Costa Rica: Where Sloths Live Their Best Life and I Question Mine

This time, we are heading to Costa Rica! Land of lush jungles, stunning beaches, and; most importantly; sloths, my personal spirit animal. As a perpetually exhausted traveler, I deeply relate to their lifestyle of moving slowly, looking mildly confused at all times, and sleeping up to 18 hours a day. Also, this is my first time venturing south of Mexico which raises all kinds of important questions:

Will I survive? Will I have fun? Will I be okay? The answer to all of the above: Yes, yes, and yes (with a side of mosquito bites, suspicious noises in the jungle, and a few minor existential crises).

But this isn’t just about finding sloths and perfecting my midday nap schedule. I actually planned a grand tour of the country to experience everything Costa Rica has to offer: beaches, jungles, cloud forests, and an alarming number of animals. Monkeys? Check. Colorful frogs that could probably kill me? Check. Birds that will 100% wake me up too early? Check. Basically, if it moves, chirps, or stares at me from a tree, I’ll probably cross paths with it. This trip is going to be a mix of awe-inspiring nature, mild humidity-induced suffering, and me constantly questioning my life choices while attempting to hike through a rainforest. Pura vida, right?

🤷‍♂️ Why Here? Because… Adventure? Was it the promise of lush jungles, pristine beaches, and exotic wildlife? Sure. But the real deciding factor? A cousin who has a vacation house there. That means connections. That means insider knowledge. That means I can pretend I’m a local; at least until I butcher my first attempt at ordering food in Spanish. Plus, knowing someone with a house in a tropical paradise is basically like winning the travel lottery. How could I say no?

The Journey Begins: Avallenas and Tamarindo – Where the Wildlife is Watching Me

We touched down in Liberia after a 3-hour flight from Miami, grabbed a rental car, and embarked on what can only be described as an adventurous drive to Tamarindo. (More on Costa Rican road conditions later—spoiler alert: massive potholes!) Our mission? Meet up with our family connection and bask in the luxury of their vacation house near the beach.

The first three days were all about adjusting to Costa Rica’s vibes, which, in practical terms, meant sweating profusely in the heat and humidity, dodging giant grasshoppers that looked like they were straight out of a sci-fi horror film, and being aggressively monitored by howler monkeys. (Seriously, those things watch you and then scream like a possessed jungle ghost.) But hey, we were surrounded by beautiful beaches, so I decided to roll with it. Relaxation, nature, and occasional terror; just the Costa Rican way.

Next Up: Volcanoes, Hot Springs and Road Chaos in La Fortuna

The drive to La Fortuna was yet another adrenaline-packed experience. Driving in Costa Rica is basically a live-action video game, where the goal is to avoid as many obstacles as possible: potholes, stray dogs, people casually strolling in the middle of the road, cars stopping for absolutely no reason, and roadside vendors aggressively waving snacks at your window. Every moment behind the wheel feels like a high-stakes challenge, but hey, we survived.

As we got closer to the infamous Arenal Volcano, we had a rare 80% clear sky moment, which, if you know anything about volcano tourism, means you slam the brakes and take all the photos you possibly can because you never know when it’ll disappear behind a thick wall of clouds for the rest of eternity.

Before fully exploring the area, we made the most logical stop: Tabacón Thermal Resort where we fully committed to luxury (and laziness). This place is pure paradise: a lush, jungle-filled haven where hot, mineral-rich water flows straight from the volcano, creating a series of dreamy thermal pools that basically demand you do nothing but soak and sip on tropical drinks. 🍹🌿

Imagine steaming waterfalls, hidden nooks surrounded by dense greenery, and a perfectly warm river winding through the resort like nature’s own lazy river. Add in a luxurious spa, ridiculously comfy loungers, and the occasional toucan casually judging your life choices from the treetops, and you’ve got the ultimate relaxation destination. If pura vida had an address, this would be it.

It’s warm, therapeutic, and the perfect excuse to do absolutely nothing except soak and spot random wildlife. It was glorious. Look at these pictures taken in my bathrobe!

