Our group visited the Maleku territory on a tour guided by Dagoberto, a native Costa Rican. He introduced us to his wife and their two children, Adrián and Adriana. Adrián offered the same tour in English as he is proficient in the language. The tour encompassed a traditional art class, a medicinal plant tour, a bow and arrow class, a representation of traditional ceremonies, and lunch. The entire package, including lunch, cost $65 per person, with pricing subject to seasonal changes. Additionally, they offered handcrafted items for sale. The tour could be paid using cash, PayPal, or SINPE móvil.

 

Each member of our group painted a different animal during the art class, while we learned about the ancient Malekus' artistic processes.

 

Next, we embarked on a hike for the medicinal plant tour, during which Dagoberto explained the uses of various plants and their contributions to modern medicine. He even offered us some leaves to sample and shared some humorous anecdotes.

 

Following this, we participated in a bow and arrow class, using a bow made from a pejibaye tree measuring approximately 5.8 feet tall. Dago taught us how to shoot arrows, and we had a blast.

 

Later, the family performed a traditional ceremony wearing authentic costumes, providing us with a beautiful and enlightening glimpse into Maleku culture and rituals.

 

Finally, we enjoyed a typical Costa Rican casado for lunch, consisting of rice, beans, chicken, sweet plantains, and a natural drink. The food received unanimous praise for its taste.

 

Within the territory, we discovered a few family-owned minimarkets known as "pulperías," offering various items including Coca-Cola, Costa Rican chips, water bottles, candy, fruits, and snacks at reasonable prices.

 

During our visit to one of the pulperías, we met Indira, the owner's eight-year-old daughter She impressed us with her sweetness and outgoing nature. Indira shared that within the territory, there are two elementary schools and a night school offering high school and college courses. However, she attends a school outside the reserve due to dissatisfaction with the teaching methods. Indira dreams of becoming a veterinarian but acknowledges the challenges imposed by her current living circumstances, citing the example of a neighbor who had to abandon her veterinary aspirations to support her family.

 

In conclusion, we highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking new adventures. If you're staying in La Fortuna Area, a visit to the Maleku reserve is a must to immerse yourself in its rich culture. Supporting these family-owned businesses directly benefits indigenous people like Indira and Adrián, helping them improve their living conditions and pursue higher education opportunities.