Return to Costa Rica

Friday, February 24, 2023

For Inna's big birthday in February, we returned to Costa Rica to explore the beautiful national parks and see some of our favorite birds and animals, including sloths, toucans, hummingbirds, frogs, agoutis, coatis, monkeys, etc.

Because of the long flight, Inna decided to purchase first-class tickets. She selected Delta Airlines to fly from San Francisco (SFO) to San Jose (SJO), with a stop in Los Angeles (LAX).

Since our trip would last 10 days, we left our Sienna minivan at our house and ordered a Lyft to the San Francisco Airport (SFO). For our 19:45 flight, we ordered Lyft at 16:30 at $70 (one-way). Upon arrival at the airport, we checked in at the Delta counter (due to international travel, we had to show our passports and COVID-19 immunization cards).

Inna usually has access to various airport lounges, where free food is offered, but in Terminal 2, something was not available. However, a $28 food credit was available at the Lark Creek Grill, and we decided to eat dinner there.

Once seated, we ordered the following dinner items:

• Inna: Daisy (Margarita), Grilled Fish Sandwich
• Boris: Texas Scramble (Western Omelet)

Tracy, our waitress, was very friendly and attentive, but the food was mediocre (as expected). At least the bill was low!

We boarded our Delta Airlines Flight #2054 to Los Angeles at 19:15 (it was nice to be in first class), arriving in Los Angeles at around 21:30. Due to the turbulence, no beverage or food service was offered. I started watching E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial - a movie I had never seen but always wanted to watch, while Inna started to watch Bullet Train.

Once in Los Angeles, we tried to find an open lounge, but everything was closed. Unfortunately, due to the winter storm, our Delta Airlines Flight #1974 to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) was delayed for 3 hours, finally departing at around 01:00.

Both Inna and I enjoyed being in first class. The seats could fully recline (to sleep), and we could watch our movies. The flight attendants were very attentive and offered us alcoholic beverages. However, we were too tired to drink anything.

I continued to watch E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (since I had never seen it), and Inna first watched Bullet Train (with Brad Pitt) and then Eat, Pray, Love (with Julia Roberts).

Because of the beautiful first-class seats, we slept during the flight, arriving in much better condition in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Our Delta Airlines Boeing 757 landed in San Jose, Costa Rica, around 09:00. After disembarking from the plane, we waited in Costa Rica's immigration. Then we left the airport, looking for transportation to Nayara Springs Relais & Chateaux in La Fortuna.

We quickly identified our driver (holding a placard with our last name), boarded our van, and were driven to Nayara Springs. The drive was quite long (almost 3 hours), and we arrived at Nayara around 13:00.

Since our Villa #15 was still being prepared (it would be ready around 15:00), we walked around the property and boarded a golf cart for lunch at La Terraza.

On the way there, we stopped to take photos of a nearby 3-toed sloth. Inna was very excited to see one of her favorite creatures in the wild.

Then, we continued to the La Terraza restaurant. After sitting down and reviewing the menu, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Ceviche Tico
  
• Boris: Arroz Con Pollo
  
• Inna: Fish Tacos
  

The Ceviche Tico was fresh (but small), but the Arroz Con Pollo (Rice with Chicken - a traditional Costa Rican dish) was quite delicious! Inna really liked her Fish Tacos, too!

After lunch, we walked around the property, stopped by reception to pick up our keys, and boarded the golf cart to our Villa #15. 

We walked around the property for a bit, taking photos and marveling at the tropical vegetation and beauty.

Upon arriving, I was very impressed by our Villa #15. It had indoor and outdoor showers and a private, heated pool with Jacuzzi jets, all surrounded by lush vegetation. 

Our bed had fine mesh nets set up to protect against mosquitos (which were primarily absent). 

Inna had made an appointment at the Nayara Spa for 18:00. She loved her spa treatment and returned to our villa around 19:30. I enjoyed bathing in the private outdoor hot-water pool during this time.

I also enjoyed swinging in the hammock.

With dinner reservations for 20:00 at Amor Loco, we quickly dressed and walked to the nearby restaurant. After being seated outdoors, we looked at the menu and ordered the following items from the dinner menu:

• Appetizer: Tuna Tartar
  
• Boris: Chicken Curry
• Inna: Baked Seabass
• Dessert: Banana Split
  

I really liked the chicken curry, and Inna liked her baked seafood. The Tuna Tartar appetizer was delicious, too! 

