the holiday. [ Costa Rica ]

christmas 2024 .

A bliss-full adventure packed two weeks…

It started with a flight cancelation, so very unhelpful at 11pm to be calling for 45min on hold to get a new flight. It all got settled, heading to the airport a little earlier than planned was doable (Never fly air Canada they are incomplete in a few areas). Everyone a little sleepy arrived to the warm night skies in Costa Rica safely. 

One nights sleep in a hotel before picking up a 4x4 with a tent on top. I cannot tell you how amazing [ Nomad America ] are. From pick up -  to drop off -  to full WhatsApp communication.  These guys are the best! The tent top tour left us ready to hit the unlocked (wrong) side of the road. First stop was the food shop obvs. Loaded, we set off listening to my completely changed plan. Craving the sunny beachy vibes we paced towards Jaco. Due to the place being a waste of time… all that was starting to set in was the high price of food. onwards we rolled. Setting up camp in our first home for the night booked via WhatsApp (all they use out there). The unfolding of the roof top tent levelled up the keen grins. Sunset beachfront views, ocean waves at our feet, running into the warm waves doubled up as the evening shower (this will do…). Settled into the whole book the camp that day style of travel we worked our way round a few. 

Quepos, had a few beach camps aka - in peoples back yard. Moving down a little more to explore the Manuel Antonio national park. Meeting the local monkeys & tourists alike. Stunning outlooks from rain forest, waterfalls to sands that open to endless ocean, wondering is this best path to follow. Leading us on a chocolate / coffee tour which guided us to the next location Santa Teresa Beach! 

The air b and b with infinity pool for Christmas provided the much needed coffee - chill break. A pice of me will stay here forever. The road to get here was a mish.. google maps had it as a ferry crossing but let me tell you… it was just a wide river with crocs about 50m up. Lucky it was the only option, as to drive back two hours along dirt bumpy roads to another road which had shut off for repairs… the house booked .. non refundable.. there was only forward. Across three more ‘ferry crossings’  all even tho small gave a thrill to the smiles on the kids faces. A quote from fellow Canadian girls river goers ‘just have to give it some tits’ please keep in mind they where in a rental CAR.. 

Days slowed down as we found our fav coffee - food holes - beach spots to set up for an hour or two before heading back to the house for an afternoon read sesh. My idea of heaven. 

Fresh as a daisy the roads called us back. One last stop on the un - neat list, named - La Fortuna. The second most touristy area we attended. Completing in a few days… the biggest hot springs in the world, canoeing, high ropes, sloth tour, volcano walk, cute river side camps. Busy busy… 

Ready set, two hours drive in to the pre flight hotel is when the look of blind stupidity had become known…. We had packed all the important doc’s in one bag to keep them safe guarded at all times by one of us….until this point. A four hour round trip across the mountains back to the morning coffee cafe to reclaim the all important bag which a forever beautiful lady had noticed, placing it to one side. Dilemma / almost vomit over… slept with the alarm set for take off at 4am.

Life takeaways  //

- Never have I been on a two week holiday to come home tanned and lighter than when I left. This was due to two meals a day, lots of movement like swimming - walking - exploring. Their way of life is simple clean eating. Everything is made fresh with little to no sugar or dairy. 

- The go go go planning and actioning it in the same day lead to a motivated energy that I thought would fade as normal life kicked back in but it has lead to a calm multitasking approach. [ See, plan, do ]  

- Family smiles will forever be my goal in life above all else. 

How was your Christmas & new years? 

Share a smile, see you soon.,