#PuraVida In Costa Rica

La Fortuna

We’d never traveled outside of the country, so when our dear friends, Tiffany & Aaron, asked us to photograph their wedding in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Not only would we be traveling out of the country, but we would be along side the most adventurous world travelers we know. Our journey began with an early morning flight. Once we landed we jumped into the van, we would later name Bessy, and started our road trip through beautiful Costa Rica.

The country side was spectacular. Along the curvy roads we saw the locals, food stands, stunning views of coffee plantations, and rivers that rushed under the bridges we drove over. We drove through the rain forest we would be exploring in the coming days. After a few hours of driving, the evening approached and a huge mound juts into the sky. The size of the Arenal Volcano was unbelievable, the scale was mind boggling… We thought for sure our eyes were playing tricks on us! But as we got closer it became clear it was the great volcano.

Our home for the next week was the Arenal Springs Resort & Spa right at the base of the Volcano. We had officially arrived in paradise.

Day 2 started with early morning zip lining. Our group was already proving to be the coolest group of people ever. Everyone was ready for our Costa Rican adventures. We zipped on 7 lines that stretched for miles over the rain forest. The longest line had the best view of the great waterfall Catarata Del Rio Fortuna. We kept making jokes about the filming of Jurassic Park there, and stayed open to the possibility of velociraptor sightings in the vast thickness of the rain forest.

Wedding time!!! The reason we were here. Tiffany & Aaron were married in the afternoon and although the view of the volcano was perfect when we got there, it disappeared at the start of the ceremony as torrential rains began. Of course this only added to the adventure of the trip. It was a perfect day and we danced the night away as we celebrated the union of this amazing couple.

We spent the next day driving around and checking out the closest town… and then canyoneering at La Roca. It was amazing!!!! We now understand why the saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida. They are all about living your life to the fullest and that was exactly what we were doing. It still makes me emotional thinking about how special the trip was and how it forever changed our lives.

Manuel Antonio

Now it was time to leave La Fortuna to get to the Beach in Manuel Antonio. Judy had become the official driver of the van we traveled in. On the road to Manuel Antonio, the van became our dear old Bessy.

We picked up some freshly cut pineapples from these awesome locals selling on the side of the road. Stopped for some Queso Palmito, which was basically a thick pita-like bread cooked with cheese inside. Yummmmmmmm!!!!!

Although we had directions to Manuel Antonio, we found a short cut on google. Trust me when I say don’t ever trust google when you are in a foreign country. The short cut took us through steep mountain dirt roads that we almost didn’t survive. At one point our vehicles couldn’t get up the road. We were in the clouds, it was raining, and we were on dirt roads that were practically vertical. After getting stuck Judy finally decided to punch it and Bessy barely made it up to the top. Tiffany & Aaron’s car actually had to be pushed up the mountain by the locals, who then became our mountain angels. We experienced all the emotions on those mountain roads, excitement, fear, terror, and once we were back on a paved road, pure joy. Again, trust the locals directions over google.. ALWAYS!!!!!

Back on track we arrived at the crocodile bridge. The view was breathtaking and the crocodiles vicious! One of them has half its mouth missing, yikes!!!

Back on the road we stopped as soon as we saw water for some photos. Judy inspected the insect bites that started appearing on her legs, and then we finally made it to the Villas Mymosa complete with a greeting from the resident dog. After a full day on the road we were ready to relax for the night. Of course we had to end the night with a beautiful photo of the newlyweds, with the beautiful colors of the sunset behind them.

This would be our last day in Costa Rica before we set out to the airport the next morning so what better way to spend it than a trip to the National Park and then a full day at the beach. We saw the most wildlife Manuel Antonio National Park and the most beautiful beaches ever!

After a hot journey through the rain forest we quenched our thirst with some coconut water. A beach raspa man became our best friend. He shaved the ice and prepared these delicious treats right before eyes. We had to have more than one! Who would think to put powdered milk in the middle of a raspa and then top it off with crema de flan!!!! My mouth waters every time I think about it! We indulged in green mangos with salt and yellow mango. Then this gentleman busted out with prestinos with jelly. Amazing!!!!

It was a perfect day on the beach with the most amazing group of people ever!!! Our bond will forever be unbreakable!! After a long day on the beach we stopped at the nearest “Soda”, AKA traditional food restaurant, and said good night to Costa Rica for the last time.

We can’t say it enough, our new friends were amazing to travel with, Tiffany & Aaron are such great people that it doesn’t surprise us that they surround themselves with such a diverse group of adventurers. We feel so lucky and blessed to have been part of the hand picked group that were able to experience the beautiful land that is Costa Rica.