The Dallas Academy high school class has returned from their world travels! Ten high school students, led by Ms. Cooper and Mr. Hooper, spent their spring breaks on a unique opportunity to visit Costa Rica. The students followed a jam-packed itinerary of experiences aimed at providing a glimpse of a slice of life in Tico, one of the most biodiverse and ecologically important places in the world. The trip had a little something for everyone, from nature lovers and adventure-seekers to those simply looking for a respite and slice of culture away from the hustle and bustle of the United States.
Bookended by two travel days, each day in Costa Rica was spent experiencing a different side of what the country had to offer; on the first day, students traveled to Zarcero City Park to see life in a typical Costa Rican town, highlighted by a beautifully manicured garden adjacent a Catholic church in the town’s center. Upon reaching Fortuna, one of the more visually impressive parts of the country, students hiked down over five hundred steps to experience and swim alongside the Fortuna waterfall, one of the most famous waterfalls in Central America. After all the fun and travel, students rested in the famous hot springs, heated by geothermal energy from the nearby Arenal volcano. On the second day, students viewed the natural and cultural beauty of Costa Rica firsthand, braving heights with hanging bridges to see the lush tropical vistas and visiting a UNESCO world heritage site in Sarchi, where a single family has produced lavishly constructed ox carts, a symbol of Costa Rica, for over a hundred years. Finally, students soaked up the sun on their beach day in Punta Eterna, where they enjoyed a private catamaran before enjoying a lavish day of swimming, kayaking, and even playing volleyball against the local island attendants.
Costa Rica will hold a special place in these students’ hearts for years to come, and Dallas Academy is so grateful to be able to represent itself with its fantastic students in such a unique location!