Post written by Laureline, a United Planet team member.
As a United Planet team member, I read about our returning volunteer stories all the time — and I marvel at all the beautiful places they visit as part of their volunteer abroad experience. Recently, I visited a friend in Atenas, in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica for a week. South America has become a very popular destination so I wanted to go and experience it myself. Now I understand what the United Planet volunteers like about the Republic of Costa Rica — and why they enjoy going on Quests in the Central America Isthmus surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
During my stay, I went to the west coast in Quepos, Dominical and visited the Parque National Manuel Antonio. One third of the country is protected and considered a national park. So you can imagine how beautiful the terrain is and particularly its national parks. It is the ideal “paradise” for people who love fauna and flora to visit. I met monkeys, turtles and raccoons on my way into Manuel Antonio.
My next stop was on the Caribbean Side of Costa Rica in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in the province of Limon. During the 20th century, immigrants from Jamaica arrived in the southern part of Costa Rica so the population in Limon is a “mestizaje cultural” (“Melting Pot”). I enjoyed having breakfast in a hammock, diving, listening to Calypso music and walking along the amazing beaches the Caribbean coast offers like Playa Negra, famous for its black sand and Playa Chiquita considered one of the best places in the world for snorkeling. Most of the year the coastline is filled with surfers whose favorite spot is the Salsa Brava.
I spent my last days in Atenas on the western edge of the Central Valley — a city that National Geographic magazine considers the place with the best climate in the world. I bought a hammock, an easy gift to send back home, organic soaps that my co-workers love, and jewelry for my family and friends.
I can’t wait to find a place for the hammock in my house in France. Hopefully, it will be a comfy place to sleep as it was in Costa Rica.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
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It seems that you had such a good time there. Was this the best place you visited, in your opinion? Or you can tell us about better places you have seen? And next time, please post also a picture with you.
This is one of my favorite blogs so far. It was such a pleasure to read — and I would love to lay on hammock all day and watch the raccoons run by. You are a very lucky girl to have visited such an incredibly beautiful place.
By the way, I love the last line of your blog — very appropriate, indeed. Can you tell me more about United Planet?
I will be visiting Costa Rica in May. It’s for a college class, Ecology. We are having fundraisers to help with our expenses and one of my advisors suggestions was to have sponsors. She mentioned she bought handmade hammocks last time she was there and those would be a great souvinor for a sponsor. I know its been quite a while since she was in Costa Rica and was wondering; When were you there? And how much did the hammocks go for? I am trying to figure out what I could bring back and how much it would cost me, so I can offer a price appropriate gift for friends and relatives nice enough to sponsor me for this college class.
Thank You.
Hi Kristy,
Laureline was in Costa Rica last fall. Hammocks tend to be around $20 on the low end in Latin America. You can often bargain for purchases though, so the actual price depends on your bargaining skills and the quality of the item.
Best of luck on your trip to Costa Rica this spring! It’s a wonderful country.
Thank you, every bit of information helps. I figured they had risen in price a little and I understand it depends on who you bargain with. Thanks again.
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