My friend moved to Costa Rica and I took the opportunity to visit and have someone help me around without speaking spanish. It's an easy tourist spot as it seems fairly westernised for Central America. I loved the rain forest, my horse riding adventure and the beautiful beaches - not to mention the hummingbirds flying around everywhere! And I even got to see the famous green frog.
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Arenal
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Monteverde
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Santa Teresa
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San Jose
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Arenal
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My first stop was the area around Arenal Volcano. The volcano is almost always hidden in the clouds but the surrounding nature itself is worth the visit.
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Red-eyed treefrog
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I joined a small tour group and the experienced guide knew exactly where and when to look for one of the country's most famous inhabitants
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Red-eyed treefrog
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The colours of this frog are as vibrant as the colours of everything in Costa Rica, from the green in the rain forest to the street art in San Jose, it all screams Pura Vida!
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Arenal
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To get to Monteverde I chose to cross the Arenal Lake in a boat and continue on a horse.
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Arenal
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When we stopped to give the horses a rest this little dog appeared and wouldn't stop attacking my shoes...
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Monteverde Could Forest
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On a little hike through the cloud forest I learned where the name comes from - despite little actual rain, the persistant low clouds keep everzthing extremly moist.
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Monteverde Could Forest
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The Reserve consists of 6 ecological zones and a high biodiversity with 2,500 plant species, 100 species of mammals and 400 bird species including hummingbirds.
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Hummingbird
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Despite their shining colours they are actually extremly hard to spot, hiding in the greens.
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Howler Monkeys
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These guys are a little less shy and have a bit more trouble to hide.
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Monteverde Orchid Garden
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I spent the night in Santa Elena and had this garden on my list. They have a collection of more than 500 orchid species!
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Monteverde Orchid Garden
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Some orchids use smell to get pollinated and their scent ranges from lemony, jasmine, coconut, cinnamon, vanilla to even chocolate. It's incredible.
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Monteverde Orchid Garden
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Most common in the wild are miniature orchids, with some measuring less than 3cm.
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Leaving Monteverde
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A very special moment. I was in a small van with other tourists and we were all incredibly overwhelmed by this magic rainbow in the valley beneath us. I remember it very vividly.
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Nicoya Peninsula
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I was meant to reunite with my friend on the Nicoya Peninsula. Without speaking spanish, I was not even sure I was on the right ferry... I remember a true sense of adventure viewing this sunset from the ferry.
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Santa Teresa Beach
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I eventually made it to my friend's favourite beach to reunite with her and take some souvenirs.
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Santa Teresa Beach
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It is indeed a wonderful beach with the palm trees reaching almost into the sea
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Santa Teresa Beach
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This beach is on the pacific rather than the carribean coastline of Costa Rica and more chilled than party.
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Santa Teresa Beach
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It was a wonderful evening turning into one of the most spectacular sunsets I ever got to see.
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Santa Teresa Beach
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Costa Rica surfer postcard motive
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Santa Teresa Beach
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The colours got more and more intense with the surfers disappearing and the yoga lovers coming out
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Santa Teresa Beach
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It was actually my birthday evening and the first birthday ever I experienced in summer
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San Jose
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I spent a couple of days in the capital before leaving and just wandered around exploring while my friend was at work.
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San Jose
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Some street art I reallz liked
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Patacones
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Patacones are smashed fried plantains and I probably had them every other day
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San Jose
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Me and my friend having late birthday drinks