It’s hard to believe that Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo have been walking for two whole months. Leo joined the team a couple of weeks ago for the last two hundred miles, and the time seems to have just flown. Today Fr. Miguel wanted to send us a special message before he set out on the final day of El Camino de San José.

Fr. Miguel’s message in English

Fr. Miguel’s message in Spanish

Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo have been so blessed by the hospitality of Leo and his family at their home in Alajuela, just a few miles from San José. The team was able to stay at their home in the days just following their arrival in Costa Rica, before they were able to head north to the Nicaraguan border to begin the Costa Rican portion of the Camino. Now they have returned to Leo’s home for a second stay while they complete the Camino. They’ll be hosted by Leo’s family until their return to Guatemala in a few more days.

This photo of Leo and his family was taken at a local chapel. The quote on the wall behind them is from the French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It translates, “You can only see well with your heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.” This might have been a good motto for the Camino. As I’ve talked with Fr. Miguel over the weeks he has been on the road, we have discussed many times how the team has seen and experienced many amazing things on this journey. But they have been challenged internally and transformed spiritually in ways they never anticipated.

The team had a beautiful day to walk from Alajuela to San José. The planned route covered only about 12 miles, an easy walk compared to many other days during the Camino.

Ignacio found an opportunity to enjoy a little fresh fruit during a rest stop.

There’s really not a lot of open country between Alajuela and San José.

As the team drew closer to San José, it became continually more apparent that they were approaching a big city.

The roads got bigger and busier.

But they’re still in the tropics. There’s still a LOT of green!

Time to exit the highway and head into downtown San José.

In the middle of San José is a monument to León Cortés Castro, who was President of Costa Rica from 1936 to 1940. His time in office is often called the “iron bars and cement administration”. During his presidency, many ambitious building projects were undertaken, including the construction of La Sabana International Airport, which was in use for 44 years, until the opening of Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela.

The monument stands in the center of La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Costa Rica’s largest and most significant urban park. The area has been used for recreational activities since the 17th century. In 1977, La Sabana was officially opened as a park following a decade-long campaign to transform the area into a green space with large plantings of trees, shrubs, and grass. In 2001, La Sabana was declared a National Architectural Heritage Site.

Today, the park houses Costa Rica’s national stadium, the Costa Rican Art Museum, several sports venues, and a large artificial lake.

La Sabana Metropolitan Park is known as “the lungs of San José”. It’s the perfect place to relax after a long day of walking.

Just across from San José’s Cathedral is Central Park with its iconic bandstand, built in 1944.

Walking around the park brought our pilgrims right to the front doors of the Cathedral.

Fr. Miguel said it felt a bit surreal to kneel in front of the Cathedral to give thanks to God for safely reaching the end of the Camino after having been on the road for two months.

After a time of prayer outside the Cathedral, the team made their way inside.

Tomorrow, a special Mass is scheduled to celebrate the completion of the Camino. It will take many days, perhaps weeks, to unpack the lessons of the Camino. I’m hoping to be able to write about some of those lessons in days to come. But for now, I will invite you all to join me, together with the team, in giving glory and thanks to God for His presence and protection all along the way.y 

Remember that El Camino de San José was undertaken for the purpose of raising funds for the support of The Little Mountain School in Joya Honda, Guatemala. The Camino may have come to an end, but the journey continues. The precious children of the region surrounding our school will quite literally have a different, better life because of your support. We invite you to continue to follow our story and support our children with your financial contributions and your prayers. We are more grateful than we can express.

The post Day 61 – San José, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

For several days, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo had been walking through the lowlands close to the western coast of Costa Rica. Once they reached Barranca, they turned inland and the route began to involve increases in elevation.

On Friday, after enjoying the hospitality of the Discalced Carmelites in San Ramón, the team went back to Cambronero, where they had left off the night before, and set out for Palmares.

Hmmm… A fork in the road. Which way from here?

The team has left the coast behind and is enjoying the beauty of the mountains.

But the mountain roads are still pretty busy. So, when they can, our pilgrims find alternate routes to avoid the traffic.

Today they are walking at about 3600 feet above sea level.

The roads are a little rough for driving, but walking them is quite pleasant.

And you can’t beat the views!

Has Eduardo found a new walking stick?

You never know what you’ll find around the next bend in the road. It might be just more dirt road…

…or it might be a spectacular view like this one.

Leaf cutter ants are quite common in Costa Rica, with seven different species being native to Costa Rica. It is not unusual to see large groups of these ants marching along, each carrying a piece of bright green leaf up to 50 times their own body weight. Sometimes these groups can look like a rippling sea of leaves!

Up to seven million ants can live in a single colony. Queens can lay up to 2,000 eggs in an hour, making leaf cutter ants resilient to means normally used to manage pests.

Leaf cutter ants can defoliate a tree in a single night. It is estimated that these ants clear as much as 15% of the leaves in tropical forests.

Leaf cutter ants, locally known as zompopas, do not actually eat the leaves they harvest. Instead, they use the leaves to cultivate their own fungal gardens, and then feed on this fungus.

Female leaf cutter ants have a small patch on their bodies that grows the Streptomyces bacteria. They spread this bacteria over their fungus gardens to keep harmful fungi from developing. This type of bacteria is found in more than half of the antibiotics used in modern medicine today, making leaf cutter ants perhaps the world’s first pharmacists!

By afternoon, the team had reached Palmares, Costa Rica.

Palmares is a vibrant city of about 31,000, surrounded by lush scenery with views of the Aguacate Mountains.

Palmares gets its name from the palm trees that grow abundantly in the area. The several rivers that provide water to the city also help to ensure that the area stays lush and green. Palmares is primarily an agricultural city, with coffee being its main export.

Every January Palmares hosts a two week long festival known as Las Fiestas Palmares during which the city swells with more than 500,000 visitors. A main event during Las Fiestas is the famous Tope, a parade of horses through the city. Riders show off their gorgeous horses and their fancy cowboy attire. There are also plenty of impressive stunts, such as riders standing and dancing on their horses.

Toros a La Tica is a form of bloodless bullfighting that is unique to Costa Rica. Palmares has a permanent bullring that is open year round. During Las Fiestas, the bullfighting is open to the public and anyone who is brave enough to get into the arena is welcome to participate. The antics of the fighters can be quite comical.

