Costa Rica is a country where I’ve embraced new adventures and experienced both some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my travels.
Its rich biodiversity has drawn me in – from swimming in natural hot springs and hiking volcanic trails to lounging on black sand beaches and walking across suspended bridges in the rainforest.
But those beautiful moments haven’t come without their costs. Like the time a latte I’d enjoyed a few hours before a hike caught up to my stomach, leaving me doubled over in pain and desperately searching for a restroom on the trail. Spoiler alert: there wasn’t one in sight. Or the night when what I expected to be a six-hour road trip stretched far longer than planned, as I dodged semi-trucks on a pitch-black highway under heavy construction.
Here’s the thing about adventures:
they can be beautiful, messy, challenging, and rewarding all at once.
As I often say to my friends, “Life’s about the journey, not the destination.” There’s still beauty in the detours – and yes, even the urgent bathroom breaks – when you’re willing to face the unknown without fear.
Central America has taught me to plan smart while leaving space for the unexpected – and I hope my adventures here remind you to embrace the detours as part of the journey, too.
