My Birthday In Costa Rica: Pura Vida!

What an incredible birthday week this was! For those of you who have never been to Costa Rica, put it on the list. Costa Rica has an environment built for healing and adventure. Our first two nights were spent at the majestic El Silencio Lodge & Spa. This is definitely one of the most healing luxurious places to stay in Costa Rica. We were literally in a cloud forest with farm to table food. We had a private tour of their green house and ponds where they grow delicious Trout. The property sits on 500 acres in a cloud forests reserve with their own waterfalls and wildlife. We enjoyed morning yoga in an open air studio in the forest, archery (which I had never done before and loved), and a healing mystic hike where we set intentions and swung from trees. Every room is literally your own lodge with the option to rent a villa. Each lodge is beautifully modern with your own private jacuzzi and spectacular views. The craft cocktails are perfectly balanced and the food is out of this world. If you are looking for a one of a kind rejuvenating experience, El Silencio is the place to go! This is also where I learned about the phrase Costa Rican’s use: Pura Vida. It means “pure life,” or “simple life,” and not only is it a slogan, it’s a lifestyle. “Pura Vida” represents Costa Ricans’ relaxed attitude towards life, no matter the circumstance.

After two nights at El Silencio we headed to La Fortuna where the Arenal Volcano is. El Silencio is only one hour from San Jose airport and two hours from La Fortuna. In La Fortuna we were hosted by Desafio Adventure on their canyoneering waterfall rappelling and whitewater rafting tour. This has to be one of the best adventure days of my life! We rappelled down 4 waterfalls and hiked through the jungle before whitewater rafting. To my surprise this is one of the funnest things I have ever done. Still on a high….Pura Vida!!!⁣

Also, if you have time, stop by Tabacon Hot Springs. We went for a couple of hours and really enjoyed the relaxation between adventure. 

After our wild adventure in La Fortuna, we drove 5 hours on a very windy road to Manuel Antonio. I highly recommend doing this drive when it is light outside. We did half of it at night and we were a bit scared…lol. Although the roads are well paved, they can be very small and you will be driving on the edge of a cliff for quite awhile. Plus what we did see in the daylight was incredibly beautiful.

In Manuel Antonia, I was hosted by the Jungle Vista Boutique Hotel. The hotel is in an ideal location situated in the Manuel Antonio rainforest. It is also close to the beach, bars and restaurants. Our big balcony looked out into the rainforest and we could see monkeys and a sloth. Such an incredible experience! Our studio apartment room was also spacious, modern and very clean. The staff was so kind and helpful.  They made my birthday an unforgettable one with a delicious cake and birthday decor. They also have a 5 star sister hotel that was under renovation but I will for sure stay there next time: Los Altos. They took me on a tour of the property and the villas have an ocean and rainforest view that is incredible!

On our last full day, we had an amazing private tour hosted by Epic Adventures Costa Rica. Our very knowledgable guide took us through the rain forest with a telescope so that we could observe the unique wildlife. This is the second most visited national park in Latin America and I can see why. It’s a unique place in the world where rainforest meets the beach. One of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio beach, located in the National Park. I highly recommend taking your towel and spending a few hours swimming in the ocean. That’s exactly what we did and it was a perfect way to end our Costa Rican adventure. After this vacation I have made the phrase Pura Vida a life mantra. Keep it simple and keep it pure…Pura Vida!!!