I left for Costa Rica attracted by forests and biodiversity, but with the doubt of reducing a country to a green background. I chose a few bases, buses and shared shuttles instead of changing places every day. The program was less ambitious than those seen online and for this reason it left room for meetings, expectations and rainy days.
I visited the first forest with a local guide and a group of six people. We walked slowly, lowering the voice and remaining on the path. Without him I would have seen only leaves; with his indications I began to distinguish movements, sounds and traces. Nature was not there to perform: it required patience.
Rain is not a break
A thunderstorm has cancelled a planned excursion. At first I was disappointed, then the structure proposed a short indoor activity and a walk when the intensity was diminished. I used time to talk to other guests and understand how they managed water, waste and consumption in a delicate area.
When we went out, the path had darker colors and every surface shone. I wore protection for the backpack, suitable shoes and a dry change. Accepting rain as part of the environment, instead of as a lack of travel, has changed my way of staying in the place.
Move less
Transfers were longer than they seemed on the map. Instead of adding a stop, I extended the stay in the second base. I met the same stop, the same little kitchen and some people in the country. The repetition created familiarity and reduced the feeling of consuming places.
I shared shuttles when public connections were not practical and I walked for short distances. I didn’t expect every choice to be perfect. I was looking for consistency: less travel, bottle, useful purchases, respect for indications in parks and transparent structures on their practices.
The meeting on the bridge
During a walk I met Maya, a Canadian traveller who watched the river from a bridge. We started talking and discovered to be headed to the same country. The bus was late and we shared the wait, then a dinner. In the following days we found ourselves for an excursion, maintaining independent programs.
The ease with which dating was born reminded me that traveling slowly does not mean closing. Staying longer increases opportunities to review people and turns a casual conversation into something less fleeting.
Back with best questions
I didn’t come back thinking I travelled zero-impact. The flight, transport and services still have a weight. I came back with better questions: how many stages really need, who benefits from my choices, what can I avoid and where I can stay longer. Costa Rica green was not a reassuring postcard, but an invitation to travel with more attention and less rush.