I began this journey with no expectations. It was my first time in Costa Rica and my first ATTA occasion. I hopped on the airplane embracing the unknown, prepared to find all of it. As common, life has an influence to shock us past our creativeness. My expertise was not the exception, and for that I’m deeply grateful. Pura Vida!

It began in San Jose, the place our Pre-Journey group met for the primary time, fourteen folks from totally different international locations, totally different backgrounds, totally different personalities, with one factor in frequent: we have been all adventurous souls. And none of us knew what Costa Rica and its climate had ready for us.

Throughout our journey, Costa Rica was going by one of many heaviest and longest rain intervals locals can keep in mind. That was how our journey began, and it supplied our first lesson: each journey is about being versatile and adaptation. This wild climate was not in our plans, however we determined to go forward and take advantage of it.

Earlier than you retain studying, let me let you know one thing. This journey was all about firsts for me: not solely was the vacation spot new, but in addition all of the actions in our itinerary. I went ziplining for the primary time in my life in essentially the most stunning forest I had ever seen, lined by rain, a bit nervous, curious, however above all amazed with what I used to be discovering in each step we took. Right here I discovered lesson quantity two: journey would not occur alone. Being on the zipline with these fourteen superb folks, not solely gave me the braveness to let myself go, but in addition made it enjoyable. The rain took all of us exterior our consolation zone, but it surely additionally allowed us to chortle and join in a means that perhaps good climate wouldn’t have achieved. After the primary trip I began feeling the that means of Costa Rica’s philosophy, Pura Vida. I used to be beginning to really feel alive. Transferring from a spot of worry, into a spot of pleasure and surprise.

The following couple of days taught us that you would be able to plan for plan A or B, however life will all the time have its personal rhythm and that that is the journey: unsure and exquisite. Our Pre-Journey week was undoubtedly surprising for all of us, but it surely gave us the chance to attach with one thing past the place: ourselves. We obtained the prospect to speak and get to know one another on a deeper stage; between the laughs and the conversations, our free spirits and our genuine selves emerged by the times. Our first day of solar allowed us to get pleasure from tubing at Río Celeste. I’ll always remember everybody’s smiles on their faces. Letting go of management and flowing with the vitality of the river. Fourteen adults feeling like youngsters once more, a reminder of why we love journey and journey.

© ATTA / White Waters Expeditions

After our Pre-Adventures, we made it to La Fortuna, prepared to begin the occasion at Los Lagos Resort. For 2 days we have been impressed and fueled to attach with all delegates and our Costa Rican hosts. Amongst friends, we found how a lot we now have to study from each other and the way a lot room for development and new alternatives is forward of us.

The phrase impressed could come brief relating to the teachings I discovered from our audio system. After having the pleasure of sharing my Pre-Journey week with Vanessa Marino, founder and director of Amazon Feelings, her keynote titled, “The Emotional Journey” challenged the viewers to look past the apparent and query the best way we method journey in our lives and companies. Dig deeper she stated, whereas inviting us to decelerate and embrace silence. Her learnings from the Amazon confirmed us how necessary the non secular connection is after we journey, relaying the that means of why we do it. Her phrases made me replicate on how we’re all in search of our place on this planet, and for a few of us that place is the journey of discovering ourselves whereas we journey.

Franco DeNegri, who spoke about “The Mental Journey,” made us join with the human behind each traveler and the transformative energy of each journey. His challenge, La Base Lamay, pursues a accountable and regenerative tourism targeted on making a reference to native communities in Peru, an instance that proves we vacationers are a lot greater than folks going locations, however individuals who wish to be reworked by experiences and folks. Transformation doesn’t come from exterior, it comes from inside, was one in all his phrases that can follow me for a really very long time. 

© ATTA / Tamara Parraguez – AdventureNEXT Costa Rica 2024

Our closing speaker, Matthew DeSantis, founding father of MyBhutan, spoke about “The Non secular Journey.” He blew our minds and souls away sharing his perspective and imaginative and prescient for native and luxurious journey journey after 15 years of expertise in Bhutan. In a world the place so many individuals speak about storytelling, however only a few know the true that means of this phrase, Matthew gave us a masterclass on what storytelling really means. “We push innovation with conversations,” he stated.

Touring can also be about this, concerning the synergy created amongst us, about how each place is linked with these conversations we had, what we discovered, what made us query issues, what made us cease and ponder the world by a brand new lens. Storytelling can assist each group replicate on and share their historical past; that is how Bhutan retains their traditions going. As a result of they don’t seem to be tales from the previous, however an expression of who you’re. Storytelling permits us to create a language out of touring, and this language may be common so long as we maintain issues genuine and actual.

I might most likely write a e book after spending these ten days surrounded by distinctive folks. Each delegate, each speaker, each visitor shared their ardour for the journey of life. Costa Rica was the proper setting for seekers around the globe to attach with one another, to tug ourselves out from the fashionable auto pilot mode all of us stay in typically.  

I got here with no expectations and I left stuffed with pleasure, calm and 1000’s of recollections that shall be my true north and inner information throughout 2025. I discovered that we go to locations, leap on planes, join quite a few actions, however true journey solely occurs after we meet one another. The facility of nature did its job. Pura Vida turned one thing actual and unforgettable. Thanks all.

I look ahead to seeing everybody in April at AdventureELEVATE Latin America in Bonito, Brazil.
Let’s maintain the journey going!