Sonja Alvarez, twenty-one years old, took her backpack and her courage to start her world tour on February 10th.
The day of departure rhymes with delay and turbulence. On February 11, a smooth landing at 3:30 p.m. local time. Upon exiting the plane in San José, the French are everywhere. Next step, take the bus to get to the youth hostel, Hostel Del Paseo, for three nights. First technical problem, you need to pay for the bus and without cash, it is complicated. Don’t forget to withdraw money before leaving the airport, or even better, before leaving. On-site, the exchange rates are very high.
It is said that Costa Rica is dangerous at night, so it’s better to avoid going out. Withdrawing money at night, alone, is not recommended, it’s better to plan everything during the day, like buying food.
The youth hostel is the perfect place to meet other travelers. Like Alix and Laurène, two French people from Lyon. Around a game of ping-pong and before fatigue sets in, they get to know each other.
During breakfast, I meet Benjamin, an Austrian traveling for three weeks.
Then, I wander around the city without feeling really comfortable. I stop at the gold museum to learn about the evolution of money in the country. On the way out, I run into Benjamin. We decide to continue the visit together. The main street is really worth the detour, with colors and animation in abundance. The city tour is quick, barely a day. For nearly 12 euros, I buy a SIM card and return to the youth hostel. There’s nothing more to do in this city, I cancel the next nights.
On February 13, the weather is fickle. Thanks to a Facebook group, I find another woman and decide to join her in Montezuma. Apparently, the weather is warm, the landscapes are magnificent, and there are activities to do. After a bus, a ferry, and another bus, I arrive at the destination. On the way, I meet a couple who accompany me to the hostel by car.
I arrive around 3:30 p.m. at the hostel, Lue en El Cielo, where I drop off my things and meet up with Camille to go to the beach. This eco-friendly hostel is great! Breakfast is included and hearty, the staff is helpful, and the setting is magical.
The next day, I am up at 5:30 a.m. trying to spot monkeys, but no one is in sight. Departure is at 8 a.m. with the shuttle for Cabo Blanco National Park. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and costs $14. It’s a 10-kilometer round-trip hike.
At 2 p.m., we decide to start the return journey. It should be noted that nothing can be purchased in the park. I am glad I brought my 3.5 L of water. Once back, a shower is necessary, I must have lost 18 L of water under the sun. Once showered and rested, we go for a drink in a restaurant.
On February 15, a departure is planned at 9 a.m. for the Montezuma waterfalls. These waterfalls are located twenty minutes’ walk from downtown. Once there, you have to cross slippery rocks and steep slopes. We then arrive at the first waterfall, but a crowd of tourists has beaten us to it.
I have vertigo, but we decide to climb. I want to overcome my fears. It was quite an exhausting thirty minutes. Slippery rocks, a rope in the void, some rappelling, and finally a forest to cross. Then we swam, and I even jumped from the waterfall, which must have been 3 meters high (an achievement for me).
Returning, we change hostels. At Downtown Montezuma, everything is dirty, people are crowded, the staff is not friendly. Thankfully, it is only for one night.
Last day of the week, the wake-up call stings. Bus departure at 6 a.m. for Parqueras. After two hours on the road, I get off the ferry and realize I forgot my sweater at the hostel.
During these two hours, I have time to think. I think back to a couple I came across on the ferry. They dropped everything to travel the world. It’s incredible. Being a student and leaving is one thing, but being an adult with responsibilities and dropping everything is truly courageous. And I realize that what I am doing is not so brave. It’s about merit, work, concessions, sacrificing comfort. I also realize that traveling alone, you are never alone. You always meet people, and it’s not a myth. It starts with “where are you from,” “how does it work,” and you make new travel companions everywhere.
