Costa Rica: The Dream That Waited for Us
A journey of healing, adventure, and sunsets that felt like promises kept.
Costa Rica: A Dream Deferred, A Journey Reclaimed
Costa Rica was always the dream family trip we never got to take. Since my son was little, my husband and I imagined a Costa Rica vacation—maybe even the possibility of moving there one day. I had researched the country years ago, but as time went on, my husband’s appetite for travel grew smaller and smaller.
When he passed, that dream of “someday” felt like it was gone too. But my 17-year-old son and I needed something big—an adventure, an escape. We had tested the waters with a weekend in the Bahamas, but this time, it was time to leap. Thanks to years of business ownership, I had plenty of Marriott and United points, and that became our path forward.
Landing in Liberia
Arriving in Costa Rica wasn’t exactly a soft landing. The airport felt intimidating, Spanish echoed everywhere, the border agents were tense, and the rental car company looked more like a shack than an office. For a moment, I wondered if we were in over our heads.
But once we got the keys and hit the road, everything smoothed out. The directions were easier than I had feared, the drive was manageable, and my vacation nerves started to dissolve.
Our Guanacaste Oasis
Our first stop was the JW Marriott in Guanacaste, an oasis by the sea and exactly what we needed. The beach stretched wide and endless, the service was impeccable, and the complimentary daily breakfast felt like pure luxury.
I planned our days with a balance: one day out on a tour, the next dedicated to the pool, the beach, and rest. It was the perfect rhythm.
Adventures and Wildlife
We explored Cipancí National Wildlife Refuge by river boat, where we spotted monkeys swinging overhead, prehistoric-looking lizards basking in the sun, and a rainbow of unique birds.
At Tenorio Volcano National Park, we hiked past waterfalls and through lush jungle trails. The tours also included cultural touches: a pottery-making demonstration, visits to small towns and churches, and even a museum of indigenous people.
My son’s favorite? A traditional Costa Rican meal, freshly prepared and served with pride. My favorite? The sunsets. Each night was painted in gold and pink, but the one I’ll never forget was from a little beachside restaurant in Tamarindo.
Final Days on the Papagayo Coast
For the last two nights, we moved up the coast to the El Mangroove, an Autograph Collection hotel. The rooms came with screened-in porches that let the ocean air drift through, and the whole property felt like a retreat.
One day, we rented a poolside cabana. My son caught up on schoolwork, while I ordered cocktails and floated in the water, savoring the last hours of calm before heading home. It was a perfect ending to a trip that was equal parts healing and adventure.
Looking Back
Costa Rica was the family trip that never happened in the way we imagined. But in the end, it became something new—something just for my son and me. It reminded me that even when dreams shift, they can still come alive in ways you never expected.
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