The next day, we realized we had indulged in way too much relaxation, so we decided to get a little activ). First up: Mistico Hanging Bridges. It was a delightful blend of fun and terror (swinging bridges + heights = my worst decisions). Walking high above the rainforest was epic, assuming you didn’t count the part where I tried not to faint. The bridges sway (just a little, no need to panic), the jungle hums like a nature documentary, and every step felt like I was auditioning for an action movie! The views were stunning —if you could manage to open your eyes.

Next, we headed to Arenal Observatory Lodge for another volcano sighting. Because, of course, one volcano photo session isn’t enough to feed the Instagram gods. We also got a perfect view of the lake!

And then? Naturally, back to the resort to eat and relax because I was exhausted from all that “adventuring.”

Onward to the Jungle: Quepos anad Manuel Antonio – Sloths, Sweat, and Sudden Realizations

The drive down to Quepos and Manuel Antonio was another white-knuckle experience; about five hours of winding down steep mountain roads with more sharp turns than my life decisions. Seriously, some of these roads felt like a roller coaster where the seatbelt might not work. But we made it, and oh boy, was it worth it.

We checked into Makanda By The Sea, an absolutely stunning resort where our room was literally in the trees with a view of the ocean. Talk about luxury meets jungle survival! The pool was divine, the views were breathtaking, and then—surprise!—we realized the resort was basically a wildlife sanctuary. Monkeys swinging around like they own the place, exotic birds everywhere…

Exploring Manuel Antonio: A Sloth-Spotting, Sweat-Drenched Saga

Bright and early (way too early), we headed to Manuel Antonio National Park, just a quick 15-minute drive away. Of course, that meant navigating narrow roads and dodging a never-ending parade of driving obstacles. We arrived at 8:00 am, only to find the place already bursting with tourists.

It’s the kind of park where you can hire a guide to help you spot animals, but we opted for the DIY approach, which basically meant we stalked any large group of people who suddenly started looking up at the trees like they’d just discovered the meaning of life. And you know what? It worked. Within minutes, we were spotting sloths left and right.

Now, I love sloths. They sleep all day and barely move; relatable content. But let me tell you, even standing still in this heat felt like a challenge. The humidity was brutal, and walking through the jungle quickly became a test of endurance. But we powered through and made it to the beaches—and WOW!

The Manuel Antonio beaches are stunning, turquoise waters, lush jungle backdrop, warm waves. It looked like a postcard, but with real-life iguanas and coatis (which look cute but also a little too sneaky for my liking).

After some beach time, we braved the Cathedral Trail, a jungle hike with spectacular ocean views and even more monkeys. It was beautiful, but by this point, I was 100% drenched, exhausted, and borderline delirious from the heat. After nearly six hours of hiking, spotting sloths, and sweating out all my electrolytes, I had one priority: food and beer.

We decided to end our exploration of the park and head back to the town and find a local place to eat. Two ice-cold beers later, I was finally feeling human again. Back at the hotel, I was lazily floating in the pool, when the bartender casually pointed up—and there it was. A sloth. Sleeping so peacefully, it looked like it had no idea we were all out there sweating our lives away on hiking trails. And it gets better—it was right above us. Seriously, after all that hiking, the sunburn, the sweat, and the constant battle with gravity, I could’ve just stayed at the hotel the entire time, lounging in my chairwhile casually snapping photos of sloths like it was my job. Unbelievable.

Okay, this might just be the ultimate "I’m in Costa Rica" moment—WE SAW TOUCANS! Not just one, but multiple toucans, casually living their best lives around our resort. And the absolute highlight? One of them decided to hang out ON OUR BALCONY. Like, excuse me?

We obviously dropped everything and spent an embarrassing amount of time just talking to the toucan. Did it understand us? Probably not. But we were fully invested in this cross-species conversation. Seeing these ridiculously colorful birds up close was surreal!

Ascending to the Clouds: Monteverde – A Cloud Forest, A Bathtub, and a Slight Zip-Lining Crisis

After sweating profusely in Manuel Antonio, it was time to head back up the mountains to Monteverdewhere cooler temperatures awaited (finally!). The drive, however, was an experience; think: potholes the size of small craters, roads that may or may not have been meant for actual cars, and the occasional "Am I still in Costa Rica or did I take a wrong turn into an off-road endurance race?" moment. But hey, after hours of driving, we made it.

