It’s paradise,” a lesbian friend recently said of Costa Rica, which is high praise – and mostly accurate if you pick the right time of year and the right places to go. Costa Rica certainly has an abundance of natural wonders that make it the ultimate destination for nature lovers: two coastlines and countless beaches, stunning mountains, jungles, waterfalls, volcanoes and a good portion of the world’s biodiversity, all in a small country of fewer than five million people. Flanked by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, it’s arguably the most stable and friendly country in Central America, espousing the philosophy of pura vida – pure life – which is compatible with the intention to have the trip of a lifetime, or in the case of many expats, a good life. There are choices to be made when visiting Costa Rica: which coast – Pacific or Caribbean; north or south; green season or dry season. For this trip, my wife and I travel in May, picking the Southern Pacific Zone just prior to rainy season. We fly into San José International Airport, rent a car, and drive 20 minutes to our first location.
FINCA ROSA BLANCA COFFEE PLANTATION & INN
Just outside of Costa Rica’s capital, San José, is a surprising oasis lovingly honed by American expats Glenn and Teri Jampol. Finca Rosa Blanca is set in the highlands of the beautiful Central Valley, 4,000 feet above sea level, and a few minutes’ drive to quaint local villages. This intriguing lodge and compound stands amidst eight acres of flourishing tropical gardens and winding walkways, and adjacent to and part of a thriving, 30-acre organic shade-grown coffee plantation. (You’ll get to sample plenty of that coffee during your stay – make sure you take a tasting tour during your stay, and buy a few bags of delicious, finely roasted beans to take home with you!)