Costa Rica captures hearts.  Go there, you’ll see what I mean.

We choose Costa Rica for our honeymoon because so many of our friends have gone and LOVED it.  So based on an avalanche of glowing recommendations, it was a perfect choice.  I asked my trusted friends on where to go and exclusively followed their recommendations (Yeah! no research needed!).  My friend Beth recommended  Ojo Del Mar in the Osa Peninsula, which as it turns out is a magical place. She had been there on a retreat and raved about the experience.  You can swim in the clear blue ocean with no riptide, it’s in the jungle with lots of wildlife.  It’s an eco-lodge with gourmet organic food and right by a waterfall.  We came to learn much more about what the lodge but this was enough info to book the place and get there…

First stop: Utica and Dominical Beach

A view along the way to the Osa Peninsula.

Ojo Del Mar is an Ecolodge in the Osa Peninsula.  This was our private cabana, the Marina.

We live in Wisconsin and when it’s nice out, you’re usually getting eaten by mosquitos.  The fact that Costa Rica is not buggy wins major paradise points. We were there just a week in March but we never got bit or bothered by any biting insects.  Our Cabana was all open walls but one.

This is the main building called el casa grande, where meals are served and friends are made.  It makes an impact on you.

Some beach views from Ojo Del Mar.

The beach line changes a lot with the tide.

 

 Side note to my photography friends: I only brought my Canon 24mm 2.8 & canon 5dii.  I bring my old gear and a lightweight lens because I won’t worry about it but next time I travel I plan to bring proper gear.  It will be interesting to see the difference. 

They have an adorable little pineapple garden that will make you smile.

 

We saw so many monkeys and birds in this majestic tree.

 This Cabana is called Marpache. Each cabana is a built with sustainability practices and are works of art.

 

I love the unexpected so I guess that’s why I prefer not to plan or have too many expectations on trips. It was really unexpected that we would end up meeting so many great people at the lodge.  Neil is an introvert and I would not have guessed that we would have had so many great conversations and some adventures with other folks there.  That is one of the benefits of eating together at the lodge.  We even became friends with a guy who at the lodge and he spent his day off leading us on a hike to a couple of really nice waterfalls.

 Not a big waterfall but you could jump or dive off and float and look at the canopy.

 Driving in Costa Rica is exciting AF! You really do want a 4×4 if you plan to explore off the main highways(advice luckily given to us before our trip).  Driving through small rivers and up steep twisty gravel roads is pretty common.   Luckily, Neil is a professional monster truck driver (and likes to embellish on this blog) had no problem negotiating the roads in our diesel manual trans pickup!

  The canopy in Corcovado National park.

 Bow ties on grave markers.

 We followed a Tapir from the forest to the beach.  It’s like some kind of crazy cute micro elephant / pig combo.

  Our guide saw a line of turtles and frantically assembled us to try to save them.  Sadly it was too hot and too late for most of these guys but we did find 6 live ones and got them into the ocean.

Trips bring you closer together or they can reveal how far you have drifted apart.  I am keeping the goal of 2 trips a year together(small weekend ones count). The time together is always so special and needed and I love just hanging out with Neil.  I mean, look how cute he is.  Neil was a champ the whole trip.  Trips for him are out of his comfort zone but they are my 2nd nature. He pushes himself and swallows lots of anxiety feelings (and some pills) but he faces it. I appreciate my homebody husband willingness and courage to venture out.

 And even go in a little 12 seater planes that will hop your terrified ass from smaller cities to San Jose.

 This is Nico the Co-owner and chef of the eco lodge.  She is an awesome bad ass and is really passionate about the environment and her lodge. She takes her self-assigned stewardship to the land to heart.  I felt really good ending up here and supporting eco-tourism.

And since we are big weirdos, we leaf you with this.