our very important piece of paper
negociating the trucks to get to the vehicle permit bus


Pura Vida! Friday was another extremely early morning- 5 A.M to be exact. Luckly for me Liz's generous cousin didn't need too much persuading to drive me to the airport. I'm grateful for his kindness; the thought of using public transportation in El Salvador alone is terrifying. The pit in my stomach disappeared after he volunteered. I arrived at the airport at 6 A.M. Quickly, I checked my bag and headed through security and immigration. Lucky for me, it was essential for my pack to be searched. There they found a small cosmetic scissor, my inhaler, and epipen; all forbidden items. I was at peace with letting the scissor go, however, I was unwilling to let the inhaler and pen be discarded. I've never used the epipen before but the idea of having my food contaminated ... read more
Right Outside our door
Breakfast
Bus Station


Hojancha Community Christmas Party! The Hojancha Christmas party took place this week for the kids and community members we work with in the beautiful town of Hojancha in Guanacaste Province in the North-West of Costa Rica. We had 13 volunteers helping us in all, including a group of 12 from Central Michigan University - thanks so much guys!! Thanks to all the wonderful donations we've received and the great help our volunteers gave us in putting up the decorations and organizing games, prizes and food, everyone had a wonderful day. The kids from the small school next to the Camaronal Reserve (where our volunteers work doing turtle conservation) put on a puppet show for everybody all about turtles and the need for preservation. All the children enjoyed the games we had and loved beating our group ... read more
Volunteers handing out gift bags


Lindsey's Daycare Experience The following entry is by Lindsey, a volunteer who recently helped us out at our Hojancha Daycare Center Project: Heading to Costa Rica After graduating college and before starting full-time work I wanted to do something where I felt I was making a difference. So, I packed my bags and headed down to Costa Rica where I was welcomed by some of the most incredible people I have ever met. I was able to spend a week in the town of Hojancha staying with a host family and teaching English at the local Daycare Center. Meeting My Host Family When I arrived in Hojancha I was welcomed with open arms by my host family. Carmen and Carlos along with their daughters Karla and Gabby, and grandsons Carlos Eduardo and Jose Maria immediately made ... read more
The class
Playing and learning


Hey everyone! I am back at it again. Exploring central america. Made it to costa rica a week ago and every minute has been incredible. Getting here was a bit hectic. I missed my flight from Dallas to Costa Rica because my plane was late leaving Denver. I was then sent to Miami so I could catch the only other flight leaving the next day. I met a really nice lady on the plane from Miami to San Jose and she ended up driving me from the airport all the way to Puntarenas to a ferry that I needed to catch in order to make it to Cabuya to begin work. It was very helpful because i have my large backpack and all my kayak gear. Now I am in Cabuya. a very small town at ... read more




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