Soaked in Sunshine & Rain: A Pura Vida Adventure in Costa Rica

Life in Costa Rica truly is pura vida! In November, I had the joy of playing tour guide for my boyfriend and friends, introducing them to the beauty, culture, and warmth of the country I love. Getting to watch their faces light up as they walked through lush rainforests and tasted our local staples was unforgettable. But even more special? Reuniting with my family after a few months apart.

We kicked off our trip in San José, where... surprise! we were greeted with chilly temperatures and non-stop rain. Not what we had planned, but we enjoyed it either way. One of our first adventures was a day trip to Alajuela, where we braved the cold and fog to visit Volcán Poás. Spoiler alert: we got soaked. But the views? Absolutely worth it.

View from Volcan Poas

By day three, we hit the road for a six-hour drive to Puerto Viejo, a vibrant Caribbean beach town bursting with color, rhythm, and the kind of laid-back energy that instantly puts you at ease. Eventually, we made our way to Manzanillo, where the rainforest feels like it’s hugging you from every direction.

Highlights? Oh, there were a few:

At Volcán Poás, we were lucky enough to catch a clear view of the crater — all while freezing our butts off. But the true star of the day? The strawberries. Sweet, juicy, and sold fresh on the side of the road, hands down, some of the best I’ve ever had.

Once we reached Puerto Viejo, the sun finally came out to play. We soaked in the beach vibes, salty air, and warm weather (thank god). One particularly unforgettable moment? The power in the entire town kept going out, including in the middle of my online exam, which shut down halfway through. Definitely not ideal, but very on-brand for island life.

And then came Manzanillo, my favorite place in the whole world. Just before entering the national park, we spotted the cutest sloth posing for us. Inside the park, we took on a three-hour hike with barely any water, swarms of mosquitoes, and muddy paths, but honestly, it was all part of the magic. We ended up floating in crystal-clear waters that made every step worth it. On our way back, we discovered our golf cart had a flat tire, which turned into an hour of waiting, laughing, and just soaking up the chaos.

Our sloth friend

To close out the trip, we went to a soccer game at the stadium in San José. And yep... it poured again. But by that point, rain had just become part of the charm. We unfortunately did not win, but hearing the chants in person was magical.

My family and I before the game

This trip was the perfect mix of planning and going with the flow. The unexpected (and very wet) moments made everything more memorable, especially because I was surrounded by people who embraced it all with joy and curiosity. They reminded me what pura vida really means.

Until next time... nos vemos, Costa Rica🌿🌧️🦥

Costa Rica Recap - Follow me on Instagram @Miranda.r20