Costa Rica – Pura Vida!

This past May, I had the incredible opportunity to explore Costa Rica with GAdventures, a company that perfectly aligns with ©Travel with Wendy, LLC’s commitment to small group travel and sustainable tourism. “Pura Vida” became my mantra throughout this journey – this Costa Rican phrase means everything from “have a good day” to simply “let it go,” reminding us all to embrace a little “chill” in life.

GAdventures designs their tours for authentic experiences, partnering with businesses that follow environmentally and culturally respectful practices. Our “Costa Rica Quest” tour was the perfect introduction to this beautiful country, balancing gentle activities with more adventurous options.

Coffee & Culture

One of our first stops was at a coffee cooperative where we learned about the entire coffee-making process from bean to cup. The tour concluded with a delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee and a taste of their strong, slightly sweet coffee liqueur. It was fascinating to see how they’ve shifted from quantity to quality production, supporting local farmers while creating an exceptional product.

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Culinary Delights

Costa Rican cuisine was a highlight throughout our journey. At Freddo Fresca in Alajuela, we enjoyed beautifully presented dishes from strawberry waffles to corn pancakes, accompanied by exceptional coffee.

Throughout the country, we sampled various tapas and ceviches – some of my absolute favorites! With Costa Rica’s emphasis on health and wellness, fresh fruits and vegetables were abundant everywhere we went.

Traditional dishes like casada – typically featuring fish or beef with roasted vegetables, beans, and rice – varied slightly from region to region. We enjoyed a memorable version at Restaurante Mi Cafecito, part of the coffee cooperative.

In La Fortuna, I treated myself to a wonderful surf & turf lunch at Mary’s, where my server Alonzo was kind enough to snap a selfie with me. The guacamole was fantastic, I needed a helper to get even make a dent in the portions here.

Later in Quepos, we tried Plaza Streetfood, a collection of various food vendors where we enjoyed excellent sushi at Shibuya Sushi.

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Accommodations

Our stays perfectly reflected GAdventures’ commitment to supporting smaller, locally-owned properties without sacrificing comfort:

Hotel Eco Arenal near La Fortuna felt like a botanical garden with apartment-style accommodations and a lovely pool. Breakfast was incredible – Frank, the manager, introduced me to a banana bread pudding that rivaled my mother-in-law’s!

Historia Lodge in Monteverde offered a perfect location in Santa Elena with easy walking distance to town. Miguel gave us a comprehensive tour of the property, though the Wi-Fi was somewhat unreliable.

Wild Mouth Frog in Quepos was my favorite – this hotel/hostel put us right in the heart of the city within walking distance to everything, including the beach.

We also visited Poco a Poco in Monteverde (not part of the GAdventures program), which offered day passes to their indoor pool – a nice option though somewhat pricey.

Adventures & Activities

In La Fortuna, I took a taxi to the famous waterfall (about $20/person) and descended 550 steps to its base. Despite the frigid water, I couldn’t resist jumping in – no regrets! Before leaving, I enjoyed coffee at The Specialty Coffee shop just outside the park gate.

That evening, Cindy (our guide) recommended the Hot Springs Park at Los Lagos – well worth the $40 entry fee. Despite heavy rain, our group had a blast on the water slides, and experiencing the various temperature “spa pods” at night was magical.

We also visited the Baths of San Carlos, which was nice but a bit pricey and touristy. While I probably wouldn’t do it again, I was glad to have the experience.

By far, my favorite activity was horseback riding at the Monteverde Equus Farm with my roommate Hannah. The scenery, nature, and my horse’s gentle disposition made for an unforgettable experience (be sure to catch the full adventure in my upcoming vlog!).

In Quepos, Cindy organized a public bus ride (about $2) to Playa Espadilla Norte for some relaxing beach time. We also visited the Curi-Cancha Reserve in Monteverde ($20 entry plus $20 round-trip taxi), where we photographed countless butterflies, tropical flowers, and unique wildlife while exploring the labyrinth and lily pad pool.

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Unexpected Delights

Along our journey, we encountered wonderful surprises like a holiday truck parade celebrating regional liberation and a fun boat crossing at San Carlos with mountain views despite overcast skies.

I truly fell in love with Costa Rica and the friends I made on this trip were similar in adventure spirit and had the love of travel. This will definitely be just my first visit to Costa Rica as I understood completely the phrase “Pura Vida” and why it is whispered so reverently in the air. We’re considering organizing a return tour soon! Is Costa Rica on your bucket list? Sign up to receive details once we finalize our plans.

If you’re planning your own Costa Rican adventure let me know if we can help. GAdventures is a fabulous company, and we would be delighted to help with your travel planning.

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