Mother Nature Versus Phone

Getting teenagers to put down their electronics during a family vacation was challenging for one parent until she introduced her kids to Costa Rica’s abundant natural features

By Rachel Cherry White

Some say it would take a force of nature to get teenagers off their phones. On our last vacation, our family rented a beach house and their bad habits continued. Yeah, the kids went swimming and we took a boat trip, but there was no excitement. No real interest. Just a lot of scrolling on their phones and boredom. For our next vacation, I decided to take them to the place where I knew nature to be its most powerful and let it take its course.

Costa Rica is a tiny country at just 51,000 square kilometres, but it hits way above its weight class when it comes to the environment. Rainforests, cloud forests, waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches, mangroves and more make the destination one of the most biodiverse places in the world.

On the first morning, we woke in our casita in the Osa Peninsula to noises coming from the roof. Too heavy to be rain, it almost sounded like a bunch of acorns falling. When we headed to the porch to investigate, we found a troop of endangered squirrel monkeys using our roof as a bridge from tree to tree. The little guys were tiny and enchanting, about 30 centimetres tall with long tails swinging them from branch to branch. There were maybe 25 in total. We stood transfixed. They looked at us, curious, but then headed to their breakfast buffet in one of the trees. “Mom…” my oldest grabbed my hand. “They’re so cute!”

SQUIRREL MONKEY

We booked our first trip with a guide. I confess I’m afraid of heights so when it came to climbing 20 metres up a giant matapalo tree, I stayed on the ground while the kiddos got strapped into their harnesses and helmets. My heart was in my throat as they ascended with giant smiles and looks of determination, while the tour operator, Andy, directed them on where to put their feet. I strained to see as they got higher and higher, culminating in a Tarzan swing to the ground that I almost couldn’t watch.

The next day, determined to keep our feet on the ground, we headed to calmer activities. The mud baths and hot springs of Rincón de la Vieja were calling my name. In the morning, we hiked the national park. I did my research and learned that the Costa Rican word for sloth translates to lazy bear. So I showed off my Spanish skills and told our guide that we were dying to see an “oso peligroso.”

“No,” he explained, shaking his head, “we don’t have dangerous bears here.”

I blushed. “Sloths?” I said. His English was obviously better than my Spanish.

“Oso perezoso,” he smiled. “Let’s find one.”

With the help of our guide, we spotted a vine snake, gorgeous and colourful birds, howler monkeys and a smiling, not dangerous at all, sloth. Next, we drove to the hot springs park and changed into our bathing suits, before slathering ourselves with volcanic mud, said to have healing properties. We let it dry as we caught the sun, then rinsed off before going for a soak in the Rio Negro hot springs. We relaxed and soothed our sore muscles as we recounted our recent exploits.

HORSEBACK RIDING THROUGH THE JUNGLE

The next day, the kids convinced me to do a horseback ride and zipline combo. We all loved the horseback ride through the jungle and the kids mightily enjoyed whizzing over ravines at high speeds. Did I mention I’m afraid of heights?

© VISIT COSTA RICA

For another adventure, we headed to the coast where we watched a baby turtle battle its way out of its ping pong ball-like shell, then clamber over all of the other babes in the nest to make its way through the sand and on to the sea. We rooted for it as a wave made him tumble back up to shore, then finally scrambling back toward the water at long last to swim away – truly a lesson in perseverance. We watched this miracle in awe. We were speechless as all the hatchlings left the nest.

Later in our trip, it was our turn to hit the waves. In Tamarindo, I dragged the kids out of bed at 7:30 a.m. because that is when the tide was good. We walked bleary-eyed to the surf shop, wrestled our rash guards over our heads and carried our rented boards across the street to the beach. After a demo on the sand, my 13-year-old waded into the surf with the instructor. After a couple of false starts, she stood up on her board and rode the wave, wobbling her way to the shore. We cheered as she grinned and gave us the “hang loose” hand signal.

SURFING IN TAMARINDO

© VISIT COSTA RICA

“Get your phone!” I urged my kid. “Take a picture.”

“I don’t know where it is,” she told me. “I think it’s dead.” To this mother, hearing that was like music to my ears.