We never got around to having a special trip to celebrate our 20-year wedding anniversary with all of the house-move shenanigans last year:(. So this year we decided to do something really special to make up for it:). We had been fantasizing about an Adventures By Disney trip for a while now and when an Adult Exclusive trip in Costa Rica came up over Maddy's Spring Break we decided to take the plunge:). Costa Rica is in Central America and is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, the Caribbean to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West. The itinerary covered a lot of ground so we were excited to see multiple places and experience a variety of microclimates throughout the country on one trip.
On the first day, we flew into San Jose where we were escorted through the airport like royalty. Everything was taken care of and we were checked into a gorgeous, colonial-style hotel on an old coffee plantation just outside of town. We got started with some pool relaxation and took in the breathtaking scenery before the scheduled activities began the next day:).
On the first day, we flew into San Jose where we were escorted through the airport like royalty. Everything was taken care of and we were checked into a gorgeous, colonial-style hotel on an old coffee plantation just outside of town. We got started with some pool relaxation and took in the breathtaking scenery before the scheduled activities began the next day:).
In the evening we went for a walk during sunset and made friends with some sweet Costa Rican horses and donkeys behind the hotel property:)
In Costa Rica, they talk about "Pura Vida" all the time - literally "pure or simple life" - and it's truly a way of living. In the morning we were already feeling it and watched the clouds roll over the mountains...
After breakfast we met the 36 other people on our trip and had a brief presentation from our trusty Adventure Guides Summer Rose and Fico, about what to expect over the next week or so. The first activity on the agenda was whitewater rafting!
Not only was it a lot of fun but I got to see a toucan fly over us:). Once we were done we were taken over to the next hotel in Arenal Volcano National Park. Our Guides (one a naturalist from Costa Rica and the other an American who loves it so much that she lives there now:)) gave us local history and information about Costa Rica as we took in the sights on the drive over. They were so knowledgeable and it really added to the experience:).
The resort we stayed at was a collection of bungalows overlooking the Arenal Volcano. It felt like we were in a massive aviary - one of the highlights of the whole trip for me was morning coffee in bed watching (and listening to) the extraordinary birds...
In fairness, I would never have spotted it and it just looked like a ball of fur. Not exactly the cute little face I was hoping for but never mind:). After some pool time, we had a private dinner and dance class and got ready for our wildlife safari the next day.
Bright and early we were taken up to the Frio river (close to the Nicaraguan border) and boarded our boat for the tour. Costa Rica makes up about 0.03% of the world's landmass but contains 5% of the world's biodiversity - giving it the highest biodensity in the world. On our boat trip we saw more birds, caiman, bats, all 3 local species of monkeys, another (slightly more distinguishable:)) sloth, iguanas and lizards!
The resort we stayed at was a collection of bungalows overlooking the Arenal Volcano. It felt like we were in a massive aviary - one of the highlights of the whole trip for me was morning coffee in bed watching (and listening to) the extraordinary birds...
The resort had amazing plant life too!
One of my goals for the trip was to see a sloth. As soon as we arrived we saw one in a tree with an iguana...
In fairness, I would never have spotted it and it just looked like a ball of fur. Not exactly the cute little face I was hoping for but never mind:). After some pool time, we had a private dinner and dance class and got ready for our wildlife safari the next day.
Bright and early we were taken up to the Frio river (close to the Nicaraguan border) and boarded our boat for the tour. Costa Rica makes up about 0.03% of the world's landmass but contains 5% of the world's biodiversity - giving it the highest biodensity in the world. On our boat trip we saw more birds, caiman, bats, all 3 local species of monkeys, another (slightly more distinguishable:)) sloth, iguanas and lizards!
Emerald basilisk (called the Jesus Christ lizard since it can run on water:))
It was hard to see from a distance that there were 11 long-nosed bats on these sticks!
We saw lots of monkeys from all 3 types that populate this region jumping between the trees and howling at us!
Baby and adult Spectacled Caiman...
It was just amazing - we loved it!
The next day we went zip-lining. I've technically done it before but this was a different league. The seven lines were 600 ft high, way above the tree canopy and one of the lines was a half a mile long! But we didn’t bail and Maddy and Mike loved it:). I don’t think I’ll do it again but I survived and enjoy looking at the photos now it’s all over!
In the evening we had cocktails in the local hot springs before dinner - it was so relaxing:)
Afterwards, we went to the little town of La Fortuna (which survived Arenal's last major eruption in 1968) for lunch and some shopping:)
In the evening we had cocktails in the local hot springs before dinner - it was so relaxing:)
And got a close up view of a nesting toucan:)
The next morning we headed out for the chocolate rain forest tour.
Then we headed out to the Pacific side and into the dry forest. We stopped the coach to get a really good view of a three-toed sloth. I fell in love!
It was informative, interesting, silly and fun. We actually made our own chocolate right from the tree:)
Then we headed out to the Pacific side and into the dry forest. We stopped the coach to get a really good view of a three-toed sloth. I fell in love!
And we saw a troop of about 15 Coati which I'd never even heard of...
We said goodbye to to Arenal volcano and Lake Arenal...
And arrived at our hotel right on the beach in Guanacaste. Mike and Maddy went for a walk and saw dolphins and an anteater in a tree! The beach had so many iguanas too...
We learned how to make Guaro Sours that night and enjoyed dinner and some star gazing:)
We learned how to make Guaro Sours that night and enjoyed dinner and some star gazing:)
The next morning we had our private catamaran! We went out to a deserted beach and snorkeled for a few hours:)
The last night was really special. Some local school children shared traditional dancing with us and then we watched a montage of photos from our trip together. It was hard to say goodbye to our new friends - we really enjoyed our group so much...
Getting home was rough with a flight delay and a night in Miami on the airport floor:(
But it was nice to get back to Professor Langley (who also had a lovely time on vacation with his pack:)) and reflect on one of the most extraordinary places we've ever seen. We'll never forget beautiful Costa Rica and the life lessons we learned there - Pura Vida:)
