Finding comfort in travel after a year of uncertainty: Costa Rica called us back!

I think we can all say it has been a crazy, uncertain, stressful, and strange 18 months! The travel industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic. From cancellation of trips, lose of income, and the ongoing protocols that change daily. It has been stressful, sad, and a challenge to navigate travel for myself and my clients. I, like many, were ready for some normalcy….and I for one was ready for some adventure! It was time to get back in the saddle again, travel internationally, and sign some waivers!

My family and I discussed at great length where to go this summer, and just kept coming back to one of our favorite places, Costa Rica. It is like going home for us, but still always an adventure and it was exactly what we needed! We decided to return to some of favorite resorts and soak up the beauty, the nature, the culture, and the adventure!

After arriving into San Jose, we picked up our rental car and headed south to Manuel Antonio. It is about a 3 hour drive, but fairly easy along a nicely paved new road. We stopped at a fruit stand along the way, and for dinner to break up the drive. A stop in Tarcoles to stretch your legs is always fun too. There you can view the many crocodiles at the Tarcoles bridge! We arrived to our hotel, Arenas Del Mar in the evening and after a bit of unpacking, and a soak in our balcony hot tub, headed to bed.

This is one of our favorite hotels in the region, due to its lovely beach front location, with amazing views and tons of wildlife on property! They have a smaller beach with a great restaurant and then also access to the main public and very large Manuel Antonio beach! Breakfast is included and the food is wonderful! The property is set on a hill, and golf carts are readily available should you want to catch a ride to the restaurant, your room, or either of the beaches. The drivers are always so kind as to point out wildlife along the way as well!

We awoke to a lovely view and my daughter and I attended an early morning yoga session before having breakfast with the family at Cafe Milagro. This little cafe is one of our favorites in town! The food is always so wonderful and fresh and they have wonderful vegan options, which always makes me super happy! They have a great back patio, and you can often see monkeys and sometimes even sloths while dining!

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We had a lovely day at the beach and rented surf boards and boogie boards and had some fun playing in the waves! This day happened to be my birthday and my activity of choice was a night hike! I arranged the night hike with the hotel and we met our guide in the lobby. It was about a 45 minute drive to the nature preserve called Rainmaker where we had our very exciting hike! http://www.rainmakercostarica.org/

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After signing our waiver, because as you know by now, “It is not fun until you sign a waiver!”, we headed out into the jungle to spot some night time wildlife! It was great fun and very exciting to be out in the jungle at night hearing the frogs and other insects come to life. This particular preserve has several hanging bridges so it was extra fun to walk across the swaying and bouncing bridges at night! We did see many creatures of the night, including many frogs and insects and a couple of snakes. The highlight of the hike for us and our guide was spotting a beautiful Fer-de- Lance snake! It was very large and our guide was so excited to have spotted one for us! He said it was my birthday luck, and I agreed!

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The following morning we drove south to Marino Ballena National Park near Uvita. This national park is a marine sanctuary for wildlife, namely the humpback whales that frequent here. The whales migrate to the region from August to November (heading north from Antarctica) and December to April (heading south from Alaska), each year. We had a boat tour scheduled in hopes we would perhaps see some early whales. We did not have luck on the whales, but we did have a nice ride and got to see some beautiful stretches of coastline. If possible, try to time your visit to the National Park, for low tide, then you can walk out to the end of the sandbar, known as the whales tale!

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While in Manueal Antonio, I went to tour some local hotels while the girls slept in. Whenever I am traveling, I always try to tour hotels so I can best match my clients to the right resort or hotel for their needs! I toured Los Altos, which is in my Signature collection of hotels and resorts. I can offer added amenities for my guests that stay here. Click here for more information on this hotel:https://www.sigtn.com/s/4B2B . I also visited Jungle Vista, which is a quaint boutique property near by!

In the afternoon we headed out to play on the beach some more. The rain came in, which is fairly common this time of year, but did not deter our boogie boarding fun! We also walked down the beach and into town for some lunch.