The staff also brought over freshly baked plantain chips and freshly baked bread. They were so delicious!

While eating dinner, we were entertained by a live, two-person band, playing popular Spanish and American favorites like Despacito and Sting's Englishman in New York. 

The female singer's voice was lovely, and the saxophone player filled in nicely. Overall, it was a lovely evening and a great start to our vacation.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

In the morning, we woke to the sounds of a heavy tropical shower and heavy coconuts crashing against our roof. After brushing my teeth and shaving, we enjoyed relaxing in our private outdoor pool before breakfasting at Mis Amores.

After sitting down and ordering coffee, we selected the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Boris:  Avocado Toast
  
• Inna: Nayara Benedict
  
• Dessert: French Toast
  

Inna and I split the breakfast, and we each ate a half-portion of Avocado Toast and Nayara Benedict. They were both delicious! For a light dessert, we enjoyed the sumptuous French Toast.

After breakfast, we returned to our room and packed our suitcases. We were sad to leave so soon, but Inna could not book more than one night at Nayara Springs.

We ordered an UberX to take us to Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa. Once we arrived at Tabacon, we checked in and dropped off our bags in our large suite. 

Since we had a 15:00 hike reservation, we ordered an UberX and were quickly picked up and dropped off at the Bogarin Trail near La Fortuna for a 2-hour guided walk. We hoped to see sloths and wild birds in their native habitat. 

Our guide was very knowledgeable and spotted many sloths and birds. Most of the sloths were very high up (on top of trees) and needed binoculars to spot them. Our guide carried a long telescope, which he sat up and pointed at sloths he wanted us to see. I would like to see sloths closer. The ones on this trail were very high up in the trees.

After finishing the trail, we walked to La Fortuna and stopped by the Bank Nacional to access an ATM. We withdrew CRC 50,000 (Costa Rican Colones), with the current rate of about 1 USD = 560 CRC (the maximum allowed per day).

We ordered an UberX (illegal in Costa Rica) and returned to our Tabacon Hotel. After opening our room using our bracelets (these serve as room keys), we quickly changed into swimsuits and headed for the shuttle to Tabacon Hot Springs (our favorite naturally heated hot springs worldwide).

 

After entering Tabacon, I stored my robe in the free locker and used my GoPro Hero 10 to take photos inside Tabacon. Inna and I spent much time in various hot springs, eventually ending up in Shangri-La. 

Here is a GoPro Hero 10 video at Tabacon Hot Springs:

We especially enjoyed this pool, as it has sections with cold and hot water, so merely moving to different sections of the pool allows one to cool off or warm up.

At around 19:45, we returned back to our hotel and changed out of our swimsuits. We made plans to eat dinner in Tobacon's Ave restaurant. 

We briefly stopped by the concierge to order transportation for Monday morning (06:00.) Bird & Hanging Bridges Trip. It took a lot of work to reserve a taxi in the early morning.

 

After sitting down at our table (the restaurant was mostly empty), we ordered the following dinner items:

• Appetizer: Ceviche
• Boris: Arroz Con Pollo (Rice with Chicken)
• Inna: Casado, Flor Cana (cocktail)

We liked our ceviche, but the food was of average quality. After dinner, we returned to our hotel room and rested. We should have eaten in town instead. We found many restaurants in La Fortuna that are less expensive and have better quality (not to mention the joyous atmosphere).

Monday, February 27, 2023

In the morning, Inna woke at 05:30 for her 06:00 Bird and Hanging Bridges Tour. I was too tired to join her, so she traveled alone. She enjoyed her tour and took many photos, seeing snakes and colorful birds.

When she returned at 09:30, we quickly dressed and walked for our complimentary buffet breakfast in Tucanes. We selected some scrambled eggs, pineapple slices, plantains, and a few other pieces of bread in the buffet. We had freshly brewed coffee in French Presses brought out. The breakfast was not bad at all.

 

After breakfast, we decided to lounge by the pool before our 13:30 rafting safari trip. I enjoyed resting by the beautiful pool in a complimentary cabana and reading my current Grisham crime-thriller, The Judge's List.

At 13:15, we returned to our room and prepared for our 13:30 rafting safari trip. I brought my Nikon P900 to take photos of distant wildlife on the river.

After a 30-minute ride, we climbed aboard a small raft with our guide and gently flowed down the river.

