What I’m Doing for Spring Break (It’s a BIG Goal for 2022)

What you may or may not know about me is that I’m always down for an adventure. From a 48-hour trip to Manhattan at Christmastime to Whitewater rafting in North Carolina to challenging myself to walk 10,000 steps every day for a solid month during a worldwide pandemic (May 2019!) . . . the more adventurous it is, the better. (My dad hiked the entire Appalachian Trail when he was 61 years old, so I come by it honestly.) If the adventure involves being athletic and enjoying the great outdoors, I’m even more excited.

So, about a year ago, when a friend invited me to hike across Costa Rica with a group of her friends, I didn’t hesitate to say YES! And in about 6 weeks, our group will head off on our 280 kilometer, 16-day adventure. It’s hard to believe that after so much training and planning, the trip is finally almost here.

Here’s a little bit more about the trek: “El Camino de Costa Rica takes hikers on a journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific, through the rural countryside of central Costa Rica. From forested mountains to farmland, people open their homes for travelers to experience local attractions and cultural traditions. You’ll see shaded river valleys, cloud forests and mountain ridges, along with colorful wildlife and the agricultural region that generates coffee, chocolate and produce enjoyed around the world,” (Evan Brashier, El Camino de Costa Rica Hiking Guide.)

The Asociacion Mar a Mar is the organization that designed the trek to bring attention to rural, inland regions of Costa Rica. The organization helps communities improve their infrastructure and access to potable water, recycling, and other basic human needs. It’s such a cool organization!

Our group will start north of Limon on coastal islands that are accessible only by air or sea. After touching the water, ferries will transport us along canals to the mainland. From there, we will continue on land across Costa Rica to the town of Quepos, at the edge of the Pacific. We will follow sidewalks by national highways and walk narrow trails through dense jungles. There will be creeks to cross and mountains to climb. There are a few portions of the trek that pass through indigenous territory and require a local guide. Our daily hikes are categorized from beginner to advanced, and we’ll cover anywhere from 4 to 18.5 miles a day for 13 straight days. Some nights we’ll stay in homes, others in huts. (See a map of our route below.)

Now, before you think I’m super hardcore, we will have a support vehicle that meets us at the end of each day with our overnight gear. Our daypacks will hold our water, snacks, and other miscellaneous gear we need along the way. Mercifully, we’ll have laundry and internet sporadically. (PHEW! I like to have a few luxuries, even during my adventures.)

So, what do you think? Are we crazy? I can’t wait to check this off my 2022 goals list and share some stories from along the way! It promises to be quite the adventure.