I just returned from Costa Rica, a country I hadn’t been to in over 20 years! All of my friends locally and in travel were like: “No! Don’t come during rainy season!” It was the exact time I wanted to go, because it would mean cooler temperatures, I’ve always loved misty weather, the wildlife comes alive in the rain, and most importantly - fewer tourists. I was really curious to see how the country had changed, and what remained the same. We rented a 4x4 vehicle and headed up into the cloud forest to Monteverde and a new villa offering at Belmar where we visited a local farm, had lunch high above the tree canopy, and spent the day immersed in the forest with the owner of Savia talking all things plant intelligence. From there we headed back down to the Alajuela Province to The Retreat, a wellness resort where we enjoyed yoga, sound therapy, painting classes, unique spa & energy treatments, and hikes. We ended our 10-day trip way down in Uvita at the 8-room adult-only Kura. I’d had this little hotel on my radar for a decade, and it didn’t disappoint. Better than the pictures. We went to the beach one day but mostly hung around the property. Oh, and had a really peaceful cacao & connecting ceremony led by a local Peruvian-Costa Rican woman on our deck … A spot we vowed to return to one day. My synopsis? Remote southern Costa Rica is probably the Costa Rica folks are actually seeking but not finding up north … I sat under a tree on the beach for hours and counted less than 12 people passing by. Most of whom were locals. That Costa Rica.

10 days solo in Portugal. Of course, traveling with loved ones is special. If you’ve ever though bought a ticket just for yourself … it’s one of life’s most precious things you can give to yourself. Time is your own, the day is your own. How it starts, ends, the between. The personal introspection, thought, and growth. I have a solo female client traveling Portugal this month, a woman I’ve worked with for some time now on her various solo trips as well as trips with her family & friends. Within that, and just the busyness of life, I love that she prioritizes travel for herself. Within her 9NT / 10DAY trip, we intentionally went with only 3 hotel stays/moves, to keep things slow, while arranging a depth of exploration & experience from each. She’ll start in Porto through Aveiro, Coimbra, moving down into Alentejo and Évora eventually ending in Lisbon. UNESCO, monasteries, wineries, rivers, hilltop villages, pottery studios, scenic drives … and top hotels The Yeatman -> Malhadinha -> The Four Seasons.

Image - Herdade Malhadinha Nova hotel in Alentejo Portugal.