Today marks my third day traveling alone internationally. I began my trip in San Jose, Costa Rica with no idea how I’d make it to Puerto Viejo 6 hours south of the capital.
The more I talked to other tourists on my flight the more stressed I got in thinking how I would accomplish this safely. Of course I could take a bus, but that would involve 2 bus transfers, 8 hours of travel time, and a sketchy taxi ride at 10pm in Puerto Viejo, a town known to be quite unsafe for female travelers.
This option wasn’t ideal, but it was my last resort.
And so I decided to ask around at the airport when I arrived in San Jose. I asked a few people where they were headed to no avail and then finally, I met a lovely Swiss girl headed to Limon. I also met an English boy with no plans, ready for an adventure. We both caught a ride with her and her friend driving to Limon an hour north of Puerto Viejo, our final destination for the night.
For the next 5 hours we chatted about life, our experiences, and our aspirations. It was pretty incredible to connect with people I’ve never met before who grew up on the other side of the world. What’s funny, is we had so much in common. Connected by our open minds and open hearts. Eager to meet others on a similar journey of self discovery and adventure.
From Limon, after almost 24 hours of travel we took an Uber to Puerto Viejo. I was only alone for about 10 minutes in the Uber through this whole journey, what could have possibly gone wrong in that time?
While…at first, my Uber driver was driving in the wrong direction..and I tried to say something but I don’t think he understood me. Then finally he realized and apologized and my fear began to dissipate as he drove me towards my hostel.
On the road to the hostel my fears were elevated again as there were no street lights, no people, and no service. I was truly on my own with this Costa Rican I knew nothing about.
To say I was frightened would be an understatement, I was absolutely terrified as this Uber driver took me out of town to my remote hostel in the jungle…
But finally we made it to the hostel entrance. I was incredibly relieved to be “home” for the night. I stayed at Madre Selva Jungle Hostel, which was nice but also quite remote.
Once I was settled in, I was starving. I hadn’t had a single meal in the past 24 hours. Running off biscoff cookies and pretzels I was losing steam. There was no food at the hostel for purchase and the nearest restaurant was a 15 minute walk through the jungle in pitch black darkness…
Thankfully, the lovely Argentinian hosts offered me their leftover food from their BBQ which was delicious! I was so very thankfully and content, to have food and incredible company.
Madre Selva made me feel safe and comfortable in a not so safe place for female tourists at the moment. For that I’ll always be thankful.
I don’t think I would have done anything different, it was a journey filled with kind and unknowing strangers. Without their help I would have not made it to the hostel safely.
The next day I crossed the border of Costa Rica and Panama to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. And so another adventure begins…
So She Dares 
Leave a comment