We observed many species of birds, multiple iguanas, various screeching monkeys, a cayman, and many other creatures. It was a fun way to see wild animals in the wild.

After our rafting, we stopped to take a few photos of a sleeping sloth (nearby) and then walked over to a local farm to sample coffee, cheeses, juices, and plantains. All were delicious!

We returned to our hotel around 17:45 and quickly returned to Tabacon Hot Springs. 

We enjoyed another fantastic day, reveling in the warm, volcanic-heated waters. I used my GoPro Hero10 to take some photos and record some videos.

For dinner, we took a taxi to downtown La Fortuna and had dinner at La Street Bistro restaurant. We tried ordering UberX, but our requests were being canceled. UberX could have been more reliable in La Fortuna.

We ordered the following items at La Street Bistro restaurant:

• Appetizer: Ceviche
• Dinner: Tacada (tacos) for 2 people
• Inna: Mangonada (Margarita with Mangoes)
• Boris: Iced Tea

Our dinner at La Street was delicious, and the portions were very generous. Although relatively inexpensive  ($58), it was one of our best meals.

 

After dinner, I tried contacting our hotel for a taxi pick-up but could not get through to a live person. I had someone from the restaurant call our hotel, and a taxi was finally sent. A rental car would have been handier around the La Fortuna area.

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

We woke at around 07:30, dressed, and walked to the nearby Toucanes restaurant for our morning breakfast. The breakfast was quite delicious, and Inna ordered an omelet.

After breakfast, we packed our suitcases to prepare for the transfer to Monteverde at 08:30.

The transfer van arrived around 09:00 (a bit late), and we quickly boarded for the long trip to Monteverde. This transfer involved multiple steps:

• Transfer from Tabacon to Lake Arenal (Boat Ramp)
• Boat Trip across Lake Arenal
• Transfer from Lake Arenal to Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

When we arrived at Lake Arenal's boat ramp, the transfer turned chaotic, as we had to carry our heavy luggage to the boat (over unpaved ground). 

There were multiple boats, and we needed to find the correct boat to board.

Eventually, we boarded a boat (carrying our luggage) for the one-hour ride on the lake to the boat ramp on the other side. The transfer was just as chaotic when we disembarked on the other boat ramp. We had to find the correct bus, and it was hard to identify the correct bus to board. 

We eventually boarded our bus and drove up and down very narrow, steep gravel roads to our hotel in Monteverde. The roads were in horrible condition, mostly gravel, with some stream crossings. Costa Rica doesn't maintain their streets at all.

After arriving at Monteverde Lodge and checking into our room, we walked around the property and decided to look for frogs at the Frog Pond Ranario. After paying the hefty $20/person entree fee, I expected to find some frogs but only spotted one (with Inna's help). Most frogs only come out at night, and we needed more time to return. This was a letdown.

We returned to our Monteverde Lodge and ordered lunch at the El Jardin Restaurant.

• Inna: Seabass Ceviche
• Boris: Handmade Pasta (with shrimp, Octopus, and Calamari)

The seafood was fresh, and the Seabass Ceviche and the Handmade Pasta with shrimp were delicious!

At 15:00, we walked to the lobby of our Monteverde Lodge for a ride to Sky Adventures (for a bit of ziplining). After a short ride, we checked in for our 15:00 ride and walked upstairs to stow our gear into the free lockers. I also picked up a special helmet with a GoPro mount. I brought my GoPro Hero 10 Black to record some of the ziplining.

I recorded a GoPro Hero 10 video during our many zipline descents.

We put on the harness and were shown basic instructions for ziplining. You must mostly sit with your legs pointing forward during the ride. We completed a short training zipline and boarded the gondola to take us to the top (where all the ziplining starts).

Ziplining was a lot of fun (but a bit cold). I should have worn something warmer, as I did not expect the temperature to be so hard in the Cloud Forest. We were also quite lucky it did not rain (as this part of Costa Rican Cloud Forest frequently rains).

Inna liked ziplining, but sitting in the harness was quite painful. A better-padded harness would have made her experience more pleasurable.

We finished ziplining around 17:00 and stopped by to look at (and purchase) our photos. Then, we boarded our bus back to Monteverde Lodge.

