Thursday, August 22, 2013

5 minutes with Cristhian Jimenez - a Corcovado NP Guide

Have you ever wondered what it is like to work in a national park? Cristhian works as a guide at Corcovado National Park, located in one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, Costa Rica. I picked his brains about what this amazing-sounding job is really like.

How long have you been a guide at Corcovado?
5 years.

Why did you decide to become a guide?
Because one of my passions is Nature. It is also a good way to get to know people and their different cultures without traveling.

What qualifications do you need to become a guide?
You need qualifications in Professional Ethics, Fundamentals of tourism, First Aid, CPR, and Guiding techniques and care of tourists. (You also need good English skills).

 Does the wildlife of Costa Rica ever lose it’s magic?
No, wildlife never will lose it's magic. The visitor's own attitude determines how interesting they find the wildlife; if they like and respect it, nature it will be always amazing.

What’s your favourite thing about being a guide?
To show the visitors the wildlife, but also to make it more than just a tour. I enjoy getting them interested in nature, culture, respect and helping them to have a nice experience.

If you could see any animal in the world (in the wild), what would it be?
Humans. They are the most interesting animal, as they are able to see so much nature and freedom. The real animals are all beautiful for me, maybe because of how much I respect nature.

What are the essential items to take with you when going into the park?
Enviromental respect, including an interest for nature, security for the animals more than the Humans (although of course I care about my clients) and for visitors to enjoy what is holding us all together...... Nature.

Many thanks to Cristhian for answering my questions. Please note that some wording has been translated or rephrased for grammatical purposes, but the content of the answers remains the same. More information about Corcovado National Park can be found here http://www.corcovado.org/
 

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