Setting the Stage

Last Spring one of my anthropology students began asking me to organize a student travel group. Being someone who tends to arrive in foreign places and allow myself to be blown around out of the sense that all experiences are valuable, I felt cautious. It felt too dangerous to subject students to such an approach to the unknown and thus I set out to organize a formal trip.

As the Spring semester ended I had upwards of 15 students claiming they would love to join me for such a trip. I picked Costa Rica because it sounded traveler-friendly as well as manageable for a two-week trip. I also wanted to pick a place I had never been, so I, too, might experience the awe of something new.

In early June I made contact with a Costa Rican travel agency that specializes in student travel and together we designed what seemed to be the perfect blend of Anthropology (primate observations, a visit to an archeological site and a homestay with local families) and Adventure (white water rafting, canopy jungle tour, snorkeling). The interested students faded away...and I began to promote the trip to colleagues, friends, etc. With the lack of lead time and the rise in airfares, I ultimately found few genuine takers. And a couple of weeks ago, the tour company backed out. I invited those who had signed up and were willing to travel more independently (without a 24\7 guide and a dedicated driver) to still come to Costa Rica.

I connected with a different tour company, Exploradores Outdoors, that was comfortable making arrangements for small groups and began to design a different trip. With the concept of Anthropology and Adventure Travel brewing in my head, I put together a trip that reflected those concepts. And ultimately I ended up with two travel companions, my friends Dennis and Linda. As a sort of personal-training for my nascent business venture, I did much of the booking myself. I created a trip that feels like it will mix intelligence and adventure with plenty of unstructured to uncover...and discover.