Travel Blog: Nature + Adventure + Beaches + Jungle + Hospitality = Costa Rica

Rafting from Pacuare Lodge - Epic departure!

---

Pura Vida

Pura Vida means “pure life." In Costa Rica, it is a way of life. Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, goodbye, everything's great, and everything's cool, or even the things that are not cool, but happened.

This small country, nestled between Nicaragua and Panama and the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, is home to 5% of the total species on Earth. I had the pleasure of visiting the Caribbean side to experience the unique and rhythmic vibes on the east coast.

Adventure Time

Our adventure kicked off with adrenalin as we white water rafted into Pacuare Lodge. Perfectly positioned on the Pacuare River, this luxury eco-lodge offers a respite for those seeking authentic Costa Rica, active travel, romance, wellness and farm to table cuisine. Adventure enthusiasts are welcome to raft into (Class 1 & 2 rapids) and out of (Class 3 and 4) the lodge via the pristine waters of the Pacuare.

Pristine Rainforest

We then made our way via boat transfer to beautiful Tortuga Lodge, the only hotel in Tortuguero with its own private nature reserve. The resort staff could not have been more hospitable, eager to share the charms and mysteries of the pristine rainforest. Daily nature walks are led by experienced naturalist guides, who also lead tours to turtle nesting sites, boat rides and kayak trips up the Tortuguero River, twilight nature hikes and more.

Boutique Beach Vibes

Aguas Clara Boutique Hotel was our last refuge. I fell in love with this art filled hideaway that is the perfect oasis for yoga, couples, and friend groups. We used the hotel bikes to ride to the Puerto Viejo, an artistic haven with Bohemians, hippies and general good vibes. Their suites, each individually curated with art, are perfect for couples and the luxury bungalows can house families (no children under 7), retreats, and small groups.

Costa Rica Seasons

The different seaboards of Costa Rica offer two distinctive periods for travel, resulting in a year-round destination offering highlights for warm weather for you and your travel tribe. The country has micro-climates, so being knowledgeable about when to travel to different regions is important.

Picture: volcano adventures, pristine beaches, fishing, rainforest canopy tours, zip lining, white water rafting, surfing, yoga, coffee tours, snorkeling, and scuba all served up with amazing Costa Rican Hospitality.

Food Lovers

Hello fresh food lovers! Costa Rica cuisine is a delight and can accommodate every palate. We enjoyed fish, veggies, meats, fruits and spices. Ginger, curry, coconut, allspice, cinnamon and chili peppers were incorporated in the local dishes. Think fresh, colorful, local, flavorful, and delicious.

Let Trekese add Pura Vida to your next adventure!

Trekese - Adventure for the Soul

Travel Blog: Culture + Landscapes + Delicious Eats + History = Vietnam

We brought reading glasses as these women spend som much time embroidering. They couldn't have been more appreciative.

---

By the numbers, my Vietnam Adventure was 3 weeks, 10 hotels, 2 nights on the water and 1 night on the train. Breaking down this amazingly storied country by numbers doesn’t do it justice, but it’s a start. This Southeast Asian Republic has so much to offer travelers. You can expect to experience delicious and fresh food, welcoming people, stunning vistas, amazing beaches, loads of history, buzzing cities (I could write an entire missive about the motorbike scene) and ethereal skies over the meticulously terraced rice paddies.

Our Off The Beaten Track Travel Blog

Our family hiked through the Masai lands in Tanzania in 2019 and I wasn’t sure I’d ever experience another encounter as unique and “off the beaten track.” I’m happy to report I was wrong on that account. My husband and I took the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (my first overnight train since college) to venture into in the mountains near the Chinese border. Our guide, Kien, treated us to two days of hiking through the rice paddies and villages of the indigenous communities from SE Asia. We met the sisterhoods of the Black Hmong, Red Dzao, Red Hmong and the Flower Hmong. They found us on the trails and accompanied us for hours to practice their English and sell us their handmade textiles.

Other highlights include: markets bustling with “Mama” shops, watching the ingenuity of cooking on the streets, the history and influence of Ho Chi Minh and Communism, the UNESCO Site of Halong Bay with its towering limestone islands, biking through the rice paddies of Hue, the magic of the beautiful lanterned city of Hoi An, cruising the Mekong Delta and a Vespa tour throughout Saigon.

At Trekese we carefully select our outfitters to ensure that you get off the beaten track too. We make the process painless for our clients and take care of details so you don’t have to.

Let Trekese get you off the beaten path - Trekese - Adventure for the Soul

Travel Blog: Serenity + Adventure + Beauty = Turkey

I was invited to Istanbul to meet with over 40 suppliers from hotels, tour companies and locations throughout this historic country. Meeting new partners and making personal connections is invaluable to ensuring our clients experience the best in every destination.

In addition to business meetings, we were able to tour Istanbul to experience the city as our clients would. Highlights include the Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Istanbul teems with people, scents, spices and energy.

Post meetings a group of us traveled to what felt like a geographic other world - Cappadocia. People have lived in caves throughout the region since the 7th and 8th century B.C. Many remained in caves until the 1980s when they were kicked out by the government for safety reasons.

Truly a bucket list item!

Cappadocia is perfect for outdoor adventure, history and cave hotels and a hot air balloon ride is a must for any visitor.

We arose early to be in the air for sunrise. This was honestly one of the most majestic experiences for our entire group. The stunning rock and cave formations and sky filled with balloons blew our group away. 11/22

Let Trekese put you here - Trekese - Adventure for the Soul

#adventureforthesoul #traveltheworld #travelagency #luxurytraveladvisor