Palmares has a couple of beautiful churches. One of the most beautiful is the Church of Zaragoza.

The Church of Palmares is made of cut stone, a rarity in Costa Rica.

Arriving in Palmares meant that, for the rest of the Camino, the team was no longer going to be walking through remote areas.

The scouts in Palmares graciously received the weary travelers at their scout house.

18 September – Grecia, Costa Rica

Early the next morning, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo were back on the road.

Ignacio decided to go hatless today!

Modern roads and amenities such as gas stations are a little more common in this part of the country.

Sunrise is a magical time of day.

Today the team passed some beautiful coffee plantations, for which this region of Costa Rica is particularly known.

In 1989, the Costa Rican government passed a law prohibiting the planting of low quality coffee. As a result, Costa Rica is the only country in the world where it is actually illegal to produce any type of coffee other than 100% Arabica.

Arabica is a specific variety of coffee that is more challenging to grow than most other varieties. The heavy rainfall, volcanic soil, and high altitudes of this region of Costa Rica are ideal for growing high quality coffee with a rich, full flavor.

One thing you may not know is that Fr. Miguel has begun his own coffee company in Guatemala that has a win/win effect. The Little Mountain Coffee buys coffee from small local growers in Guatemala, providing a market for their product and paying a fair price that allows the farmers to earn a living wage. All profits raised from the sale of The Little Mountain Coffee are donated to support The Little Mountain School, helping to provide an integrated education to the children of Palencia, Guatemala.

Currently, The Little Mountain has five varieties of coffee for sale. We are working to expand our market, and are hoping to soon have the ability to sell our coffee online. For the moment, our coffee is available for purchase at St. Leo Catholic Church, Versailles, KY and at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Lawrenceburg, KY. 

The weather today was beautiful, as were the views of the mountains.

The higher elevations provided some amazing views!

The afternoon saw Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo arriving in Grecia, Costa Rica. Grecia is a town of about 17,000 popular with retirees from all over the world. Voted the “Cleanest City in Central America”, Grecia is known for its “eternal springlike weather”. Neither heating nor air conditioning are generally needed, with the temperatures hovering around 80 degrees Fahrenheit all year long.

One of the unusual attractions of Grecia is World of Snakes, a professional breeding center and research park that also incorporates a zoological garden. World of Snakes houses more than 50 species of snakes from all over the world and has been open to the public since 1994.

The Butterfly Farm is another beautiful spot to visit in Grecia. Their collection includes over 50,000 species of butterflies and other insects in a lovely garden setting.

Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes is constructed of sheets of red metal imported from Belgium in the 1890s. It is widely considered one of the most unusual and beautiful churches in the country.

The Gothic interior is equally beautiful, including airy vaulted ceilings, arches, stained glass windows, and gingerbread trim.

The team met their hosts, Soledad and German on the Estrada in Grecia.

19 September – Alajuela, Costa Rica

On Sunday, the team set out for Alajuela, the last stop on the Camino before the final destination of San José. 

The team had already visited Alajuela when they first arrived in Costa Rica. But they didn’t get to see all the sights. On their first visit, they went to the mall, and toured the local church and museum. Today they saw the more pedestrian side of life.

They walked along the road by the airport.

And spent some time in a few different neighborhoods.

They stopped by a local soccer field.

And finally they made their way to Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

It’s been a great day…and a great trip!

Tomorrow, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo will head for San José. But that won’t be the end of the story. We hope you’ll continue to follow along! Stay tuned…

The post Day 60 – Palmares/Grecia/Alajuela, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo have been walking through some fairly rural and sometimes remote areas.

Today they set out early from Barranca to head for Cambronero.

The sun was just coming up as they set out.

When they can, the team likes to take alternative routes to avoid the traffic along the highway.

This way they get to see a few things up close and personal that they wouldn’t get to see along the highway. Where else would you get this sort of perspective on a railroad bridge?

Sometimes a change of scenery brings a smile to the face. At the moment, the team is enjoying the walk along a small country road.

As usual, Leo’s looking for a good cell signal.

How would you like to wake up to this view every morning?

El Cristo Blanco, or the White Christ, was erected near Esparza, along the Pan-American Highway, on an outcropping of rock about 40 feet high.

Since 2000, people from surrounding communities have gathered at 1:00 in the afternoon on Jubilee Day (1 January) to serenade Christ. They sing and give thanks to Christ for His coverage and protection during the previous year and to ask His blessings on the year to come.

It is quite a festive time. Many attendees bring refreshments and sandwiches to share with others after the singing has come to an end. Gifts of flowers are left all through the year.

There are a few traffic signs in Costa Rica that you would never see in the United States. This one says, “Wildlife crossing. Slow down. Stop if you see an animal.”

The animals depicted are the sloth, the jaguar, and the anteater…all native to Costa Rica.

Rain forced the team to seek shelter. They found some in a convenient drain pipe under the road.

So Fr. Miguel took the opportunity to record a short message for us.

Searching the internet for references to Cambronero doesn’t produce much. But the team did find this small chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph in the village of Cambronero.

When the team reached Cambronero, they took a taxi into San Ramón. Their lodging for the night was at the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites in San Ramón.

Fr. Javier and the rest of the community offered wonderful hospitality for the evening.

The countdown is on! The team is just a few days away from San José, the end of the road! But there are still a few adventures waiting before we arrive. We hope you’ll stick around to see what happens!

The post Day 57 – Cambronero, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

On Tuesday morning, the team bid their goodbyes to Fr. Rodolfo at the Parish of Saint George Martyr in Abangares, Costa Rica and set out for the next stop on the Camino route, Judas de Chomes.

The distance they expected to traverse was 23 kilometers, or a little over 14 miles. This area of Costa Rica is more rural than any area the team has visited thus far. A close inspection of the map shows very little between Abangares and Judas de Chomes. There aren’t really even many gas stations or restaurants on the map.

But there is some beautiful scenery, and many opportunities to stop and smell the…crepe ginger plants. Crepe ginger is not a true ginger, but is a close relative. It is native to Southeast Asia, but often grows wild in Costa Rica. In traditional medicine, it is used to treat fever, asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms.

Near the Rio Lagarto there are lots of trees with lush foliage.

The bridge over the Rio Lagarto spans a quiet stretch of water and a small rocky beach.

