Tropical Storm Nate, which ripped through Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua last Thursday, October 5, left 22 people dead and several more missing. The devastation in Costa Rica is being called one of the country’s worst natural disasters in recent history.
Houses have been destroyed, bridges have been washed away, and mudslides and other damage have closed down many of the country’s highways. Costa Rica has been declared a state of emergency by the government and thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes and placed in shelters around the country.
Areas of Honduras had already been hard-hit by heavy tropical rains and flooding when Tropical Storm Nate passed through after devastating Costa Rica; several people were killed trying to cross flooded rivers, and many local roadways were damaged.
Many of Costa Rica’s main tourism areas have been affected by the storm: Alajuela, Doce en Cartago, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and San Jose: not great news for a country for whom tourism is so vital to the economy.
There are many organizations that are working to help with rebuilding efforts. The Costa Rica Red Cross has nine regional locations and 121 auxiliary offices across the country, and they are accepting donations of basic necessities. Alternatively, you can donate money through the Red Cross website.
BAC Credomatic, one of Costa Rica’s largest financial institutions, is collecting cash donations here and will match the amount donated, up to a maximum of US$100,000.
It’s important to remember, as these countries start to recover, that their economies rely heavily on tourism. Tourists can help simply by not canceling their trips, and continuing to head to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Honduras. In this way, you’ll be helping to support the local economy just by continuing to eat in local restaurants, stay in local hostels, take guided tours, and shop at locally owned stores.
Find out how technology is helping people around the world stay safe from hurricanes.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
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Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.