Big Five – FeedBeyond Arenal / La Nueva “Pura Vida”
At 14 years old, I made my first visit to Costa Rica. Arenal was erupting back then, every 30 minutes, to be exact. The lava flowed on just one side due to the angled cone. This allowed me to walk up close enough to feel the heat of the lava. Back then, there was no platform, no barrier, only me and the lava. I was so close that a hot piece of ash, small in nature, landed on my camera lens (a 35mm film camera in those days). For the first few seconds, I thought it was the coolest thing, and considering I was traveling on my own, there was no one there to worry about for logical reasons. The next thing I knew, the camera lens went black, and the ash burned through it. Although losing the camera was a setback, the memory from that trip shaped my passion for Costa Rica.
Years later, something changed in Costa Rica. I don’t know if it was the mass market takeover or the excursions all looking the same, visiting the same zipline in Arenal and the same beachfront in Guanacaste. It seemed like the destination was not the wild Costa Rica I remembered. However, I went back with the family, and compared to other destinations, it seemed there was a disconnect. Well, over the last few years, our team has been developing new products in the region, following the many indigenous communities that are usually glossed over.
The Big Five focus on sustainability centers around community support and allowing those rightfully due a seat at the tourism table to finally get their voice.
With that being said, we introduce our new Costa Rica adventures, focusing on the indigenous trails and adventure spots that have reignited the spark I had as a child with my first visit to Costa Rica.
There are more adventures to come, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this video put together by our team as they explored the remote regions looking for unwritten adventures.
Click HERE for our Newest President’s Pick, enjoy!
Costa Rica The Indigenous Trails, La Nueva Pura Vida
