Rio Celeste

On Friday, all USAC groups from around Costa Rica (Puntarenas, Heredia, and us) got together at this cool private party place nearby to have an end of the year celebration. The place had a soccer field, so we started out with soccer games versus the others. The first game was Puntarenas vs Heredia, and then we were to play the losers and then the winners. We ended up beating both teams and had a blast! I was goalie, and I never let one ball through. Everyone on our team played awesome as well, and we had some really really good goals (throwing in from the sideline and getting headed in the top corner was the highlight). 

Yesterday, a group of us headed to Rip Celeste, this hidden gem of Costa Rica that consists of the bluest blue you will ever see in a natural river. We left at 6 in the morning, and after a very long four hours in a cramped bus we made it. 

The hike starts out through a cloud forest that is lush and green and full of life. The first stop was the waterfall, which was about 80ft tall and so beautiful. Then, you keep walking and eventually get to a point where you can hike along the river and see where the water turns colors. It turns blue when two different creeks from a volcano nearby meet and mix. The combination of sulfur and calcium carbonate are what make the magic happen. 

Despite being in a bus for eight hours and only hiking for a little over three, it was worth it! Nature never ceases to take my words away. This place is so special and definitely one of the coolest places I have been.

Water mixing, turning blue!