The team decided to take a break and rest their legs.

The water was just too tempting to resist.

An hour of refreshment was a welcome boost to the team’s spirits. Does Leo have a good cell signal here?

Along the way was a lovely display of local art.

Toucans and scarlet macaws are just two examples of the colorful birds one can spot in the forests of western Costa Rica.

Wood from the common guanacaste tree makes beautiful furniture.

What’s that in the tree? Is that a monkey?!?

The cows don’t really seem to be very interested in anyone passing by.

The team is always happy to find someplace cool and green and shady.

In Judas de Chomes, there were no arrangements for a place for the team to spend the night. They were able to find a cabin, but it was in a fairly remote location that had no cell service. I believe Fr. Miguel said they didn’t even have electricity for the night. A local man they met at a gas station served as their taxi service to get them to the cabin. He was also happy to pick them up the next morning.

Judas de Chomes is a very small community, with only about 2,000 residents in the town and the surrounding area.

Like many communities in Central America, Judas de Chomes doesn’t have a website. But they do have a Facebook page. I found this shot on their page, along with this comment:

And what do you think of when you get to Judas de Chomes?

 1) What a beautiful town!

 2) At last home!

 3) This place is already boring!

 4) My beans are going to spoil and my clothes are going to get wet.

 5) All of the above.

There may not be much going on, but there is plenty of interesting wildlife…

…and some beautiful places to spend a quiet moment.

15 September – Barranca, Costa Rica

On Wednesday morning, after being dropped off back at the gas station by their friendly local “taxi driver”, the team set out for Barranca, 31 kilometers (almost 20 miles) away.

Every step takes the team closer to San José.

Now they’re only about 64 miles from the end of the Camino.

They look pretty excited to be so close!

Barranca is a region of Costa Rica best known for its Pacific Coast beaches. But the team didn’t get close to the beach on today’s route.

The small community in which they stayed is in a part of Barranca where people struggle to make a living.

There is a small school in the neighborhood. Seeing this school was a good reminder of the purpose for the Camino.

The Little Mountain School back in Joya Honda, Guatemala is precious to Fr. Miguel and all the members of his teams in the U.S. and Guatemala. Your donations to sponsor Fr. Miguel on El Camino de San José are all used for the support of The Little Mountain School.

In Barranca, Fr. Francisco graciously received the team. Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo want to express their deep appreciation for his hospitality.

We’ve only got about four days left on the Camino. And then there will be the journey back to Guatemala, and a few days to unpack lessons learned and memories made on the road. We all hope you’ll follow along!

The post Day 56 – Judas de Chomes/Barranca, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

After a day of rest in Cañas, Costa Rica and some time down on the farm where life is kinda laid back, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo were ready for another day of walking. And this promised to be a long one…

Today the team was scheduled to walk from Cañas to Abangares, a distance of 34 kilometers or about 21 miles.

It’s great to have Leo along, the team’s new companion for the Camino Tico, the portion of the route that goes through Costa Rica.

“Tico” is a term Costa Ricans use to refer to themselves. The term comes from a unique linguistic habit favored in Costa Rica. In Spanish, the suffix “-ito” or “-ita” attached to a word is a diminutive, indicating that the item referenced is small. Costa Ricans tend to substitute “-tico” or “-tica” instead, or even use it in combination with “-ito” or “-ita”. For instance, in Spanish, “un poco” means “a little”. “Un poquito” would mean “a very little bit”. But Costa Ricans would commonly say “un poquitico” to mean the same thing. Other Spanish speakers can use “-tico” in a similar way, but what is unique to Costa Rica is that the use of this suffix also denotes affection. For instance, instead of calling a little girl “chica”, you might call her “chicitica”. If you are in need of a cup of coffee in the morning, you might ask for a “cafetico”. The family dog might be called the “perrotico”. And so on… Costa Ricans feel that their nickname is a reflection of their warm and affectionate nature. A charming custom, don’t you agree?

There was a lot of road construction along today’s route. This newly built road was not yet open to vehicle traffic.

But foot traffic was another matter! Sometimes, when people are on pilgrimage, they carry a flag of their country of origin or sew a patch of their flag to their backpack. This serves a dual purpose. It lets others know that this individual is on a pilgrimage, and it also proclaims an individual’s nationality. Leo is from San José and is carrying the flag of Costa Rica.

Since 1848, Costa Rica’s flag has had five stripes of red, white, and blue. The blue represents the sky and Costa Rican values of opportunity, idealism, and perseverance. The white is reminiscent of peace, wisdom, and happiness. And the red stands for the blood spilt by those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of the country, as well as the warmth and generosity of Costa Rica’s people.

When the flag is used by the government, it includes the coat of arms of Costa Rica. Otherwise, the coat of arms is omitted. It depicts the isthmus between the Pacific Ocean to the country’s west and the Caribbean Sea to the east along with three of the volcanoes for which Costa Rica is known. The seven stars are for the seven provinces of Costa Rica. The Spanish name of the country, “Republica de Costa Rica” is on a white banner, with “America Central” appearing on a blue banner to recall the former United Provinces of Central America, of which Costa Rica was a part, together with Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua (1823-1840).

In the early days of the Camino, Fr. Miguel carried a Guatemalan flag. We haven’t seen his flag in a while. Hmmm…. ?

Today was a much more comfortable day for walking. It hasn’t been as hot lately, with high temperatures in the low to mid 80s. Today was even a bit cooler because of the cloud cover. That’s a huge relief after the oppressive heat the team endured on earlier portions of the Camino!

Although there are some hills in western Costa Rica, the highways level things out a bit and mean that the road is relatively flat. This obviously makes for a much easier walk! Whew!

Western Costa Rica is largely rural, so internet service is often not available. The team takes the opportunity to check email and answer texts whenever they have a good signal.

They also grab opportunities for a little local refreshment when the chance presents itself. Eduardo enjoyed this natural orange juice from a stand along the road.

Today there was LOTS of road construction!

Some of the road work included the construction of a new bridge.

Ignacio’s curiosity got the better of him. He had to check out how it was done!

There were some curious watchers in the trees in some of the more wooded areas. Fr. Miguel was lucky to get such a great picture of these brilliant birds!

