Flashback Friday: Costa Rica

June 2008

For our honeymoon Dallas planned a fun-filled week in Costa Rica.

We arrived in Guanacaste after a rather long flight from San Francisco to Miami, a three hour lay-over, and then to Costa Rica.  The airport consisted of a large warehouse with four metal detectors, a customs booth, luggage corner, and a tourist information booth.  Quite a change from the massive SFO airport we had just departed from.

(Make sure to click on the images to enlarge.)

We took an hour long taxi ride to our all-inclusive resort located right on the beach.  It was amazing!  We literally walked out our room, through the hotel's courtyard pool and bar, and onto the gorgeous open beach.  Dallas loved the massive waves when the tide came in and we would eat our meals while watching surfers.

Basically, it was perfect!

One thing we promised ourselves before we left on our honeymoon, was that we wanted to start our lives together with adventures.  So when we arrived at the resort, we planned out the week making sure to schedule at least one adventure a day.  

Our first adventure was a zipline tour through the rainforest canopy.  Ziplining had been on both of our bucket lists for years and it was so much fun to do!  They drove us to the top of the rainforest and then we made our way down through the canopy on about 10 different zip lines.  It was pretty amazing!

After the zipline tour, we were taken to geothermal pools deep within the rainforest.  There were four different pools, all at varying temperatures, and then a mud treatment area (supposedly a healing method).  While we were there, we were caught in a massive down pour.  Nothing like swimming in thermal pools in the middle of the rainforest while in a rainstorm.

Our next adventure turned out to be one of our favorites.

We rented a couple four wheelers and a couple locals took us around the valley. They took us through local villages, among farms, up to a gorgeous lookout, and then to our very own secluded beach.  So secluded in fact, that Dallas proceeded to strip down to his birthday suit for a swim.  I opted to swim in my jean capris since our male guides were watching us from a distance.  It just reaffirmed my absolute love for Dallas and his fearlessness!

Notice how wet I am in the pictures below!

For our next adventure we went sailing on a beautiful catamaran.  They took us out to a secluded island where we were able to snorkel along the reef, swim into the beach to watch the monkeys play among the trees, and then watch a beautiful sunset while sailing back to our resort.

Our fourth adventure was a hike through the rainforest using hanging bridges.  Our guide was hilarious and showed us lots of different animals and insects along the way.  

It poured pretty heavily, which was expected...since we were hiking through a rainforest!  Walking across the suspended bridges was a little scary since we were so high up and the bridges felt too close on the unsteady side.  It truly was gorgeous with green everywhere we looked. 

Our last day we spent shopping at a local town and then took a boat ride through the mangroves.  We were able to see crocodiles and LOTS of howler monkeys.  I didn't realize we'd be hiking through the mangroves in order to find the monkeys.  If I'd known I probably would have chosen something else to wear besides my flip-flops and sundress!  I also sported the life vest from the boat ride...I know...I look pretty hot!

We had such an incredible time in Costa Rica.

It truly was the perfect trip to begin our lives together!