84 Hours in Puerto Rico
“For me, this little piece of land has the power to make you whole again.” says Alex Forestier, our visionary lead-photographer, fresh off the plane from Puerto Rico as he sits in his NYC apartment reflecting. “We’re all so drowned out by our routines and lifestyles that we forget to appreciate nature and the small things that we actually don’t see. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve been bothering [CY cofounder] Rashad to make a trip to PR. I wanted people to live a new and different perspective, where everything is more peaceful and not fast paced…”
Since Camp Yoshi’s inception, Alex has been adamant about bringing our team and family of campers down to his homeland. So much so, that he took the initiative to envision and direct the curation of the trip from start to finish. “I decided to take the campers out of the ordinary tourist spots and immerse them in the deepest parts. I have to say that it gives me a huge sense of satisfaction, seeing people enjoy my home… Puerto Rico, the small island in the Caribbean that made me who I am today, where the sky is always dark blue and the waters are a bright turquoise. This place is special for everyone who visits.”
In the middle of January, campers got to escape the freezing temperatures and turbulence of the US and venture out into a tropical paradise via Camp Yoshi’s unique team. As always they got to enjoy the luxury of showing up with next to nothing while we provide the necessary gear and provisions. Like our usual domestic trips, campers got to enjoy the adventure aspects including hiking, kayaking through caves, diving off of rocks and swimming in rivers, but unique to PR, they also got to learn the history of the island straight from the mouth of a native and enjoy food prepared not only by our team-chef Rashad, but also local chefs that have been preparing Puerto Rican cuisine for their entire lives.
Grilled Red Snapper Smothered In Coconut sauce by CY chef Rashad Frazier
“Through this trip, I learned that we all deserve to be free often, and I know the campers left with a different perspective of what PR really is, and the power that it has to feed your soul in a different way.” says Alex.
Also on the trip was camp guru Steffen. “PR was perfect to escape the cold and recharge, spending some much needed time outside on the beach. Alex did an amazing job scouting and living up to his claims of what an amazing trip it would be.”
Steffen, an experienced outdoor enthusiast, avid rock-climber, and day-one CY guru says his favorite part of the trip was not swimming the rejuvenating waters of PR rivers, or the thrill of kayaking through caves, but what directly followed. “When we got to the mouth of the cave on the other side, the guide gave us a history lesson on the Taíno people–- a part of PR history that isn’t usually taught. It was really really cool to learn about that from someone who had such a deep appreciation and passion for the place he was showing.”
Speaking to what this trip meant for the future of CY, Steffen said “It was a great opportunity for Camp Yoshi to redirect some of the energy away from camping and put more into exploring, hosting, and curating. It’s something we can do more of in the future-– CY in different countries. PR was a great test-piece for that.”
Want to join us in PR? Book your spot for 2023, HERE.