How much did I love my trip to Costa Rica? THIS MUCH. It’s also how big the crocodile next to my kayak was and the size of most leaves in the country. photo credit: Bailey Johnson
Recently I spent a week in Costa Rica. The trip was part of a research mission with a group of journalists to explore new-to-me areas in search of family friendly offerings. I came home with plenty of information and a renewed love of all things tropical and am in the midst of writing a couple of stories to share the experience with you.
In the meantime I wanted to give you a glimpse of what this incredible oasis has to offer.
There’s no question that my infatuation with Costa Rica is affected in no small part by the fact that November in Costa Rica and November in Toronto are two VERY different things. It’s one of the reasons why they started a Save the Canadians/Americans campaign. It is effective.
At home leaves had changed colour and some very cold winds were blowing through but in Costa Rica it was a whole different experience.
From the gorgeous foliage,
A few of the flowers and plants in Costa Rica
to the incredible food,
Never have I been so in love with a salad: Fresh tuna and avocado for the win
to the fantastic vistas
The Arenal volcano only erupted with beautiful views while we were there. I wish you the same.
Sight, sound, touch, taste: It was a non-stop sensory abundance from morning until night.
And then there were the animals. From the slow moving “I’ll just wait here while you run to change your camera battery and then come back and snap a gazillion pictures” sloths to the gigantic leatherback turtles and the vibrant toucans and macaws, the animals were a constant reminder of the awesome abilities of mother nature.
Over the last few years I’ve watched Costa Rica become a favourite among families with school-age kids and teens. I have no difficulty understanding why.
While I was there I made a couple of videos to give you a quick peek at my experience. You can always watch them on our YouTube Channel but here’s a quick look:
Watch for my stories on the destination in the months ahead. And feel free to peek back at some of my favourite moments on Instagram.
Let me know what you think of the videos and if you’ve been to Costa Rica, what you loved most, in the comments below.
Safe travels,
Heather
Heather! Our family will be rambling around Costa Rica this Spring. Haven’t even begun my research, but would LOVE a suggestion as a great base to start– But this might be to come on your blog… Don’t want to jump ahead! Nice videos!
Dawn
Hey thanks Dawn! So many options. Our trip took us to the two spots above but I also visited Monteverde and Manuel Antonio National Park on a previous trip (That was a family trip with http://www.gadventures.ca ) and loved them too. The trick to Costa Rica is realizing that you need the time between spots to be able to make the most of it. We took about a day to get from Tortuguero to Arenal for example. I’d say, focus on whether you want the Caribbean side or the Pacific Side and then make your choices keeping that distance in mind. You can’t go wrong with either choice but they are very different offerings. Have fun!
Oh my, Costa Rica. I really envy you for stepping foot on such a marvelous place. I bet you enjoyed your Costa Rican getaway a lot. Please tell us more about your trip.