Sup Sonas

You Are Here: Walking down a black sand beach at night, managing to fall into all of the holes. A pack of friendly dogs delicately avoiding said holes, galumphing after you. It’s a new moon, so the only source of light is from a red light held by your hostess Stacey. Imperial Silvers you bought from the bar that closed at 9pm in hand. The waves crash relentlessly against the shore.
It’s hard to distinguish a rock from a living being and you’re tempted to turn around and try another night, but then you see her: an Olive Ridley turtle is maybe two feet in front of you and she’s huge. You walk over carefully so as not to disturb her laying activities. She is unaware of your presence as you sit inches away from this ancient, amazing creature. She kicks sand in your face with her flippers as she fills sand into her nest of eggs and it’s awesome. You can hear her heavy, exhausted sighs and look into her black eyes.
She still doesn’t know you’re there or more likely, she’s so tired she doesn’t care. Mama Turtle makes her way to the ocean with you and Stacey giving encouragement.
And then.
She’s gone. Into the white foam of the waves, off to go wherever turtles go.
You Are Here: Lying in bed, listening to the sound of the waves that are crashing about 50 feet from your hostel. In fact, you can hear the waves, muffled though they may be, pretty much anywhere you go in Guanacaste.
You Are Here: Woken up by the dulcet tones of the howler monkeys that seem to be directly outside your window. It’s okay; you needed to be up at 5am to surf at the beach that is steps from your door anyway.
You Are Here: Hanging at a bar with the locals. Because your tour guide and friend Stacey knows everyone. I mean, everyone. This makes for fun nights and good stories to tell later on. This where you’ll both come up with the idea of having the bachelorette series in Costa Rica. Called «Gringas and Ticos; Bachelorettes in Paradise.» You don’t mind the fact that the bars close by 10pm because your early morning wake-​up monkeys made sure you were bright eyed and bushy tailed whether you wanted to be or not.
You Are Here: Sitting on the back of a spotted horse. Watching howler monkeys jump through trees. Eating sour sweet fruit the vaquero de verdad (real life cowboy) hand picked from the trees. You and the horse saunter onto the beach. Take in the view of the same break you were surfing earlier in the day.
Horses are awesome. Beaches are awesome. Horses and beaches together are magic.
You Are Here: Drinking coconut water out of a coconut that was opened in front of your eyes, sitting on the beach, waiting for the sunset. And the sunsets on the Pacific Coast are beautiful. But quick. The bright light of the day turns quickly to the dark black of night.
You can see all of the stars here. Look a little closer and you might see the outer edges of the Universe.
You Are Here: Catching the perfect wave at the end of your vacation. Frustrating as the learning curve may be in Costa Rica (and let’s be real here: it’s actually a vertical line most of the time you’ve been in CR) you wouldn’t trade any of your spectacular wipeouts that led up to this wave.
Because it is perfect. One ride you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
You Are Here: Waiting on the plane to take off, you think it’s funny that the 85 degree weather that greeted you this morning was a little chilly. When you first stepped off the plane into the hot, wet, blanket of air that is Guanacaste weather, you were ready for an adventure. And an adventure was what you got. You’re sad to leave, but know you’ll be back. The lifestyle here is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. It’s good for the body and soul. You can’t ask for more from a vacation. Costa Rica is Pura Vida.