As Inna was a bit tired from the hectic day, we decided to rest in our room and eat dinner at the hotel. At around 19:00, we strolled to the hotel lobby and waited for a table. After looking at the El Jardin dinner menu, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Shrimp Tostada
• Boris: Beef Tenderloin
• Inna: Mushroom Soup, Beef Tenderloin

The Shrimp Tostada was delicious. Inna's Mushroom Soup was excellent, and we both enjoyed our Beef Tenderloin!

We were tired after the long day and rested in our room.

 

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

 

We woke at 06:00 to get ready for our 06:15 breakfast.

We had booked a 07:00 guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest and needed to prepare. The breakfast was delicious, and we prepared the Nikon P900 camera and binoculars for the tour. I put on my hiking boots and fleece sweatshirt, anticipating a cold morning in the cloud forest.

After a 30-minute ride up some of the worst roads in Monteverde, we reached the Cloud Forest. We used restrooms and started multiple trails as our guide sought the best birds and animals.

Initially, our guide found a hidden tarantula and pointed it out for everyone to see. Then, as we walked other trails, we frequently stopped to look at exotic birds that he could point out with his telescope. His goal was to find the famous Quetzal - a colorful bird that only lives in the wild and is challenging to spot. He finally found one, and we managed to take a few photos.

We returned to our hotel at 11:30, quickly packed, and put our bags into storage. We decided to eat lunch at El Jardin since we had a scheduled transfer to Manuel Antonio at 15:00 (it turned out to be 14:20.) For lunch, we ordered the following lunch items:

• Inna: Chicken Skewers
• Boris:  Casado (Traditional rice & beans with pico de Gallo)

We enjoyed our lunch, and the Chicken Skewers and Casado were excellent.

We checked out of our hotel and boarded our transfer van for the 4-hour drive to Manuel Antonio. On the way there, we stopped for a short bathroom and drink break at Tarcoles (where American alligators hang out in the river). Inna purchased a fresh coconut as she was pretty thirsty. Cold coconut water is just perfect!

In a few more hours, we arrived in Manuel Antonio and checked into the Arenas del Mar hotel. We waited for a golf cart to take us to the main lobby, and from there, we walked to room #603B.

The room was a little small, but it had a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and a refrigerator on the balcony (which was full of free snacks and drinks. We had to carefully lock the fridge to prevent monkeys from getting in. The white-faced capuchin monkeys are brilliant and can open doors and refrigerators and steal food.

For dinner, we stopped at 19:30 at the Mirador Oceanview Restaurant. After sitting down, we looked at the menu and ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Camaron Papa
• Boris: Caribbean Chicken
• Inna: Papardelle Pasta, Tropical Cocktail

 

 

My Caribbean Chicken was not sour, but Inna's Pappardelle pasta was quite delicious, and her Tropical cocktail was also excellent.
 

 

Thursday, March 2, 2023

 

In the morning, Inna woke at 05:40 to prepare for the early Bird Watching tour. She took a fantastic walk and returned to our suite #603B around 08:00.

 

I quickly dressed, and we walked uphill a few minutes to the Miradoor Oceanview Restaurant for breakfast. We picked up two freshly opened coconuts with straws on the way there. The coconut water was very refreshing. 

 

After sitting down and looking at our breakfast menus, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Fruit plate (pineapple, watermelon)
• Boris: Omelet
• Inna: Avacado Toast with Poached Egg

After breakfast, we walked downhill to Playitas Beach and Da Hui Local Surf School. I inquired about renting a board ($15.00/hr) but decided against surfing. The surf looked okay, but it was breaking on the shore with many closeouts. The ocean water was so warm - 86F!

 

 
I ordered a golf cart to take us back to our room, and we decided to try out the hotel's small, semi-private Playitas Beach. We found a few lounges near the beach and spread our towels. The breaking waves were high, and the red flags on the beach advised us against swimming. I did go out swimming once through the surf, but I had someone on shore whistle for me to return.

 

I started reading the new book on my Kindle - On Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham. It's a severe novel I have always wanted to read.

At around 13:00, we decided to eat lunch at the restaurant on the beach. We ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Pure Vida Cocktail, Mojito
• Inna: Ceviche Mixto (mixed)
• Boris: Sandwich de Pescado (fish) 
• Dessert: Coconut Sorbet

I really liked the ceviche and the coconut soup. After lunch, we noticed that Inna got sunburned, so we returned to our hotel room to rest, shower, and relax. After the cold shower, we took a short nap. It's been taking some time to adjust to the hot and humid climate in this part of Costa Rica.

