This is not a typical post, but I felt compelled to share our family vacation and reflect on the journey. Our adventure in this country was a mix of beauty, challenges, and valuable lessons. Costa Rica isn’t just a place; it’s an experience that invites you to slow down, take a deep breath, and truly savour the moment. I loved every minute of it!
First Impressions: Playas Del Coco
Playas Del Coco welcomed us with vibrant energy, beauty, a LOT of Canadian snowbirds, and some surprising infrastructure struggles. One thing that really surprised me, which I am learning is common in other Central American countries, was the high-security fencing (razor wire and all) on the parameters of virtually all properties and businesses. It caught me off guard - for a country that boasts safety, I was blown away.
Garbage disposal, unfortunately, hasn’t kept pace with the influx of tourism. As a Canadian, I have the privilege of living in a country where our infrastructure is developped and we don't have to worry so much about garbage (we should, but we don't have to) because we put out the garbage and recycling once a week, it gets taken away. So seeing piles and piles of stinky garbage was a bit out of MY norm and surprising considering it is such a popular travel destination.
And the driving! Phew! In Costa Rica, motorcycles often zip between lanes, squeezing through traffic as if they have their own set of rules. This was a bit nerve-wracking for me, not being used to that, but it’s just another day on the road in Costa Rica. We often saw motorcycles for two with 5 people on it, and none with helmets.
We rented a golf cart, for which I was grateful to get around El Coco for groceries and meals. Need a parking spot? No problem, find an empty spot anywhere or create your own - that was the best part. I am also kind of glad I didn't get a car, driving is too chaotic and probably would have just stressed me out! LOL! If I had to live there, I would have adapted, I am sure, but for our visit, we had a driver for our excursions, and I was quite happy not to be behind the wheel.
Honestly though, the natural beauty of this place though, wow! And not just in its physical form!
The People. A Warmth in Every Smile
Costa Ricans live by the phrase "Pura Vida," which means "pure life" or "full of life." It’s more than just a saying; it’s a way of life. Locals greet each other with it, and it’s a reminder to embrace life with positivity, regardless of how chaotic things may seem. It’s a great way to frame the beauty and challenges in Costa Rica!
The locals are some of the warmest souls I’ve ever encountered. Every smile I offered was met with an even bigger one in return. They were helpful, kind, and genuinely happy to share their slice of their world with us.
People stopped to chat everywhere we went - I spoke with so many locals. One of the days on the beach, a lovely lady talked my ear off about everything and nothing—and honestly, it was delightful. Even the briefest conversations left a mark on my heart. I wish I spoke Spanish, I could have had many more meaningful conversations.
Jorje, the grounds security guard at our condo, Flor de Limon, was such a lovely man. He greeted us each day with "buenas dias" or "buenas noches" and talked our ears off about his adventures. He introduced me to the Spanish words for all the critters we encountered at our doorstep. I got a visit from a tica cabello arana (small horse spider). I thought it was a tarantula. He laughed at me a little, teased me for a bit, and then explained the difference. Such a friendly and caring man. He was one of so many!
Luis, our driver, shared some fascinating facts about Costa Rica. As we drove past a housing community, he explained that the government offers housing assistance programs to support low-income families. The government builds what we could call "tiny homes," and families who meet certain income criteria can apply to receive a home free of charge. While there are some responsibilities, like maintaining the home and paying bills, after ten years, they can choose to either keep the home or sell it. The program is designed to help families find a place to live and support them to get back on their feet. I found this program to be pretty cool and wish something like that existed in Canada.
Some other interesting facts that really encapsulate the Pura Vida mindset in Costa Rica, the country abolished its military forces, reallocating those resources to fund social programs, education, and healthcare to better support its people. Costa Ricans are a proud people. They love their country - at least based on the encounters I have had.
When Plans Go Sideways
Our travel days went surprisingly smoothly. Flights were seamless (and thank you, Air Canada for the meditation tracks!), and navigating the airport was almost laughably easy. But travel wouldn’t be travel without hiccups.
