Volunteer travel to Poas and around areas at Rescue Center Costa Rica
This week has been particularly busy at Rescue Center Costa Rica, as the teams have been overseeing the new sloth release program - stay tuned for our upcoming articles about the progress and updates with our sloth gardens and release program.
However, we can reveal that, with supervision from our very own vet, Dr Raquel Meneses, and owner, Vanessa Lizano, the teams have been preparing our rescued baby sloths for their next stage of release. This stage sees our babies moved from inside the hospital, to out permanently on the trees. Very exciting times to come.
We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work both the vet and the animal teams are putting in. We know this is far from easy, so each week, volunteers have the chance to enjoy themselves how they choose to. This week, we have decided to introduce the mighty Poas Volcano, and surrounding area, to the volunteers.
Rescue Center Costa Rica is fortunate enough to be located in the Central valley region of Costa Rica, in the very heart of the country. Here, we are in an ideal position for our volunteers to explore the very best of Costa Rica with ease.
And Poas is no exception.
At just under 3000 meters high, Poas offers some spectacular scenery and views. Being an active volcano, our volunteers were limited to just 20 minutes at the crater, due to the high concentration of chemical components and unpredictable nature of the area. Despite the short stay, it was still plenty long enough to snap up some pretty incredible insta-perfect shots, especially of the lake below the observation point.
The crater lake observed is an incredible geological formation, and one of the biggest crater lakes in the world! At just over a mile wide, the lake is an incredible bright blue colour, owing to the acidic compounds. A trip certainly not to be missed.
Due to the volatile activity over the years, the slopes of the volcano are inundated with rich and fertile soil, bursting with nutrients. This, coupled with the perfect climate and elevation, creates optimal conditions for growing one very special crop: coffee.
Coffee is one of the world’s most beloved commodities. Today, not only did our volunteers get the chance to witness the impressive volcano, but also how communities across millennia have utilized its life-giving properties. In a guided tour, they we able to discover how coffee is grown and processed in the region.
In costa Rica, the best time for coffee picking is between October and March. During this period, a sea of red erupts across the coffee fields, as the coffee cherries ripen a great red color. On the slopes of Poas Volcano, the coffee is hand picked by farmers and shipped across the globe! It was a great sight for our volunteers to see.
On the way back to the Rescue Center, we made a slight detour so that the volunteers could gaze upon the incredible La Paz waterfall. Part of a series of 7 waterfalls, the La Paz falls cascades down the slopes of Poas Volcano and fuels life in the region.
Each and every one of our volunteers currently working at Rescue Center Costa Rica deserves to enjoy their free time, and we hope this little insight to the wonders of our beautiful Central American country has left them in awe.