Day 1: May 31st, 2025
Today in Costa Rica, we visited the capital city San José, exploring historical gems like the National Museum to uncover fascinating history. This afternoon, the La Paz Waterfalls Rainforest offered a thrilling wildlife spectacle, showcasing parrots, toucans, and even magnificent pumas and a jaguar! What a vibrant day in paradise!
Day 2: June 1st, 2025
Buckle up! June 1st kicked off with an early start to Santa Elena, a magical cloud forest town. On the way, we launched into a vibrant, tasty adventure at the Santa Ana farmer's market, sampling exotic fruits and local treats. By afternoon, we hit the Spanish school, where our awesome host families were waiting to whisk us away to our new homes. Get ready for some serious Pura Vida living!
Day 3: June 2nd, 2025
What a day! We kicked off with Spanish lessons, then got saucy in a cooking class whipping up "Casado con carne en salsa." Next, we hit the dance floor for some serious fun, and capped it all off with an epic treasure hunt around Santa Elena before heading back to our host families. Phew!
Day 4: June 3rd, 2025
After sharpening our Spanish skills this morning, our afternoon took a thrilling turn! We hit the trails at the Santa Elena Cloud Forest and plunged into the heart of this mystical wonderland, marveling at every single natural gem this magical place had to offer.
Day 5: June 4th, 2025
Our mornings here are packed with Spanish power-ups, and today was no exception! But the real treat? A super cool "Trapiche" (that's Spanish for mill!) tour. We got the inside scoop on how sugar cane, coffee, and cacao transform from humble plants into pure magic. And let me tell you, we sampled the goods: amazing coffee, melt-in-your-mouth artisanal chocolate, and the kind of sweet, sweet sugar cane candy that makes your taste buds sing!
Day 6: June 5th, 2025
Our day kicked off with an engaging Spanish lesson this morning, but once the afternoon hit, it was all about adventure! Some of us went full explorer mode, discovering hidden gems around Santa Elena, while others really boosted the excitement with epic Bungee Jumping and wild Canyoning thrills!
Day 7: June 6th, 2025
What a day! We kicked off our first week of Spanish in Costa Rica, then zipped to Flamingo town on the North Pacific coast, arriving just in time for a stunning sunset at Brasilito beach. We capped it all off with a super fun Karaoke night!
Day 8: June 7th, 2025
What a blast today on the warm Pacific coast! We started by soaking up the beauty of Conchal beach, then hopped aboard a Catamaran for an unforgettable afternoon. Some of us explored underwater while snorkeling, others just relaxed, and we all finished the day with a simply magnificent sunset at sea!
Day 9: June 8th, 2025
What a way to say "adios" to the beach! We made the most of our last day on the Pacific, with some of us splashing in the warm, salty waves and others just chilling at the hotel. Then, it was wheels up for Santa Elena, ready to get our brains back in gear for more Pura Vida Spanish!
Day 10: June 9th, 2025
Today marks the start of our second week of Spanish lessons. This morning, we had some free time to rest and prepare for our afternoon class. We met our new teachers and enjoyed practicing our Spanish!
Day 11: June 10th, 2025
Our morning was packed with pure fun! We hit the ziplines and had an absolute blast, whizzing through the cloud forest and getting treated to the most amazing views. Talk about an adrenaline rush! Afterward, we happily returned to our super cool Spanish class.
Day 12: June 11th, 2025
This morning, our hearts were full as we visited the sweet little school of Los Altos de San Luis. We teamed up with the wonderful Siempre Amigos organization to help spruce things up, painting the walls in two lovely shades of gray. What a joy it was to lend a hand! And of course, our Spanish lessons continued this afternoon.
Day 13: June 12th, 2025
Today, our hearts were full as we returned to Los Altos de San Luis and put the finishing touches on painting the school. It was pure joy to see the children's faces light up, their smiles as bright as the new colors that now adorn their beloved school. Later, we spent a delightful afternoon diving into another lively Spanish class.