¡Hola! My name is Lauren, and I’m writing this sitting next to a colorful bird, plantain chips, and over twenty different species of plants. The daily rain has turned into a mild drizzle, and the temperature is comfortable. Nearing the end of our first week here in Santa María, Zona de Los Santos, we volunteers … Read More
Los Santos: Coffee Paradise
Posted by lyoung
Between the mountains and fog is the area of Los Santos, a cozy place where you can breathe in the aroma of coffee and enjoy the good vibes of the Ticos. Here, one wakes up with the singing of the yigüirro bird and the heart is content with a good casado dish. At all hours … Read More
Los Santos: Wrapping Up
Posted by lyoung
¡Qué gran travesía hemos vivido estas últimas semanas! Ha sido una gran experiencia, cargada de tantos momentos vividos en tan poco tiempo. Comprendemos que AMIGOS no es solo el nombre del programa que está por finalizar, sino una oportunidad para desarrollarnos como personas y sí, ser amigos, amigos de nuevas personas, amigos de nuevas culturas, … Read More
Los Santos – Bean Voyage
Posted by lyoung
We have had such an amazing time this week! Experiencing so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities was incredible and we will never forget it! This past week, we visited three different farms with a variety of volunteer opportunities, ranging from spraying fertilizer on coffee plants to touring the farms and sorting coffee beans. Getting to meet and … Read More
Los Santos: Week 1 Highlights – Hikes, Farms, and Food
Posted by lyoung
Our first week in Costa Rica! We have gone on so many hikes and have had AMAZING food. We are staying at Cedrela Ecolodge, where we are in groups of 2-3. All our cabins are made of wood and rustic, but we all have showers and bathrooms that work. The main lodge is down a … Read More
Volunteering at Microbeneficios and Bean Voyage
Posted by lyoung
July 1, 2021 By Ava, Erin, Jasmin, and Melina In our final week with AMIGOS this summer, we relocated to the town of Santa Maria in order to begin our volunteer work with various coffee farms. Santa Maria is a beautiful town that we have all spent our breaks wandering through, and Las Cabinas … Read More
Los Santos: Week 2
Posted by lyoung
Week 2 – by Paola, Ethan, Bear, Molly, and Leo This week was full of many different excursions and activities. We began the week with a visit to Volcano Irazú. We left Cedrela Eco Lodge at 6 am and went on a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride to the volcano. The view was really pretty although it … Read More
First Impressions from Sebastian, Pablo, and Mateo
Posted by lyoung
¡Hola! Me llamo Sebastian, y soy un participante en el programa de Los Santos. Hasta ahora, me he divertido con las actividades que hemos hecho. Viajamos a Cedrela Eco-Lodge el miércoles por la mañana, y organizamos nuestros cuartos. El Eco-Lodge es muy chevere. Siente realmente como si estás en la selva con todos los sonidos … Read More
So, You are Coming to Los Santos!
Posted by lyoung
So, you are coming to Los Santos! Then you should already know that Los Santos is a place of pure natural beauty. This territory is full of biodiversity, culture, history, and some of the best quality coffee that you can find. In Los Santos, the crystalline currents and the songs of the birds accompany you … Read More
Meet Your Project Director, Evelyn
Posted by lyoung
Hello! My name is Evelyn. I am the Project Director for the Costa Rica: Los Santos Project and I’m so excited to be starting this journey with you. I am a psychologist from Costa Rica and have a lot of experience working on community development and cultural immersion programs from organizations like the Red Cross … Read More