The Final Chapter

I'm sitting in a hostel in San Jose, going through photos from the last few weeks in Central America, and slightly in denial that my flight home leaves tomorrow. The end of my Raleigh expedition was as busy as the beginning, but work was with a slightly heavy heart that it was all coming to an end, together with a feeling of pride at what we have achieved and enjoying all the end of expedition celebrations. I have had such a fantastic time with Raleigh both in India and Central America, met some truly inspirational people, and have gained so much and so many friendships. 

Lena, me and Greg enjoying an Argentinian birthday celebration for Pedro during the final phase

All the staff enjoying a Costa Rican breakfast after all the Venturers had departed at the end of expedition

Since leaving field base in Turrialba I have been travelling with some of the other volunteer managers from the expedition, starting as a big group heading to Bocas Del Toro in Panama (after our final partly in Cahuita on the Caribbean coast), and then onwards through Panama, the group gradually diminishing in size as we headed towards Panama City. 

A sloth visits our hotel in Cahuita (I was very excited about this)

Kat, Vic, Denise and me on a visit to the sloth sanctuary near Cahuita

Buttercup, the sanctuary's oldest resident. She seemed pretty content.

Arrival into Panama after a slightly hair-raising walk over a rickety wooden bridge to cross the border

View from the boat to Bocas

Our balcony in Bocas town

Cycle ride to Playa Bluff

Playa Bluff, Isla Colon

After Bocas the first stop was Boquete, a small town in the hills surrounded by lush green forest and coffee plantations, where we stayed for 3 nights. Sadly the town is being swamped by developments catering to wealthy ex-pats, but for now it still retains some mountain charm and is a great location for exploring the hills. We did a lovely walk along part of the Sendero los Quezales, one of Panama's best hiking trails, went on a tour of a coffee plantation and processing plant (including tasting and learning a lot about coffee) and visited some hot springs.

Bridge on Sendero los Quetzales

Learning about coffee production

In Boquete. A good phrase to ponder before my impending return home!

Caldera hot springs with Marisa, Sarah,Chris and Kat

From Boquete we took a series of buses (more than planned after one broke down) to get to Santa Catalina, a tiny town on the Pacific coast. As soon as we arrived we were pleased we had made the long and sweaty journey here, having previously debated whether we should just go to Panama City instead. We managed to get a cabin right by the beach, not a road in sight and just the sound of the waves and views of sand, sea and palm trees. We spent 2 nights here and all enjoyed learning to surf, which is the main activity putting Santa Catalina on the map.

View from our door

Looking back towards our cabin, the hat shaped one on the right.

learning the basics with Kat

To the un-trained eye this looks like I can surf, however I am actually
 in the process of falling backwards and not at all in control....

We were sad to leave Santa Catalina but we all had onward travel plans so it was time to make our way to Panama City, where we spent a couple of days exploring the old quarter, Casco Viejo, and making a visit to the Canal at Miraflores Lock. Unfortunately our timing wasn't great and we just missed a large boat going through the lock (had a partial sighting from the ticket queue!) but it was interesting to visit nonetheless.

There is an AMAZING ice cream place in Casco Viejo

Miraflores Lock, Panama Canal

Panama City

Casco Viejo

After a couple of days in the city and saying goodbye to some of the group travelling down to Colombia, I set off with Rich and Marisa on the bus back up the Pan American highway to get back to Costa Rica, stopping in David for the night to break the journey and meet Liz, and then travel over the border to Uvita, a small town on the Pacific coast.

There could not have been a better place to spend my last few days. Our hostel was superb, a model of sustainability, with friendly staff and guests and lovely peaceful surroundings. It was less than 5 minutes walk from the beach, and the beach was incredible, not only for the wide stretches of clean golden sand, lined with palm trees and a sea perfect for swimming, but also for the lack of people - sometimes we had the whole place to ourselves, it was so calm and peaceful.

Outside our cabin at the hostel in Uvita

One of the best moments yesterday was sitting on the beach watching the sun set, the stars come out, then swimming by the light of the nearly full moon. It sounds cheesy but it really was such a magical end to my 11 months of adventures.

This morning I had a final swim in the Pacific before getting the bus back to San Jose, which is where I am now, about to do a final pack of my rucksack ready for my flight tomorrow (although I'm quite tired from dancing salsa in the street at a music festival so the packing might wait until tomorrow morning...). It's so surreal that this year of travel has come to an end, and the last couple of weeks have been a great finale to an incredible year that has given me so many unforgettable experiences. I'm sad it has to come to an end, and quite apprehensive about returning to the real world, but very much looking forward to catching up with friends and family on my return. See you soon!

Pura Vida x