Tilly's Costa Rica Quest

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Tilly's Costa Rica Quest I am a Ranger with Girl Guiding UK. I have been given the amazing opportunity to go to Costa Rica as part of a group from Girl Guiding Midlands in summer 2026.

This page will tell you all about my preparation, fundraising and the trip itself.

18/08/2026

Thank you for helping me get to Costa Rica and for all the interest you have shown in my adventure.

(This is filmed at home - this is my wall paper which is very like an island we visited on our trip!)

While Tilly is fighting her jetlag after her amazing Costa Rica adventures some of her friends are on their own internat...
16/08/2026

While Tilly is fighting her jetlag after her amazing Costa Rica adventures some of her friends are on their own international adventure fundraising journey. Three of her fellow Ellesmere Rangers are off on adventures in different parts of the world next summer.

If you are in the Oswestry/Ellesmere area and would like to support them two of them are hosting a coffee morning this Wednesday.

She's back!!!Many many tales of her travels to follow...
15/08/2026

She's back!!!

Many many tales of her travels to follow...

Day Fourteen - Saturday (Part 1)I am off to Heathrow to collect her soon! There was almost a last minute spanner in the ...
15/08/2026

Day Fourteen - Saturday (Part 1)

I am off to Heathrow to collect her soon! There was almost a last minute spanner in the works when Heathrow managed a flood - during a heatwave - affecting road travel to the terminal they are arriving into but apparently that has now been resolved and we can continue with Plan A.

Despite joking with the other parents that we are all planning rice and beans for dinner tonight I have actually got a selection of her favourite foods in waiting for her!

Day Thirteen - FridayToday Tilly says a reluctant adiós to Costa Rica.They had to be ready with bags packed at 9am ready...
14/08/2026

Day Thirteen - Friday

Today Tilly says a reluctant adiós to Costa Rica.

They had to be ready with bags packed at 9am ready to board their pink bus for the final time. They had another drive through San José and a final souvenir shop pit stop before heading to the airport.

I asked her a few questions while she had WiFi access at breakfast time this morning,

Q. Best moment of the trip?
A. Releasing baby turtles

Q. Worst moment of the trip?
A. The ten hour trip in a middle seat with my screen not working

Q. Do you want to go back?
A. I don't even want to leave

They are now checked in at the airport waiting for flight number one to Colombia which leaves in just under an hour (4pm Costa Rica/ 11pm UK). All being well they arrive back in the UK tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. Currently both flights are showing as on time so fingers crossed it stays that way.

Day Twelve - Thursday Team Costa Rica woke up back in tourist mode on the edge of San José. After breakfast they headed ...
14/08/2026

Day Twelve - Thursday

Team Costa Rica woke up back in tourist mode on the edge of San José. After breakfast they headed out into the city to explore. They have had a Costa Rican guide with them for the whole trip and he was able to tell them lots about the city. They visited the market, where they ate lunch, and went on both walking and pink bus tours.

Later that evening they had dinner and shared their thoughts about the trip. They also gave gifts to their guide and bus driver.

They also watched their final Costa Rican sunset.

On Friday they begin their journey home.

These pictures were all taken by the Guiders on the trip and shared via Instagram.

13/08/2026

Day Eleven - Wednesday
Team Costa Rica had a relatively early start to get breakfast and onto their bus to leave their turtle volunteering placement. Montezuma is at the end of the Nicoya Peninsula so the journey back to San José is either a VERY long road journey or a shorter road trip and a ferry. They were taking the ferry option.

They weren't headed straight to the ferry though, first of all they hopped aboard a smaller boat to visit Tortuga Island. They spent some time on the beach and enjoyed a paddle before returning to the mainland for lunch. They had their evening meal on the road and arrived at their next accommodation at about 9pm. Tilly sent me a picture of the cabin she is staying in in the dark last night but then sent me this video this morning. They are here for 2 nights before they start their journey home.

Day Ten - Tuesday Today started with some sightseeing, visiting a local waterfall.I asked Tilly about the insect bite si...
12/08/2026

Day Ten - Tuesday
Today started with some sightseeing, visiting a local waterfall.

I asked Tilly about the insect bite situation (she had suffered badly at the beginning of the trip), she sent me a picture of her foot which I'm not sharing - something clearly enjoyed tucking into it!!!

They have still mainly been eating rice and beans - for every meal!

After lunch they were back on volunteering duty, preparing another area of the beach for nests to be created. Then they had to get packed and do their night shift.

Tilly was on the 9-12 night shift, they saw 2 turtles and helped with 3 nests. When asked whether turtle conservation has lived up to expectations she replied "Kinda but I'll explain all when I get back, It involves a lot of sitting around". So we'll have to wait to find out more!

Today they leave Montezuma heading back to San José, for more cultural experiences, via a boat trip to Tortuga Island.

Day Nine - Monday Today Tilly had her early start to do her night shift on turtle duty (as I mentioned yesterday).After ...
11/08/2026

Day Nine - Monday
Today Tilly had her early start to do her night shift on turtle duty (as I mentioned yesterday).

After breakfast they headed out to learn how to make nests for endangered Olive Ridley turtles and how to protect them from predators. It was incredibly warm and Tilly was very conscious of her fair skin in that sun so covered up as much as she could.

The wildlife around the site they are based at is fabulous, as the pictures below show (taken by one of the leaders as Tilly's are on her camera).

Yesterday was a day for releasing baby turtles into the ocean and the girls were able to help with that. They also managed a walk into the town.

Tilly had the 9pm to midnight shift.

She has now taken part in releasing baby turtles and has seen a female adult turtle!!

Day Eight - Sunday Today Team Costa Rica travelled from cloud forest to beach. As they left the forest the temperature r...
10/08/2026

Day Eight - Sunday

Today Team Costa Rica travelled from cloud forest to beach. As they left the forest the temperature rose so it was a real transition day.

Tilly was able to pick up some WiFi at lunchtime and messaged me to say they had seen macaws and iguanas! They stopped for fajitas filled with rice and beans for lunch.

Their accommodation in Montezuma is pretty basic and they launched straight into their volunteering duties.

"There is one shower between 14 of us so we are using the outside shower in bikinis!! .... it's only cooling down to 28 tonight"

"I forgot to mention the 3 hour night shifts 6-9 9-12 12-3 3-6 I am in the 3 to 6 group"

So now it gets tricky to keep up with daily updates as they are working through the night on top of the time difference!!

Many of the early night teams saw turtles laying eggs and eggs hatching... Unfortunately Tilly's group saw neither!

Her group is on the 9-midnight shift tonight so hopefully she'll see more. She doesn't know what the plan for the day is otherwise.

Address

Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú

10110

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