A Few Highlights From Our Time in Costa Rica

One of the great pleasures of traveling is discovering that every stop offers something completely different.

During our time in Costa Rica, we’ve explored several remarkable places, each with its own personality.

One of my favorites was Tortuguero. Between the beaches and the jungle, it felt like stepping into another world. The combination of lush rainforest, wildlife, and waterways makes it easy to understand why so many people consider it one of Costa Rica’s natural treasures.

We also spent time at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which combines beautiful waterfalls with a wildlife rescue and educational facility. It’s one of those places where you can appreciate both the scenery and the conservation work being done to care for native animals.

Before heading up the mountain, we toured the Doka Coffee Estate. Even if you’re not a coffee expert, it’s fascinating to see how much work goes into producing a truly exceptional cup. Laura even took her first sip of coffee in more than twenty years. After careful consideration, she concluded that even some of the world’s finest coffee still tastes like…coffee. Some opinions never change.

Laura Edgington drinking coffee in Costa Rica

From there we drove to Poás Volcano. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. The crater was completely socked in by clouds, which apparently is fairly common. We never got the dramatic volcanic view we’d hoped for.

Oddly enough, the highlight of that stop wasn’t the volcano at all. It was the conversation. While waiting, we struck up a chat with a family from Colombia, and those unexpected interactions are often what make travel memorable.

Even without perfect weather, Costa Rica offers everything we’d hoped for: incredible landscapes, fascinating wildlife and good conversations.

— Mark Edgington

Mark Edgington is a nationally syndicated broadcaster, commentator, writer, husband, and father. He writes about family, civic life, community service, travel, and lessons learned through experience.

This article also appears on Medium where you can learn more about Mark Edgington’s ongoing work.