PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
- We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
Click here to jump down to the most recent post!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Pura Vida! As the first day of our 21 day adventure we did a lot of traveling. Beginning the day with games and traveling, we took a ferry from San Jose to Montezuma! Driving through the forest and along the cost gave us a beautiful view of the Costa Rican landscape! From the trees, flowers, and wildlife, we got a glimpse of what kind of adventures we’ll have!
Once we landed at La Cascada, our first home base, we got to try a traditional tico meal cooked by our local GLA family! With hammocks, rivers, and an open and earthy atmosphere, this will a wonderful place to call home for the next 7 days while we start our service and integration with Costa Rican culture. After a long but insightful orientation into the program and how we will Be the Change, we made our community rules and spent the night laughing and bonding!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Today we did our first service. In today’s service we learned about the different turtle tracks and how they lay there eggs. Additionally we practiced building turtle nests. After lunch we went on a hike to a beautiful waterfall where we swam and jumped off rocks. Later we went into our mentor groups where we played games and asked each other questions. After dinner we had our first leadership activity. After the activity before our room time we played some games as a group.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
Today we woke up and a ate a great breakfast and then we went to the beach and did our service! We helped move wood and pick up micro plastics. After our service we went back to our home base and ate lunch. After lunch we did our leadership activity and talked about personal and group goals. After leadership time we went to the beach!!! After the beach we came back and had dinner. After dinner we did our night patrol. We all dressed in black and walked along the beach with no lights looking for sea turtles laying their eggs. After we head back to home base and go to sleep.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Today we woke up to eat a DELICIOUS grilled cheese sandwich. We then went to paint signs to put on the beach. After that, we had a cheeseburger with bacon and lettuce. Then we went swimming in the ocean for a few hours and played volleyball. For dinner we had chicken and mashed potatoes. Finally, we went on night patrol and search for turtles.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
Today we went hiking in Curu, then we swam on the beach for a few hours. After swimming, we played volleyball and soccer. Then we went to the island to see bioluminescence, we swam there for about 15 minutes, after we came back to the beach and had dinner and went back to the hotel.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
Today some of us woke up at about 7 AM to go to the tide pools at 7:30. Later in the day, around nine, we had breakfast. After breakfast, we got our clothes that we had washed and packed them up. After packing, we just hung out with each other or in our rooms or in the hammock area. Then we went to this town called Santa Teresa. We split into two groups. Both groups went around to souvenir shops and cafés and just walked around. Some of the group stayed to watch the sunset at the beach in Santa Teresa, while some decided to head back to home base. When everyone was back at home base, we had dinner, and they had a surprise for us, which was basically live music and we got to dance and do some karaoke. At 9:30, we all went to our rooms and went to bed to get ready for the next day.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
We woke up around 6 am to pack our bags and load them onto the bus. At about 6:15 all bags were loaded for us to travel to Parrita.
At 6:50 we had our last traditional home cooked meal in Montezuma with the most amazing chefs! After having a nutritious breakfast, we began our travel journey to Parrita.
The drive to the ferry was around a hour and 15 minutes, and the ferry added about a hour and 30 minutes to the trip. After a chill ride to the next dock, we continued driving for about 40 minutes before stopping at lunch.
We dined at a restaurant called “El Jardin,” and shopped at a souvenir store afterwards. Then, we stopped at a bridge and saw crocodiles. After getting back on the bus, we continued our journey to our next home base.
After arriving at our home base called “La Isla” (the island), we toured the base and swam in the pool before dinner. We then participated in a playful but serious debate about Montezuma’s sea turtle endangerment due to tourism.
After the eventful debate, we hung out before we had in room time, and we went to bed excited for what comes next tomorrow.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 25
Day nine!! What a blast! We spent the first few hours of the day doing both challenging and rewarding tasks at a nearby hatchery! This included digging out a new turtle hatchery and clearing out any debris in the way. After we were lucky enough to be given a dance lesson, we learned all sorts of different moves and songs, which was very entertaining! Can’t wait for tomorrow!
– Ainslee
BLOG POST FOR JULY 26
Day 10! Today was adventure packed. We had an early morning and ate breakfast on the road on our way to a fun few hours of zip-lining! Afterwards we were welcomed to Fogon de LuLu where LuLu taught us how to make corn tortillas from scratch. Once back at home base it started to pour and we had time to relax in our rooms. Excited for the adventure to come!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 27
Today we started off the day with a nice breakfast that included pancakes and eggs. Afterwards, we took the bus to service where we would work on a hatchery owned by a man named Victor. When we got there, we found out that he had a surprise for us and we actually got to release baby turtles into the ocean! They were super cute and tiny and some were a lot quicker to reach the ocean than others. Then we got into the harder work like securing a net around the hatchery, shoveling sand around it, and picking up trash along the beach.