The following day we packed up the car and headed back north towards the inland region of Arenal. We opted to stop for one night at Peace Lodge which is a wildlife and nature preserve, high in the mountains. This is such a unique hotel! Our room was large and rustic, with a lovely fireplace and the bathroom was just incredible! With an indoor waterfall for a shower and hot tub, it was something to behold! We walked the property and preserve with its many trails and waterfalls before heading to dinner. That evening we had a guided tour of the frog preserve on property. The frogs our captive, but they are part of biologic studies and breeding programs conducted by the country. It was great to be able to see them up close and personal and to learn about their behaviors from our guide.\

Next, we headed further north into the Arenal and La Fortuna area. The drive into this region is on a narrow winding road through the mountains, and while it does take some time, it is has some lovely views! You can take in the vistas and drive past fruit and coffee plantations! This area is a very popular place to visit with many activities readily available! The Arenal Volcano national park is here, where you can hike and take in the sites of the volcano. Due to the volcanic activity, there are several hot springs in the area, which are a must to soak in after an active day! Ziplining, rafting, horseback riding, and hiking are just some of the activities available in this area.

We stayed at one our favorite resorts in the area, Tabacon! More information found here:https://www.sigtn.com/s/5AC65 This hotel is part of my Signature collection of hotels and resorts, which means I have a special relationship with the hotel and can offer my clients added amenities! The hotel grounds are lush and lovely! The resort of course has the very famous and popular thermal hot springs that emerge directly from the volcano, cascading to form waterfalls, streams, tranquil pools and ponds, surrounded by lavish tropical gardens. Hotel guests get unlimited access to the gardens and hot springs! The resort also boasts a highly awarded spa that is a must! We enjoyed relaxing in the hot springs this afternoon and just enjoyed our time at this lovely and tropical resort!

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My job as a travel advisor is matching clients to resorts! So, I took some time to tour a couple of other hotels in my Signature collection while in the region! Both Nayara Springs and Nayara Gardens are in this area and are additional properties I can offer my clients added amenities at! These two properties are set on 30 acres of lush gardens and rain forest and you will feel as if you are tucked away in your own little bungalow in the jungle! Many room categories offer private plunge pools from the deck. The newest addition to these properties are their tented camp style accommodations! These luxury tents reminded me of the safari tents in Africa and I loved them! Nayara Springs https://www.sigtn.com/s/39D is adults only and makes a lovely spot for honeymooners and romantic get-aways, while Nayara Gardens https://www.sigtn.com/s/0A0DD7D9 is family friendly! They offer several different restaurants with varying cuisines. We dined at Mis Amores and dinner was simply lovely!

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Speaking of food, we stopped in for lunch at one of our favorite spots in La Fortuna, Red frog roasters! This cute little cafe has their own freshly roasted coffee and great fresh food. The people are incredibly welcoming! Give them a try when you are in town! https://redfrogcoffeeroaster.negocio.site/

It had been a few days since we had signed a waiver, so it was time! On our last full day, we headed over to Sky Trek for a bit more hiking and an incredible zip line experience! This zipline takes you high above the forest canopy with amazing views of Lake Arenal and the surrounding jungle. It is a must when in this region!

We ended the day with a trip to the awarding winning spa at Tabacon and some more time in the hot springs, before dinner at Tucanes at the hotel. It was a great way to finish off our trip! We headed back to San Jose for our late afternoon flight home and our 5th trip to the land of Pura Vida was in the books. We were, of course, discussing on our drive to the airport, when we would return again! We love the people, the nature, the wildlife, and all the activities that Costa Rica has to offer and will continue to return again and again! It really does feel like going home and it was so nice to be back!

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To see some videos from this wonderful trip and the hotels visited, please visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/passportforadventure/videos/?ref=page_internal

Are you ready to explore Costa Rica? I would love to help you plan! I am a Signature Travel Network specialist for the country and it is one of my favorite destinations to plan!

Read more here about my designation as this destination specialist: https://signaturetravelexperts.com/agents/maci-cozart/

Let’s plan YOUR adventure to the land of Pura Vida! #passport4adventure

Nantipa- a Tico experience in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has long been one of our favorite places to visit.  The “Pura Vida” lifestyle that the Ticos enjoy, has always called to me.  The country has so much to offer from active adventures, beautiful natural scenery, wildlife, and a laid back lifestyle.  There is truly something for everyone to enjoy!  And the best coffee in the world, is just an added bonus!  We were recently invited to see the newest luxury boutique hotel in Santa Teresa, Nantipa!  Santa Teresa is a small town on the Nicoya peninsula, where one of the main draws is surfing!  We had not ventured to this area of the country before, and were excited for a new adventure and to see this beautiful new boutique hotel!

Arriving to Santa Teresa can be accomplished in a variety of ways.  If you are flying into either of the international airports in Costa Rica, a flight can be arranged to connect you to the Tambor airport.  From the Tambor airport it is a scenic 40 minute drive to Santa Teresa.  You can also drive from San Jose to the ferry crossing to the Nicoya Peninsula, or drive down from Liberia.  These options tend to take more time, and the flight into Tambor will be your easiest route to your Nantipa stay!

Upon arrival to your home away from home, you will be greeted at the beautiful open air reception, with a refreshing drink and a smiling face, before being shown to your room.

There are two room types, the Ninta bungalows and the Nanku suites.  We were pleased to experience a stay in a Ninta Bungalow.  Our bungalow sat ocean front, and came complete with a plunge pool that over looked those beautiful Costa Rican sunsets!  With large sliding glass doors, that slide away, you will feel as if you are able to commune with nature, while still being in complete comfort and luxury! The bungalows are free standing and private, perfect for a couples.  With comfortable king sized beds, situated perfectly to enjoy the scenic views.  The lush landscaping surrounding the private patio and pool, allow for ample privacy as well.  The Nanku suites, offer additional bedding, and are ideal for families!  All of the rooms are crisp and clean in design and very light, bright, and airy.

One of my favorite things about the resort as a whole, is that while being new and modern in design, they have kept a decidedly Costa Rican feel to the property, with their decor, and beautiful landscaping!  The small pathways that lead through the trees, and next to the large pool are so inviting.

The restaurant, Manzu, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an open air beach front location.  There are even lovely low tables that allow you to sit on the beach itself while enjoying your meals.  One evening we were treated to a private beach front meal, lit with candles and tiki torches.  There is something so very romantic about dining under the stars, while listening to the near-by waves crash.  The food was wonderfully presented,  amazingly fresh, and very good.  The staff was very attentive, and got to know our tastes quickly.  They became like friends we could share our adventures of the day with, each evening at dinner.

Prior to arrival,we arranged a tour to Tortuga Island through the hotel.  We were picked up at 8am and taken over to the near by town of Montezuma, where we caught our boat.  This was a full day excursion.  We were treated to multiple snorkeling stops, and beverages onboard.  We then were taken to Isla Tortuga for several hours of Island bliss.  Our crew treated us to a fresh meal of fish and vegetables.  We then were free to swim, relax, or take a hike to the top of the island for a great panoramic view! This was a great way to spend a day, and highly recommended!

We also went for a day hike to the Cabo Blanco National Park while in the area.  This was a fairly tough hike through the forest. But worth the effort!   When you have reached the end of the 5km trail, you are greeted with a beautiful unspoiled beach to relax on, prior to the hike back.  Be sure to bring plenty of water, and a snack!  Good hiking shoes are a must!  You should plan to arrive before noon, if you would like to hike the full trail to the beach and back.

We did explore the town of Santa Teresa a bit during our stay, and enjoyed the wide variety of dining options, as well as , the miles and miles of beach to walk along.  It is a great way to start the day, with a long stroll to watch the surfers catching some waves!

Nantipa is a wonderful location for couples and families who really want to get away from it all, while still being pampered.  This boutique hotel will see to your every need, with utmost in service, while still allowing you the space to unwind and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.  With only 15 rooms currently, you will never feel over run with people or lost in the crowd.  This hotel is perfect from romantic escapes, and honeymoons.  Families will also find an ideal home away from home, to re-connect and relax together as well.  Playa Santa Teresa sunsets can not be beat and would make a perfect spot for a proposal, family photo session, or vowel renewal!

Come to Santa Teresa, and enjoy a small town, off the beaten path, Costa Rican adventure.  Stay at Nantipa to have a true luxury Tico Experience!

 

 

 

 

Eco-lodges: Where luxury and adventure meet!

I recently had the pleasure of staying at an Eco- lodge in the middle of the Costa Rican rain forest.  The stay was everything I expected, but so much “extra”too! Before our trip, when talking to friends and clients about our upcoming stay at  an eco-lodge, I got some amusing reactions.  When most people think of staying in a resort with no electricity, they think of “roughing it”, or glorified camping.  Our stay at Pacuare Lodge was anything but roughing it!

We arrived in style…by white water raft! Which was exciting and oh so unique!  We were promptly seated to  lunch upon arrival,  and greeted by the most friendly and helpful staff.  We would come to know the staff by name, over the next few days.  Many of them live very near by, and some live on property.  When you are there, you feel like family in for a visit, as it is such a small and close knit little group.  After lunch, we were showed to our room by electric golf cart (yes electric). We were shown into our room and our jaw dropped!  We were greeted to a wall of beautiful  rain forest with a plunge pool overlooking the river.  We had a gorgeous canopy bed, large bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower, and wrap around porch with hammock, to watch the toucans from. In short, paradise!

 

 

All meals are included at the resort, and you will choose your lunch at the end of breakfast, and dinner at the end of lunch! There is a large variety of dining options, and lovely presentation too!  Each night before dinner, we would head down to the main building for happy hour at the bar over looking the river, and discuss our adventures of the day, with fellow guests of the resort and the staff.  Again, that “homey” and “part of the family” feel.

 

Many activities are available, from rafting, zip lining, hiking to a near by indigenous village, nature tours, and even a lovely spa!  We took part in the zip lining, and a really cool night tour where we saw many species of wildlife, including Costa Rica’s famous green tree frog!  The grounds are so pretty with a small waterfall a short hike away, and wildlife is abundant all around!

 

On our last day, we took the sustainable tour, and learned all about the methods employed by the lodge to stay green and help sustain the precious eco-system they are a part of!  It was so interesting to see all that they do, they have solar panels all over the roof of the main lodge, for starters.  There are  pigs who get all the left over food. The lodge then collects the methane from the waste of the animals, to use for heat! They have a hydro-electric turbine that generates the power, and a room full of batteries to collect it all!  The power is used in the kitchen mostly, as well as some in their office, and to charge the batteries for the golf carts for moving guests up and down the hills! It is simply amazing!  How great to be “off the grid” ,but still able to create this luxurious and totally pampered experience for guests, where every need is met.

The one aspect of the lodge that may be some what surprising, is how romantic it can be! Coming back to your room after dinner to find it bathed in candle light is just something so unique and special.  There are several other romantic opportunities as well, from a special meal by the fire pit,  to a  romantic meal in the “nest” tree house, high above the lodge!  This  experience exudes romance and tranquility!

If you are ready to give something a little different a try, I would love to help you plan!  This is just one of many  eco-lodges around the world,  that are ready and waiting to pamper you! Who says you can’t have it all?  You can have adventure, romance, luxury, and help to sustain the environment,  all with one vacation!

Visit me here: Passport for Adventure  Let’s plan an Adventure!

 

Our last day in paradise!