There are 17 parrot species in Costa Rica. They are one of the few families of birds that can imitate the human voice. Most species of parrot can live for over 100 years. These scarlet macaws are members of the largest parrot species in the world, averaging 33” in length. Although they are endangered, they are fairly common in western Costa Rica. Scarlet macaws mate for life, so if you spot one in the wild, its mate is probably close by.

Orange chinned parakeets are a smaller species of parrot native to Central America. They average about 7” in length. These birds are quite common, even along busy highways and in urban areas. Although they nest in tree holes, they come out into more open country in search of food.

Usually, these birds are seen in groups. To find one alone, like this one, is an indication that it might be injured. Eduardo was very careful rescuing this parakeet. After moving it off the highway, he let it go.

Cattle ranches are a common sight in this part of Costa Rica, even along busy highways.

There really wasn’t much to see as the day wore on…

…and on…and on…

The wooded areas were beautiful. This looks just like a country road in central Kentucky, where I live.

By the time the team was getting close to the end of the route, Eduardo had just about had enough.

When the team saw the sign for Tres Hermanas, they knew they were getting close to their destination, Abangares.

Tres Hermanas Bar-B-Q is a popular place for travelers to stop along the Pan-American Highway. Reviews indicate that Tres Hermanas has delicious, reasonably priced barbecue. And clean restrooms…always a valuable commodity.

I don’t think the team ate at Tres Hermanas, but it still provided a great photo op!

Afternoon found the travelers arriving in Abangares, Costa Rica. The name of the town was derived from “Avancari”, the name of a powerful chief of a tribe that once inhabited the area. It was believed that the strength and flow of the nearby Rio Abangares was controlled by this chief whose name meant “god of the waters”.

Like in most towns throughout Central America, there’s a central park with a bandstand.

In the central park of Abangares is an old locomotive. It was nicknamed Tulita in honor of the wife of the administrator of the mines in 1904.

Abangares is a mine town. Tulita was a part of the first train system for the mines, brought from England over 115 years ago.

Gold was discovered in the region of Abangares in 1884. For a time, the mine was owned by three brothers and was called Tres Hermanos. (Remember Tres Hermanas Bar-B-Q out on the highway?) In 1889, the mine was sold and was renamed the Abangares Gold Fields.

Soon more mines were opened throughout the region. Many techniques were employed to raise the productivity of the mines. These included the use of cyanide and mercury to extract gold from the ore and pulverization of gold-bearing material.

By 1901, a community had developed around the mines. There was a commissary, a hospital, shops, a hotel, workshops, an ice factory, a telegraph office, and an electrical substation.

Italian stonecutters were employed to build up the town, including the foundations of the Los Mazos Building where gold was processed.

Many migrants came to the area to work in the mines from such far flung places as Jamaica, China, Germany, England, and North America.

The Abangares Gold Fields ceased operations in 1931, in part due to exhaustion of the gold deposits in the mines. One of the last mines in the area closed its doors in 2001, still owing its employees two months worth of wages.

Some gold mining continues to be done in the area, with silver as a by-product. A local collective continues to operate some of the mines, which provides a meager living for about 300 families.

In 1991, the Abangares Mines Ecomuseum was opened where the old gold processing plant once stood. Many buildings and pieces of machinery that were in use during the boom times of the Tica gold rush were rescued and are now on display in the museum. There are also indoor displays of photographs and smaller mining objects such as crucibles, carburetors, and pulleys.

Lodgings for the night were at la Parroquia San Jorge Martir in Abangares.

The stained glass windows depicting a variety of saints are a particularly beautiful aspect of this church.

The church is named in honor of Saint George, who is believed to have been martyred under the Roman Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. He was venerated as a model of valor and selflessness during the Middle Ages, especially in England.

The team is very grateful for Fr. Rodolfo, who treated them with such kindness and offered such warm hospitality at his home, the rectory of Saint George Martyr Parish in Abangares.

We’re almost at the end of the journey. From Abangares, the team only has about a week left on the road. We hope you’re enjoying coming along virtually, and that you’ll stick with us to the end. If you think any of your friends would enjoy the adventure as well, please tell them about what Fr. Miguel is doing and point them toward our website. The children and families of The Little Mountain School would be very grateful!

The post Day 54 – Abangares, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo have been incredibly blessed by the wonderful people who have opened their homes and offered food and lodging along the Camino de San José.

They spent a wonderful evening in Bagaces, Costa Rica with Fr. Luis Humberto Quezada at the rectory of Saint Caralampio Parish on Friday.

They were up and out early on Saturday morning. Central Park in Bagaces looks quite a bit different in the dark of early morning than it did in the afternoon the day before.

One last equipment check, a tip of the hat from Ignacio, and the team was ready to hit the road.

Along this stretch of the Pan-American Highway, there are convenient bike lanes for walking.

The landscape in this part of Costa Rica is, for the most part, relatively flat pastureland.

When the land is fairly flat, the walking is fairly easy…

…unless you are an ant trying to carry a frog. Then you might need a little help.

The destination for the day was Cañas, Costa Rica, 22 kilometers (about 14 miles) away. But there’s still a long way to go to get to San José…about 115 miles.

Since May 1995, the National Symbol of Wildlife in Costa Rica has been the white-tailed deer, which appears on the 1000 Colon bill. The range of the white-tailed deer, also known as Virginia deer, spans much of the Americas, from southern Canada in the north to Bolivia in the south. But those found in Central America are a smaller subspecies, with bucks weighing an average of 150 pounds, as opposed to their North American cousins who have an average weight closer to 400 pounds.

Fr. Miguel and the team were blessed to encounter a small herd of white-tailed deer grazing just off the highway. In Costa Rica, these deer are endangered due to poaching. Like in North America, they are hunted for their meat, fur, and antlers. In December 2012, the Costa Rican legislature unanimously voted to ban hunting throughout the country. The penalty for illegal hunting is a jail sentence of up to 6 months and/or a fine of up to $3,000US.

Fr. Miguel also encountered a ctenosaur, also known as a black iguana, hanging out in some mulch. 

His picture wasn’t very clear, so here’s another one, borrowed from the internet, to give a better idea of what these guys look like.

Black iguanas are common throughout Central America. Males can reach up to 4 feet in length. Females are a bit smaller, but can still grow to over 3 feet long. Their name, “ctenosaur”, comes from two Greek words meaning “combed lizard”. These iguanas are known locally as the “chicken of the trees”, and are farmed as a food source and for export for the pet trade.

