The last photo captured on the lost GoPro. A year and a half ago, while vacationing in Costa Rica, we lost our GoPro in the Caribbean Sea. We were devastated about losing the footage we had captured at that point in our trip, but we tried to see the positives: Perhaps some kid would find it and get good use out of it; Graham stumbled upon a woman in need of help in the ... Read more
2017: Making Moves | 2016 Recap Plus Goal-Setting Tips
** This post contains affiliate links. Graham and I set an intention every year, and every year we have been amazed by how it comes true. 2015 was the year of adventure. 2016 was the year of growth. And now 2017 will be about health and success. Our version of success is to be business owners and work for ourselves. We've already made headway: Step 1 was paying off nearly all of our debt in ... Read more
Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Our first stop in Costa Rica after flying into San Jose was Tortuga Lodge in Tortuguero. It's a village on the Caribbean side of the country that is known for the turtles who nest and hatch on its beaches. The village is only accessible by boat or plane. Our options were to rent a car, drive to a nearby village and take a boat, or we could take a 30-minute $90 flight (for both of us) to ... Read more
Physis Caribbean Bed and Breakfast, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
If Graham and I owned a bed and breakfast, we would want it to be like Physis Caribbean B&B near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. It's clean, comfortable and adorably decorated. It's also relaxing and has amenities we loved. We arrived in Cocles on Graham's birthday after being delayed for three hours. We were tired and hungry. We were welcomed by two friends of the owners who were taking care of ... Read more
Getting Around Costa Rica Without Renting a Car
When I planned our Costa Rica trip, I had no idea how expensive car rental in the country would be. I was quoted $400 or more for the smallest cars available for my dates in January. Our costs would have been a lot more because we wanted a vehicle with four-wheel drive, just in case. By contrast, car rental on our last trip to Hawaii was about $200 and we were upgraded to a Cadillac SUV. On top of ... Read more
Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, Costa Rica
A theme of my Costa Rica trip was fear -- fear I discovered and fear I released. The dizzying heights of the rainforest canopy taught me I am extremely uncomfortable in those situations. It's not really fun for me to zipline. I know this now; I did it once and I don't need to do it again. I similarly felt the rush of fear while crossing the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, though not nearly as ... Read more
Ecothermales Hot Springs, Costa Rica
** This post contains an affiliate link. Sometimes in the middle of a crazy workweek I find myself daydreaming about sitting in hot springs near the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica. Ecothermales can be summed up as nature's spa. Of course, there are other hot springs to choose from in the La Fortuna area, but I chose Ecothermales for its limit of the number of people that can soak in its 100-plus ... Read more
Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica
Cahuita National Park was a highlight during our Costa Rica trip. If you're staying on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, a trip to Cahuita National Park is a must. We were in Cocles, outside of Puerto Viejo, so we decided to take a day trip north to the park. We didn't rent a car in Costa Rica, opting instead to use shuttles, a plane, boats and taxis to get around. On this particular day, we ... Read more
Our Visit to Jaguar Rescue Center, Costa Rica
** This post contains an affiliate link. One of my favorite places on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica was the Jaguar Rescue Center in Playa Chiquita. It was only a 10-minute walk from our bed and breakfast in Cocles. I highly recommend going on one of the tours ($20 a person), which are offered Monday-Saturday at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. What you should know: It's not a zoo. The animals are ... Read more
That Time Our Boat Left Us in Tortuguero, Costa Rica
In the months before Costa Rica, I agonized over our itinerary. I second-guessed my decision to schedule travel to another town on my husband's birthday. He reassured me that it'd be fine, so I stuck with my plan. After all, the whole week would be his birthday celebration. On the morning of his birthday, we hiked, ate breakfast, packed our belongings and said goodbye to the lovely staff at the ... Read more