Sarah & James

When my husband and I think back to our honeymoon one word comes to mind…blissful. Instantly we are taken back to the bellowing of the Howler Monkeys echoing across the treetops, the smell of the ocean, the remarkable lush beauty, and the peaceful demeanor of those we met. We were married in downtown Portland, Oregon on August 2, 2008. The next day bleary eyed, yet glowing, we couldn’t wait to beginning our two week honeymoon in paradise. We departed August 3rd and returned home August 17th. Registering for our honeymoon was absolutely the best decision for us. Without Traveler’s Joy our dream honeymoon would have not been possible.

Halfway through our engagement we realized we needed to start thinking about our registry. Since we had been living together for almost two years we automatically agreed we did not require traditional wedding gifts. Remarkably a dear friend of ours recommended Traveler’s Joy. Once we explored the website we instantly new this was what we wanted to do. Next came the question of where we wanted to spend our honeymoon.

Luckily choosing our destination was effortless. We both knew we wanted to go somewhere neither of us had been. Some place exotic and full of outdoor adventure. Due to the countries lush tropical beauty and eco friendly attitude we chose Costa Rica as the ideal place to spend our honeymoon, and it was perfect!

Without delay we both began to discover the multitude Costa Rica has to offer. With all the awe-inspiring activities and beauty we decided to spend our two week honeymoon in the Northwest region known as Guanacaste. Immediately we began building our website page and making a list of all the incredible things we wanted to experience while in Costa Rica. We then began our search in finding the perfect places to stay.

Our first four nights were spent at The Villa Malibu. A beach front villa in Playa Potrero. It was absolutely amazing. Days were spent exploring and hiking the surround areas, swimming in our own infinity lap pool, and riding the waves in the ocean. Nights were spend out on the town, relaxing with our cocktails while wading in the pool watching the sunset, and just simply enjoying each others company.

Playa Potrero is a small town with a very relaxing vibe. Next door is Playa Flamingo which offers resorts, shopping, and restaurants. Since we did not rent a car we would often walk a good 30 minutes along the beach to Playa Flamingo. Many Ticos (Costa Rican locals) and tourists informed us of an outstanding called Mar y Sol.

We saved Mar y Sol for our last night stay on Playa Potrero and oh was it incredible! We began our evening upstairs lounging on one of the many white couches in the open air overlooking the ocean and beaches below while taking in a most striking sunset. Once the sun had set and we had finished our drinks we headed down stairs for dinner. The atmosphere was pure paradise and the food was out of this world. Mar y Sol ended up being, hands down, the most amazing restaurant we dined at while in Costa Rica. We were sad to say goodbye to our luxurious private beachfront villa, but we were excited to see what our next location had in store for us.

Condovac la Costa resort on the breathtaking Playa Hermosa was where we began experiencing the remarkable activities our generous family and friends purchased for us on our registry. Eagerly we delved into as much as we could. We went surfing in Tamarindo, snorkeled in the aqua blue water, and took in the tree top beauty of the Monteverde Cloud forest zip line. Together we went to Volcano Arenal, took a guided nature hike through the rainforest, and soaked in the hot springs while Howler Monkey’s lounged in the trees above. All was surreal and utterly unforgettable.

The last two nights of our honeymoon in Costa Rica was spent at Hotel Vista Azul in Playa del Coco. We happened to stumble upon this small boutique hotel online and it caught our attention. The owner of the hotel, originally from Virginia, resides on the whole fourth floor of the hotel. She was very personable and helpful in making our stay remarkably comfortable. With the hotel being on one of the highest locations in Playa del Coco, we would sit on the balcony overlooking the abundant greenery of the forest, listen to the Howler Monkeys echoing throughout, and watch the sun set behind the Pacific Ocean. During the day we would either walk into town or call a taxi. The drivers are all very friendly and will kindly give their business card in order to have the privilege of driving you again.

Overall our dream honeymoon ended up costing $3,000. Thanks to the oh-so generous gifts from our family and friends we were able to experience everything we envisioned and more. Without hesitation or reservation we would recommend a honeymoon in Costa Rica for those couples looking for exotic romance, grand adventure, and relaxing comforts. Traveler’s Joy helped us create a honeymoon that would not have been possible on our own. Costa Rica along with our memories will hold a special place in our hearts forever.

Villa Malibu: http://www.villamalibu.com/ Restaurant Mar y Sol: http://www.marysolflamingo.com/ Condovac la Costa Resort: http://www.condovac.com/app/cms/www/index.php Volcano Arenal: http://www.arenal.net/ Monteverde Cloud Forest and Zip Line: http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/ Hotel Vista Azul: http://www.hotelvistaazul.com/