costa rica

We just returned from an amazing trip to Costa Rica.
We have been planning this vacation for quite awhile and it exceeded all of our expectations.

We decided to rent a small suv and navigate the country on our own (with the help of a GPS, of course - MUCH needed as the streets do not have names!) In addition to arriving and departing from the capitol city of San Jose, we visited three main areas.

*La Fortuna, the site of the Arenal Volcano
*Monteverde, a cloud-forest region
*Playa Flamingo, a beach on the Pacific side

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We loved having our own vehicle (as opposed to a tour company) because we were able to take our time and enjoy driving through the small towns and stunning countryside. Not all of the roads were smooth (as in, driving over an hour on unpaved rocks) but it was definitely an adventure. We were a little worried, after reading all about the rainy season, but we were so blessed that it really only rained one day. We enjoyed pleasant, tropical temps for the majority of the trip!

Costa Rica is a perfect destination for an active, yet relaxing, vacation. We stayed in wonderful, authentic hotels, hiked in national parks, climbed volcanoes, discovered waterfalls, walked across hanging bridges, zip-lined over the rainforest, learned about coffee, and saw all types of wild life. We ended our trip by spending a few days at the coast. Amazing. Best beach I have ever been to. The water was the perfect temperature, fun waves, soft sand, clean, and quiet. We did feel a small earthquake and I panicked, convinced there would be a tsunami, however no one else seemed to be concerned.

We fell in love with the gorgeous land and the warm, friendly people. We felt safe wherever we traveled and Costa Rican people (Ticos) have a lot of pride in their families, country, and their environment.

It is always amazing to travel and see another masterpiece of God's creation. The country is simply breathtaking. We are so thankful we were able to take this amazing trip.

Pura Vida!