Antonio here for day 2 of our blog! Luckily we all made it to breakfast on time at 8 am (and avoided the dance punishment). After trying a bunch of the option the french toast won out as the favorite, although accidentally grabbed corn flakes thinking they were frosted flakes (an unwelcome surprise). After breakfast we drove to the largest man-made lake in Costa Rica where Luigi explained the energy efficiency plan to become carbon neutral by 2050. This lake featured hydroelectric wells that provide power to tens of thousands of locals.  After the lake we had our first thrill of the trip- ziplining! After a scenic gondola ride up to the starting point and a safety briefing we were off. While they explained the manual braking system, I ended up not needing to break at all. After the training zipline, the first real one was relatively fast and pretty high up, but the view was incredible- so much better than I expected. The next few after that were similar, but the fifth line was the ...

What a day! After a grueling 4am departure from Watkinson, a 5-hour flight, and 3-hour bus ride our intrepid travelers have made it to Costa Rica. After landing in San Jose and collecting our luggage we met up with our incomparable guide, Luigi. With well over 10 years of guiding Watkinson students through Costa Rica, his smile at the arrivals terminal means our trip can officially begin.  Shortly after loading the bus we stopped for some much needed lunch. Our first taste of Casado (rice and beans) was met with rave reviews, which is good because it is a staple of the cuisine across the country. We then drove through the mountains north to our first hotel in La Fortuna, where we will get our first glimpses of Arenal Volcano in the morning. With ziplining and exploring local cities on the horizon, we are excited to hit the hay and recharge for tomorrow. Pura Vida!

 We are so excited to share our adventures! There will be many highs and lows (literally), and we're ready to embrace them all. Check back for daily updates while we explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica!