I always have a hard time writing a post after we get back from an adventure because I really just don’t know where to start. But this time I feel that I need to share where we stayed while we were in Costa Rica as it was out of this world and really off the beaten path which fits right into what we were after.
We stayed at a place called Rio Celeste Hideaway and a hideaway it is! With having horrible flights with Delta to Liberia and arriving 4 hours late our driver was no longer there to pick us up and no one had ever heard of the hideaway. Luckily a kind taxi driver in a 4×4 took us on a $200 3 hour joyride (Thanks again Delta! Clearly I am not over our mistreatment by this company) late at night through the mountains and rainforest to arrive at paradise. { below: our first morning }
Now I wish I could keep this place all to myself but it is truly the perfect blend of elegant sophistication and pure lush untouched rainforest that I have never experience in my life. The hideaway itself made me feel like I was traveling the world just by walking around in it with items from East & West Timor, Bali, Morocco and of course local Costa Rican tribes like the Maleku. We meet the owner/architect of the hideaway and he said that he hand picked every item in the whole place along with designing everything! Pictures just can not do this place justice but drawings may be able to. As we were on vacation Paul did a lot of drawing and he will be buying all of them from Paul to use for the hotel! He also has another resort in the Arenal area call Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens (NBC’s Love in the Wild was filmed there!) and he is in the process of designing and building a new resort on the island of Antigua. Needless to say we will be going and checking out his resort in Antigua when it opens up.
The staff are kind, genuine and respectful people to the core which really seems to be the Costa Rican way if you are not in an overly touristy area. They will do everything that they can to make your stay the best ever to the point where Juan Luis (the Hospitality Manager) took us into town to use the ATM machine (which is a good 1+ Hour drive down a very bumpy, rocky mountain road) but he also wanted us to experience more of Costa Rica so he took us to where the Maleku tribe reservation live to see a typical home and art they create. It was eye opening to see what they create out of just the shell of a fruit.

Now like I said this hotel is really a hideaway so we spent a lot of time drinking AMAZING coffee, drawing, writing and reflecting on life. But if you want to wonder off the grounds (which I highly suggest you do) there are some great gems around the area like National Park Volcan Tenorio { post to come }, Arbol de la Paz – Tree of Peace and some yummy food at Soda Dona Irma all within a 20 minute walk, but remember you are in the mountains so once you walk down you must walk back up. So bring lots of water!

All in all this trip changed our lives. There is so much to share with you but we must start at the beginning and work our way to the end right? I hope you are all having an amazing summer and are feeling inspired to take an adventure no matter how far or close it is to your home. Life is a journey so enjoy it!

Until We Meet Again. Much Love,

P.S. If you are thinking of heading out to this area and have any questions please feel free to email me I may just be able to help!