To explore yet another area of this beautiful country of Costa Rica, the entire group spent a couple days at Rancho Margot, a sustainable eco-lodge located in the rainforest near Lake Arenal.  In addition to fascinating wildlife and breathtaking views, Rancho Margot offers a unique experience in that the accommodations are within the heart of the forest and all the meals are prepared with organic ingredients cultivated in gardens and farms on the property.

Excited to all be together again, we enjoyed activities like horseback riding through the jungle, kayaking on the lake, dipping in natural pools, and of course swapping stories from the first parts of the program.

At the end of each activity-filled day, we slept in a bunkhouse that contained rows of cozy rooms with large windows opening into the jungle.  We helped each other hang mosquito nets and spent time hanging in the hammock before heading to bed each night.

Several people rose early for 7:00 AM yoga accompanied by birdsongs in the serene, open-air yoga sanctuary.  On the more adrenaline-rushing side, we all went zip-lining over the jungle canopy, and flew through the air on the tarzan swing!

 

After having discussed the benefits of eco-tourism through other activities, we all enjoyed seeing a perfect example of it, from touring the grounds with local guides to meeting baby animals.

 

Our fun stay at Rancho Margot showed us another side of tourism; that a self-sufficient farming enterprise can be a charming place to relax, explore, and get up close to nature’s beauty.