The Caribbean side of Costa Rica

SSTers left San José for a 3-day trip to the lands east of the Central Valley mountain range. Hot and humid, this area is known for its extensive banana plantations, tropical rainforests, and its Afro-Caribbean heritage. We focused on socio-economic and gender issues of the region as well as ecological concerns.

In this region, bananas are grown and packed. (A bunch, at left, is protected from insects with a plastic bag). We took in the banana processing operations, and talked with workers about health concerns related to pesticide use and hard manual labor.

Students also talked with members of a precarista (squatter community) as well as residents of a previous squatters' settlement, who have acquired legal rights to their land. Highlights included interactions with children, playing soccer celebrating with a piñata.

• Hannah and others visiting with the pastor of an Afro-Costa Rican church .
• Sam, Jonathan H., and Jonathan L. organize a soccer game with the children at the precarista.
• Hannah holds a 6-week old child at the precarista.

Sarapiquí

We made our way to the Río Sarapiquí, where we spent the night in a rustic lodge, a mile away from the riverbank in the midst of the rain forest.

After waking to the calls of the howler monkeys the next morning (Jonathan L. tries howling at right...and is answered), the group boarded an open boat for a 3-hour journey up the Río Sarapiquí to the Río San Juan, the natural boundary between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Along the way, monkeys, crocodiles, water fowl, and caiman graced the banks of the river.

In Nicaragua students entered the Indio de Maíz biological reserve via the San Juan river, where we observed the impact of conservation efforts.

• Leah, Kimberly, Andrea, Sam, Sara A., and Jonathan L. find a hollowed canoe during a hike near the Sarapiquí.
  
• Sam and Jonathan H. at the front of the boat on the Río Sarapiquí