To be completely honest, when my Mom and I initially booked the tickets for our ten day trip, I did not know what to expect. Upon arrival, I was amazed by all of the beauty the country had to offer. Costa Rica… the destination that awoken my spirit for travel and adventure.
Nestled between Nicaragua and Panama and uniquely situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, you have the rare opportunity to watch the sunrise over the Caribbean and watch the sunset over the Pacific.
The diverse landscapes are simply breathtaking, from hiking to waterfalls and volcanoes, to bathing in thermal hot springs, to zip lining across a rainforest and trying my hand at surfing, I discovered the true beauty of Costa Rica. This destination is undoubtedly a nature lover’s paradise, and the unofficial slogan of the country is Pura Vida, meaning pure life.
I was fortunate enough to admire huge iguanas, beautiful butterfly species, exotic birds such as toucans, and rare animals such as the sloth which is typically found in Central and South America, in their natural habitats.
One of my favorite destinations was La Fortuna, as the town is situated on top of a mountain at high elevation. Here you will find luscious green rainforests, volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers, natural hot springs, elevated hanging bridges and zip lining experiences.
As far back as I can remember, I have had a love for chasing waterfalls so I automatically fell in love with the La Fortuna Waterfall located in the Arenal Volcano National Park. After completing the four hundred-eighty step hike down to this spectacular waterfall, at the base of the dormant Chato Volcano, I was amazed by the powerful sight, the force and thundering sound of the water, dropping from the Arenal River, over two hundred-fifty feet above.
I was mesmerized by the beauty, fresh air, and the steady flow of water that fell downside the greenery, and I instantly felt the urge to to take a dip into the crystal clear, emerald green waters so I did. As I stepped into the chilly but refreshing water, hundreds of tiny fish swam around me.
Another favorite highlight of this region is the unique natural hot springs which are a must do experience. These hot springs run from from the Tabacon River and are naturally heated by the Arenal Volcano therefore many local resorts feature these hot spring pools within their resorts.
I visited and stayed at both the Arenal Springs Resort and the Baldi Hot Springs Resort which I highly recommend. The hot spring pools range from cold, warm and hot so you have a choice which temperature you prefer to swim and relax in. This was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.
The most intense adrenaline rush during the trip was zip lining across the treetop canopies of the vivid green, lush rainforests and walking across the high hanging bridges which are swaying up to one hundred-fifty feet above ground. You can also partake in the zip lining experience in several beach communities. I felt as if I was soaring like an eagle and completely loved the feeling and would do it again in a heartbeat.
From the exquisite mountain region we then headed to the beach town of Tamarindo for a completely different experience. I embraced white sand beaches, clear ocean and delightful food, shopping and people. Adventure can be found here and subsequently I enjoyed surfing, snorkeling, swimming, and riding All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) on secluded beaches as we village hopped.
The central town itself is filled with many boutique style shops and an abundance of restaurants, serving fresh local seafood and various locally grown tropical fruits, however every type of cuisine is available. I most enjoyed dining beachside, literally on the sand, and having the local people come to my table to offer their handcrafted jewelry and pottery for purchase. The people were extremely pleasant and were not offended if you choose to decline.
Now let’s talk about the breathtaking sunsets. Imagine having the opportunity to spend each night on the beach eating tasty food and watching the sky change from a bright blue hue to a sky full of pinks, purples and oranges. The view was nothing short of incredible.
To sum it up, Costa Rica is truly an amazing, beautiful country that has it all and there is something there for everyone. If you seek adventure, relaxation, or nature this is a place you should definitely put on your bucket list. I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively at such a young age but you can imagine why I believe Costa Rica is my favorite place on Earth.
Pura Vida… Costa Rica.
- Aaliyah Eade
- : I am a 15 year old student from Australia living in California! I love to travel and experience different cultures, meet new people and try different foods. I am interested in photography and journalism and will be posting my first travel blog in early January 2020.
- : https://www.instagram.com/aaliyahtravelss/
- : I think people would enjoy visiting my site/instagram as I have always loved capturing photos of my travels and writing about my adventures. I am always happy to give people recommendations when possible as I have travelled to over 30 countries worldwide so far and my journeys will continue in 2020 as I have booked my trip to Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. I will most likely visit Australia too.
- : youth_(12_–_18_as_of_31st_december_2019)
- : This is the first time this story has been published.
