My sister and I just returned from a wonderful 3 week trip to Costa Rica. All of our plans changed when we arrived. The first morning in Alajuela, Costa Rica, we met two other Northwestern families at breakfast. Both families told us that they had loved the Caribbean side the most. The people, the wildlife and the lifestyle were all a big draw. We were told that much of the Pacific side that they had visited was "North America Sur", mostly retired Americans and Canadians. The exceptions were the extreme southern part of the Pacific side (the Osos Peninsula)..

We then left for Tortugero that morning. We were going to stay a few days on the eastern side, then return to the Pacific Coast, where we had friends near Hacienda Baru (the southern Pacific side). The first evening out of San José, we spent in Cariari. It was also the night of the "national blackout". We stayed up half of the night visiting with the hotel operator (it was too warm to sleep without fans).

We then went to Tortuguero. We took a launcha through the jungle via rio suerte. It was incredible! Birds and flowers and animals everywhere. Tortuguero has a national park and is the home to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation. We took some tours by canoe, in the park and looking for sea turtles laying their eggs. The people in Tortuguero were wonderful!

We went to Cahuita, Costa Rica next. Another national park, lots of monkeys, butterflies, reptiles and beauty. My sister did some snorkling in the coral reefs and saw incredible fish and nurse sharks.

Then we returned to Tortuguero, and stayed another week or so. We got to know many people on the island. They have just opened a new Colegio (high school). They are in dire need of books for their library in both spanish and english.

I returned again to Costa Rica in 7/07. My sister moved to Tortuguero. However, during this trip I injured my back and we were unable to travel much (at least I was!). I can hardly wait to go back!