After service we drove back to the home base for lunch and some pool/chill time. At 3:00 a guest speaker came to teach us about river pollution and then we split into groups to pitch a conservation plan to our “judges” Shark Tank style. The group that won came up with a reality TV show about volunteers working in Costa Rica. We followed this activity with more free time before dinner. At the end of the day, we did an activity in our mentor groups and then hung out before bed.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 28
Our 12th day! Today began with French toast as our breakfast then headed on the bus to Manuel Antonio National Park. To pass time on every bus ride we have created a playlist together and we have gotten to hear each others music tastes which has been so cool!
At the national park first we went on a guided hike where our guide pointed out various types of wildlife found in the park. Some examples of what we saw range from certain species of spiders (devil spider) and grasshoppers to bats geckos and lizards (like the Jesus lizard) all the way to larger land animals like the sloth and monkeys!
After our tour we were able to go swimming in the beach at the park. It was nice and calm however a native species of algae gave some of us a couple of harmless stings. Then we changed and walked to lunch which was our choice as to what we ate so you can ask your leader what they chose!
After a wonderful lunch (personally I had a cheeseburger and fries with pineapple juice) we walked back to the bus and stopped at a couple of souvenir stores where people bought things like sloth plushies to headbands and towels. On our way back to home base on the bus we stopped for some delicious ice cream. Personally I had a wonderful two scoops of a flavor called brownie explosion but I know people had everything from banana splits to just plain vanilla.
After our last bus ride of the day we packed our bags and loaded them on to the bus as it is our last day here at La Isla in Parrita and we have an early morning tomorrow. After a dinner of fish n chips we got our phones back. I personally have had a blast and everyone is so fun to be around.
This was a nice last day in Parrita.
-Finn Murry
BLOG POST FOR JULY 29
Our day began early at 5:30 so we could catch the perfect waves for surfing. We packed into the bus and began the long travel journey to our new home base. We had a delicious lunch in the bus and made our way to our first destination, the beach. Once we arrived at the beach we began our surfing adventure where we were taught to ride the waves slowly. I was shocked by how well we all did, almost everyone caught a good wave and I was impressed by the patience and determination we all had. On the way to leave the beach we headed to the bathroom where we saw tons of scarlet macaws gathered across the canopy above us. We then headed back into the bus and continued our travel until we reached our new home base owned by a sweet lady named Isa. She welcomed us into the hotel and we were overwhelmed by the cozy vibe of the hotel and the beautiful rooms. We had some free time and finished off the day with a delicious dinner and some fun games.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 30
Today, we woke up soooooo early and went to service and got the opportunity to help release another batch of baby sea turtles. Afterwards, we walked along the beach and relocated turtle eggs into the hatchery that was built by the previous group. We went back to home base and chilled out before heading into town and shopping for some groceries. Then we had a leadership activity about the five pillars of GLA. We are now hanging out some more after dinner and we will be in bed shortly.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 31
Day 15! Today we woke up early and went to service. We got to release baby turtles (for the third time!!) and then went on morning patrol. My group found 2 nests, one with 126 eggs and one with 65 eggs. After service, we had free time/pool time until lunch. After lunch we went to an insect museum and learned about the importance of saving and conserving insects. To finish the day, we had mentor groups, dinner, and optional arts and crafts.
BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1
This morning we woke up early again for 6:30 service. At service we were able to release another batch of baby sea turtles into the ocean. Afterwards, we did another beach patrol searching for turtle nests. Upon finding the nests, we’d transport the eggs to the hatchery. Today, we found and transported a total of 197 eggs (one nest of 100 and one nest of 97).
As we were walking during service, we spotted spider monkeys. When we got back to the home base we had a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage. We then had about two hours of free time where some chose to chill in their rooms and others played in the pool. A little after noon, we returned to the insect museum to talk to our good friend Jungle Jim about climate change. We also spotted a sloth in a tree outside the museum.
We had lunch at 2:30 and then left for service once again. This consisted of a beach cleanup along the coast outside the hatchery. We were then able to swim in the ocean and enjoy a distant sunset and big waves. We drove back to the home base to shower and eat dinner and unwind for the rest of the evening.
BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2
Today we woke up early to go to Drake Bay and snorkel at Caño Island at around 6 am. We saw a variety of wild life and marine life like whales, dolphins, turtles and fish. Afterwards we ate lunch and drank smoothies. We then drove home and ate a delicious spaghetti dinner. Yippee!
BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 3
Today was a day of rest, after breakfast, we rested until lunch and spent time in the pool. After lunch, we went to town and did some shopping. Then we went to the beach and swam for half an hour because it rained a lot at that time. After eating dinner, we drank hot chocolate outside by the fire and ate marshmallows. We chatted and ended the day.
BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 4
First we woke up to eat breakfast, then we started our 7 hour drive back to our first hotel. Around half way through, we had lunch at a buffet and stopped for souvenirs. Then we continued and finished the drive. We arrived back at our original hotel and finally had dinner ending the day.
