OM at Cashew Hill in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

What an adventure Costa Rica was! From the baby sloths at the animal sanctuary to the exciting surf lessons and everything in between, this trip really has it all. It’s a little bit of a slower pace than our other tours, and it is WORTH IT.

Here are some things I lived, learned and noted for your future adventures to Costa Rica, especially if it’s with VoyEdge RX!

Don’t be afraid of the geckos! They are everywhere (even in the bedrooms) but they don’t like you. Okay, they are actually quite friendly, but their main focus and purpose is to keep the mosquitos away (whew!) so don’t let them bother you too much.
No, that was not the sound of a dinosaur. It’s the howler monkeys that hang out in the nearby trees and they are LOUD. If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs or whatever you use to block out sound at night, or try a white noise app if it helps you.
Stay open minded about the food. In the OM at Cashew Hill kitchen, they are exclusively vegetarian. Don’t worry, this does not mean you’ll be eating grass for a week. In fact, this was some of the best food any of us (Including the carnivores) had ever had. You read that right. The chefs use ingredients that they GREW THEMSELVES, and prepare each meal in a way that makes you forget all about the need for meat. Of course, if you are still craving some, it’s just a short walk into town.
Bring games. Some of our most unforgettable memories (some nights were rainy to go into town) were created from sitting around a bunch of fun board, card and group games. Some of my favorites from the 2018 trip: What Do You Meme, Code Names and various card games.
I recommend investing in some water shoes for this trip. You’ll be hiking through ankle deep water and up a gorgeous (and at times slippery) waterfall and your feet WILL get wet! You can also just use some shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
Bring sunscreen, bug spray, a hat and pack light if you can.
The WiFi here is not what you’re used to at home. But I found it refreshing and it helped me focus on good times with the group, the incredible country we were exploring and I was able to truly disconnect within those internet-free moments.
Heads up: toilet paper does not go in the toilet here. Their septic systems are too sensitive for the paper. Yes, it’s a little weird at first but after the 2nd day it was no big deal and we got used to it pretty quickly.
Bring a jump rope if you have one. There are no CrossFit boxes around campus so we did some travel workouts instead. If you have a rope, pack it! I also recommend bringing a lax or tennis ball to help roll out your hips, IT band, feet and back after the active days.

All in all, our Costa Rica tour is a week full of adventure in the jungle and is the perfect recipe for relaxing, recovering and getting back into the right mindset with the perfect amount of food, nature, wildlife and more. Come see what it’s all about in 2019 or 2020 on our trip calendar here and let us know what you think down below in a comment. Pura Vida!