When we arrived at our condo, we were not only losing daylight to grab what we would need for food for the night, we couldn't get into our condo - we had the wrong code. And we couldn't connect to the WiFi to speak with the owner directly. Breathe, accept, adapt. It’s amazing how powerful those three little words can be.
Thank god for our new friend Justin from Florida who was renting the other unit from the same condo owner. We got in! We got our golf cart delivered to us and decided it was time to hit the grocery store for some food - in hindsight, we should just have gone to a restaurant- but here we are. We got to the grocery store, but there were no working debit machines, due to an accident that happened just minutes prior. At this point, I am laughing. We hadn't brought cash with us to the store - only credit.
Of course, our first day in El Coco was going to test our adaptability and flexibility - isn't that the universe's job? We went back to our condo to grab cash, went to the market next door, and got what we could in food, including a frozen pizza only to discover upon our return to the condo - no oven. Bahahaha! Of course!
Nolan’s anxiety spiked and at this point, he just wanted to go home. Ok, time to lead by example. Mindful breathing, rolling with the punches, and accepting what is. No oven? No problem—we fried our pizza in a pan. And you know what? It was delicious. We had a great chat over pan-fried pizza about expectations and making the best of any situation. We encountered some challenges, but we adapted, and tomorrow? We get to start over! We jumped in the pool, played catch and enjoyed what was left of this first day in Costa Rica.
The Natural Beauty of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is like stepping into a living, breathing postcard—except better because you can actually feel it. Every corner we explored felt like nature was showing off, and honestly, I was so grateful to be a part of it. I mean, I got to touch a plant that shrivels when touched!
Walking through the rainforest was like stepping into a scene from a nature documentary—except instead of watching from my couch, I was in it. The air was thick with earthy scents, and we were lucky the rain stopped for a bit to allow us to enjoy the beauty as the sunlight poured in through leafy gaps, and every sound felt amplified. And the critters! Oh my god, the critters!
First of all, sloths. I can’t explain the sheer joy of spotting one lazily hanging from a branch, SO CLOSE TO ME, looking like it had zero cares in the world. Their natural smile officially makes them the cutest critter on this planet. I even got to touch it (shhhh!).
Then there were the frogs—bright reds, blues, and greens. I saw leafcutter ants marching in perfect little lines (seriously, how do they all know where they're going?), and the angel bees—tiny, stingless, and so gentle they felt like little floating fairies. And, the beautiful plants and flowers! I saw wild bananas, red wild ginger flowers (which smelt beautifully) and so much more! Every step revealed something new, and it felt like the rainforest was giving me a personal tour of its magic.
The waterfalls here? Much like at home, they are beautiful. There is an energy to waterfalls that is difficult for me to explain, but I always feel rejuvinated when I find myslef around them. It's less the sight of it that I love, but the sound and energy they emit. Our tour guide brought us to one, hidden deep in the forest, it roared into a crystal-clear pool below, sending cool mist into the air. Standing there, feet in the water, face to the sky, it was impossible not to feel... something. Gratitude? Peace? Awe? Probably all three at once. Oh, and the tiny nibbles of the fish in the pool.
The beaches in Costa Rica deserve their own love letter. We spent many hours walking the beach and sitting on the sand, just enjoying the beauty of our surroundings. It was recommended that we walk to the right side of the beach, and I am glad we did. We not only got privacy, the boys got to explore so much of what the area had to offer. The black sand beaches, created from volcanic rock, were a pretty neat to see! The sand was very fine and almost like clay when wet - definitely a first for me. Words of caution - the dry black sand gets HOT under the sun; flip flops highly recommended.
And I know this sounds silly, but Costa Rican beaches were my first experience of low/high tides. What was really cool, and super exciting for Caleb (who is passionate about marine life) is that at low tide, huge volcanic rock structures with little tide pools would appear, filled with tiny fish, crabs, and other ocean critters. Caleb asked for a net so he could go explore them at low tide and I am glad we were able to figure something out because I found so much pleasure watching Caleb exploring these miniature ecosystems do their thing.
And the waves—steady, soothing, and relentless—were my favourite part. They are meditative on their own.
