After months of researching and struggling to decide…. I FINALLY picked the destinations for my 2018 Summer trips! Trying to figure out where I should go, I found myself visiting countless blogs, sorting through travel guides and must do activities. Because that content helped me SO much, I figured I’d do a travel guide on my past vacations from Summer 2017!
First up, Costa Rica!
Costa Rica was our big family trip last year and we went all out. If you’re looking for a place that has endless adventure, beautiful views, and tropical vibes… Costa Rica is it! We first visited the surf town of Jaco and Manuel Antonio in the Central Pacific Zone. Then drove through beautiful scenery to the Northern zone famous for its Arenal Volcano, forests and hot springs.
So let’s get right into this travel guide….
MUST DO:
Rappelling alongside waterfalls: This was 100% my absolute favorite activity in the Arenal Volcano area. It’s a mix of hiking through the jungle with rappels off canyons through waterfalls. I felt like I was freaking Tarzan… or Jane 😉 I love the feeling of an adrenaline rush and when you’re at the very top of that waterfall looking down… you feel it lol! My heart was pounding and my legs were shaking… and yet I had the biggest smile on my face lol! I closed my eyes, pushed off the cliff and let out the loudest scream…it was the best feeling ever! If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica or thinking of going, you NEED to do this! Even if you’re not a daredevil, you can’t pass this up! It’s a blast! We booked our adventure with Pure Trek Canyoning, one of the top tour operators in La Fortuna.
Zip-linning: Another extremely fun activity! We actually did it twice. If you want to see the best views of Arenal, you can’t beat being at the very top! We used Costa Rica Sky Adventures for our excursion. This is the real deal with long and super fast zip lines way above the forest canopy. In Los Suenos, we did another smaller scale zip line that was equally as fun in Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park. We had a blast with the tour guides and even went upside down on one of the lines! Pura Vida!!!
White Water-Rafting: This is the perfect family adventure because you all go together. It’s such a blast and a great workout for your arms! 😉 Totally recommend using Wave Expeditions for this activity. The staff is incredible! So friendly and kind… and they even brought the most amazing and juicy pineapple and watermelon for the ride! After the water rafting they take you to the cutest family owned farm. You spend the rest of your day with incredible locals, the yummiest farm-to-table dishes and best of all…BABY PUPPIES!!!!
Rio Fortuna Waterfall: Let’s just say our visit to Rio Fortuna waterfalls was quite memorable…I should start off by saying, it’s simply breathtaking! We were there for about an hour and a half swimming around the waterfall, when suddenly everything changed… Have you ever been to Rainforest Cafe? You know when you’re sitting there and suddenly the lights start to dim and you hear all the animals start freaking out and the sound of thunder fills the whole restaurant?! Well, that’s exactly what happened to us. I mean we are in the rainforest, so we should have expected it. But all of a sudden we are swimming and having a blast and it just begins to get pitch black! Out of nowhere we got caught in an electrical storm in the middle of the jungle. It was insane and horrifying all at the same time. Mind you, to get out of Rio Fortuna you have to climb 400+ steps, so imagine doing that while having lighting striking trees that are seven feet away from you. Never in my life have I experienced something like this and never in my life have I been so amazed. As terrifying as it was to get caught in that storm, it was also so impactful. In that moment, I really saw nature in it’s purest form. It really made me realize how small I am in this world and how powerful God and Mother Nature are. Just crazy…. The pictures below were taken before the madness began! 
Manuel Antonio National Park: I absolutely loved this park! To get to the beach, you first hike through a pretty nature walk full of the cutest monkeys, sloths, birds, etc. until you reach the gorgeous Playa Manuel Antonio. It’s perfect for spending a few hours soaking up the sun and swimming.
P.S. Beware of the monkeys that are all around waiting to take away any food you may have in your bags!
Surfing: Any chance I get I love to TRY and surf… “try” being the key word! We went to Jaco Beach as they are known for their surfing.
Places to stay:
Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort: Since we were a large group we actually stayed in this adorable condo at the Los Suenos resort that are in addition to the hotel rooms. This is a huge and beautiful resort with everything you need..awesome restaurants, spa, marina, golf and massive pools. It was really the perfect location and central to everything.
Arenal Kioro: We stayed here while in Arenal. What’s so amazing about this place is that every room has a volcano view. The photo below was literally taken out on our terrace! They also have a great breakfast that was perfect before heading out to our daily adventures. I would also recommend you check out the other two beautiful resorts in the area, The Springs Resort & Spa and Tabacon.
Places to Eat:
My most memorable meal in La Fortuna was at Don Rufino! This place was so yummy…Definitely a must! Also enjoyed some coconut shrimp at Lava Lounge, a cute little downtown restaurant.
Down Falls:
The Fashion: Before I went to Costa Rica everyone told me “Get ready… this isn’t a fashion show.. you’re in the jungle and not looking cute”. Did I pay attention? Nope!!! I still brought a ton of cute colorful sundresses, bathing suits and summery tops! Because I’m stubborn and optimistic, I honestly did wear all my cute clothes, but I also must warn you… for the majority of the time you’re in workout clothes and the UGLIEST water shoes. The dress code isn’t something I’d ever let get in the way of an amazing time, but it’s something that I do feel like I need to warn you guys about. SO moral of the story is…. bring cute clothes, cause where there is a will, there is a way… but do not forgo your workout clothes. Also, don’t wear your most expensive light colored swimsuit in the hot springs as it will turn orange!
Hot Springs: So originally I would have definitely put this into a must do, because while I was there, it was so relaxing and cool. But I later found out that in these beautiful, natural, hot springs, there are lizards and salamanders swimming with you. When you’re in the hot springs pool among the black lava rocks, you do feel weird things, but everyone tells you “Don’t worry, it’s just grass… FALSE!!!!! It’s nasty salamanders!!!! This is a hard NO for me! My mistake… we went to the Tabacon hot springs in the evening which was very dark. If you are into that, then definitely do it, but if you’re not into swimming with little critters, you might want to pass on this or go during the daytime. But I have to state, there are a ton of different hot springs in the area that do not have this feature… so do your research!
These are just some of the highlights from our trip! But there’s so much more we did and things we wished we could of added to the itinerary! Some things to look into: ATVing, horseback riding, tubing, hanging bridge tours and more. Like I said, the adventures in Costa Rica are endless!
This looks so fun! You’re beyond lucky!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com
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It was such a blast! Definitely so grateful for the experience and getting to go!
xo Olivia
http://www.hellooliviablog.com