Cañas, the destination for today, is a small, quiet community known as Ciudad de la Amistad (City of Friendship). Tradition is a big part of life in Cañas. It is not really a tourist town, but more of a farming community. The area’s aloe vera farms supply Costa Rica’s thriving aloe vera beverage industry. Rice paddies are a crucial part of the food supply network in this country where rice is a key element in the everyday diet. But land is most commonly used in the surrounding area for cattle ranching, which supplies dairy and meat products for both domestic and international consumption.

Sabanero culture (Costa Rican cowboy culture) is predominant in and around Cañas. The area has many working cattle ranches, and I have read that it’s not unusual to see locals riding horses down the streets of Cañas.

Just 3 miles north of Cañas is Las Pumas, an animal rescue center that focuses on the feline inhabitants of Costa Rica, providing sanctuary for incapacitated wild cats such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and jaguarundis. The facility also houses other animals that are injured or otherwise unable to survive in the wild. Monkeys, otters, badgers, and tropical birds have all found a home at Las Pumas.

Fr. Miguel has noted, all along the route of the Camino de San José, that San José himself keeps showing up. In Cañas, he showed up again, which was an encouragement to our weary team.

Inside, La Iglesia de Cañas is bright, open, and airy.

But it is the outside of the church that has made La Iglesia de Cañas one of the must see places in Cañas. 

The church is covered with over a million pieces of ceramic tile arranged in stunning mosaics. Some of the works depict religious themes, while others are abstract. The 98 foot high bell tower showcases vines and celestial themes.

The church was designed by Otto Apuy, one of Costa Rica’s most recognized and respected modern artists. Even the walls around the church incorporate exquisite mosaic work. The artistry of the church is impressive, both from a distance and up close.

In the plaza across from La Iglesia de Cañas is Monumento del Boyero, a tribute to traditional ox cart workers.

12 September

On Sunday, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo took advantage of a break in their itinerary to enjoy a day of rest in Cañas. Fr. Miguel sent this picture, which looks kinda cool, but I’m not sure what it is. Cannonballs, maybe?

Leo’s aunt has a farm near Cañas where she invited the team to spend the day. And horseback riding was the order of the day.

Better turn off the cell phone.

Leo is a natural sabanero!

Eduardo might need a little help.

Maybe let the guy with the experience take the reins.

The farm has a natural hot spring. The pleasantly warm, mineral rich waters have been contained in a pool for visitors to enjoy.

Western Costa Rica has several hot springs that have been in use for therapeutic purposes for over 200 years. Soaking in these springs is believed to provide relief from a wide variety of aches and pains.

Western Costa Rica has a few volcanoes. None have erupted in many years, but in some places, magma has worked its way upward to relatively shallow depths below the surface. Groundwater percolates downward and is heated by these pockets of magma, absorbing minerals before returning to the surface and collecting in pools.

The pool on the farm is a great place for a rest…or a photo op.

If there’s time, it’s also relaxing to just lounge around the pool.

Leo’s aunt also has fields of rice on her farm…

…dotted by occasional guanacaste trees.

Leo’s aunt was a wonderful hostess. Fr. Miguel enjoyed his tour of the farm.

The whole team is very grateful for the relaxing afternoon they enjoyed at the farm.

In the evening, they returned to Cañas to prepare for another day’s walking. 

Thanks for coming along on the Camino de San José. Check back again soon to see where our pilgrims are headed next!

The post Day 53 – Cañas, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

The large, modern city of Liberia, Costa Rica was a good place for Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo to make new friends and rest for a couple of nights. It served as a sort of “base”, since there was nowhere to stay near Pelón de la Altura. Fr. Guillermo graciously provided shuttle service, picking the team up at Pelón de la Altura, taking them to Liberia to spend the night, and returning them to Pelón de la Altura the next morning so that they could actually walk to Liberia (the next stop on the Camino), and then hosting them for a second night.

But all good things must come to an end, so on Friday morning the team said their goodbyes to Fr. Guillermo and got an early start on the road to Bagaces, Costa Rica. When the birds are making this much noise, there’s really no point in trying to sleep in anyway. 

The whole team is delighted to have Leo along for the rest of the journey.

Are they giving a thumbs up because of the Taco Bell sign? And is that a KFC sign in the background?

Walking in Costa Rica during the rainy season means that one is likely to encounter at least a bit of rain every day.

Fr. Miguel took this beautiful shot of one of the famous guanacaste trees for which the region is named.

Eduardo likes food…and animals. When the team was leaving Pespire, Honduras, he rescued a small cat that was promptly named “Pespirita”.

Today, he rescued a turtle. I wonder if he gave it a name…?

There isn’t much along the 17 mile route between Liberia and Bagaces. But the Ponderosa Adventure Park, just outside the small village of Salto, is a well known attraction throughout Costa Rica. Unlike many places in Central America, they even have a website. Too bad the team didn’t have time to stop there and explore. Eduardo would have had plenty of animals to enjoy!

The many streams and rivers of western Costa Rica swell and become quite dangerous during the rainy season.

By early afternoon, the team had arrived in Bagaces, the capital of the canton of Bagaces, which has a population of about 20,000.

Bagaces is named for Bagatzí, who was chief of the tribe that inhabited this region when the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century. His name, in turn, is probably derived from the Nahuatl words “baga”, which means “reed” or “cane”, and “tzi”, meaning “place”.

Bagaces is home to the Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT), one of Costa Rica’s most active conservation organizations. This group is responsible for administrative oversight of the nearby Palo Verde National Park and the Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve. In addition, ACT takes an active interest in the protection of the Tempisque River, the main water source for this region of Costa Rica.

Near Bagaces is the famous Llanos del Cortés waterfall, a popular place for swimming, not too far out of the way.

If you’re up for a little exploring, at the base of the waterfall is a quiet stream.

The water is full of tadpoles, frogs, and small fish.

And if you’re lucky, you might see a Jesus Christ lizard, so named because of its ability to “walk” on water.

Unfortunately, the team didn’t get to visit Llanos del Cortés either, but they did get to spend a little time in Bagaces’ Central Park.

And they stayed at the beautiful Parroquia San Caralampio.

