Costa Rica teaches us what really matters — every day we confirm that the most important part of this trip isn’t the places, it’s the people.
Our journey to Costa Rica began with our arrival in San José and the trip to Cartago, home to Ciudad de los Niños, our base for these weeks. From the very start, we got to know the institution’s work, history, and mission with the children up close. We visited its facilities, workshops, farms, and greenhouses, and learned about departments such as ACAI, which handles the children’s social and psychological support.
One of our main tasks has been creating a mural in the school square. Every morning we’ve been preparing, designing, and painting the wall little by little, although the tropical rain has sometimes forced us to change our plans. We’ve also helped ACAI organize clothes and files, assisted with communications, and prepared different activities.
Afternoons have been all about sports and bonding with the children. The boys among us have helped out at the sports club, playing everything from soccer, basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, and badminton to ping-pong and billiards, while the girls organized activities and reflections with other children at the shelters. Little by little, we’ve built trust with them, moving from being strangers to sharing more and more moments and experiences.
We’ve also gotten to know Costa Rican culture and traditions much better. We took part in a pilgrimage to the Cartago Basilica, attended Mass and JAR meetings, and traveled to different parts of Costa Rica. We’ve tried typical foods and fruits, visited a coffee cooperative in Santa María de Dota, and enjoyed an intercultural dinner in the city with the other volunteers, where we made Spanish omelet, the Mexicans made enchiladas, and the Argentinian volunteer made a dulce de leche dessert.
We’ve also taken the chance to discover Costa Rica’s stunning nature. We’ve hiked through Selva Madre, gone trout fishing, visited the Orosí Valley, and enjoyed a trip to Jacó, where we saw crocodiles, macaws, scarlet macaws, and iguanas, and got to enjoy the beach and the sea…
Between excursions, sports, work, meals, tropical rains, sunsets, karaoke nights, and even our first Costa Rican earthquake, these days have been an experience of community, learning, and volunteering. Above all, we’re discovering that what matters most on this trip isn’t only the places we’re getting to know, but the people we’re sharing our time with — especially the children of Ciudad de los Niños.
