Hot Springs, Rainstorms & Roadblocks: Welcome to Costa Rica

#8

It’s now the beginning of January and we are at the midway point through this travel journey. So far we have seen San Diego, Cabo, Nassau, Eleuthera and Belize. We’ve slept in 11 different beds and seen 3 different countries. Not bad for 3 months of travel, and little did we know that the pace was going to drastically change for the rest of the trip.

The original plan as I have shared was to spend a month or so in each location giving us time to really land, explore and get the full energy and experience of each place.  A big part of that was so I could work — having a stable base was key. But the Universe had other plans, which in hindsight turned out to be exactly what we needed in order to fully explore and allow the flow to guide us. Sometimes Life will nudge you in a direction or it will push you into that highest and best next step. It’s on us to learn to listen to the wisdom and trust what is opening up and leading us to a better outcome. I didn’t say it’s easy - but it is definitely a choice.

Wanting warm weather, beaches and sunshine, we decided in December to move from Belize to Costa Rica for the month of January. I had never been, and Tim had visited once many years ago. But instead of landing in one place for a longer period of time, we decided to move around as the energy moved us. We had no itinerary, no places to stay, and no real idea how the month would unfold.This was a huge departure from my usual way of planning — and much more Tim’s style.I am structured, on task and on schedule, and even though it was an edge for me, I was looking forward to seeing what happened when I let Life lead, day by day.

That’s not to say I didn’t plan at all… ha! I still did my research so I had the lay of the land,  noted key areas of the country, and read a few Costa Rica travel blogs to get a sense of how best to move through it. We decided to rent a car for the month so we could get around easily. I’d read that the roads could range from decent to downright treacherous which stayed in the back of our minds as we prepared. We definitely didn’t want a repeat of the flat tire situation in Belize — stressful, even though it all worked out.Tim would continue to drive and I would navigate for a good team effort.

So off we went flying from Belize through Panama City to San Jose, Costa Rica. Even though the countries are geographically close to each other, there was no direct flight or easy route. We arrived late at night and stayed at a hotel near the airport planning to pick up the car the next morning and head to La Fortuna in the mountainous central region of the country. Tim was excited to get a little break from beaches and sun, and this would be a nice change of pace in more of a rainforest-like climate.

I was mostly using an online hotel booking site where I could search by location and compare prices and availability. I kept thinking there had to be a travel hack to find even better deals, and I kept my eye out for one. In the meantime, this method was working well enough. We were conscious of budget — no need for high-priced resorts.We just wanted clean, comfortable, breakfast included if possible, and a gym. We also wanted to try something out-of-the-box and not ordinary. So for our first four nights, I found a thatched-roof hut at a hot springs property. No gym, as it was a smaller place, but breakfast was included and the price was great. Being that we had spent more than expected monetarily in the first 4 destinations, we were looking to really bring the budget down where we could for the next 3 months.

We were also learning what worked for us on an adventure like this — and what didn’t. This month would teach us more than anticipated about close quarters and room to be apart. After three months of being together 24/7, we were starting to feel the squeeze. That’s a lot for any couple, especially when you’ve never lived together before. It’s incredible and fun and freeing — and it can also create tension.

I was also realizing I’d packed too much. One of my three bags was mostly vitamins, herbs, and products I’d brought for the full six months, along with some “nicer” clothes and shoes. Another bag was my day-to-day — water bottle, laptop, chargers, snacks, and my backup shoes. The third held my regular clothing, with clean and dirty items all mixed together. I had given my son some clothes to take home in Belize and already tossed three pairs of shoes that didn’t quite work or wore out from walking. We weren’t buying any souvenirs or extras, and yet — I still felt like I didn’t have enough space. I was using things up and trying to rotate through what I had, but clearly I had packed too many of the wrong things. Still, I had done my best to guesstimate.

So we land in San José, stay overnight near the airport, and then drive the three hours to La Fortuna. The roads were manageable although the drivers were a bit aggressive. Our teepee hut was cute but quite small with barely any room to move around. There were a few larger rooms but were already booked. Still, we stayed the full four nights — the on-site hot springs were lovely, and the restaurant was decent. After nearly two full days of travel, we spent the next day decompressing and soaking in the gorgeous scenery. And there is rain. Lots and lots of rain.

It had rained in Belize too, and locals in Costa Rica told us this year was the wettest since 1960. Uhhh, okay. I kept thinking — what if this was someone’s one week of vacation? For many Americans, it might be. I’ve always appreciated how Europeans and Australians prioritize time off, and we actually met a couple from Germany vacationing for a full month. The difference in quality of life and cultural values is so apparent when you travel.

Still, we had some amazing experiences! A rainforest hike where we saw monkeys, a thrilling ATV ride through streams and mud (where we saw our first sloth!), and a day pass at a fancy hotel with its own hot springs. We caught a shuttle down to a secluded path and had the hot springs all to ourselves for over an hour — pure magic. Then we did another hike and found ourselves on a bridge surrounded by ten howler monkeys! They were chatting with each other and only ten feet away. Two giant iguanas even made appearances at our little hotel. Nature definitely did not disappoint.

By the fourth day — between the hut’s size and the constant rain — we were ready to move on. I booked a place a couple of hours away that promised mountain views and hiking trails. Same forecast (more rain), but we’d have a whole house to ourselves, and that sounded like a welcome change.

But, of course, travel has its curveballs.

About 30 minutes into the drive, traffic came to a full stop. A tractor trailer had overturned blocking the only main road in and out of the area. There was no other good way to reach our destination without serious off-roading. I contacted the property owner, explained the situation, and asked for a refund since I’d just booked it the night before — but it was a no-go. It was non-refundable, and they wouldn’t budge. Ugh. Lesson learned: even when you think you’re in the clear, don’t book non-refundable stays. Travel will always bring surprises, and flexibility is everything.

So — change of plans. We were done with rain and ready for sun. We set our sights on the Pacific coast, a 4–5 hour drive on top of the 1.5 hours we’d already spent detouring. I scrambled to find the most reliable route (map apps aren’t always helpful — they’ll show you the shortest route, not necessarily the best roads). We put a blessing over the car, especially the tires, and hit the road.

This first spot gave us so much - a reprieve from beaches, soothing hot springs, incredible wildlife and adventure. With no TV and minimal light, our evenings were spent watching shows on my laptop and winding down. We could feel the tension beginning to rise between us, and it was clear we were both needing a little more space. I made a mental note to find accommodations with more room at our next stop.

This leg of the journey is teaching me to let go of the small stuff ( it can literally be a pair of shoes left behind or a comment that hits my heart wrong even though the intention was not to do so.) There’s a saying: Do you want peace or do you want to be right? I’m realizing it’s just not worth my energy to let the little things pull me away from the present moment.

I want to be here — fully — soaking in the scenery and wildlife and be present to the magic all around. Life on the road reminds you that all we truly have is this moment. So love it. Enjoy it. Don’t waste time on what doesn’t matter. Will you remember this a week, a month, a year from now? What do you want to hold in your memory?

For me, it’s time with loved ones, adventure and joy. From that place, I can share my Light with others and make a meaningful impact. We both are blessed — and never take this for granted.

Next time - the final 3 weeks in Costa Rica and more lessons to grow from.

To your highest and best,

Dianna

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This is your invitation to explore what’s next — with clarity, courage, and one aligned step forward.