From coast to inland: Moving to San Isidro after six weeks in Quepos

After six weeks in Manuel Antonio in Quepos, the students of global environmental studies are moving to San Isidro, where they will stay for the last four weeks.

When we moved to San Isidro, we were at the beginning of the group exam period.

I find it has been much easier to work on the exam here than in Quepos, since it's not as hot, and there are fewer distractions – as we live closer to the school and further from the beach.

In addition, we have had more time to write or do other things due to fewer and shorter mandatory school days.

Those who study Spanish with Kulturstudier have lived in San Isidro for their entire semester, and before the start of studies in Quepos, we who take global environmental studies had the opportunity to live there for three weeks for a Spanish course.

In San Isidro, we've had the opportunity to get to know the students studying Spanish, as we now have classes on the same campus and live close to each other. Many of us have joined in on football matches, table tennis tournaments, and gone out on the town with them.

The first few weeks in San Isidro were spent going on various field trips, where we saw and experienced so much!

We stayed a few days with families in the village of Longo Mai, met indigenous people in Tèrraba, visited the farm Finca Agroecologica La Flor and the botanical garden CATIE.

I find it very educational when you get to see what you learn through your studies with your own eyes, and exciting to see a bit more of the authentic Costa Rica beyond the tourist areas. This is really something for future students to look forward to!

We have also gone on other trips besides our studies. Among other things, we spent a weekend in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, and a weekend in Dominical, which is the beach closest to San Isidro.

I really recommend checking out these places. Puerto Viejo was very nice and quite different from the places we have visited on the Pacific side, with many different activities to do.

Among other things, you can visit the Jaguar Rescue Center, or try out snorkeling and kayak tours. We also rented bikes and scooters to explore the area.

In Dominical, I would recommend checking out a famous waterfall called Nauyaca Falls, and a beach called Dominicalito, which is a smaller and much nicer beach than the large one right outside Dominical.

Even though we have traveled a lot to other places since we moved to San Isidro, we have also had the opportunity to check out the city here. There are far fewer tourists here than in Manuel Antonio, which is why it's also cheaper.

In the city, you can find many cool thrift shops and large markets with fruits that you don't find in Norway (I recommend trying the Guanabana fruit). Another thing I've really enjoyed is that the opportunities for outdoor running are much better here than in Manuel Antonio.

There are fewer people in the streets, more places that are suitable for running and much more appropriate temperature. Some from the class have also gone on mountain hikes in the area, and I heard it was a lot of fun – but still a bit warm.

Due to all the traveling, we haven't explored much of San Isidro yet, but what we have seen has been very nice!