Turtles in Costa Rica

It had been my privilege to have been able to travel a fair amount so far in my life. Spending four years in Uni on my Bachelor’s degree served, more than anything, as the wake up call I needed. On one hand, doing a languages degree, I experienced a whole year abroad, immersing myself in several different countries and cultures and gaining a thirst to experience more. On the other hand, I realised how limiting university can be, particularly as somebody interested in language and cultural exchange. I knew I wanted to see the world, not from text books and classrooms but rather with my own eyes. Thus, having finished my degree, I packed a bag and set off. And here I now find myself, traveling, living and experiencing….

However, I wanted to highlight one experience which I hold particularly close to my heart. The nights I spent strolling the serene and peaceful beaches in Ostional, Costa Rica are memories I will forever cherish. I had gone on a volunteering project, for one month working in turtle conservation. Upon arriving, I was a little disappointed to hear that I “may or may not” see any turtles. For the first two weeks, this disappointment was indeed realised and the beaches remained empty, silent and serene. One night however, I remember being woken by the voice of another volunteer. The turtles had arrived! We made our way to the beach. And to say it was full of turtles would, surprisingly, be an understatement. The beach was teeming, so much so that you had to tiptoe between these glorious underwater creatures, who had arrived on the beaches as one united front to lay their eggs. From fully grown, to tiny babies, seeing these beauties in real life was a pure delight. There are so many stories I could recount about this experience. If you ever get the opportunity, please do so yourself. It really warmed my soul to connect with nature and other beings in this way. Don’t be fooled by their hard exterior, turtles are soft and precious on the inside 😉

Cal