The church is named in honor of Saint Caralampio (“Charalambos” in Greek) who was a Christian bishop in the late 2nd century. At the time of his martyrdom in 202AD, he was reputed to have been 113 years old, making him one of the oldest Christian martyrs. Despite his advanced age, his torturers scraped all the skin from his body using iron hooks. He is reported to have said to his tormentors, “Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.” His name means “to shine with happiness”.

The team was warmly and enthusiastically greeted at the San Caralampio rectory and settled in to recuperate from the long day of walking.

Once Fr. Miguel was refreshed, he was able to send the wonderful pictures from their day’s journey.

But the team is far from finished with their trek. Check back for updates from Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, Eduardo, and Leo as they set out tomorrow for Cañas…

The post Day 51 – Bagaces, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

After spending a delightful evening with Fr. Guillermo in Liberia, and being refreshed by a good night’s sleep, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo were ready to hit the road again.

But not before team chef Eduardo fixed breakfast to go. Can’t forget the food!!!

Fr. Guillermo took the team back to Pelón de la Altura, dropping them off at Tempisquito Farm, so that they could begin the long walk back to Liberia, where they would again spend the night. 

There isn’t much between Pelón de la Altura and Liberia, a distance of a little over 17 miles.

About the only place that shows up on the map is Balbo’s, a hostel about 16 miles from Liberia.

Balbo’s offers highly rated accommodations and advertises a garden, a terrace, and free private parking.

Their listing on www.booking.com says, “We speak your language!” I’m thinking, “If they have hammocks, they definitely speak Fr. Miguel’s language!” ?

A little less than half way to Liberia, the travelers crossed the Rio los Ahogados. No one wanted to swim in this river. In English, its name is “Drowning River”! ?

There are lots of rivers to cross in western Costa Rica, all flowing to the Pacific. 

One of the major rivers is the Rio Tempisque.

Most of the territory crossed by Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo today is dedicated to agricultural use.

At this time of year, the fields are lush and green.

You never know what might be hiding in the tall grass!

Eventually the team arrived in Liberia, Costa Rica, where they were joined by Leo, a relative of Fr. Miguel. Leo plans to walk with the team the rest of the way to San José. Everyone is very happy to have him along. Leo has spent his professional life in the field of education. He has many ideas to share with Fr. Miguel regarding things we can do at The Little Mountain School back in Guatemala.

Liberia has been nicknamed la ciudad blanca (the white city) because of the white gravel that once was used to pave the streets and the whitewashed colonial houses that used to line those streets. 

Much of what made Liberia la ciudad blanca has now vanished, but the city has morphed into a major center for tourism in Costa Rica. With the construction of the Pan-American Highway, Liberia became a convenient stopping spot for tourists on their way to the beaches of the Pacific Coast.

As in most Central American cities, there is a Central Park that provides a place to rest in the midst of the busyness of the city. The park is centered around an enormous guanacaste tree where, in the early days of the city, livestock would come for shade and rest.

In 1870 a fence of aloe vera stalks (later replaced by barbed wire) was built around the city in order to keep roaming livestock from neighboring farms away from the center of the city. The five wooden gates in the fence were always kept closed, with residents having to open and close them each time someone passed through. In addition to the mess livestock would make of the streets (Use your imagination!), cows liked to lick the walls of the adobe houses and would cause considerable damage. The fence stood until 1956, when roaming livestock was no longer an issue.

The Victorian gazebo was built in the early 1900’s and quickly became a place where locals could gather for musical entertainment. On 26 August 2004, it was declared an architectural and historical heritage site.

Liberia is home to Costa Rica’s only international airport. It is named for Daniel Oduber Quirós, Costa Rica’s president from 1974-1978, who was instrumental in building the infrastructure of Costa Rica.

Liberia is a modern city of over 50,000 residents where one can find all of the conveniences one would expect in a major city. In Liberia, they even have a Walmart! No kidding! It’s pretty much like any other Walmart in the world. Here’s a link: https://www.weeklycrawler.com/local-news/walmart-liberia-costa-rica-review-prices-and-hours/

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1966. Its modern design made use of prefabricated materials. The three naves of the church represent the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Fr. Miguel and the team were able to attend Mass at the Cathedral on 9 September, the day on which Costa Ricans celebrate Dia del Niño (Children’s Day) every year. 

Children’s Day has been celebrated in Costa Rica since 1946. Eight years later, in 1954, the United Nations made a formal recommendation that all countries set aside one day each year to promote the welfare of the children of the world. Children’s day is celebrated on different dates in different countries.

According to Humanium, a non-profit dedicated to stopping violations of children’s rights throughout the world, Costa Rica receives about a B (8.53 out of 10) for protecting and providing for its children. That puts it at the same tier as the United States and most of Europe. But there are still major issues that Costa Rica must combat, including poverty, health, education, child labor, violence (including sexual violence against children), and child trafficking.

In Costa Rica, about one fourth of the population is younger than 14 years old, making Dia del Niño a very popular holiday. Although Dia del Niño is not a legal holiday, and schools and workplaces do not close, most people find ways to celebrate. If Dia del Niño falls on a school day, students do not have the usual classes. Instead the schools usually provide a variety of fun activities such as face painting, cooking lessons, and sporting competitions. If Dia del Niño falls on a weekend, parents try to spend as much time with their children as possible, celebrating in various ways that usually include some type of special event. Families may visit amusement parks or arrange parties or family dinners. And, of course, small presents and sweet treats like cake and ice cream are generally involved!

In Guatemala, where we have The Little Mountain School, Dia del Niño is celebrated on 1 October each year. Governmental institutions and schools organize various events and activities, such as breaking piñatas, clown performances, face painting, and the exchange of small gifts and candies. Many children, like most of our children at The Little Mountain School, live in poverty. This celebration is an opportunity for them to forget about the challenges of life. It puts a smile on every face! These children from The Little Mountain School are certainly having a good time!

But back to Costa Rica… Another thing for which Costa Rica is well known is its leadership when it comes to ecological awareness. Recycling increased 469% between 2015 and 2017!  In 2017, Costa Rica recycled 100,200 tons of waste, equivalent to the weight of 64,645 Toyota Yaris cars!

Private and governmental efforts to collect waste along Costa Rica’s waterways has greatly increased in recent years.