In Fortuna, we got to explore a little bit of a volcanic experience. We didn't get to see a volcano up close and personal, but we got to experience a hot mud bath, heated by the region’s active volcanic activity (I could feel the heat on the floor of the mud bath). We saw small bubbling hot springs, steaming vents, and there was this faint scent of sulfur hanging in the air. The landscapes were wild and raw, but also strangely peaceful. The scenery in the mountains is breathtaking: It's a natural beauty that is difficult to describe. Even pictures wouldn't capture its beauty. I tried.
The riverboat tour saw the devastating effects of the region's monsoons and floods. My tour guide kept apologizing for the garbage in the river and explained the depth and severity of the floods of the area which occured just one month prior to our arrival. The captain of the boat showed us a video of his experience - 6 feet of water in his home, and him sleeping in a boat surrounded by crocodiles, in his home, for a week!! It made me appreciate a lot more the cold climate of where I live. On this tour we got to see so many of Costa Rica's wildlife gold. Iguanas of all colours, crocodiles, lizards, monkeys, many different breeds of birds. It was beautiful!
And then the fishing - the best part of the entire vacation. The fishing excursion was the boys' Christmas gift. We spend 3 hours on the water with the majority of the time actually catching fish! Within 30 seconds of launching our lines, we got 3 bites. Our crew was very adept at finding all the fish and guided us through a variety of different fishing techniqes. We caught 13 fish in total. I now understand why they say Playas Del Coco is a huge fishing hub. We completed this day with exploring caves at low tide at a secluded beach.
Costa Rican sunsets are absolute showstoppers. The sky turned into this swirling mix of pinks, oranges, and purples, and for those few moments, the world just felt still. And then the stars—oh, the stars! With no city lights to compete, the night sky was packed with them. I spent a lot of time outside at night, just staring up at the sky, feeling tiny but also strangely connected to everything.
And finally, the food! I enjoyed all of it from the authentic Costa Rican cuisine to the crazy big chicken wings - Costa Rica knows how to cook!
The Little Moments That Stole My Heart
Honestly, while the beaches, mountains, and waterfalls were incredible, it was the little moments that left the biggest impression. The slow blink of a sloth. The tiny feet of a frog gripping a leaf. The soft hum of angel bees flitting nearby. These moments made me stop, breathe, and just be.
Costa Rica isn’t just a place you visit—it’s a place that sinks into your soul. It reminds you to slow down, pay attention, and find beauty in both the big, jaw-dropping views and the tiny, quiet details—or simply sitting quietly on the beach soaking in the rhythmic sound of waves. It was all an invitation to be here now.
Costa Rica reminded me (sometimes loudly, sometimes subtly) that peace isn’t about perfect circumstances. It’s about meeting each moment exactly as it is. Every moment was a reminder of how precious time together truly is. I learned that Caleb isn't much of a traveler. He much prefers the colder climate and being at home. Despite this, I am glad we took this trip together because I got to know a side of him I wasn't aware of. He enjoys culture, but he enjoys home more. And I was so proud of Nolan, who took a risk when he asked a drummer of the band playing at a restaurant where we had dinner if he could go see the drums—and was offered to play. And he played.
Costa Rica isn’t just a postcard-perfect getaway—it’s a teacher. The busy streets, the friendly faces, the chaotic grocery store visits, and even the sea lice (yes, sea lice! Caleb and I both got stung!) all had something to offer.
Travel isn’t about escaping life; it’s about living it fully, even in the messy, uncomfortable, and unpredictable moments. And Costa Rica gave us plenty of those. As I sit here reflecting on our trip, one word comes to mind: gratitude. For the beauty we witnessed, the kindness we encountered, and the growth we experienced as a family. We learned to adapt, to trust, and to laugh at the absurd moments.
Costa Rica, you were loud, beautiful, chaotic, and healing. Thank you for every lesson and every smile.
Would I go back? Absolutely—but next time, maybe a little further off the beaten path.
Until then, Pura Vida.
Perfectly Imperfect,
Stephanie
Commenti