After a day of settling into Villa Huetares for Orientation, Scavenger Hunts, and bonding as a group, we set off for a day trip to the nearby volcano of Rincon de La Vieja!!

The name Rincon de la Vieja means “The Old Woman’s Corner,” a reference to a local legend about a girl whose lover was thrown into the crater by her father. It is one of six active volcanos in Costa Rica, and it consists of several picturesque craters, peaks, and rivers.

We first took a small hike to a waterfall and cooled off by jumping in and ducking our heads under the freezing water. It felt great to be outdoors, and great conversations were had amongst all as we hiked back for our main activity of the day: white water tubing!

Before heading out to tubing, we had the opportunity to spend time with a local Tico guide, who showed us some native Costa Rican snakes and frogs. A few of us were even brave enough to hold the snake!!

To reach the launch-off point for the tubing, we rode horses through the trees on pristine trails. It was a momentous occasion for a couple of us, who had never ridden horses before, and we arrived at the river feeling accomplished!

For the white water tubing, we each received an individual tube, lifejacket, and helmet, and sat in the tube as the river pushed us one-by-one down through the rapids. It was a beautiful and exciting ride as we passed canopies of trees, with the peaks of the volcano and crater always a bit in sight. There were many hilarious moments as a couple of us got stuck in some rocks, but the local guides were always there to help us. It was also great to see everyone in the group helping each other too and enjoying each others’ company throughout the day.

What a great day in this incredible country!