When I was a kid, I had a poster of Costa Rica's biodiversity on my bedroom wall, and every night before falling asleep, I'd stare at pictures of tropical jungles, exotic animals, and brightly colored flowers. So, naturally, when I visited Costa Rica many years later, I absolutely had to go to the jungle to see this rich paradise for myself.
I did some research first and found a place called
Villa Blanca, which doubles as both a lodge and a nature reserve and, wow, what a fantastic find! Cozy bungalows nestled into the green vegetation, each with its own fireplace to keep warm in the cool evenings. The main lodge has a grand lobby, deep leather sofas, and a rustic oversized stone fireplace. It felt like a warm and inviting ski lodge but nestled into the tropical mountains and surrounded by cloudy mist all day.
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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Villa Blanca, Costa Rica
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Villa Blanca, Costa Rica
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During the day, I traversed the many hill paths through the hummingbird gardens and visited the orchid greenhouses. Meanwhile, my dad found his place in the main house lobby and drank whiskey cocktails by the fireplace all day. This is what travel in Costa Rica is like -- easy, enjoyable, and relaxing.
In the evening, we went on a night tour of the jungle to look for amphibians and some of the more shy animals that prefer to sleep during the day. Walking through the cloudy, overgrown wilderness in darkness, with only flashlights guiding us, was a mystical experience like I've never had before. It was an incredible contrast to the daytime when bright colors pop out from every corner and nearly look fake -- who knew there were red bananas!? This was undoubtedly a wonderful place, and while Costa Rica has a lot to offer in terms of nature and adventure tourism, I'd highly recommend that everyone include a visit to the cloud forest on their travel itinerary!
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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Villa Blanca, Costa Rica
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| Villa Blanca, Costa Rica |
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| Omelette, gallo pinto y maduros, Villa Blanca |
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| Arenal volcano |
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