As a Jewish girl from the Midwest, I obviously attended camp during many of my adolescent summers (I even became a counselor once in high school). Our current stay at the Flutterby House in Uvita is basically like a grown-up version of the best summer camp you ever went to.
View of a hut on the Flutterby "campground."
The day here starts when you wake up sweating from the humidity in your cabin, treehouse or hut. Breakfast is locally sourced and served from 7-9am (so far the only thing missing from my childhood memories is saying grace before meals).
Waking up in a treehouse, under a mosquito net.
Following a wholesome breakfast, you pick an activity - beach, reading, surf lessons, snorkeling or hiking – and set off for the next couple of hours. All the while you are surrounded by fellow “campers” – travelers just like you who are hoping to spend a few slow days in paradise, relaxing on a hammock.
Playa Uvita entrance by our hostel.
To give the staff a break, lunch isn’t served on premises so you either decide you are full enough from breakfast to wait for an early dinner at 6:30pm or head down the dirt road for a mid-day meal.
Then it’s time for your next activity – arts & crafts (in my former life) or sports maybe? In this case the Argentina vs. Netherlands world cup semifinal game is on, so you head to a local spot to catch the game because it just so happens the power is out for an hour at camp.
Just as the game is ending (Argentina wins in a shootout!), it starts to rain so you head back to camp to get ready for dinner.
Lizards and other animals are everywhere - it's camp!
Unfortunately, showering basically does you no good here because you are sticky from sweat and bugspray 5 minutes afterward. But who cares – you are at camp!
Dinner is served family style – one entrée selection per night – and you mingle with current and new friends.
The biggest (and best) difference from actual summer camp? The booze, obviously! Happy hour(s) is from 5-7 with a different specialty beverage each night for approximately $3 and local beers are served all day for $2.
About to write this blog post with a pint of white wine - today's happy hour special (shown next to Alex's 40).
With dinner served until 7:30 and last call for drinks at 9:30, you have just enough time for the required number of drinks necessary to sleep in 90 degree 100% humidity weather without AC. You head to bed excited to do it all over again tomorrow. Pura vida!