04.23.2018
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Matt and I are finally back in Dallas after a whirlwind of a week in Costa Rica. If you were wondering what the heck we were doing there, we were actually on a combined family vacation! The vacation included both my family, Matt’s family and a few extended family members… because more is merrier, right? All in all, we were a group of thirteen exploring the county and taking in its culture one restaurant at a time.
To give you guys some context, our families decided on rented a house together in Quepos, Costa Rica which was an area neither of our families had visited yet. We decided on this location after hearing how it was renowned for its diversity of wildlife and active fishing community. Oddly enough, I’ve been to Costa Rica a total of five times now, and I’ve still never covered any of my trips or travels to Costa Rica on The Coastal Confidence platform, until now. When I first found out I was heading back and my sister/videographer/photographer/god-sent, Tessa, would be my roommate I knew it was time to capture that Costa Rica content. & oh boy did she agree.
My sister and I had the best time exploring Costa Rica and capturing its beautiful wildlife and scenic sights for you all, I’m already giddy about the upcoming posts hitting the blog over the next couple of weeks. Anyway, we kicked off our trip with a walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, and we took the camera with us to bring you all along.
Our group got into Costa Rica late Saturday night and woke up bright and early on Sunday to visit Manuel Antonio National Park before the crowds rolled in. I always recommend heading to National Parks, actually any park for that matter, on the earlier side, especially if you are interested in seeing wildlife, as they are often more active and social first thing in the morning. When we decided on this tour we knew we had to hire a tour guide, so we could learn more about the history and animals of the region. The National Park is, of course, available to visit without a guide but our guide went out of his way to show us the unique creatures of Costa Rica. I mean, he was able to spot out animals almost invisible to the human eye, like that little frog in its home featured above. Yes, he spotted that frog and pointed him out so casually, and if you can’t see the frog in the above tree picture, zoom in!
Before I get too ahead of myself, let me tell you a little bit about Manuel Antonio National Park. This beautiful National Park is located on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, which is just darn beautiful. The park is filled to the brim with flourishing rainforests, white-sandy beaches, and is home to some of the most diverse wildlife around. I had heard, from Google reviews obviously, that the park was known for its vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife, but was shocked how many different animals we actually got to see up close and personal.
At first, I was really unsure of my wardrobe choice, I mean I wasn’t sure how difficult this walking tour would be and my sandals, while comfortable, are the least practical footwear for a hike. Although I’d gladly risk a wiping out in order to capture that great content though. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable and leisurely the hiking tour was. You could bring young children, elders, or just people like me in unfavorable hiking shoes with no problems what so ever. We walked along a gently pebbled covered path within this tropical forest that allowed us to get closer to Costa Rica’s wildlife then I’ve ever been before.
Not only did we see both the two-toed and three-toed sloths, which Costa Rica is known for, but we also saw the endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys and the buck didn’t stop there. From poisonous frogs to rare bird species the park’s multiple terrains allowed us to get a real feel for Costa Rica’s animal population. Oh and don’t get me started about the beach hidden inside of the National Park. I’ve NEVER seen a more beautiful beach than the one hidden within the Manuel Antonio National Park. From pure white sand to crystal blue water, I couldn’t resist a swim. Post outfit photo taking of course.
Now let’s digress a little bit and talk about this outfit! The moment I saw this dress, I knew it would look beautiful against the lush backgrounds Costa Rica has to offer. With an all over eyelet design and the feminine detail in the flutter sleeves, made this dress the ideal dress for vacation wear or for anyone’s upcoming graduation! I know this dress will be a staple of mine as we head into New England summer especially as it’s perfect to wear during the day and easy to transition into the night.
I’m going to break down a lot of my travel style hacks over the next couple of weeks but one that I live by is traveling with accessories that can be dressed up or down, like this hat and tote. You’re going to see several blog posts with these pieces being styled in different ways from evening wear to lying on the beach in a bathing suit, traveling with versatile accessories will make your outfits pop. Anyone else agrees?
Overall we spent the better half of Saturday morning exploring the park in what seemed to be 100 degrees. The sweat was rolling so when we finally made it to the beach the cool breeze and scenic views allowed us to cool off and go for a dip. I had packed a bathing suit inside of my tote, and thank goodness I did. I slipped it on underneath my dress and dove into the crystal clear water for a break. It was the best way to start off the vacation and it’s was actually my favorite travel excursions I’ve done so far in Costa Rica. Maybe because it’s the most leisurely and I’m all about taking life slow and capturing nature when on vacation.
Okay, so I’d love to hear from you! Have you been to Costa Rica? If so what part and what excursion was your favorite? I can’t wait to hear from you guys and continue to bring you along.
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Your pictures are absolutely stunning. The close up of the monkey is an incredible shot. I love how good the crisp white of your dress looks against all the greenery. Great post! Makes me want to travel to Costa Rica!
Cheers,
Malinda