A few tips for going off the beaten path
Expect the unexpected. Dirt roads that turn into rivers during a tropical storm. An iguana (or monkey, maybe even a sloth) crossing the road. Going down one-way streets – the wrong way – because there was no sign. A herd of cows will be your Monday morning traffic jam.
Eat local. Your new favorite breakfast might just be beans and rice. Seems odd, I know, for most anyone coming from the US. But as a local here pointed out to me, how odd it is for them, that our breakfasts often come in a box. And don’t miss out on the tropical fruit – a freshly picked pineapple or mango tastes so very different than one that wasn’t harvested before it was ripe, in order to make a 3,000 mile journey north.
Do your best to speak the language. Remembering to say common courtesies, like Hello, Good Morning, Thank You, in the language of the country that you’re visiting can go a long way in making a connection with the local people.
Be cautious (just as you would anywhere) but also know that most people are going to be friendly and – want to be – helpful.
Visit a local school. Ask your hotel if there are any supplies that you can bring.
Learn about the culture. Grapes and apples are special holiday traditions here – they’re not grown locally and not something most people can afford to eat every day. Explore what types of art, music and dance are popular. Find out about holidays that are celebrated and why.
Be mindful of resources. Even though Costa Rica is considered a tropical country, we do have shortages of water every year. Turn off the A/C and lights when you’re not in the room. Bring a reusable water bottle (the water is safe to drink here). Skip the straw and don’t leave any trash behind.
Be a good steward of the environment by staying on the path. Never interact with wildlife – don’t touch them, feed them or talk to them!
Have an open mind. Choosing to explore a new country and not just hole yourself up in some resort means you’re going to see a lot of things that may look unusual… to you. Don’t jump to conclusions or make judgments about the country or its people, based on what you see and what you feel isn’t “normal”.
Just because there isn’t a coffee shop chain on every corner, a mall in every city and their homes don’t look like cookie cutter tract homes you’d find in the suburbs, doesn’t mean that the people are “lacking” (as someone once told me).
Rather, see if you can appreciate all that they do have – and maybe choose to bring some of that simplicity and ease with you, back home and into your everyday life.