Costa Rica – Moon, Stars, Magic

March 26, 2015 | Updated: March 27, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More

Costa Rica: Waterfalls cascade into warm pool at Tabacon Grand Thermal Resort.

Costa Rica: Waterfalls cascade into warm pools at Tabacon Grand Thermal Resort.

Larry Kessler contributed this guest post.

Costa Rica magic. Abracadabra! Alakazam! Spin the globe and throw a dart.

Where do you go to find the perfect getaway? And what makes it so special for you? Relaxing, invigorating, spiritual, and socially responsible? No? How ’bout educational, romantic, secluded or breathtaking? Maybe it’s to reconnect. Or to find danger and test your limits? Think about all the places you have been. What is your magic place and what is your reason?

A few weeks ago, my love Susan and I celebrated her birthday, our first together. Her best friend and some family were planning a getaway to Costa Rica. She wondered if the two of us might join them. Let’s see. What to do? Take her to a romantic dinner in our hometown of San Diego? Sure. Safe move. Dinner, romance, maybe jewelry. Or….crack open the safe, pop out the passport, and head to a Central American paradise. Yup…I went with Option B (jewelry included).

There’s a reason Costa Rica coffee is world famous.

Making local connections

Costa Rica. I’d never been there. Only heard good things. Beaches, jungles, happy expats. What I wasn’t prepared for was the sheer magnitude of the glorious experience that lay before me (uh…us).

We land in San Jose, the capital. First thing we notice is how genuinely nice the locals are. Since they have no military, money saved on weapons gets spent on achieving literacy and a very high standard of living. So, with a built-in relaxed way about them, these Costa Rica folks put themselves in a position to just get the tourism thing. No hawking of trinkets, no obsessive time share sales pitches. Good weather, good exchange rate, I’m already this close to thinking good-bye to our return tickets.

Best on this blue marble

We booked 4 nights at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort. (That’s a mouthful for a hotel name, right?). Trust me when I say this…of all the beautiful, exotic, other-worldly, 5-star destinations on this blue marble, this one ranks at the top.

Check this out: The resort sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano, and the volcanic heat fuels the flowing waters of natural hot springs. The sides of this magic mountain are landscaped by Ma Nature with every conceivable tropical flora and fauna.

At Tabacon, Shangri-La is for adults only.

Add to that, the purest of pure air and a magnificent rainforest surrounding the resort. The volcanic ash creates breathtaking deep, rich soil. Oh, did I mention a full moon and countless stars put on a nightly show?

So, back to magic. Yeah, it’s the hot springs. Water flows by gravity throughout the property forming in-river pools, waterfalls and cascades across the resort. I’m no scientist, but when you have a natural underground river flowing through a volcano, absorbing minerals and those minerals are transferred to the skin…good things are gonna happen to your health and wellbeing. I was in a constant hypnotic trance.

Costa Rica is home to some of the longest and highest ziplines in the world.

Add to that, the resort spent time and considerable effort designing a meandering pathway up the hillside past dozens of cozy small pools and waterfalls. At the summit, there’s a secluded, adults-only section named “Shangri-La” with cabanas sculpted into the lush, tropical plants. (Can you keep a secret….promise not to tell….I’m betting Tabacon designed this area for couples to…ahem…connect with one another.) Como se dice “Magic?”

Costa Rica monkey business

Just down the road from the resort, we all went zip lining and four wheeling in the rainforest. The contrast of meditative relaxation juxtaposed against heart thumping, adrenaline producing “let it go” fun made for some great memories. Rich, moist, therapeutic volcanic mud beckoned by the fistful at strategic points along the four-wheeler path. Rubbing some on our skin, we “Benjamin Buttoned” for a while. Given more time, we could have each knocked off ten years.

Arenal – currently in a “resting stage” – provides mountains to hike, lakes to fish and rivers to float.

Venturing into the adjacent town of La Fortuna, we met with local merchants, crafts people, and coffee roasters. The coffee in Costa Rica is primo. Local restaurants with engaging staffs were only too happy to welcome us to their town and tell us of their Spanish and Indian roots.

Where you go or what you bring?

So what is it about finding a magic place? For me, it’s not about the location as much as the attitude we bring. If we slow it down, relax, and become part of the local culture, then wondrous moments can occur anywhere, any time.

For Susan and Larry, Costa Rica was the perfect magical getaway.

Yes, Tabacon Resort and Costa Rica make it easy to pull a rabbit outta that hat. They provide the setting. But ultimately, it is always you and I who provide the magic.

Live inspired,