Interview with Jose Diaz

As a writer, author, social media person, and talk show host I meet many interesting people. In LaFortuna, Costa Rica I met Jose Diaz, owner and creator of Eco Garden Arenal. Jose is so passionate about his family project and environment that I had to interview him. There is so much about his place from beauty to excitement followed by great food and company I had to learn more and share. But this is about what Jose Diaz and his family have to say.

After the introduction with Jose we got right into it. Jose mentioned his place as a beautiful paradise (agreed) There are so many things to say about Eco Garden Arenal, but one of the most important things is that it is an eco friendly family project. Diaz Jose says, "We work for the conservation of wildlife."

What is the story behind the Eco Garden Arenal?

Jose's response: We are in the Arenal area which is near the volcano. We have hot springs, hiking, and an ecological park where we preserve nature. He goes on to say that they have a large piece of land. There are possibilities to see sloths, different kinds of wildbirds, bugs and other wildlife.

What does the Eco Garden Arenal offer?

The Eco Garden Arenal offers a sloth tour, birdwatching, ecological hike, night tour, volunteer programs, medicinal and cooking classes. As well as jungle cabins. He also mentions that they focus on the conservation of wildlife and planting trees. I did the night walk with him and it was the most exciting thing I did the whole trip. We saw lots of wildlife and beautiful plants. The sloths and frogs were my favorite.

Jose teaches people traditional Costa Rican cooking using organic foods they plant. Guess what!!!!! The people who take this class also get the actual experience of getting their own food. Yes, you will be using a machete and wearing rubber boats and rain gear. He takes you right there. You are not sitting at a table waiting for the food. You are getting it. Pretty Cool!!!!!. You will cook and eat everything that you get. The tour itself is three hours. Jose also mentions that in the medicinal plant tour where we talk to people about how you can be in harmony with nature. We even have a plantation of different types of tea like tumeric, ginger, and roots. Also, have food for vegetarians including all types. Stastics show that 70% wildlife come out at night and 30% come out during the day. We love showing people nature. My friend and I even got an empanada and sugar cane juice that he made after the night tour. Jose wants you to know that they try to give everyone the experience of what they do. He even gives the recipe for sugarcane juice, it has lots of vitamin C. We always want people who come to our place to feel like family.

A side note about the owner and creator of Eco Garden Arenal.

He studied biology in school and plants are his specialty. Jose is a very spiritual man, so he likes to be in harmony with nature. He hopes that everyone who visitis his family project does the same. I agree with this, because it is true most people do not know how to distress and become one with nature. So take the tours they have to offer and learn how.

How does the volcano affect your family project Eco Garden Arenal?

Jose mentioned that the volcano was active more than 65 years ago so it produced an ash that created a rich area and soil. Which helped our place and development of medicinal, organic food, and very green plants

Why is it so important to preserve nature?

When I asked Jose this question this was his response. Diaz, Jose, "The important thing about preserving nature is to preserve by yourself. Nature is great but some people think if you plant a tree you save the planet. People should get an education and understanding to preserve nature for our future and children." When you destroy nature we have a serious problem with water, our weather has changed, earthquakes, and there is lots of trash everywhere. Costa Rica works so hard even with our children. They teach us in school we cannot throw trash anywhere. That is why Costa Rica is so clean and has no trash. Jose also added that we preserve different types of plants and trees, because if not we will get different kinds of wildlife and plants.

What does Costa Rica Have?

Costa Rica has various types of sloths, wildbirds, we have 57 species of humingbirds. Costa Rica is a little country and we represent 6% of biodiversity for the whole planet.

What message do you have for others' not from Costa Rica about the environment?

Jose states that he would love for everyone to see their family project at Eco Garden Arenal. He would love to help others create a program to preserve nature in other places. He could do conferences or anything people would like to help our planet become a better place without trash.

Jose is very versed in the ecosystem, wildlife, and preserving our planet. He even mentions that nature will balance itself out. His family's project at the Eco Garden Arenal is something to see and learn about. I highly recommend that everyone visits. Remember to always respect nature and the wildlife. Also, take back a piece of what he talks about to your homeland. Maybe create your own project to help out. During the interview he said that we have to respect and protect nature.

Something I would like to let everyone know. Eco Garden Arenal does not receive any funding from the government. They received their money through the tours. The money they receive from the tours they put it right back into their eco garden. Everything is on their own.

References

Diaz, Jose, " We work for the conservation of wildlife (8 November 2026)."

Diaz, Jose, "The important thing about preserving nature is to preserve by yourself Nature is great but people think if you plant a tree you save the planet. People should get an education and understanding to preserve nature for our future and children. (8 November 2026)."

Written by,

Cheryl A. Nocera