Safe and Sound in Playa Hermosa and Agua Azul!

After being out in Costa Rica nature for eight days, Community Service Group A has returned to Playa Hermosa, while Community Service Group B begins their service in Agua Azul. Both groups visited the Biological Reserve Lomas Barbudal, outside of Liberia in one of Costa Rica’s few remaining and protected Tropical Dry Rain Forests. There, the students planted trees, learned about the Capuchin Monkey Research project conducted by UCLA, visited with local kids from a nearby village, and went on several hikes through the forest looking for wildlife. Our most interesting encounters were with a coral snake, scorpion, tarantula, and monkeys, not to mention numerous spiders.

After Lomas, we had a Foundation reunion in Rancho Margot, a self-sufficient organic ranch. Both groups were excited to see each other and share their adventures. Everybody appreciated the delicious organic buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students toured the ranch, chilled at the café, went horseback riding, did a canopy tour through a rain forest with a tarazan swing, and visited a natural hot spring at night. Most of us were also able to see the only active volcano in Central America, Volcano Arenal, spit out red hot lava at night. The three days together went by all too fast and the two groups parted their separate ways again, on Saturday morning.

All is well with Community Service Group B who has started their service project in Agua Azul. After stopping in Lomas Barbudal and finishing up planting trees, Group A is back at the villa in Playa Hermosa, ready to go to the beach (and do their laundry!)

As we are all discovering, Costa Rica is Pura Vida!