Costa Rica Romantic Getaway: Vacation in Paradise

Rolling silhouettes of mountaintops surround the city of San Jose. The blue sky casts a light over the blue-black peaks and the valley floor shines. The city itself is a whirlwind of energy, filled with bustling arcades and jovial restaurants. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts you to your fabulous hotel, filled with Costa Rican charm and quiet luxury. Your suburban hotel offers you the seclusion of private tropical gardens but is also situated close to downtown.

Bromeliads’ long slender petals add vibrant pink to the garden’s greenery and the scent of rich cacao plants drifts in the breeze. The city is rich with culture, with pre-Colombian artifacts at The Museo de Oro Precolombino and the largest collection of precious stones in the Americas at the Museo del Jade. Genteel mansions decorate historic neighborhoods where former coffee barons resided. Cafes and bars are filled with students and you can hear the laughter echo through the streets.

The morning brings the shining valley back to life. The city feels sleepy in the early hours of the day. The quiet mountains continue to surround the city. After breakfast, you leave San Jose behind and venture into the beauty around Arenal Volcano. Pass through lush and spectacular countryside. Palm trees shade the roadside and low-lying bushes carpet the foothills. Arrive at the remarkable resort and settle into the indelible luxuries of your first taste of private paradise.

You notice the volcano peeking over the trees with a background of iridescent blue sky. Steam rises from the crater and adds wisps of smoke, like clouds, into the air. The sound of trickling water comes from the various thermal pools and streams that decorate the gardens. The hotel almost hides behind the gorgeous expanse of dense tropical trees. In the afternoon the thermal pools are a perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. Immerse yourself into the warm waters holding a cool drink in one hand and your partner’s hand in the other.

The morning light spreads an ineffable blue sky over the valley. Arenal Volcano’s foothills are verdant and flush with varieties of flora and fauna. The sweet aroma of fresh coconut and mango emanate from the breakfast table, accompanied by rich pressed coffee and fresh orange juice. After breakfast, you will meet your guide for an exploration of the fabulous Arenal Volcano National Park. The national park was established in the early 1990s and has an area of 46 square miles. The tranquil ambiance wraps around you. Birds call in the trees and you are filled with nervous energy walking around the foothills of the majestic giant crater. Tapir, an herbivorous mammal that resembles a pig/anteater hybrid, roam through the underbrush. They can grow over 600 pounds and their skittish personalities make them quick to run from the sounds of rustling forest.

Step into the sky tram and watch the valley fade into the distance as you rise over the rainforest and enjoy the magnificent views. Lake Arenal rests at the base of the volcano’s southern hills. The breeze is cool and welcoming as it rushes through your hair. Rather than taking the tram back down the mountain, you can soar like a bird on an exceptional zip lining tour through the canopy. Feel the rush of the wind and watch the incredible blue of the rich landscape around you as you traverse the skyline. The freedom of the air and the view of the valley create an unforgettable intimate moment.

The Central Pacific is popular for its stunning golden beaches and the sapphire water of the Pacific Ocean. Exotic flowers bloom and add vivacious color to the trees that reach into the Manuel Antonia National Park. Indulge in the natural sweetness of passion fruit at breakfast before making your way to the stunning coastline and its bordering mountains. Cliffs are verdant and descend into the endless blue water. Arrive at your stunning beachfront hotel and revel in the quiet cove where the beach meets the forest.

The secluded location of the hotel charms and delights you but also offers you easy access to the nearby town of Jaco. Surfers carve the waves on the city’s shoreline and restaurants buzz with cosmopolitan swagger.  You can hear the rushing waves from your room. The water is warm and clear. The sand is hot and soft. Indulge in the serene atmosphere and relax by the water. The scent of the sea is always sweet and the sunshine feels like a perfect blanket wrapped around your shoulders.

The grace the rainforest provides creates a natural elegance and charm sweeping over the coastline’s mountainous border. Enjoy the savory and sweet combination of fried plantains in the morning before meeting your private guide on a rainforest discovery tour. You venture into the trees and find the dense jungle waiting. Your knowledgeable guide points out the different flora that creates the unique and magnetic landscape. The trickling sounds of the river are unmistakable. When you reach the riverbanks your guide helps you onto a small boat and you begin your romantic river cruise.

