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mind states costa rica | ||
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A Few Words CLICK HERE FOR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES, Costa Rica is the success story of Central America. They have no military. With a 96% literacy rate, many of their citizens also speak at least some English as well. Their economy is good, so prices are not as low as one might find in Mexico or Jamaica--but deals can still be had. For example, my first night in San Jose was spent at Casa Ridgeway, a clean and comfortable Quaker hostel where one night's stay plus breakfast cost only $10. And Costa Rica's better economy means that the country is largely free from beggars and hustlers, making it more enjoyable to interact with the locals. My companions and I rented a car and drove from one side of this small country to the other. Driving in Costa Rica can be a challenge, as the roads go from bad to worse. The country doesn't really use street signs, so it can sometime be hard to find one's way. However, the citizens of Costa Rica are extremely friendly and helpful; everyone we asked provided us with detailed directions to get us back on track. Driving through the countryside is incredible; Costa Rica is amazingly green. During the week in August while I was there, rain came and went--sometimes only staying for 15 minutes, sometimes for an hour or two. Then sun broke through onto a dramatic landscape--like something out of Jurassic Park. From their cloud-forest mountain tops, to the warm and sandy ocean settings, Costa Rica is ripe with geographical diversity. By the ocean, Flamingo was the cleanest beach I have ever seen. One warm evening there was spent taking in a gorgeous sunset, where even the clouds became tinged with green, from a small open-air cantina that served up fresh seafood and ice-cold beer. While a couple of guidebooks that I read suggested that Costa Rican food was somewhat bland. I couldn't have found this further from the truth, and I did not have a bad meal at any point while I was there--the food was delicious. Although I visited a number of potential conference venues, the location that I finally settled on is a perfect spot to hold congress. This eco-resort blends the vibe of the Chan-Kah hotel in Palenque where the BPC Entheobotany seminars were held, with the architecture and layout of Negril Cabins where the Mind States Jamaica conference was held, and the jungle river pousada environment from the Brazilian Ayahuasca Healing Retreats. In short, it is the best of all worlds. The resort is located in a 2,000 acre private nature reserve--a sanctuary of virgin rainforest--set at the juncture of two rivers. Ancient volcanic rocks provide the foundation for natural waterfalls and pristine pools of water. There is a lake with paddle boats, a swimming pool, hot tub, bar and dancing area, yoga studio, air-conditioned conference room, internet access (dial-up speed), hiking trails, horse riding, bird and butterfly watching, botanical gardens, and they can arrange zip-line canopy tours, horseback riding, white water rafting trips, and massages in their wellness spa for a nominal extra charge. The photos on this page present some sense of the wonderful locale. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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