Why do vacations go by SO quick?  How can our week be up already?  We are not ready to go back to work, chores, traffic, fast food, you know…the “rat race”!  Our last day we just hung out at the resort again, and enjoyed a care free day at the beach.  Orlando, our concierge came to find us, and say his good byes.  I loved how he said “Miss Maci, Why are you going home tomorrow?” All I could say was, that was the hardest question I had been asked all week! Why indeed!?

I can say without hesitation, I think this was the our best vacation yet.  It was the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, and I loved showing the kids a new country and culture.  They seemed to really enjoy Costa Rica, as much as I do.

People say to me all the time, that I travel too much, or ask sarcastically “Didn’t you just go somewhere?”  The thing is, I do love to travel, to see new places, and experience new adventures, but more than that I love the quality time it gives me with my family, friends, and travel companions.  Time away puts you in a whole new state of mind.  A more conscious state of mind, I would say.  Being away, no one is preoccupied with work, deadlines, chores, homework, emails,  calls, texts, or who has practice that night, and when will I have time to make dinner!  We can enjoy that sunset for all its glory, or laugh til we cry because my  kids think my Spanish is the funniest thing they have ever heard.   I will be the butt of their jokes all day long, just to see them laugh like that!  When the stress of the “rat race” is removed it is so much easier to be mindful of each other, the people, and the world around us; To enjoy each other, to enjoy a conversation with someone from across the country, or around the world, to see a sight you have never seen before, to sign and waiver and do something that scares you, just a little bit.  To live, and laugh, and recharge!  That is why I do what I do, I want to help others experience a week like we just had, to create memories that will last a lifetime. That is why I share my trips with the world, to help people see that travel is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do with, or give to your children!

Road Trips and Waterfalls

We decided to do some exploring a bit south of Manuel Antonio, so we filled up the car with gas, and got our a drink from the road side coconut water stand, and hit the road!

We were going to check out Nauyaca Falls! The falls were about an hour south, and it was an easy and picturesque drive.  The falls are on private property, so there is an admission fee, of 8 US dollars per person. We stopped at the their office, off  the main road and paid, and got our wrist bands, and directions to the parking area.  A 4 wheel drive vehicle is recommended to get to the trail head and parking lot.  We parked the car, put on our sunscreen and bug spray combo and headed…UP!  We packed several water bottles, and our lunch to enjoy at the falls.

There is an option to do a horse back ride up to the falls, as well, if you are not up for the hike.  The upside is it is less strenuous, the down side is that you will be on a time schedule as to how long you will have at the falls.

The hike is mostly up hill, and as we started off, it was warm and humid.  There are plenty of shady spots to take breaks, and some areas you can cool off in the creek as well.  The hike itself is very pretty, following a river, with gorgeous views of the mountainside.

Beautiful scenery along the trail.

Going up!

Leaf Cutter ants crossing the path.

Your mode of transport, should you choose not to hike!

We had made it most of the way up the trail, and it started to rain a bit.  Which was actually  a welcome and refreshing cool down from the long hike!  Finally, we made it to the falls! As you round the corner, and get your first glimpse of the falls, your doubts of if the falls are really worth the hike, are all put to rest.  They are stunning!  Photos just can not do their size and beauty justice!  There are two sets of falls, upper and lower.  The upper falls, are pretty to look at, but you can not swim in them.  The lower falls, you are able to swim at the bottom, and jump off of some of the lower falls, and cliffs.

As we arrived, the few other people that were there, were all leaving, possibly because of the rain.  We ended up having this massive, beautiful natural wonder all to our selves!   The falls, were really rushing fast due to the rain.  So we did have to be careful where we swam, that we did not get carried down stream!  We played on the rocks, and cooled off in the pools, and even jumped from some of the lower falls.  The sun did come out again, and it was the perfect afternoon, soaking up nature, and enjoying our peanut butter sandwiches on the bank.  It just does not get much better than this ! I kept thinking, back home, this would be roped off, and a list of rules a mile long, and lifeguards, and lines, and so many people!  I just could not believe we were so lucky, to not only view this wild beauty, but truly experience it, play in it, touch it, and explore!  Everyday that passes, I grow to appreciate this “Pura Vida” way of life even more.

