The Watsi Bribri people lived in Costa Rica long before the Spanish arrived. On a visit to the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains, you’ll have the chance to meet the modern-day Bribri and learn about their pre-Columbian culture.

On the first leg of your trip, you’ll hike through the rainforest to a waterfall that’s surrounded by vibrant tropical plants. Keep an eye out for tiny critters — as you explore and take a dip in the pool, you might be able to observe the tiny red frogs that live here. Next, you’ll learn more about the resourcefulness of the Bribri on a visit to a medicinal plants garden. Certain roots, leaves, and barks natural curative properties and a medicine man or woman will let you in on some of their secret cures.

Before the tour ends, you’ll get to meet a Bribri family comprised of five generations. To reach their house, you’ll cross over a hanging bridge and walk through cacao plantation. On the cacao plantation, you’ll see how their ancestors harvested chocolate using pre-Columbian tools and techniques. This part of the tour comes with a taste test of five varieties of chocolate.

The Bribri family will be happy to tell you more about their daily lives and the farming, building, and hunting that makes up the fabric of their lives. Nearly everything they use they obtain from the forest. To cap it off, you’ll get to watch a hunting demonstration.