3h45 am, les derniers aux revoirs à travers les fenêtres de la navette qui ramène le groupe à l’aéroport pour leur vol de départ. Esteban, notre chauffeur de course, a le gros sourire au visage comme toujours. C'est pas aussi évident pour certaines personnes qui se voient quitter la Pura Vida qu’ils aimaient tant ; le surf, le soleil, les soirées endiablées, mais surtout les nouvelles rencontres de voyage. Let’s keep in touch !

Quand le groupe arrive au Costa Rica, tout le monde est excité, mais un peu timide en rencontrant un groupe d'étrangers. Une fois le groupe réuni, on s’ouvre une Pilsen bien froide et « Salud ! », le trip commence.

Après le casado au poisson couvert de délicieuse sauce Lizano et les 3 ou 4 mojitos beaucoup trop corsés, on redemande le nom de tout le monde parce qu’on ne s’en rappelle jamais après la première poignée de main. "Where are you from, what’s your job ?", les classiques. C’est après ça que tout devient plus intéressant. On se rend compte qu’on a plusieurs points en commun avec presque tout le groupe et que le trip s’annonce complètement fou.

Pendant les 13 prochains jours, on va tripper ensemble 16 heures par jour, des fois plus. On va se voir dans toutes sortes de situations, des fois drôles, des fois gênantes. C’est ce qui fait la beauté du voyage, l’imprévu. On vit des situations intenses qui nous rapprochent, qui tissent des liens très forts entre chacun d’entre-nous. Une session de surf de feu, un trip de ATV dans la jungle, un jam de guitare sur la plage autour d’un feu, un fou rire pendant une heure de yoga avec un prof complètement weird, peu importe. C’est tellement important d’apprendre à connaître les gens qui nous entourent, chacun d’eux à quelque chose à offrir. On ne sait jamais ce que l’avenir nous réserve et garder contact avec ses nouveaux buddies ça vaut de l’or.

J’ai décidé d’écrire mon blog en français parce que Beach Travellers est en train d’exploser au Québec. Le peuple québécois est reconnu comme étant très ouvert d’esprit à travers le monde et je souhaite à tous et chacun de voyager le plus possible.  BT est sans aucun doute une belle opportunité de sortir de sa routine et de découvrir les différentes merveilles que le monde a à nous offrir. Pour ceux et celles qui sont un peu tannés de caler des margaritas à partir de midi à Cancun, je vous suggère fortement un voyage avec Beach Travellers.

Expérimenter et sortir le la zone de confort, ça vaut toujours la peine! Vous devez absolument vivre l’expérience d’un TRITS Costa Ricain dans votre bouche avant de mourir, tout comme vivre la folie du Full Moon Party en Thaïlande ou bien de découvrir la culture à Bali et de sauter en deltaplane du haut d’une falaise par dessus Rio au Brésil. Un grand sage m’a déjà dit qu’on apprenait plus en un seul voyage qu’en une année complète à l’université……à vous de voir !

Hasta luego !

~Frederic Laurence, Guide Beach Travellers Costa Rica

We're very pleased to introduce the newest additions to our team of guides. We always like to mix things up, so these kids are from all over the place, are all unique and bring their own piece of flare to the party, but they've all got a few things in common: they rock, they're some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, they know the countries they're guiding inside and out, and they will show every traveller the best trip imaginable. So here they are:

Fred Laurence, Surf Camp in Costa Rica Guide.

Fred knows where to pick mangoes, spot monkeys, find waterfalls, score good waves, and just a straight up really nice dude. One word of advice: don't play against him in poker. Or golf.

Sean Sutherland, Surf Camp in Costa Rica Guide.

Can do a backflip on a wakeboard, play the bagpipes like a pro, and teach you how to surf all in one day. In Costa Rica, he'll remind you that one important activity to never forget is: "straight chillin. All day, errr-day"

Maggie Verity, Adventure Tours in Thailand Guide.

You can't tell by looking at her, but Maggie is actually part fish, which is very suiting for a Bali guide considering the amount of water activities we do there. She'll really make you laugh on land also.

Pat Vespa, Voyage Bresil Guide Brazil.

A curly-haired legend. He's an engineer, has travelled all over the world, and has stories to tell. He'll show you where to find the best fried-cheese in Rio, how to dance baile-funk, and he can even build a robot.

Carter Buan, Adventure Tours in Thailand Guide.

This guy is legit; plays guitar and sings with the best of the 'em, is obsessed with Thai-food, and creates a contagious atmosphere to get the good times flowin'. He's the guy that could end up being a Mahut and is the closest person to Mogley from 'The Jungle Book' that you'll ever meet.

Stephanie Schmidt, Adventure Tours in Thailand Guide.

She works her buns off at everything she does by not only being a 'I think I can' type person but a 'let's kill it' type. She braves the elements and is always up for an adventure. She is always committed to making dreams come true, hers and everyone elses.

Alex Martin, Adventure Tours in Thailand Guide.

The front man of our new Northern Thailand expeditions, Alex has lived in Thailand for years, speaks the language fluently, and will teach you a butt-load of interesting stuff about the Thai culture and their rich history.

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So there they are, the newest animals to join the herd. Hopefully you'll have the chance to meet them in their elements, whether it's hiking through jungles, eating Pad Thai on the streets of Bangkok, hang-gliding over Rio, or inventing dance moves at the Full Moon Party.

How many of us lead extremely busy lifestyles and live in a competitive, individualistic and fast-paced society? In the midst of the technology boom and the fact that over fifty percent of the world's population now inhabits urban cities, it seems that contemporary society at large (including myself) is inevitably becoming less connected with nature and also loosing focus on what is truly important in life.

Today, humans are constantly bombarded by stimuli, stress and decision-making. We tend to run our lives as if we were running a business, checking off a to-do list on a daily basis. In order for us to personally sustain ourselves in our crazy busy lives, it is essential that we all take a step back and ask ourselves: what is really real for me in life? What is truly abundant? Where am I held captive and where have I lost the power of choice?

Without a doubt, what is truly important differs from person to person. For example, I value and attempt to live by the following; living in the moment, always appreciating life and my surrounding environment, perpetuating a relationship and connection with nature, place, people, and creating a sense of community. What about you?

After the long winter in Canada, summer is the perfect time to take advantage of nice weather and long days to take a step back from our busy schedules and to immerse ourselves in nature and recreation. Connect and network with people, take some time to rejuvenate, refresh and revitalize your mind, body and soul.

A few suggestions:

• Hop on a trip with Beach Travellers
• Plant and harvest a vegetable garden, tie-dye some clothes, long walks on the beach, dance parties, pool parties, beer darts, straight chilling
• Sports: surf, hike, bike, sail, swim, longboard, bocce ball, yoga, rock climb, wakeboard, Frisbee, skimboard, mountain bike
• Road trips, camping, travel, beach fires, hammock chilling, BBQs, cold beverages, reading & writing,
• Trek some beaches, forests, mountains, deserts
• Watch a sunrise & sunset, stargaze, cloud watch, spectate the moon with binoculars, keep an eye out for the northern lights.

Basically, just get outside!

~Sean Sutherland, Beach Travellers Surf Camp Costa Rica Guide

Also check out our Voyage en Thailande adventure!