There are few places more remote than an Amazon-like waterway. Hold your partner close as you travel along the river and hear the calls of scarlet macaws. Their red tail feathers cast a trail behind them. They grow to an average of 32 inches and can live between 40 and 50 years of age. They linger in the trees and peck at nuts and seeds. When they fly over the river you can see their wondrous plumage spread with pomp and rainbow brightness. In your mind you know there couldn’t be a more perfect moment.

The waves wash against the long stretch of sand at Playa Jaco with over two miles of pristine beach. Wake up to the soothing shore and the beautiful greenery. Palm trees create the background of the sapphire water. Surfers cut through the rolling waves. Just north at Playa Herradura the sunlight reflects off of the sand in the tranquil atmosphere. Dip your toes into the warm and inviting ocean. The water wraps around your body and carries you away from the beach. Couples ride horses along the shoreline. Sailboats disappear over the horizon. The natural wonder of the shore takes your breath away.

In the afternoon, visit the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum which contains an extraordinary collection of golden relics that reflect the history of pre-Colombian Costa Rica.  See artifacts that date back to the 6th century, including gold and silver coins from the 16th century. The museum is filled with facts and replica natives, each telling a story of the diverse images

The sweet and rich brewed coffee brings vitality to the morning. After breakfast, you will meet your guide and venture through an elfin forest. The forest is located on the continental divide. The trees wrap and wind into the air. The scent of oak lingers underneath the canopy. You come to the summit of Poas Volcano and find a jade-watered crater lake. The crater is 8,885 feet above sea level and the steam that rises around the banks of the lake reminds visitors of the volcano's steamy activity.

Laguna Caliente sits in a crater almost 950 feet deep. Lake Botos is filled with clear, cool water and surrounded by a cloud forest. Looking over the forest you can watch the clouds drift beneath you. They brush up against the rising mountains before disappearing and letting the canopy glimpse through. On a clear day, you can stand on the mountaintop and see the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans extending out into an endless horizon. Fiery-throated hummingbirds perch in tiny crevices in the high trees. Their feathers are effervescent and almost reflect the encompassing forestry color. Their high-pitch twitter is similar to a professional whistler calling out in the descending hills.

In the late morning take a stroll through the La Paz Waterfall Gardens to visit the variety of animals and see the landscape that has been created at this celebrated ecological attraction. The stream careens through the jungle with soft water that looks like wisping clouds. The thunderous call of the falls calls you closer. The falls cascade over a series of cliffs and look like something straight out of a storybook. They are vibrant and streaming, surrounded by exceptional greenery and unparalleled beauty.

The Pacuare River is a gentle blend of tranquil current and rapids that let you experience the best of beauty and excitement. After breakfast your semi-private transfer will take you to your cast off location where you and your guide will board your raft.

The river runs 68 mils from the Talamanca Mountain Range to the Caribbean Sea. Dense jungle lines the riverbanks and climbs up tremendous cliffs. Waterfalls tumble into the winding current and the sound is captivating. The canyon walls are serene and allow you ample time to enjoy the scenic rocky outcrops and natural sporadic waterfalls. The refreshing aroma of fertile earth and lush trees mixes with the sweeping river. The cool water splashes around you. When the rapids come the raft bobs and descends into the whitewater. You paddle and come out the other side with a thrilled smile. In the intermittent calm you jump off the raft and float in the water letting the crisp river carry you a bit down stream. You return to San Jose in the afternoon knowing the day will always be unforgettable. After all, “the couple that plays together stays together.”

The morning light shines over the paradisiacal and shimmering gardens. Trees with sprawling branches shade the manicured walkway. Some trees are garnished with rose-colored leaves. Hummingbirds flutter and sip the flowers’ nectar. Fish swim quietly in lily pond. Your last stroll through the magnificent flora of Costa Rica reminds you of the rainforest walks and tremendous canopy. Soon your private transfer will escort you to the airport for your flight home, but for now you can sit on a bench with your partner and bask in the romantic paradise you have discovered in Costa Rica.