How Costa Rica Sets Standards:
During our time in Costa Rica, I was surprised the whole time on how they set different standards on sustainability and conservation. From air drying clothes when they had dryers, to set timers on the water faucets. The first day to the last, sustainability measures were set in place such as water conservation. While at Valle Escondido they taught us how to think about our water systems. They would use rain water collected by roofs to send to their ponds. Along with also installing multiple solar panels to heat the water we use in our hotel rooms. The guide for our permaculture also installed the thought of, “Why do we use clean drinking water to poop in?” Which makes sense because millions of people in the world don’t even have access to drinking water!
Housing in Costa Rica also is something most of us are not used to back in the US. It is normal to not have any air conditioner, while in the US it is seen as essential in every household. The material also used for the house is most often sheet metal. In other countries it is also common not to have air conditioning such as Ireland.
Across all the places we stayed they had a shared thought of protecting wildlife, while also education or sustaining their business. Valle Escondido was a great representation of a quality hotel, while informing the public of sustainability measures. They use a permaculture design, to maximize space while growing sustainable foods.
The Effects of Sustainability and Conservation on Wildlife:
One of the first things that we learned about the wildlife in Costa Rica is reserves and conservation sites that live alongside the wildlife. They do not harm them at all, I even found it surprising that they don’t carry a weapon stronger than a machete! Viewing animals on our hikes were from a distance, so we didn’t disturbed them.
During our time at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, we were able to witness the Quetzal. Known to be one of the rarest birds to see where we were located. Everyone was so surprised, it stayed even long enough for our whole group to see and take a picture! The reason though it is so rare is due to habitat loss. But the Cloud Forest Reserve is working on bringing them back by building “nests” for them.
The Cloud Forest Reserve also had signs posted for bug repellent. Telling people to spray in or near the bathroom area, not close to where wildlife is. This allows wildlife to come closer to where we were staying. Such as the tarantulas that live nearby the building, and the Kuati that walks right in front of it.
Surprising Experiences:
One thing that I did feel worried about was the work day at the sustainable agriculture farm/activities. The previous posts had mentioned shoveling compost and digging trenches! When put like that I really thought we would be working like an eight hour shift. But my experience was anything but bad! We did have to shovel compost, but only for about four hours. We could take unlimited brakes and were split into pairs. So we only really worked half the time as one job was to hold the compost bag as the other shoveled. We had fun as a group, played music, and made jokes the whole time.
At La Selva I was prepared for the bugs, but the cockroaches definitely freaked me out. They come in from the half inch gap underneath the bedroom door. Even with the bugs, the place was clean! The sheets were regularly replaced and so were our towels, along with cleaning the bathroom. By the end of our stay at La Selva the humidity wasn’t bad. And the nights would get cold so sleeping wasn’t a problem.
The stay at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was a bit much for me. When going into our room I found dead bugs around the window seal, the bathroom, and some dead nats on the bed. The building was clean, but the front building doors were left open late so a lot of bugs would get inside. Overall the stay was good, the food was amazing and so were the views.
Over all the home stay was the place I felt he was most comfortable in. But looking back I think I got the most out of La Selva. I honestly wish we could have stayed longer! The freedom to go on random night hikes, and the lunch area to hang out and play cards allowed everyone to bond.
What I plan on Bringing Back Home:
At the home stay it really helped me imagine how I can implement sustainability and conservation into my life. One of the biggest things I noticed was not throwing away a single scrap. Such as if we have an end of an onion, she would just toss it into her garden. While I can’t necessarily do that since I live in an apartment, I can save my scapes and freeze them for stocks. I can also choose to take shorter showers. And encourage my roommate to turn the sink off while she brushes her teeth.
Both big businesses like Valle Escondido and families like my host. They both had dryers, but chose to also hang dry their clothes outside. I know this is also done in the US, but it is very common in Costa Rica. It works and it’s free!
My experience overall was great and it makes me want to do it all over again! Everyone was so welcoming and welcomed us with open arms. Our group had so many questions, and they were all answered no matter what it was. The trip exposed us to another way of life, trying to be sustainable and environmentally friendly in many different ways. I will miss Costa Rica, pura vida!
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