Photo Journal 3: five weeks in Costa Rica

There are moments it is hard to remember the entirety of this trip. Costa Rica has been the most vibrant and beautiful solo travel experience of my life. Some of the most stunning beaches, nature, and culture I have ever seen. It was also the trip that I experienced the most moments of stress and anxiety. I fell in love with the culture, met people I never wanted to leave, and went to beaches I could have stayed at forever. It was a time of extremes. This trip catapulted me into something so different from anything I had ever done and helped me to learn more about the different ways of being. I am and forever will be grateful to have seen this country.

Photo Journal 3: Costa Rica

A sunset in Santa Teresa.

Beach next to the main road of Montezuma.

Whale watching in Nacional Parque Marino Ballena. This was one of my favorite experiences in Costa Rica. Seeing whales is magical.

Fruit stand in Uvita town. I bought a pineapple:)

Palm tree and ocean cove in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca:)

Cacao pods on the chocolate and coffee tour in La Fortuna.

Photo by Leoni:)

Moonrise in Montezuma, many magical colors from the sunset into the night.

Eating patacones at sunset in Montezuma:)

Fruits and veggies we picked at a cooking class in La Fortuna. This was a wonderful experience:)

La Fortuna town.

Jungle hike in the cloud forest reserve, Monteverde.

Everyone gathers at the beach for Santa Teresa sunsets and it is wonderful to people watch.

Enjoying the sun after surfing at Playa Hermosa next to Santa Teresa:)

Country side in Guanacaste.

Clouds rolling over the jungle in Monteverde.

A magical sunset in Puerto Viejo:)

Swimming at the beach next to the hostel in Uvita (same beach I saw the whales at).

Neighboorhood walks in La Fortuna at sunset.

Boat ride in between Monteverde and La Fortuna.

Two dogs meeting on the beach in Santa Teresa:)

Locals in a boat near Montezuma.

Monteverde town.

Surfers watching the sunset in Santa Teresa. A cloudy sunset:)

Tiles in a neighborhood in Nosara.

Monkeys in the cloud forest reserve, Monteverde.

Ocean views. I am not sure where this photo was taken.

Hostel beds in Montezuma, one of my favorite hostels:)

Tried coconut water straight from the tree in Uvita. This photo is from right outside the hostel:)

My favorite cafe in Puerto Viejo, enjoyed many morning coffees here!!

Jungle hike in Manuel Antonio National Park.

Stormy skies and palm trees on the beach in Nosara.

Views of a farm where I took the cooking class in La Fortuna.

Jungle bridge walk in Monteverde.

Boat at a beach in Cahuita National Park.

More sunset at Playa Santa Teresa, my favorite beach I went to in Costa Rica:)

Tiles in San Jose, the capitol city.

A walk through a farm in La Fortuna on the way to collect fresh produce and to learn about how the produce grows as well as the plants.

Tried dragonfruit for the first time and loved it! The fruit is so fresh and delicious here.

Tile mirror selfie in Puerto Viejo:)

Beach in Samara, sunset is behind me.

A Caribbean sunset.

Hiked to a waterfall in Montezuma, the locals were climbing and jumping off rocks.

Uvita afternoon surf:)

Watching a little waterfall outside of La Fortuna.

Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, one of my favorite places I visited.

Sometime soon I will share a blog about the trip that started everything, New Zealand. When I think about the aspects of solo travel that I love, and what drew me to go to Costa Rica it stems from experiences I had in New Zealand. I love to be in nature. It is a place that I find peace of mind and where I can truly be in the moment with myself. Going to New Zealand taught me how to appreciate nature in a way that I will carry with me the rest of my life. In many ways that trip led me to this time in Costa Rica, so that I could appreciate it in a deep way. It is truly magnificent.

Costa Rica, thanks for inspiring me everyday.

Pura Vida

Thank you for being here!𓇼