This thrilling jungle paradise is leading the way in ecotourism

On a scale of dangerous pursuits, planting a tree hardly rates a mention, unless you’re deep in the Costa Rican jungle and surrounded by poison dart frogs and a viper or two.

“My people have lost most of our territory and all of our primary forest,” Jaquima says, raising his voice above the cicada-like cacophony of killer frogs. “So, we set out – tree by tree – to bring it back.” Thanks to a stable and progressive government, this demilitarised nation is a world leader in ecotourism, with some 25 per cent of its landmass protected by national parks, wildlife refuges and forest reserves. Add in rich biodiversity, sustainable tourism practices and an ambitious National Decarbonisation Plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and it’s easy to see why Costa Rica was named “Champion of the Earth” by the United Nations in 2019.

Jaquima’s nephew Antu Tijinin Elizondo-Paz shares stories about Maleku cultural practices, which are still very much alive. He explains that from burial rituals to animal symbolism used in Maleku masks, everything is linked to the forest. “Please tell your friends about our struggle,” he says. “And know that wherever you travel, Mother Nature is with you.”

We’ve joined the Villanueva family for lunch and a mask-making workshop. Other Intrepid groups might enjoy a home-stay or a textile class with an alternative indigenous group. All experiences are designed to bring guests close to local culture while giving back to local communities.

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