A Costa Rican Reset

No matter where we go, Costa Rica always has a way of pulling us back. This was our fourth trip to the country and our second stay in the Playa Ocotal area—and it honestly feels more like returning to a favorite neighborhood than planning a vacation. We’ve zigzagged across a lot of Costa Rica over the years, but Guanacaste keeps calling us with its warm water, easygoing pace, and sunsets that look like they were airbrushed onto the sky.

A true gem

We stayed at Los Almendros de Ocotal, tucked right into the hillside with ridiculous views of the playa. Picture this: coffee on the patio, waves rolling in like clockwork, and that soft ocean hush you can feel in your shoulders. The property is a true gem—Airbnbs right off the beach, leafy walkways, and a quick stroll down to the black-sand shoreline. It’s the kind of place where “let’s go for a quick dip” turns into an hour of floating, wave-watching, and forgetting where your phone is (highly recommended).

What I love about Ocotal is the calm, sheltered feel of the playa. It’s not a party beach; it’s a take-a-deep-breath beach. The volcanic sand, the little rocky outcrops, the glassy water in the mornings—everything nudges you into a slower rhythm. We’d swim, wander the shore, and then head back up for pool time and snacks with a view. Simple days are severely underrated.

The rhythm we fell into

Mornings: Soft light, warm breeze, coffee and fruit on the balcony. The playa is quiet then—perfect for a swim or just to watch the fishing boats glide out.
Afternoons: Shade, siesta, and reading breaks. Ocotal has that “do nothing well” energy, and we leaned into it.
Evenings: Golden hour strolls on the beach and those knockout sunsets that make you forget to talk. We’d watch the colors shift and the waves feather onto the shore until the sky turned inky blue.

Nothing complicated. Everything restorative.

Tamarindo

For the remainder of the trip we hopped over to Tamarindo for a scheduled couples shoot with Kristen Brown of Samba by the Sea—and wow, I’m so glad we did. We didn’t have a wedding so there aren’t a lot of formal photos of James and I, so these were a very special treat. If you’re on the fence about hiring a photographer on vacation, I fully endorse it. It’s the best souvenir: time stamped, beautiful, and actually includes both of us for once. Samba made the whole experience easy and fun—natural posing, tons of laughter, and images that feel like us.

The primary meal highlights of this trip include the Jardín Tamarindo Food Truck Park—a cute, colorful setup with lots of options (and the kind of adorable, laid-back vibe that makes you linger). For a fancy dinner we absolutely loved Sofia Mediterraneo. The chef’s special was divine and the decor and vibe is simply perfect. We love searching out local bookstores when we travel, so we popped into The Bookstore of the Waves and grabbed some great reads to bring home.

A great reset

We didn’t come with a big checklist or an aggressive itinerary—just the intention to rest. It’s been a busy stretch of life and work, and Costa Rica greeted us like an old friend: warm, unfussy, and generous with the sunsets. The combination of Los Almendros’ views, Ocotal’s quiet, and that creative spark from our Tamarindo shoot was exactly what we needed.

Sometimes the best trips are the ones that remind you how you want your everyday life to feel—unhurried, connected, and a little sun-kissed around the edges.

We came home feeling lighter, more present, and already plotting visit number five to our favorite country. Pura vida, always.