While sitting on the balcony, we enjoyed snacks from our minibar (chocolates, iced tea, cold water). We saw a few small monkeys climbing around and took a few photos.

In the evening, we returned to the Mirador Oceanview restaurant. After reviewing the menu, we ordered the following dinner items:

• Appetizer: Octopus Carpaccio
• Drinks: Strawbery Margarita
• Boris: Catch of the Day (Mahi-Mahi)
• Inna:  Arroz Guacho
• Dessert: Pineapple with Rum

Inna liked her Arroz Guacho (rice with shrimp), and I enjoyed the Mahi-Mahi. The Pineapple with Rum dessert was beautiful.

After dinner, we made reservations for an early breakfast at 07:00 since we had a Manuel Antonio Guided tour at 07:30.

We returned to our room, opened the complimentary bottle of wine, and drank a few glasses while admiring the beautiful sunset (and munching on a few snacks in the refrigerator).

Friday, March 3, 2023

We woke at 06:30 and dressed for the Manuel Antonio guided walk. We stopped by for breakfast at the Mirador Oceanview restaurant and sat down for prepared breakfast items, including:

• Appetizer: Fruit plate (pineapple, watermelon)
• Boris: Omelet
• Inna: Avacado Toast with Poached Egg

After a quick breakfast, we boarded the golf cart and transferred to a van, which drove to the nearby Manuel Antonio part.

On the walk to the beach, we saw many birds, lizards, and monkeys. After the walk, we spent 30 minutes swimming in the warm waters of Manuel Antonio Beach.

We returned to our hotel, packed our bags, and took cold showers. We decided to grab lunch at the outdoor restaurant on our small Playitas Beach. While sitting down, we noticed a lizard nearby. We ordered the following:

• Drinks: Mojito
• Inna: Ceviche Mixto (mixed)
• Boris: Sandwich de Pescado (fish) 

After lunch, we returned to the front desk and ordered transportation to Makanda by the Sea. We had to wait 30 minutes to get our taxi. On the way there, we stopped by an ATM (I was running low on cash). I was surprised by the very high ATM fee - CRC 4,500 (9 USD)!

We checked into Makanda by the Sea Hotel and were taken to room #22. It was a glitzy, contemporary/modern room with a unique aesthetic. 

Once on the balcony, we noticed many monkeys (including howlers, squirrels, and white-faced capuchins) climbing around nearby trees. We enjoyed observing all of the monkeys and taking myriads of photos. Many of the monkeys were curious and came quite close to us.

After some time in our room, we decided to explore the property. We first walked to the nearby pool, but it had loud music playing, so we walked to the nearby saltwater pool to relax.

At around 18:00, we returned to the main pool and continued relaxing before heading back to our room to change for dinner.

At Arbol Restaurant, we looked at the menu and ordered the following:

• Appetizer: Pejibaye Hummus with Picked Eggplant
• Drinks: Pastel de Platano Chocolate, Jasmine Green Tea
• Inna: Beef Cheeks with Potato Puree and Mushrooms
• Boris: Pasta with Shrimp in white wine sauce)

The dinner was excellent but a bit hot. We still needed to get used to the hot and humid weather in Manuel Antonio.

Saturday, March 4, 2023

We woke around 08:00 and decided to walk to the nearby Arbol Restaurant for our breakfast. We ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Coffee with Almond Milk
• Boris: Rice Porridge with Coconut Milk
• Inna: Eggs Benedict

After breakfast, we returned to our room and changed into swimwear. We decided to spend the day lounging by the beautiful pool and relaxing. We found an excellent hanging bed over the pool, where we could relax and read our books.

In a few minutes, someone pointed out a sloth hanging on a tree by the pool, and we could see him moving around. Inna was delighted by such a close encounter and could take many photographs. We spent a few hours looking at the sloth. We felt so lucky to have such a close encounter. The sloth eventually crawled down and then to another tree.

Eventually, we decided to walk down to the Arbol Restaurant for a poolside lunch.

After lunch, we hung out by the pool, relaxing and swimming.

In the evening, we returned to the Arbol Restaurant for our last dinner at Macanda by the Sea. The fans were still not working.

