Week of Rivers Canoe February 25, 2012 

We are currently in the middle of our yearly 11 day open boat canoe trip and so far it has been a treat. Our guests have just come from a sailing and diving trip in Belize but can’t stop raving about the beauty and culture of Costa Rica. We sometimes forget how lucky we are to live in such an amazing country full time and are grateful to be reminded by our clients’ excitement. Yesterday, we went to CATIE, the agricultural research center on the outskirts of Turrialba and spent the morning tasting and enjoying every plant that was in season. One of our guests used the achiote oil, a red plant used in dyes, as a lipstick and it was a complete success. Normally when people try to use the achiote it ends up all over themselves… and their clothes… and everyone else around them. We salute her masterful skills with brightly colored oily plants! Today they headed out onto the Pacuare River to enjoy three days basking in the wonders of the Costa Rican rainforest canopy and paddling some of the most beautiful rapids we have ever seen.