“Ecoins” is a private company that aims to promote ecologically friendly means of waste management. People can take their recyclables to one of 287 collection centers throughout Costa Rica and exchange them for discounts on products and services from dozens of participating businesses. Ecoins was launched in April 2018 and in 18 months attracted 1,600 tons of recyclable waste from 51,000 users. They have already expanded operations into Panama, Peru, Guatemala, and El Salvador, and plan to offer service in Honduras, Mexico, Chile, Columbia, and Jamaica in the near future.

Costa Rica has some pretty impressive credentials when it comes to protecting the environment. More than 98% of Costa Rica’s energy is renewable, and forest cover has risen to about 53%. Nearly one quarter of the country’s land has been turned into protected parks and reserves.

In 2019, Costa Rica was awarded the Champions of the Earth award from the United Nations Environment Programme. The government of Costa Rica is aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, meaning the country will produce no more emissions than it can offset with actions such as maintaining and expanding its forests.

After a day of walking, seeing the sights of Liberia, and attending Mass, the entire team was happy to make the acquaintance of Fr. Edwin Baltodano. This amazing priest is 95 years old.

Fr. Baltodano writes beautiful poetry. This is an example of his work, a poem written just last week in honor of Dia del Niño. My Spanish is not good, so I have to rely a great deal on Google translate, which doesn’t usually pick up on the nuances of language such as idioms. But here’s a rough translation of Fr. Baltodano’s poem:

Jesus your best friend as children, all witnesses

As children, all witnesses,

fleshy host,

of your defending virtue,

Jesus your best friend.

“Let them come to my side.”

They are sovereign of the Kingdom,

and I want them very close,

that they enjoy my Side.

To reach my Kingdom,

they have to become very small,

humble, always smiling,

trusting in God’s government.

Far, yes, childlike,

from believing to be superior,

wise and executors,

because they will fall into flashes.

Humility and simplicity

are capital virtues,

in children, natural,

they give maturity without grace.

These defend Jesus:

exemplary life of children,

opposed to every fold,

and to modernity without a cross.

But the uncensored “TV”,

not giving them their own duties,

as their beings grow,

miseducates with haste.

Children’s Day.  Good news!

We wish them a happy life,

to be as they yearn for,

my love for Tiquicia.

Stay tuned for more updates as Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo continue toward San José tomorrow! And don’t forget to click the “Donate Now” button to help the precious niños of The Little Mountain School. They LOVE hugs from former teacher Reina Slaymaker, which your donations have made possible!

The post Day 50 – Liberia, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

We last left Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo having spent a long, very rainy day hiking from the border post of Peñas Blancas to La Cruz, Costa Rica. After a good night’s rest and a chance to dry out a bit, they were ready to set off again.

On the Camino de San José, every member of the team has a part to play. One of the things we have learned about Eduardo is that he loves food. He loves to eat, and to eat you have to cook. He enjoys that, too. He’ll even get up early to cook. On Wednesday morning, Eduardo fixed a delicious breakfast for the whole team to carry with them and eat on the road.

Many thanks to Father Yunner who hosted the team, and loaned them his kitchen, in his parish, La Santa Cruz in La Cruz, Costa Rica.

Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo were blessed to have spent two nights in the beautiful parish of La Santa Cruz.

The sun is coming up. When do they get to stop and eat that breakfast?

The route for today went between two of Costa Rica’s beautiful national parks, Parque Nacional Guanacaste and Parque Nacional Santa Rosa.

To the west of the Camino route lies Santa Rosa National Park. The park was created by government decree in 1971 to protect the scene of the Battle of Santa Rosa, a source of great pride in Costa Rica.

In June 1855, American lawyer William Walker, about whom I wrote in my post on Alajuela, arrived in Nicaragua with an army of mercenaries (known as “filibusters”) and the financial backing of some parties in the government of the United States. He set up his own government with plans to convert all of Central America into a slave state. When he sent his filibusters into Costa Rica, they were met by a force of about 9,000 Costa Rican civilians. On 20 March 1856, Walker’s army was routed in a 14 minute battle on a farm in the area that is now Santa Rosa National Park. An old hacienda building where some of Walker’s troops were housed, now known as La Casona (the Big House), today functions as the monument commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Santa Rosa and two other battles for Costa Rica’s independence that took place in the area in 1919 and 1955.

Santa Rosa National Park also has the mission of protecting the natural environment beyond the historical site. Some of the last remaining tropical dry forests in the world lie within the boundaries of the park. Before the area became a protected habitat, ranchers burned most of the region to create pasture for their cattle. Because of its protected status, the lands within the park are slowly returning to their natural state, especially closer to the coast, providing valuable habitat for many native species of flora and fauna.

About 115 mammal species, as well as over 250 bird species and more than 3800 insect species, are found within the park. In the dry season, when there is less vegetation to obscure the view, one might see peccaries, white-faced capuchin monkeys, or tamanduas. 

If one is exceptionally lucky, a glimpse of one of the park’s cats, such as the margay or caucel, is a rare treat.

Pacific Ridley sea turtles come ashore each year at two important sea turtle nesting beaches in Santa Rosa National Park. These mass arrivals, called arribadas, can include thousands of individuals in a single night, usually on a new moon in late summer.

Just like humans, the wildlife, birds, and insects of Costa Rica need to be able to move from region to region during their seasonal migrations. Many of the species that live in the dry forests during the wet season move into the rainforests of the highlands during the dry season. In 1989 the Costa Rican government created Guanacaste National Park, adjacent to Santa Rosa National Park, to provide a migration corridor between these two habitats. 

Guanacaste National Park protects the highland evergreen forests and the cloud forests found on the slopes of the Orosi and Cacao volcanoes, as well as the Caribbean rainforests of northern Costa Rica.

Wildlife in Guanacaste National Park is even more varied than in Santa Rosa National Park, with over 10,000 species of insects having been identified to date, along with at least 50 varieties of bats. This high density of biodiversity was one of the main factors that encouraged the Costa Rican government to protect the area.

The campaign to create a new park in northwestern Costa Rica began when international beef prices were low and local cattle ranchers were eager to sell their degraded grazing lands. Happily, the natural habitat in both parks is regenerating more quickly than biologists had anticipated.

