Alpha Romeo 3 - living the dream

Words: Helena Parker

It was almost a relief to leave the rangers station at Volcan Turrialba last week as we were feeling guilty about the semi-luxury of it all. We arrived safe and sound at Park Nacional Braulio Carillo, a rainforest park for the next part of our phase, to be met by the head ranger Don Rodolpho.

Among a plethora of wildlife, he showed us a flower called labios de muje also known as woman’s lips, trees whose roots look more like legs above ground, and which literally walk from where they grow to find the best spot. We also saw the deadliest snake in Costa Rica (in the bathroom) and the best part, a waterhole complete with waterfall! Living the dream? We think so.

We should admit it’s not all fun and games though work here consists of walking up one heck of a hill, carrying bags of rocks in our backpacks to lay on the trail. We think we are doing about 15 kilometres per day but we’re hardcore so we get it done by lunch. Good training for the trek (feel the burn!). So after working hard all morning and collapsing in near exhaustion at lunch we get to leg it down to the river to wash off all the dirt and stay there all afternoon. It’s a tough life!