Recently, I was invited to participate in an elite week-long travel agent training in Costa Rica, hosted by the Costa Rica Tourism Board, Pro Imagen, and MMGY Global. Costa Rica is a big little country with multiple regions to explore. Costa Rica is not an island, but has two beautifully unique coastlines: Caribbean and Pacific. The country is a mere .03% of the earth’s surface, yet contains nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity. Many visitors focus their stay in the Guanacaste region in the northwest. But the goal of this familiarization trip was for us to experience the Central Valley Highlands and the Central Pacific region.
San Jose in the Central Valley is much like any major city bustling with activity. Here you’ll find museums, historical architecture, and nightlife. San Jose is a great starting point for the trip. Depending on your interests you may be headed to:
- Guanacaste which is ideal for beach lovers who appreciate a traditional resort feel. You will find a lot of brand name hotels here, along with volcanoes and waterfalls.
- South Caribbean Coast also for white sand beaches, and vibrant culture.
- La Fortuna in the Northern Region is the gateway to the iconic Arenal volcano. Also popular for hot springs, ziplining, and hiking.
- Also in the Northern Regions, Monteverde is perfect for nature enthusiasts. This region is famous for its cloud forest (considered one of the world’s best cloud forest reserves), hanging bridges, diverse wildlife, and cool climate.
- Central Pacific Coast for Manuel Antonio National Park (great for wildlife viewing with access to beaches and rainforests), whale watching, and palm tree plantations.
The trip kicked off with a tradeshow, where we met with over 50 hoteliers and tour operators. This face-to-face time is so important to establish and build relationships for our clients’ benefit. These are the very same contacts we reach out to about your stay to make it extra special.
Then we were off to tour multiple properties, some on the beach, some in the jungle, some perched on a cliff, one almost 10K above sea level. Each property was so unique, from resort chic and boutique, to lodge-style and eco-friendly. This wildly different assortment of properties really drove home the value of working with an experienced travel agent to properly match clients to the right properties. It’s not one-size-fits-all in Costa Rica.
There was also fun time built in! Our immersive excursions included bird watching, whale watching, hiking Manuel Antonio National Park to see wildlife, a farm-to-table experience where we made chocolate and coco powder from cacao beans the traditional way, and cooked lunch from produce grown on the farm. It was all so incredible!
Speaking of food, as a gardener, I have a great appreciation for locally sourced ingredients. The food was a literal explosion of flavors…healthy, fresh, and delicious. On more than one occasion, I was aware of the fact that I didn’t feel the need to snack, never felt bloated, and was not lethargic, not even at the end of a long day. I’m no gastroenterologist, but I would bet the diet has a lot to do with it.
Fun Fact: Costa Rica has a Blue Zone located on the Nicoya Peninsula.
We also had the opportunity to visit Copey Estate Winery for a tasting. It is the only commercial winery in Costa Rica. The soil and microclimate in this exact location creates a favorable environment for grapes. In addition to wines, the estate produces a delicious liquor made from the golden berry, very similar to ground cherries.
Wanna guess which seeds I’ll be ordering next? đŸ˜‰
Did you notice in the winery collage above the day started out with blue skies and by the time we took the group photo, the weather changed dramatically? Let me explain.
Costa Rica has two seasons: rainy season which runs May to November with September and October being the rainiest months, and dry season which runs December to April. Don’t be afraid to travel during the rainy season. Most of the rain was in the afternoon, and it was a welcome relief from the heat. And it brings out the howler monkey chorus. Unless there is severe weather, excursions will run regardless. Hotel rates also tend to be more affordable in the rainy season anyway, so keep that in mind. When I plan your itinerary, I’ll show you how to maximize your time and budget.
Imagine an afternoon on your balcony listening to the rain. Can’t you just hear this picture?!
Whenever I travel to the Caribbean and Central America, I’m always amazed at the sense of contentment found in living simply. People are more active, eat better, spend more time in nature, and do more with less. There’s a lesson in here for all of us.
I’m so thankful I was selected to participate in this FAM, meet this wonderful group of ladies who even celebrated my birthday with me, and spend time with our fantastic guides learning about their country. I’m reenergized to promote the destination and help my clients make the most of their visit by seeing more of what Costa Rica has to offer.
Pura Vida!
As a full-service travel agent, I would love to be of assistance to you. I am passionate about what I do and pour that energy into crafting perfectly planned itineraries for you. Email ebony@familytraveladventuresllc.com to learn more.
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