The town we stayed in is called Playa Blanca. One of the most interesting things I learned on our trip was that this town used to bring in a lot of money from banana farming, but not anymore. Larger companies have taken over the majority of the banana farming, taking business away from smaller plantations that can’t keep up.

When I came to Costa Rica in 2006, one of the tours was on a banana plantation owned by a globally recognized mega company. At the time I didn’t realize the economic impact that a huge plantation would have on smaller plantations, but it instantly struck a chord with me. This mega plantation was not only taking away business from smaller plantations, but also taking away potential tourist destinations from other towns in the area.

I appreciated staying in Playa Blanca and learning about the culture when not volunteering with Widecast. It is not only beautiful, but quiet and full of wildlife! The place we stayed at, Delfines del Golfo, was extremely accommodating, the food was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone looking to travel to Costa Rica. Though there are many tourist destinations that are closer to the airport, Playa Blanca is a hidden gem worth traveling to.