Guanacaste National Park received its name because of the abundance of guanacaste trees that grow in the region. Guanacaste trees provided a major source of cattle feed for the ranches of the region before the establishment of the park. The foliage, fruit, and seeds are relished by all sorts of livestock, including cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and horses.

The guanacaste tree is also commonly known as monkey-ear tree or elephant-ear tree due to the shape of its seed pods. Guanacaste trees are found throughout the tropical regions of the Americas, but are especially abundant along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Although some consider them invasive because of their powerful root systems, they are prized for their shade, a valuable relief from the intense sun of their Pacific coast habitat. They are the national tree of Costa Rica.

Guanacaste trees often grow up to one meter per year. Because of its rapid growth habit, and the water resistant quality of its wood, guanacaste is often used to make doors, windows, furniture, and cabinets, and is a favorite wood for shipbuilding. It is considered a relatively sustainable resource.

The beautiful seeds are commonly used in Costa Rica to make jewelry.

In 1989, in agreement with park authorities, 12,000 tons of compost from orange waste was dumped on the barren soil of the new park. The result has been a rejuvenation of much native plant life. Fr. Miguel took a few pictures of the rich variety of flowers the team encountered as they walked.

One of the goals of Costa Rica’s national park system is to encourage local participation in environmental programs and provide training and employment for the many ranch hands who were left without work when the local cattle ranches were sold to create the park. In 1999, these parks were together declared a World Heritage Site.

Although it was a privilege to see some of the beautiful land of the national parks, it made for a long day of walking.

The team had to cope with fatigue as the road through the parks seemed to go on and on.

By afternoon, according to Fr. Miguel, everyone was super cansados, or very tired. The side of the road may not be the best place for a coyotito, but almost any place will do in a pinch.

The team walked as far as Pelón de la Altura, a farm just outside the boundaries of the national parks on the Pan American Highway, and then got a ride into Liberia to spend the night. “Pelón de la Altura” means “Hair of the Heights” according to Google translate. Interesting name for a farm…

At last the team arrived in Liberia, Costa Rica…to more rain!

The dry season in this part of Costa Rica extends from December to April. The rainy season runs from May to November, and is interrupted by a two to three week dry spell known as Veranillo de San Juan or Saint John’s Little Summer. Unfortunately, the team is walking through Costa Rica during the wettest time of the year!

Everyone was a little too worn out to really enjoy the attractions of Liberia.

But it was hard to resist the special treat that Fr. Guillermo had waiting at the rectory of the Cathedral where the team would be staying for a couple of nights.

I’ll bet these sweet girls at The Little Mountain School would love a piece of that cake! Don’t forget to click the “Donate Now” button to sponsor Fr. Miguel and the team. Every penny raised goes to provide education and nutrition for the children of The Little Mountain School.

Thank you for following along this far! Check back for more updates from the Camino de San José…coming soon!

The post Day 49 – Pelón de la Altura, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.

After a few days of rest in San José and the surrounding area, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo were ready to resume their prearranged itinerary. Their hosts were waiting for them all along the route, and they were eager to move.

The remainder of the route is all within Costa Rica, beginning in the north at the border post of Peñas Blancas and continuing south to the capital of San José. By skipping Nicaragua, the route was shortened by about 200 miles. But Fr. Miguel and his teams in the U.S. and Guatemala spent a lot of time and energy during the delay working on behalf of The Little Mountain School, so the time did not go to waste.

On Monday, Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo made their way to the Nicaraguan/Costa Rican border. On the way, they took a short detour to the Pacific Coast.

A little exploring on the beach and a dip in the ocean were a fun way to break up the trip.

Peñas Blancas is not really a town. It’s just a border station, with a few businesses that are usually found at the border, such as restaurants, souvenir stalls, and money changers.

A small hotel near the border was a convenient place to spend the night.

Apparently, humans aren’t the only ones needing a convenient place to spend the night. This bat wanted to share Fr. Miguel’s bed! ?

Doña Carmen, the owner of the hotel, gave the travelers a warm welcome. She provided them with a dinner of tamales and coffee and a large helping of kindness.

7 September – La Cruz, Costa Rica

The next morning, the team woke up to heavy rain. Instead of making their usual early start, they waited until 6AM to set out for the day.

But the rain didn’t let up, so eventually the team had to just walk in the rain.

This is the first day of the whole Camino that the team has had to walk in heavy rain.

They shared the road with some children who were walking to catch the school bus.

Rain ponchos came in handy…

…as the rain continued.

But eventually, the rain eased up and Ignacio could shed his poncho.

He looks so relieved!

With no shoulders on the roads, there wasn’t much room to walk. But Fr. Miguel reports that drivers in Costa Rica are very respectful and used to making way for pedestrians.

By lunchtime, the team had walked about 13 miles from Peñas Blancas to La Cruz, Costa Rica.

La Cruz is a charming town on the PanAmerican Highway.

It is strategically located near Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste National Park, and Bahia Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge.

Just minutes from La Cruz are the beautiful beaches of Salinas Bay…

…and some of the best surfing in Costa Rica.

Maybe the guys should try surfing. Ignacio looks a little skeptical…

At the end of the day, Fr. Miguel was welcomed to his room at Holy Cross Church by the Missionary Mother of Perpetual Help.

So let’s review: After beginning in Palencia, Guatemala, the team walked over 400 miles through El Salvador and Honduras, stopping in Choluteca, Honduras to wait out their Covid isolation. When they were able to leave Choluteca, the team took a bus back to Tegucigalpa and flew over Nicaragua, through Panama City, to San José, Costa Rica. (Google Maps won’t let me show the flight over Nicaragua as part of the walking route, so just use your imagination. ?) After spending a few days around San José, the team made their way north to the border with Nicaragua. (This portion of the route is also not shown on the map.) And now Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo are walking again (from the black dot on the map just below the “H”) and hope to arrive back in San José by September 20.

As always, we need to remember why Fr. Miguel, Ignacio, and Eduardo, along with their support teams in the U.S. and Guatemala, are going to all this effort. If we are going to continue to provide education and nutrition for the children of Palencia, we simply have to raise the funds to support The Little Mountain School. Without the funds, there will be no school. And personally I don’t find this an acceptable option. Please watch what these parents have to say about what we are doing, and then tell all your friends!

The post Day 48 – Peñas Blancas/La Cruz, Costa Rica appeared first on The Way of Saint Joseph.