A Roam in Peace
By Marshall Guan · Costa Rica
According to Zhuangzi, an influential Taoist philosopher, a perfect country is where the superiors were wise as the higher branches of a tree and the people were free as the deer of the wild. That Taoist ideal describes a state which is governed in a way as efficient as how nature is organized. As a young adult who is experiencing rapid changes in everyday life, I was profoundly intrigued by the peaceful feeling of Costa Rica, a Central American wonderland.
That Taoist ideal describes a state which is governed in a way as efficient as how nature is organized.
The Sites
San Jose ($0) is the capital of Costa Rica. It is a city that speaks Caribbean traditionalism, modernism and naturalism at the same time. Landmarks, including the National Theatre of Costa Rica, Central Avenue and the Churches, are memories of when Costa Rica was first established in the 1820s. Complemented by buses, a railroad spans across the city, channeling its three-hundred and sixty thousand residents to their work, friends and faith. All newer buildings, both public and residential, are designed in a modest style to endure both raindrop and time.
San Jose is without a doubt the greenest city I have ever lived in. The city’s amiability with nature is proven by some special residents, los perezosos (tree sloths). A family of these lazy animals lives in the University of Costa Rica, sharing our classes by peering from trees five feet away from the classroom’s window. San Jose combines all those delicacies that could only be achieved by people who appreciate nature.
A rainforest climate dominates the city, but its altitude (over thirty-eight hundred feet) saves it from high temperatures. It constantly stays around seventy 70 degrees, gets cloudy in the morning, then rains heavily every afternoon. When the clouds would shy away, San Jose would present the best sunsets I have ever witnessed. The sky was like a palette that painted all the jubilance into the city’s residents, soothing and astonishing.
Irazu Volcano ($10 transportation + $5 park admission) is two 2 hours away from San Jose. With an altitude over eleven thousand feet, Irazu is the highest volcano in Costa Rica. A bus would bring visitors from the city at morning and return at noon. The convenience makes this active volcano a perfect place for a day trip. When I first got there, Irazu was shrouded by thick mist, making any objects twenty yards away invisible. To me it was just a plane covered by grey ashes. I touched the ground and suddenly felt a warmth I had never experienced before: the volcano was showing off its energy. When the sun came out, I was astonished again. I was exactly on the edge of Irazu’s crater! Those were the most magnificent sinking structures I had ever witnessed and caused me such a thrill as I started to recall its recent eruption in December 2016. I realized that the nature in Costa Rica was never only about delicacy. It entails an infinite yet constant power that resonates with the passion in the Costa Rican culture.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio ($16 park admission + $20 tour guide) is a national reserve by the coast. Buses (around $20) between San Jose and the park are available every day. The summer breeze and the beach view overwhelmed me when I arrived. The beach was hazel instead of gold, and the sands were as soft as the new snow. Visitors could enjoy Parasailing ($50 per person), fresh coconuts ($5) and photos with wild monkeys ($0) on the beach. By dusk, when the tide comes, surfers will travel through waves and currents, giving a luxurious but free performance for everyone around. Hotels and resorts ($30 per night) are all recommended for their comfortable rooms, delicious food, and travel advice.
The main attraction at Manuel Antonio is the wildlife reserve, where we observed monkeys, coral snakes, sloths, lizards and a raccoon who tried to steal my umbrella. Tour guides could easily be found at the entrance of the park. They are equipped with professional telescopes and knowledge, and are able to identify animals by their camouflage. They speak perfect English and could provide detailed introduction to the park, biology, and Costa Rica. During our one hour tour in the forest, our guide made countless sudden stops and stared into the woods. While we were standing with confusion, he had already set up the telescope and called us to see frog eggs and insects under leaves, or sleeping sloths in the trees. Eventually we changed to swim at a beach in the end of Manuel Antonio, which, according to our guide’s and our own observation, might be the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica.
The Food
La Pataconería ($12) is a restaurant that cooks my favorite Costa Rican food, patacones. It is located ten minutes walking distance from the University of Costa Rica. It has a wide variety of meat and vegetables complemented by patacones, fried green plantains that hold delicious salsas. A visit to La Pataconeria after school was always very satisfying and eventually counted for both my lunch and dinner because of the size of the general plates they offered.
The Host
Airbnb ($12 per night) is extremely convenient and economical, and our stay with our host Pedro was beyond satisfaction. Pedro owns a house which is ten minutes away from the University of Costa Rica, with half a dozen tenants plus rooms for Airbnb travelers. He appreciated details and decorated the house to be especially cozy. I observed numerous times how he nailed a rough blue wood craft into the wall or added cute cups to the dining table set. Though without professional training, Pedro was one of the best interior designers for his belief in a peaceful and natural lifestyle.
The Romeria
The Romeria ($0) is a religious festival in Costa Rica that happens every August 2nd. During the festival people from all over Costa Rica walk to Cartago, a central city where the Basilica de Virgen de los Ángeles is located. When I went out for dinner the night before the Romeria, I saw people marching on the main street of San Jose, heading toward Cartago. Bands were playing in front of churches to encourage the crowd and volunteers were offering direction and first aid.
The next morning, I made the first step of my Romeria, the beginning of a five-hour expedition from San Jose to Cartago. The walk was tiring because we had to climb up a mountain between the two cities. I just plugged my ears with music trying to skip the struggle. Again, along the way, even in an event with such significance, I observed no sense of zealousness from any person along the trail. All people were performing the same action to practice the same belief. Romeria was a tranquil expression of Costa Rican solidarity.
This article was published in the Spring 2018 issue, Budget Travel.
About the writer
Marshall Guan is a sophomore from China. His favourite city is Barcelona because the city is a masterpiece of nature and culture.
About Guac
Guac is an award-winning travel publication run by an interdisciplinary group of students at Cornell University. We aim to inspire our readers to celebrate cultural diversity and view the world with an open mind through delivering unique stories from people around the world.
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