Writing this a month later, I am shocked that my camera had not died sooner. How was it able to overcome all the battering and abuse I had put it through? Over the past year in Costa Rica it had survived being dropped in the jungle, slammed against cave walls, and brought along on windy days at the beach, boat excursions, and canopy tours – but apparently it couldn’t endure sitting in the middle of a harmless herd of cows. It was broken, and there was nothing I could do about it.

After recovering from the initial shock of my loss, I resigned myself to the fact that the only photographic documentation I would have from our trip would come from Vincent. This surprisingly turned out to be a good thing. I discovered that it is easier to be fully immersed in an activity when doing it solely for the experience – escaping the burden of having to capture proof of that experience.

First on our itinerary was Nosara. Having spent two days here last June, I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know about the area. I didn’t even know the half of it. Nosara was not only three times larger in size than I had originally perceived, but there was also a lot more to do.

With each activity we met new people, discovered shortcuts, and opened doors to other adventures we didn’t even know were available to us. Between hiking in the Nosara Biological Reserve, kayaking up the River Montana, practicing yoga, massages, acupuncture, and live music, it is safe to say that I slept very soundly at night.

Next, we drove an hour and a half south to the town of Carrillo, which boasts one of the most gorgeous beaches in the country. At the Wildlife Refuge, I was finally able to see many of the animals I had only heard about secondhand. Margays, jaguarundis, kinkajous, and a baby howler monkey were some of the most memorable highlights. The next day we visited Camaronal Wildlife Refuge, and sadly missed seeing baby turtle hatchlings tottering into the sea by mere hours.

Lastly, Vincent and I explored one of my favorite places in the country – Playa Samara. For dinner we feasted at La Ancla restaurant, where I enjoyed the best gnocchi I have ever tasted outside of Italy. Ultra light flying lessons were next on the list, where I was forced to overcome my fear of heights. The last day literally flew by, as we zipped along the trees on a canopy tour after taking a surfing lesson in Matapalo.

Dont’ believe I packed this much adventure into one week? Check out the blogs – I have photos to prove it.

Day 1: A Nosara Sunset
Day 2: Nosara Biological Reserve and a Day at the Spa
Day 3: Jungle Joe, a Tica Massage, and Acupuncture
Day 4: Quad Tour and the Black Sheep Pub
Day 5: It’s All Happening at the Zoo
Day 6: Baby Turtle Hatchlings at Camaronal
Day 7: Flying Crocodiles
Day 8: By Land, by Air, and by Sea