Tortuguero y Jaco

We spent the remaining week in Tortuguero, an island off the Caribbean cost that is only accessible by boat through a series of channels and canals. I believe John and Karen have visited this amazing location before in their journey to Costa Rica. An hour boat ride brings you to a long and very narrow island that has a population of around 2,000 people. We became very close to the community as we worked with them to rebuild a playground for the children. We added monkey bars and swings, and fixed and painted the see saws and painted the benches. The children enjoyed helping in the painting projects, and added designs to our base coat. They were playing on the equipment even before the paint dried, and it was incredible to see their happy faces.

We also took a tour of the canals where I learned so much about the animals and plants of the area. For instance, I never knew that blue herons were born white, and then become a patchy light blue during their early years, and only become gray blue when they are full grown. we also saw toucans and parrots. During our walk through the rain forest we saw spider monkeys only a branch above our heads as well as several poisonous spiders, and 3 tiny but deadly snakes. the guides are amazing at pointing the animals out, I never would have been able to see them if it was not for the guides.

That night, we took a sea turtle tour from 10 pm until 1 am. We walked on a path along the beach for 2 miles until we heard their was a sea turtle making her nest. We then turned our lights off and walked to the beach, and with only a red light watched her lay several eggs. It was the most amazing experience ever, she laid near 80 eggs and we watched her for a good 15 minutes. The same turtle will return to shore 6-7 times during the season, laying less eggs each trip, but laying a couple hundred eggs in total. The reason we can observe the turtles is the fact that they feel no pain and have no idea of their surroundings when they are laying the eggs. We then watched her bury the nest, a process of around 45 minutes, and watched her slow trek back to the ocean. We were able to follow her journey across the sand behind her. The experience ranks in the top three experiences of my life and was absolutely incredible. Only 200 people are allowed this tour per season, and my group of 20 students were the first ones allowed on opening day. Of 1,000 turtle eggs laid, only 1 green sea turtle will survive into adulthood. Several group members chipped in to sponsor a turtle for a year, so we will be receiving the news letter on their progress.

After arriving home to San Jose, we turned around in 45 minutes and got on a bus to Jaco, a tourist beach about 2 and a half hours from San Jose. My classmate participated in a 2 K race in the ocean to benefit child cancer, and we went to support him. Jaco is a great town, but definitely very touristy.

It was a great week over all, and one that inspired me to continue with service work in the future. the connections I made will stay with me forever, and the people of Santa Rosa y Tortuguero will forever be in my heart. It is important to remember that the earth is not money, but life. This is true, and protecting it and becoming sustainable is important. I have learned to appreciate nature, and not to take anything for granted.