And the Monteverde Lodge? Absolutely stunning. Our room came with a bathtub on the balcony overlooking the cloud forest; which was basically an open invitation for me to soak my very sore, very overworked body while pretending to be in a luxury spa commercial.

Did I need this bath? Yes. Did I consider moving in permanently? Also yes.

Sevaltura Park: The Day I (Reluctantly) Became an Adventurer

The next day, fully rested (and slightly pruned from my bath), we embarked on a full day of adventure at Sevaltura Park—aka "Let’s See How Much I Can Handle Before I Tap Out." The agenda? Exploring the cloud forest, zip-lining (yes, ME zip-lining), meeting more sloths, visiting the butterfly garden, and coming face-to-face with Costa Rican reptiles, snakes, and frogs.

First up: the cloud forest. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’ve walked into a mystical, misty fairytale setting, this is it. Lush, green, and so much cooler than the jungle, it was amazing to walk on these bridges above the canopy!

Now, let’s talk about zip-lining for a second. Imagine me, willingly strapping into a harness and flinging myself across the forest on a cable. I still don’t know how I agreed to this, but let me tell you—it was TERRIFYING AND AWESOME AT THE SAME TIME.

Was I screaming? Yes. Did I feel like an action hero? Also yes. Would I do it again? TBD.

After surviving my near-death experience (okay, slight exaggeration), we explored the butterfly garden (much more my speed) and encountered even more sloths; these guys were just chilling, living their best slow-motion lives. Then, just when I thought we were done, we met Costa Rica’s finest collection of reptiles, snakes, and frogs. Let’s just say I kept my distance from anything that looked like it might consider me a snack.

By the end of the day, we were exhausted but had an absolute blast. Monteverde was incredible, and despite the completely insane roads getting there, it was 100% worth it.

Final Adventures: Instagram vs. Reality - The Waterfall Edition

As our Costa Rica adventure neared its end, I had one last mission: to see the infamous, overly-photographed, suspiciously turquoise Rio Celeste waterfall. You know the one; it’s everywhere on Instagram, looking like Mother Nature herself photoshopped it for peak aesthetic appeal. So, like every other tourist chasing internet perfection, I decided we must see it in person.

To be as close as possible to this blue beauty, we booked a stay at the absolutely mind-blowing, next-level luxurious Rio Perdido Thermal Resort. And let me tell you, this place was paradise. If I could give it 10 stars, I would. Actually, I’d give it 100. Nestled deep in the forest, this hotel was an experience. Floor-to-ceiling views of lush greenery, an outdoor bathtub and shower, plus thermal pools and a literal hot river flowing from a volcano? I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. If I ever come back to Costa Rica, I’m staying here again. No debate.

The next morning, it was time for our grand finale: the long-awaited Rio Celeste waterfall adventure. But because this trip refused to let me have an easy day, the universe decided to add a little twist: pouring rain. Now, we did pack rain jackets and umbrellas for moments like this. Did we bring them with us? Absolutely not. So, instead of a pleasant, breezy hike, we got a full-on rainforest experience, drenched and sliding through the mud like contestants on some extreme survival show.

The hike to the waterfall is about 30-40 minutes, and under normal circumstances, it’s not terribly difficult. However, on Day 11 of an adventure-packed trip, while soaked and slightly over it, it felt like an Olympic endurance challenge. But we made it! Sort of. Because when we arrived at the grand reveal…

Remember that vibrant turquoise waterfall I was expecting? The one that looked like it had been colored in with a neon highlighter? Yeah, it was green. Not bright, magical blue—greenish. Thanks to the rain, Rio Celeste decided to be Rio Meh-leste that day.

But hey, Mother Nature does what she wants, and even though it wasn’t the exact shade promised by social media, it was still gorgeous. The only problem? To get that perfect view, we had to descend 200 stairs—which meant climbing back up 200 stairs immediately after. My legs, already weakened from days of adventure!

