Recap of Chira Isle

Apologies for the delay in the blog – every other location we have traveled to has not had WiFi access, which makes all our blogs fall out of order. So rather than go out of order, we have been typing them as we go and saving them for the most reliable WiFi – unfortunately, that means they are all being uploaded now that we are in our final location –Monteverde!

We appreciate your patience, and without further delay: a recap of Chira Isle!

We departed for Chira Isle from San Jose on Wednesday, July 11th after spending our first few days in San Jose. The students were warned that Chira would be the exact opposite of what they had experienced in San Jose.  A remote island in the Pacific Ocean, Chira is practically untouched by commercial tourism with only 3,000 residents.  To reach the island, one must travel by boat and depending on the tide and the location of departure, this trip can take from 15 to 45 minutes each way.  The island has all dirt roads, and the purpose of visiting Chira was to learn about the sustainable efforts that the island has made in terms of both the environment and diversifying their local economy.

Upon arriving in Chira, we carried our bags off the boat and loaded onto the bus (driven by the local legend Mr. Tom Cruise).  We stayed at La Amistad, a women’s co-op started by friends Dona Lili and Dona Dora.  They started the co-op because they saw a need to have another source of income as women.  Their co-op hosts groups who want to learn about the sustainability efforts on Chira Isle, and they have traveled to many countries (including Canada, Germany, multiple countries in Central America, and this fall they will travel to Brazil) all to receive awards or spread their best practices from their experience.   Their co-op is powered through solar panels, and students were treated to local home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. 

While on Chira, students learned about the restoration practices the island has taken up in recent years.  Many of these preservation efforts are being spearheaded and maintained by women in the local community. Students learned about mangrove restoration and were able to plant mangroves on the beach, which help protect against erosion and serve as a habit for local bird populations. In addition, students learned about responsible fishing practices by interviewing a local fisherman and implemented these methods by helping to catch mollusks.  In addition, they visited a local women’s artisan collective, which is again run by women in the community.  All the art sold in the collective is put back into the local economy, which further highlights the reason we visit Chira.  While the residents want to continue to diversify their economy, and it is clear that tourism is growing on Chira, students asked important questions about what social, economic, and environmental impacts these changes would have. 

In their free time, students got to hike on the nature trail on the property, which led to a lookout point. In addition, they got to walk along the beach and swim in the gulf.  They were able to practice their Spanish with local children and put their language skills to use during a soccer match.  Finally, on the last night, all the students and staff hiked up to a lookout point on Chira and watched the sunset. Many students remarked how sad they were to be leaving such a magical island. Yes, they slept in mosquito nets, and no, there was no WiFi, but for many students, this island was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was so different from their everyday lives.  As we have progressed on the trip, they continue to echo the same sentiment with each new location: “it’s great, but it’s not Chira.”