Tropical rainforests, colorful wildlife, beaches on two oceans and mystical volcanic landscapes: Costa Rica has a lot to offer as a vacation destination. It is also ideally suited for sustainable tourism away from the masses - without having to sacrifice amenities. A travelogue with TripLegend.
By Eva Kütscher
The steps of our guide become faster. Small branches and stones crackle under his shoes. In one hand he holds his telescope, which he brings to readiness during his fast step. His gaze is directed upwards, at the same time he is looking for a suitable spot to give us the best possible view. He has spotted something again. What is it this time? A monkey, a snake or finally the long-awaited sloth? We don't know and are impressed by his trained eye, which really misses nothing. Earlier, in Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast, he showed us a well-camouflaged caiman far out on a marshy pond, rare species of birds and plants. From the countless other calls and sounds in the jungle, he can hear the cries of different species of monkeys.
Pura Vida: greeting formula and life motto of the Costa Ricans
But what we longed for, and one reason almost every one of us chose Costa Rica for our vacation, was the sloth - the national animal. The animals are shy and sit high up in the trees where they sleep or eat all day. Sloths are the epitome of "Pura Vida," Costa Rica's greeting, meaning "your life is beautiful, enjoy it." Costa Ricans use it in different contexts, they also use it to greet us tourists.
Almost every day we asked our guide if we would get to see a sloth today. His diplomatic reply, "Perhaps, there is a chance." If we saw just one, we would be overjoyed, we told ourselves. Was today finally going to be the day?
See sloths in Costa Rica
Suddenly he stops. He focuses on a shadow up in the trees and finally we see what is hiding up there: It is the bushy fur of a sloth! Our guide sees immediately, it is a female two-fingered sloth. Through the telescope we can also see it, its two fingers, and even a smile! Pura Vida is written on the face of this sloth.
What we would not have dreamed of: On our further way through the Cahuita National Park, we encountered six or seven more sloths, including even a young one - we stopped counting at some point. So if you want to see a sloth, you have the best chances in Cahuita National Park.
Sustainable vacation in an environmentally friendly country
In general, nature and all the animals that live in it have a high priority in Costa Rica. About a quarter of the country is protected as it is home to five percent of the earth's total biodiversity. It is also nature that makes life possible in Costa Rica, more precisely volcanoes, wind and sun. The country, which is only slightly larger than Denmark or Lower Saxony, gets more than 90 percent of its energy from hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar power - all renewable and environmentally friendly. Impressive. If sustainable vacations in harmony with nature are possible, it's here.
Indigenous people Bribri still live in the middle of Costa Rica's nature
Another component of our trip and an absolute highlight was the visit to the indigenous people of the Bribri, one of eight peoples of Costa Rica. They also appreciate the nature in which they live. They showed us how an original life in Costa Rica looks like. You can already tell that when you get there. To get to them, we canoed upriver for about an hour. No other land or air route leads to them. The river was so shallow in some places that the Bribri had to get out and push us.
When we landed, we found ourselves in the middle of a jungle paradise. Nothing but exotic trees, plants, countless birds - including hummingbirds and parrots - and butterflies. There was hardly any net, but nobody missed it either: pure Digital Detox! After a short hike, we then reached their home, which consisted of several wooden huts. They cooked us the most delicious meals of the whole trip on an open fire, introduced us to chocolate making and fortunately also let us taste it. They also showed us medicinal plants they use for stomach aches or colds, or herbs. One very special plant that we will all remember is anato. Its red dye can be used for coloring food - or for painting faces.
Discover Costa Rica's wild side on the water
The visit to the Bribri was not only insightful - it showed that simple life in nature is still possible today. Through the "entrance fee" and donations, we also support the continued existence of the indigenous people. This is how tourism can create meaning. But we also allowed ourselves a little luxury and action on the water. Costa Rica has a wild side that is best experienced on the water.
And so it was onto the boat for rafting on the wild Pacuare, onto the kayak on the Pacific coast, with snorkeling equipment onto the Caribbean beach and into bubbling hot springs in La Fortuna, at the foot of the both graceful and still active volcano Arenal.
This mixture makes the trip so special, the way of life of the Costa Ricans and their nature unique. Costa Rica is the ideal place for those who want to get away from classic mass tourism and reduce their ecological footprint when traveling, without sacrificing beach or certain amenities. So when people ask me if traveling in the spirit of pura vida and sustainability go together, the answer is definitely, "Maybe, there is a chance!"
If you're hooked and want to experience for yourself what Eva has been talking about, then book now the unique TripLegend Costa Rica Adventure.
Text by Eva Kütscher, cover photo by Verena Schaefer.