We made it through our first country. I think Costa Rica has something to offer every kind of traveler on any kind of budget. You can relax on beaches with locals or enjoy amenities at resorts. You can be adventurous and surf, seek thrills in canopy tours or horseback ride in the mountains or on the beaches. There are tons of trails for hiking in rainforests or near volcanos. There is the Caribbean side and the Pacific side. It's no wonder so many expats choose to reside in Costa Rica. Could I live here? Probably not. While I appreciate all it has to offer, I like it more as a vacation spot. It was difficult to navigate around the country and the roads were challenging. Most of the time there is a two lane highway and passing is dangerous with the constant turns. I guess, like many places, it would get easier the longer you are there. We are far too accustomed to the U.S. highways. And don't get me started on the critters. I'm still recovering from the bites (and Michael may be psychologically scarred from the scorpion).

Enjoying the last day at the pool in Costa Rica

A Maeve inspired path shot from the pool

The road uphill from the pool to our rental house

Family likes/dislikes about Costa Rica:

Maeve enjoyed family time in the pool. When I asked if she could tell me something specific to Costa Rica, she said she loved the geothermal hotsprings. She disliked the bugs.

Liam loved being able to rev the engine in the rental car with the push button ignition. When I asked if he could tell me something specific to Costa Rica (I sense a theme....sigh), he agreed with Maeve on the hotsprings. He disliked the winding and unpaved roads.

Michael enjoyed the priority that the Costa Rican government has regarding nature. He loved that there were so many national parks and large areas of protected land. He disliked driving on their 'highways.'

I was invigorated by the scenery on our hikes and the majestic Arenal Volcano. I don't see that as ever getting old. The bugs however, got old immediately.