La Pura Vida

In June, a group of eleven LI students joined Spanish instructor Chris Manges and Outdoor Recreation instructor Anna Saco on a nine day journey through Costa Rica, exploring both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Central American country, as well as the jungles, rivers, mountains—and even volcanos—in between. 

“We flew from Boston to the capital San Jose, with a layover in Miami, but the adventure really started on the eastern side of Costa Rica with a journey to Tortuguero,” said Manges, a veteran traveler and leader of multiple student trips to Latin America and Spain. 

Sometimes the journey can be just as eye-opening as the destination, and the trip to the Caribbean coast, which included a two-hour boat ride to Torteguero National Park was no exception. 

“It was crazy how much we saw along the river,” said Manges. “Cayman and iguanas, parrots and toucans—there was exotic wildlife all around us in the water and among the trees.”

Over the next three days, Torteguero offered a range of experiences—exploring the small town’s restaurants and shops, visiting the sea turtle sanctuary from which the area gets its name, touring the canal, and embarking on jungle walks in mudboots. Caribbean riptides made swimming tricky, but the group still managed to get some ocean time along the coast. The only  other real challenge was the weather. 

“It was the rainy season during our visit, so it wasn’t unusual to have downpours during certain hours of the day, followed by stretches of hot sun and some interesting insect hatches, but we made the most of it.”

On day four, the group headed west to Sarapiqui for a long, leisurely flatwater kayak trip along the scenic Sarapiqui River. 

“We saw all kinds of monkeys in the trees along the banks. The whole place felt very wild. On swim breaks we cooled off in the river, while our guides cut up fresh fruit for us, everything from pineapple to mangos,” Manges explained.

The kayak trip was followed by a night time forest walk near the lodge to spot and listen to red-eyed tree frogs among the trees. 

After four days, one might think that the group had gotten their fill of adventure and the country’s offerings, but they were just getting started.

“From the Sarapiqui, we headed for Arenal for a close up view at the volcano. Though it’ll sometimes be spewing smoke and ash, it was quiet on our visit,” Manges explained. “But it was still amazing to see. We even got to take a mountain bike ride along roads in the park in the shadow of the volcano.”

Another highlight of the group’s visit to Arenal was a visit to natural hot springs, powered by the nearby volcano’s thermal warmth. After days of paddling, hiking, biking, and swimming, a long soak in the hot springs was a welcome treat.

On day six, the group crossed the Continental Divide, and made their way to Rincon de la Vieja where more adventures awaited over the next several days.

“We hiked into Tenorio National Park to another volcano and got to visit the brilliant blue waters of the Rio Celeste. Back at our lodge, they found a special treat—thermal mud baths. The kids were quite a sight after immersing themselves in the warm mud. They had almost as much rinsing themselves off in the nearby river and soaking in the hot springs,” said Manges.

A horseback riding tour through farm country came the next day, followed by a zipline canopy tour that afternoon. 

The last leg of the trip involved a journey to the Guanacaste region on the Pacific coast. There they made a daytrip into the town of Liberia, explored tidal pools in the bay near the beach resort in Bahia Culebra, and—best of all—embarked on a white water rafting excursion. “Definitely one of the highlights of the trip,” Manges said.

All good things must come to an end, and soon enough the group was preparing to fly out of Liberia and back to Vermont.

“The trip offered our students so many opportunities,” Manges said. “Many of them had never been out of the country before. For a few, it was their first time flying. Overall, the activities and expeditions really pushed them to challenge themselves to try new things and experience a different way of life. 

“We were lucky to have an incredible guide who was with us through the whole journey—telling stories, pointing out all the wildlife around us. And the students had lots of chances to practice their Spanish, embrace natural history, and experience different ecosystems. We packed a lot in. 

“There is a phrase that is very Costa Rican. They say ‘pura vida’ all the time. It translates as ‘pure life,’ but they use it for hello, goodbye, to say how they are doing, you name it. It pretty much defines their way of living. It is a super friendly country and the people are so warm and welcoming. I think everyone came away with a real taste of what pura vida is all about.”

Though a veteran of many outdoor adventures, fellow chaperone Anna Saco was a first-time visitor to Costa Rica and was as excited as anyone about the trip. 

“It really had something for everyone,” she said. “There was so much variety. Just the ocean alone—you had jungle and black sand beaches with super salty water on the Caribbean side, complimented by white sand beaches with volcanic rock and tidal pools filled with starfish and crabs on the Pacific side. In general, it was one of the most biodiverse places I’ve ever been.”

For Saco, who teaches Outdoor Recreation and has years of experience taking students out into nature, the trip was especially gratifying. 

“The trip was very water-focused,” she said. “Oceans, rivers, pools—a lot of water elements. And very intensive in terms of ecology. There is tremendous value in being able to provide our students with facilitated recreational activities, outings that are accessible but still challenging. Everything was designed to get kids out of their comfort zone in a safe, easy way. 

“It was intense and even exhausting at times, but there were wonderful periods of downtime, too. And there was a real aspect of play in a lot of our adventures that the students embraced. Being able to see a country through the lens of recreation and ecotourism is really special.”

Perhaps no one embraced the challenge of international travel and getting out of the comfort zone more than junior Kingston Newell.

“Kingston committed himself to speaking Spanish the whole time,” Manges said. “I was so proud of his dedication to practicing his language skills and our guides were incredibly impressed.”

Newell’s commitment started early, long before landing in San Jose. “I decided to not speak English once the trip started, which for me was when the bus picked us up at school.” A bus ride to Boston, an overnight in Revere, a day of travel with several flights. And then the trip home—a door to door vow of “Spanish only,” not only with Costa Rican locals, but with peers and chaperones alike. 

“My fellow students respected my choice,” Newell said. “They made an effort to speak back to me in Spanish, too, which I really appreciated.”

Though Newell, having just completed Spanish 3, had solid language skills, it was still a major challenge. 

“It was difficult at times, but it gave me a better experience,” he said. “It made me feel more connected to the people and the place, made the whole trip feel more authentic. I ended up having so many interesting conversations everywhere we stayed. I had a great talk one night with the bartender at the lodge we were staying—he told me all about the customs and culture of his area. It was exciting being able to use the skills I’ve learned and practice with native speakers. I picked up a lot of new vocabulary and phrases.”

For Newell, a hike up the volcano offered a peak experience, one that combined both his love of the natural environment and the local culture.

“On the hike, I started talking to our guide about the area and about life. We had a thirty minute conversation. It was a moment of genuine connection. It felt so nice to have that time where the two of us were more than just a tourist and his guide.”

It’s those kinds of chances—those moments of pura vida—that Manges loves seeing his students embrace, moments when one stops being a tourist and becomes a true traveler.

“For me, travel experiences like this are all about providing opportunities to get out of the classroom and see students immerse themselves in the culture and natural environment which is so much more inspiring, invigorating and real,” said Manges “It lets them put it all together and have memorable, life-changing adventures that will hopefully keep them exploring the world far into the future.”