After our waterfall-under-rain experience, we dragged our exhausted bodies back to our incredible hotel for one last soak in the thermal pools before the final night. It was time to say goodbye to Costa Rica… but not before tasting one last masterpiece from the hotel bartender: the legendary Beetini, because we drink healthy stuff (well… if you mix it with vodka, it still counts, right?). Nothing says “self-care” like pretending beet juice cancels out the alcohol.

Cheers to Costa Rica, the sloths, the wild roads, and to somehow surviving it all! 🍹

Here's the Quick and Dirty Recap:

🌟 What was the highlight of my trip? Without a doubt, the greatest discovery of this trip was finding another living creature that truly understands the importance of sleeping as much as possible: the sloth. These little legends just hang around, nap for hours, and ignore the chaos of the world. Honestly, I’ve never felt more spiritually connected to an animal. Every time I spotted one in a tree, I felt like it was whispering, "You, too, must rest, weary traveler." Beyond my newfound appreciation for sloths, Costa Rica was a paradise of natural wonders; the jungle, the beaches, the cloud forest; each landscape completely different and absolutely stunning. Every stop felt like stepping into a new world. And let’s not forget my unexpected love affair with zip lining in Monteverde. Who knew I’d willingly fling myself through the treetops like some over-caffeinated squirrel? Not me. Yet, here we are. Oh, and let’s talk about the roads. The real adventure of Costa Rica wasn’t the hiking, the wildlife, or even the zip lining—it was the driving. If you've ever wanted to feel like you’re in a live-action version of Mario Kart, this is the place. We still laugh about how we survived it. Truly a core memory.

📅 How many days? We spent 11 days in Costa Rica, and honestly, it was the perfect amount of time. Given that we covered multiple regions and drove a lot, this timeline allowed us to explore without completely collapsing from exhaustion. I tried to balance the itinerary; some days were packed with activities, while others were designed for resting by pools, staring at trees, and contemplating a permanent move to a thermal resort. Would I recommend this exact duration? Yes. It gave us enough time to experience Costa Rica’s diversity without feeling rushed.

⚡ Energy level for this adventure? Let’s be real: this trip was a little exhausting. Between the constant movement, the heat, the humidity, and the adrenaline spikes from unexpected road hazards, I was tired. My muscles were sore, my energy drained, and at one point, I seriously considered letting a sloth adopt me so I could just nap for days. That said, it was 100% worth it. The beauty of this country is that it makes you want to explore, even when you're sweaty, sore, and mildly traumatized by the roads. Would I do it again? Absolutely!

🏨 Where We Stayed: Jungle Luxury, Ocean Views & Thermal Bliss 🌿🌊🔥

📍 Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa – Pure volcanic luxury! The thermal pools were an absolute dream. Soaking in naturally heated water while surrounded by lush greenery? Yes, please. The rooms were beautiful, the service was top-notch, and let’s be real, I could have spent the entire trip just lounging here like a sloth in a spa. 10/10 would return just for the relaxation.

📍 Makanda By The Sea – Imagine waking up in a treehouse with an ocean view, surrounded by monkeys casually crashing your morning coffee. That’s Makanda. This adults-only boutique hotel felt like a hidden paradise. Gorgeous infinity pools, fantastic food, and just the right amount of jungle-meets-luxury vibes. Bonus: surprise sloth sightings right at the hotel.

📍 Monteverde Lodge & Gardens – Cloud forest magic! This place was absolutely stunning, with a dreamy outdoor bathtub overlooking the lush green surroundings. Perfect for winding down after pretending to be an adventure-seeker all day. Super peaceful, excellent service, and a great base for exploring Monteverde’s wild side (ziplining included).

📍 Rio Perdido Thermal Resort – Can I rate this 100 stars? This was hands down one of the best places I’ve ever stayed. The setting? Unreal. The rooms? A dream. The outdoor shower and bathtub? I may have considered never leaving. Add in the thermal river, amazing pools, and the most relaxing atmosphere ever, and you’ve got a resort that I’ll be raving about forever.