Sunday, March 5, 2023

In the morning, we woke early and decided to get an early breakfast. We ordered the following:

• Drinks: Coffee with Almond Milk
• Boris: Rice Porridge with Coconut Milk
• Inna: Eggs Benedict

After breakfast, we sat down by the pool. Someone at the pool immediately pointed out two sloths hanging on a tree. We closely monitored the sloths' movement down and down to another tree and took many photos.

Inna was ecstatic about another encounter with two more sloths! After enjoying our time at the pool, we returned to our room to pack for our departure to the Peace Lodge.

At 09:00, our transportation arrived. We checked out of our hotel, saying goodbye to the sloths, monkeys, and Toucans.

Our drive to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park / Peace Lodge took over 4.5 hours. We arrived around 14:00, checked in, and hiked to the nearby waterfalls immediately. Inna also booked a Toucan feeding at 16:00 and a Frog excursion at 18:00.

We stopped by on the way to the waterfalls to see the Toucans and spider monkeys. When we reached the waterfalls, we noticed a couple getting married with beautifully decorated flowers.

Our first stop was the UpperTemple Lookout Falls, followed by Magia Blanca, Encantada, Escondido, and La Paz. The falls were beautiful! However, the way back was uphill, and Inna struggled in the heat. We hurried to catch the bus back to our lodge for our upcoming Toucan tour.

The bus was a bit late, and when we returned to the lodge, we hurried to the Aviary for our Toucan feedings. We enjoyed interacting and feeding the toucans and took many photos and videos.

We also stopped by to feed the two-toed sloth, who was sleeping. She awoke, and Inna fed her carrots and sweet potatoes.

After the feeding, we returned to our room for a short rest. We joined the frog tour next, where we were driven to the Frog pond. We were handed flashlights, and our guide showed us many beautiful frogs in Costa Rica. Many needed to be more extensive and more accessible to spot. 

After seeing the frogs, we returned to the lodge and sat for dinner at Vista Poas Restaurant. It was pretty empty. We enjoyed our dinner at Vista Poas, ordering the following:

• Drinks: Crazy Monkey Cocktail
• Boris: Country Style Onion Soup, Risotto with Shrimp, 
• Inna: La Paz Caprese Salad, Pistachio Crusted Salmon, 
• Dessert: Tres Leches

Inna really liked her Tres Leches dessert!

Monday, March 6, 2023

We woke at 06:30 (to my iPhone alarm) to a drizzly, overcast morning with many birds chirping. We decided to enjoy a morning bath in the hot springs next to our room.

After getting dressed, we walked uphill to Tortillas Restaurant for breakfast. Inna ordered an omelet while I had some eggs. The breakfast was a bit uninspiring.

After breakfast, we revisited our favorite places in the Peace Lodge. We stopped to see the Toucans in the Aviary, the butterflies, hummingbirds, monkeys, snakes, frogs, and jungle cats.

At 12:30, we called for our bags to be picked up and were taken to the main lodge, where we checked out and boarded our van for the ride to San Jose airport.

At the airport, we ate a quick lunch at the Patio Foodcourt. We ordered the following:

• Boris: Mediterranean Croissant with Avocado
• Inna: Salmon Poke

At 16:00, we boarded our Avianca AV 638 to San Salvador (SAL) on the way to San Francisco. When we landed in San Salvador, we were shocked that we had to go through a thorough check (opening all our bags and suitcases) before flying to the United States. It felt like being in a 3rd world country. 

We took off on Avianca AV 560 at 18:45, landing in San Francisco at 23:00. On the plane, everything was a la carte, and we had to pay $3.00 for a water bottle.

After landing, we had to wait a long time to complete the Global Entry interview, after which we returned home (using Lyft). The price was a reasonable $70 for the 45-minute ride home.

Costa Rica Trip Review

Highlights

• Enjoying the natural, volcanic hot springs at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
• Photographing monkeys and sloths at Makanda by the Sea (from our room and pool)
• Feeding Toucans and Sloths at La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park
• Ziplining in the Cloud Forest with Sky Adventures
• Flying first class to Costa Rica (on Delta Airlines). It was nice to be able to fully recline and sleep.

Lowlights

• Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde was poorly planned
• Monteverde's Frognarium had no frogs we could spot (in the daytime)
• Flying back to San Francisco through San Salvador Airport.
• ATM charging $9 to withdraw money in Manuel Antonio
• Broken fans in Makanda by the Sea's only restaurant made it a bit uncomfortably hot to eat

Read More