It was exactly how you’d expect to wake up in a dream. The screen walls let all the noises of the jungle be heard in their serene harmony on a pleasantly chilly morning, besides a buzz that sounded a bit too close for comfort. I opened my eyes and watched a hummingbird hover over a tall flower, all within a foot or two of me. This is how I woke up on the first day of my trip in Costa Rica.
This past May, Dr. Daniel Proud, Associate Professor of Biology, and Dr. Sarah McClelland, Assistant Professor of Biology, both led my first trip abroad through the Global Greyhound program. The experience took place over ten days, where we visited multiple natural landmarks of the country, tagged “Pura Vida.” Aside from sightseeing, we would also participate in course-based research, the part of the expedition we anticipated the most.
The research focused on Opiliones, more commonly known in our region as harvesters or “daddy long-legs.” To conduct this, we learned how to collect and mark the creatures without harming them, before releasing them for a reevaluation of the area the next night. Despite their menacing armor, Opiliones are harmless animals that don’t produce silk or venom, which made them gentle partners to work with. These characteristics set them apart from their distant relatives, spiders, which they are often mistaken for.
The first four days took place at the Camaquiri Conservation Initiative, where the majority of our research on Opiliones was conducted. The mornings were spent trekking along various jungle trails, marking and studying the plots of land we would return to at night for our active research. We were taught how to use all of our senses to spot plants and animals during these expeditions, catching sights such as oropendulas and spider monkeys.
After spending the afternoon resting and preparing team plans, we’d head back into the jungle once night falls. The hikes through the darkness were always thrilling, especially when we had to stay silent. At our posts, the class took half an hour to explore and search for Opiliones with the help of UV lights and anyone who was willing enough to grab them. Our findings were then marked and recorded in field journals for submission.
The research was concluded with our time at Camaquiri, and from there we travelled to Villa Lapas. The hotel has a unique structure integrated with the surrounding jungle, leaving a visible impression on everyone who visits. These jungles hosted trails with hanging bridges that overlooked acres of the recovering rainforest that we visited the next morning.
The majority of our remaining days were at Casa Gratitude, a scenic colonial home in Rio del Sueños. Every day there was a new day trip. The first day, we visited more trails and sights in the area, and the second day, we took a trip up mountains to see the indigenous Boruca tribe.
The Borucan tribe had an abundance of experiences to share with us, starting with a cultural presentation. In Borucan culture, all elements of nature are respected and celebrated as spiritual beings. One element in particular that they cherish is the river, highlighted in their ceremony, telling a story of a child fallen from illness being revived by the blessing of the River. After a woodcraft activity and a meal, we concluded the visit with a tour of their museum.
Corcovado National Park would end up being one of the highlights of the trip. The journey there included a two-hour boat ride through the Pacific Ocean to make it to the peninsula. Here was where we’d been able to see more of their unique biodiversity in clear sight, such as barid’s tapir, coatis, and northern tamadua. The area has a history of workers inhabiting the island to farm and mine for gold up into the 80s, hence the animals were accustomed to being within proximity to us.
We concluded the trip with Marino Bellana National Park, a vast beach known for its whale sightings during their migration season. We walked through the rocks on the shore during low tide, looking for plants and animals. The remainder of our stay there was split between enjoying swimming in the sea or enjoying coconut water under the shade of the palm trees.
Costa Rica’s dedication to protecting their environment introduced me to a new way of living. One where all forms of life are respected for what they are, and one being’s presence is not being suppressed for the other. It’s a lesson that nature can have a lot to teach us if we gave it more space to.
Ultimately, I found Costa Rica to be a lovely journey. While it didn’t come without the discomfort of adjusting to a completely new environment, none of it could take away from the abundance of beauty the country had to offer.