Manuel Antonio National Park

We started off early, and stopped off at a little cafe less than a block from our resort called Cafe Milagro!  It was recommended highly by Orlando, and it did not disappoint!  One thing we love about Costa Rica is how fresh all the food is!  The fruits and vegetables are all grown right there, and are so fresh and taste so much better than the ones we get in the states that are trucked in from so far away!  “Muy Fresco” became our tag line for every meal!  The cafe had fresh squeezed juices, amazing mango crepes, fresh Costa Rican coffee (of course!), and the typical Tico breakfast….Gallo Pinto.  Gallo Pinto literally translated is rooster beans! Their breakfast consists of eggs, fresh cheese, rice and beans, plantains, and usually pico de gallo or avocado.  It is delicious!

Gallo Pinto!

After breakfast we took the short, 5 minute drive to the National Park.  There is no official parking, instead you will have to pay a small fee to park along the street leading to the park.  You will want to be sure to eat before you go, and to bring bottled water with you!  No food is allowed inside the park, and there are nothing sold inside the park either.  The raccoons and monkeys are not shy in the park, and they do not want the animals fed, so the rule of no food allowed was established.  There are many vendors just outside the park, selling coconut water and bottled water, so you can grab some as you head in, if you forget. The park entrance fee is 16 dollars per person, and tickets are bought at the ticket booth just outside of the park.

You can hire a guide at the park entrance as well.  You will want to be sure to ask how much they will charge and how long the guide will stay with you, before hiring a guide. The guides all have high powered scopes that allow you to see up into the trees, and see the animals better, this is very helpful for viewing sloths!

We did not hire a guide, but explored on our own.  We hiked several of the trails before finally cooling off at the beach!  The trails can get hot, and some of them are a bit hilly, so the beach was a welcome break from the heat!

Park map

Reading about some of the animals in the park

Hiking and watching for animals

Checking out the view on one of the hikes

Tree hugger!

Sloth

Awe!

And what a beach it is!  It is so beautiful!  You truly feel like you are on set of Pirates of the Caribbean! There is a great section with many tide pools to explore, where we saw small colorful fish and eels!  You will want to keep a close eye on your bags on the beach!  The bandits are just waiting to grab your things…and the bandits are small and furry!  The raccoons are not shy at all, and will unzip your bags looking for goodies (remember the no food rule?).  They are actually quite funny to watch!

Furry bandit!

That beach though!

Exploring the tide pools!

Happy Camper

It was an amazing day, and as a National Park junkie, it was a highlight of my trip!  Hiking trails, beaches, and wildlife all in one, make Maci a happy girl!

Tomorrow….we celebrate 20 years of marriage and take surf lessons!

 

 

 

Time to unwind!

After our long travel day the day before, we decided our first full day in Costa Rica we were just going to hang out at our resort, enjoy all the amenities it has to offer, and relax!  After all isn’t that what vacation is all about?

Tulemar is a big resort, with many different bungalows, villas, and houses to offer. From one bedroom suites, to houses the sleep 20 plus people! But beyond that, there are 4 pools, nature trails, the only private beach in the area, and of course dining options!

We ate breakfast by the pool, and then headed down to the beach!  The private beach offers Kayaks and boogie boards to use as you often as you wish!  They also offer a beach restaurant and bar, and full service chairs, and umbrellas.  We were not there long when our concierge Orlando arrived to check in with us, offer his help with any reservations we may require, and ask if everything was to our liking so far.  The kids got  a kick out of this!  They likened him to the video game tutorial that pops up to guide you through the game.  It got to be a running joke.  As the week progressed, they would say ” You have finished the surfing section, your next mission is Ziplining”  It was quite funny!  But in all seriousness the service provided by all of the staff was great!

Kayaks for everyone!

Playing on the beach

View from the family pool

Boys heading out

Boogie boarding fun!

