First Post-COVID Family Trip: Costa Rica
- LoAroundTheGlobo
- Nov 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 21
March 2023
Although Timmy and I had finally graduated from spring breaks (having completed law school), we still traveled during spring break—this time coordinating with my mom’s schedule as an adjunct professor at Randolph-Macon. Our destination was a popular tourist hotspot we’d long wanted to visit: Costa Rica. This was the first trip where my brother and I brought partners along, so the four of us, plus my mom and grandma, ventured south from our various cities for a week of family vacation.
My then-boyfriend, Pete, was notoriously unlucky when it came to travel, but our flights from Cincinnati to Miami and then to Liberia seemed smooth—until we were stranded at Liberia airport for hours while my family’s flights were delayed by storms. After a detour to nearby Nicaragua to refuel, they finally arrived in Costa Rica. The small, airless Liberia airport made our reunion all the more elating.
Once we retrieved our rental SUV, we drove at dusk to our hillside villa in a stunning community overlooking Coco Beach. The villa clung to a mountainside above a lush ravine sloping to the ocean, where distant islands barely peeked through the horizon. Exhausted from travel, we wound down to the resort restaurant for dinner by the pool, enjoying incredible food and service—a promising start to our adventure.
That evening, we mapped out plans for the next day, intending to visit Arenal National Park to see the famous volcano. The following morning, we grabbed breakfast at the beachfront Café Corazón, and the coffee, food, and views were every bit as delightful as promised. Realizing the park was nearly three hours away and that we lacked supplies, we postponed our volcano excursion to the next day.
After breakfast, a charming tour guide enticed us with a sunset boat cruise and snorkeling adventure. A few hours later, we boarded the boat, settling into a table by the bar as music played and the sun twinkled across Coco Beach. We anchored in a cove to snorkel, and just as we dove in, a sudden rainstorm drenched us—refreshing and unforgettable.
Back on the boat, we feasted on jerk chicken, beans, and fresh fruit, marveling at the mountainsides as the sun set over the water. That evening, we stocked up on groceries and gas to prepare for the Arenal adventure.
The next morning, we drove three scenic hours to Arenal National Park, passing windmill farms, a massive lake, and curious wildlife. Upon arrival, we debated hiking to the volcano, but the park’s staff suggested a sloth sanctuary nearby. At “Life in the Sloth Lane,” patience paid off as we spotted several sloths, including mother-and-baby pairs, perfectly illustrating the sanctuary’s motto: life here rewards observation and care.
Lunch at the sanctuary cafe fueled us for a brief volcano hike while the rest of the family explored downtown La Fortuna. Our short trek through lava fields ended at a mountaintop cafe with sweeping views of the volcano, lake, and jungle canopy—a rewarding payoff for the long drive. Dinner followed at a tiki-hut sports bar, Coconutz, complete with March Madness on TV.
The next day was low-key. After exploring Coco Beach’s quaint downtown, we returned to Coconutz for lunch, where I, donning green on St. Patrick’s Day, scored a free green beer—a perk of my Type-A planning. The afternoon was spent at the resort pool, spotting local wildlife and interacting with magpies, whose audacity even prompted the howler monkeys to join in.
That evening brought a mystery: a box of Grandma’s Girl Scout Cookies vanished. Accusations flew—partners suspected each other, and Grandma was repeatedly blamed. Eventually, the culprits were revealed: raccoons had sneaked in through an ajar kitchen door, making off with the cookies in the dead of night.
On our final full day, Pete and I squeezed in a morning workout before we all drove to La Leona for a canyoning adventure. Guided by an enthusiastic local, we swam, climbed, and trekked through waterfalls, mineral pools, and jungle paths. Challenging yet exhilarating, the adventure concluded with a hearty homemade meal, greeted by Grandma and local dogs.
Our last evening was spent dining at the resort restaurant, savoring our final sunset. The next morning, we explored a new part of Coco Beach at Java Café before heading to the airport, departing in pairs for our respective cities.
What a vacation! Costa Rica exceeded even our highest expectations. Its welcoming locals, breathtaking landscapes, and adventurous yet relaxing atmosphere made this trip truly unforgettable.
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To Do or Not To Do?
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Costa Rica! It’s one of those places you can visit again and again, each time discovering the same sense of novelty and familiarity. We stayed on the west coast and, aside from a day trip to Arenal National Park, barely scratched the surface—so I can’t wait to return and explore more.
It’s easy to see why people visit and never leave. I absolutely recommend adding Costa Rica to your travel list—whether for a family trip, honeymoon, friend-cation, or solo adventure. With stunning landscapes, endless activities, friendly locals, incredible food, and top-notch accommodations, it truly has it all. Pura Vida!
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