I just had the good fortune of visiting Costa Rica, an impressive little country that got rid of its army in 1948, aims to be carbon neutral by 2021, and has a 95% literacy rate. Along with extremely friendly people, the country offers jaw-dropping flora and fauna, lovely beaches, challenging outdoor activities, like jungle hikes, and surprisingly good food!

My husband and I began our trip in the mountainous region of Alajuela near La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a nature park and wildlife refuge, which we briefly visited one day because one of the resident jaguars got loose!  

At Monte Azul by the Chirripo River south of San Jose we made monoprints in the hotel’s art studio with a resident printmaker. We also hiked around the property, did yoga, and enjoyed the most scrumptious food! The owners grow their own veggies, make goat’s milk cheese, bake bread, and even craft goat’s milk soaps for all the rooms.

At a beachfront villa on the Nicoya Peninsula we did yoga, ate spiny lobster, and went to sleep and woke up to the rumble of the waves. Then, we wrapped up our visit at a hotel near Arenal Volcano,

where we soaked in the famous hot springs, hiked through the jungle to milky azure pools, and rode horses past the cloud shrouded volcano–ready to return home relaxed, rejuvenated, and centered–Costa Rican style.