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Arriving in Costa Rica was a complete weather and environment change from Philadelphia; the warm weather and strong sun rays could never match the wintertime in Philly. Costa Rica is currently in its dry season, which means it’s their summertime! The dry season takes place from December to April, which offers clearer skies and sunnier days.
For my first day trip, I went to Irazú Volcano with the other students participating in my program: Health Care in Latin America. Irazú is derived from the word Istaru, meaning thunder or earthquake, which signifies the power and strength that this landmark presents. It was about a two-hour drive from San Jose, and located in a city called Cartago. This volcano is the highest in Costa Rica and though active, the last time it erupted was back in 1994.
We went early in the morning, while it was warm, but we needed to layer-up because the higher we went, the stronger the wind got. Even though it didn’t feel super hot, the sun rays were very strong, which I learnt the hard way a day later after discovering my face had gotten sunburnt – so remember your sunscreen! By going higher up in the mountains, your ears might pop a bit too, but the sight to be seen makes it all worth it. On the way up to the volcano, there’s beautiful views of the diverse ecosystem that inhabits Costa Rica. The perfectly green grass with cows and horses along the way made me feel like there was a saturation filter over my eyes. The natural beauty that extended throughout the mountains and later to the volcano was absolutely breathtaking.
At 3,432 meters (or 11,260 feet) above sea level, the views are mesmerizing. The clouds look perfectly molded into fluffy pillows with a scenic view of the volcano beside it. With the smooth, crater-like landscape, the volcano makes you feel like you’re on the moon. There are panoramic views all around that capture both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. As I walked through the crater of the volcano, I noticed little, yellow dandelions throughout the way, which was a beautiful reminder of how through even the hardest of rocks, a flower can grow. Irazú Volcano is a National Park which offers hiking trails, picturesque moments, and simply a day to explore the terrains of Costa Rica. The calmness in the sky and tranquility was soothing enough for me to immerse myself into for my first day trip.
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