Another pool at Tulemar

View of the beach from one of the hiking trails

We enjoyed the beach, went for a spin on the kayaks, the kids rode the boogie boards and we watched the monkeys playing in the palm trees.  It was a great way to start the week! Later in the afternoon, we stopped back by the restaurant for a snack before heading back to the room to get ready for dinner.

For dinner we headed to a fun little place, and at the suggestion of Orlando ordered the Bananas Flambe for dessert!  WOW!  It was quite the show!  We videoed the fire dancing, and at the end of the video, you can hear one of the kids say “Orlando knew!”  Ha!

We went back to the resort, for a great nights sleep.  Tomorrow’s adventure is the Manuel Antonio National park! Stay Tuned!

 

The adventure begins!

We headed out to the airport with luggage in tow for the 5 of us.  My kids have been traveling since they were babies, so they are better at it than most adults!  We arrived in plenty of time, and after a little excitement with the TSA over a small pocket knife that had fallen into the liner of my purse, we were off!

There are 2 airports in Costa Rica; San Jose, which is the capital city, and Liberia which is further north, and much smaller.  Depending on where you will be going in Costa Rica, may determine which airport is best suited for your trip. We flew into Liberia, even though it was a bit further from our final destination, due to the fact we were using air miles, and were restricted as to which flights we could choose.  I really prefer Liberia actually, as it is very small, and easy to navigate! It was just under  4 hours, on our direct flight from Dallas to Liberia.  It is so nice that paradise is so quick and easy to get to! Airlines add flights all the time, and Southwest is even flying into Costa Rica now!

After customs we were off to pick up our rental car, and our drive south to Manuel Antonio!  For most of my clients on their first trips to Costa Rica, I suggest and arrange ground transportation for them direct to and from their hotels.  We had been to Costa Rica previously and were comfortable in renting the car.  We enjoy road trips at home in the states, and we liked the fact that we got the added bonus of a road trip through the country side!

The drive was so pretty, hilly, green and winding.  So lush! It was a easy drive, and we stopped for dinner along the way. We arrived at the Tulemar Resort where we were staying the entire trip, in Manuel Antonio.  We were greeted by our concierge and then met at our villa for a tour, and help with our bags.  The service through out our stay was impeccable!

The next morning, in the light of day we were greeted with our amazing view from our balcony! We were literally up in the trees with amazing wildlife all around and view of the ocean as well!

I got up each morning and sat on the balcony and watched and listened to the wildlife.  It was one of my favorite things about the resort, and such an amazing way to start the day. It was like taking a photo safari each day, just to stroll around the property!

Tent making bats

Scarlet Macaw

Howler Monkeys

White faced Capuchin

Igauna

Strolling through the Tulemar Resort

Stay tuned for more on our amazing resort, and Costa Rican Adventure!

Tomorrow is the big day!

Well the time has finally come! Ever since we returned from Costa Rica two years ago, I have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to take the kids back and show them the country I love! Next week is our 20th wedding anniversary, and this felt like the perfect way to celebrate!

We chose to stay in Manual Antonio,partly because it is an area of the country we did not see on our last trip. But we also chose Manuel Antonio  due to its abundant wildlife (big priority for me), plenty of adventurous activities, and beautiful beaches!

It is funny how I have been waiting anxiously for this trip, and now that it is here, I am almost sad, because it will soon be over!  Do you love the anticipation of a trip as much as I do?  I guess that is part of the reason I love my job so, I think the planning and anticipation is *almost* as fun as the trip!

I am looking forward to celebrating our anniversary by watching monkeys on our balcony, zip lining through the jungle, catching a wave on the ocean, and hiking to some waterfalls.  But more than that, I am excited to watch my kids experience those things, and a whole new country!  I hope they like it as much as I do!

So, here’s to 20 years of marriage, and family fun!

BUT FIRST….I have got to finishing packing!

Do you have questions about Costa Rica?  Send them out!