Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
If you are looking for a sign to take a trip to Costa Rica, this is your sign!! You will not regret exploring the rich environment Costa Rica has to offer. Below we have detailed some common Costa Rica travel FAQs to aid fellow travelers in planning their next great adventure. Leave a comment or email us if you have any additional questions!
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No! The overwhelming majority of Costa Ricans we encountered, especially those involved with the more touristy aspects of our trip, spoke impressive English. That being said, we encourage anyone traveling to a country with a native language differing than their own to at least make an attempt at learning a little, but your knowledge or lack thereof of Spanish won’t largely impact your experience. It certainly helps to speak the language as it tends to gain favoritism from the locals.
Is Costa Rica safe?
Costa Rica is a safe country to visit, with the majority of crimes tourists experience being related to petty theft. This is especially so if you’re planning on staying in more touristy areas. Generally speaking, common sense should keep you safe. If you get a flat tire while driving, be mindful of where you pull over, don’t leave all your valuables in open sight in the car, etc. Just because it looks like paradise doesn’t mean you’re in a fairy tale! However, we must note our experience was almost entirely in rural areas. We did not spend any time in the big cities, and as such cannot speak on that.
Is an Airbnb with no AC miserable?
We visited in January and half the places we stayed had AC and the other half did not. Not to sound like an American prima donna, but I had some reservations about the stays lacking AC. We went in January, but Costa Rica remains pretty warm year-round. In Arenal, it stayed cool throughout the day, so the lack of air conditioning went unnoticed. In Santa Teresa, the fan set-up came in clutch to ensure everything stayed cool.
If you’re going to Costa Rica in the summer and plan on staying in Airbnbs, definitely double check the air conditioning status of the unit. If you have any concerns, message the owner to see how they keep the unit cool—especially at night, to see it that fits your needs.
This depends on the itinerary you have planned and how many people you’re traveling with. If you are staying at a hotel or resort for your time in Costa Rica, they likely have shuttle services they offer, which could be useful to avoid the hassle of renting a car. If you’re a little nervous at the prospect of driving in a foreign country or perhaps you’re flight lands at night—whatever the reason, if you need a shuttle, there are a number of shuttle services, like this one that can help you get where you need to go.
Planning on exploring multiple regions, a bit more independently? A rental car is recommended. This is going to be the most streamlined way to get from point A to point B. We used Vamos, and 100% recommend them!
A very adventurous traveler might be able to swing bus transportation, but this would definitely require a bit more advanced planning—both in knowledge of bus routes as well as having colones, cash, or coins on you to pay for fares. Not impossible, but also not for everyone!
How long were you on the road for?
We spent about 15 hours in the car for the two weeks we spent here, which sounds like a lot but was feasible as none of our drives lasted longer than 4 hours. Stopping along the way as things struck our fancy (usually food) helped break up the drive.
I have linked google map directions to our road trip journey here. We landed in Liberia and drove to Arenal first. From there, we went to Samara, followed by Santa Teresa, and finished up on the Papagayo Peninsula. This worked out well as the Papagayo Peninsula is only a 30-minute drive back the Liberia Airport. You can read more about all these stops here (spoiler alert: food, tour, & Airbnb recommendations ahead).
Fastest way to get to the Nicoya Peninsula from San Jose?
If you arrived in San Jose, but want to explore the Nicoya Peninsula, you can avoid the extended road trip with a ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya. Departing from Punta Arenas, they have two drop off locations: Paquera and Naranjo. Getting off in Paquera will bring you to the southern portion of the peninsula to enjoy Tambor, Montezuma, Malpais, Santa Teresa. The Naranjo stop with bring you to the west side of the peninsula to San Miguel, Nicoya, Nosara, Samara.
The trip takes about 70 minutes and costs ~$25 one way for a car and driver. With 5 different departure times, one is sure to fit your schedule. The ferry can hold up to over 150 cars, so it’s usual for it to completely fill up, but you can make your reservation ahead of time here. It’s always a good idea to make these reservations in advance to ensure your spot— especially if you’re traveling during the holidays.
When booking your reservation the website may initially come up in Spanish, but there should be an option that pops up in the top, right corner of your screen to switch over to English. Once in English the website it pretty straightforward. The only snag you may encounter is where it asks for your license plate. If you plan on renting a car, you can just put “Rental Car” if you do not yet know your license plate number.
What’s it like driving in Costa Rice? What are the condition of the roads?
We mainly traveled in the Northwest portion of Costa Rica. Due to our selective regional exposure, we cannot attest to the road conditions of the whole country, but we found all the major roads to be well paved and easy to navigate. As we started to get into towns or areas off the beaten path, we encounter potholes of various sizes, but none that were an obstacle to us.
As you get into the southern portion of the Nicoya Peninsula, the roads do become a bit more dusty and gravelly. This does not make them impermeable to travelers, but it does make travel take longer.
The climb up to a house can be a bit of a different story. If your Airbnb suggests a car with four-wheel drive, it’s usually for good reason. The road up to our Airbnbs in Arenal and Santa Teresa were a little treacherous and could not have been done without all tires on deck.
Should I rent a GPS from the rental car agency?
YES! Rent a GPS if you plan of road-tripping at all. We had been on the fence about this—my husband thought we could figure it out, but I’m a safety-first, safety away kind of a gal, so we rented a GPS device. The roads are pretty straightforward with helpful signage and such for most of where you need to go. We didn’t need the GPS 80% of the time we were driving around, but the 20% we did, it definitely saved us. Missing one or two turns can set you back hours!
Any other tips for planning a trip?
Before we go someplace new, we love scouring the internet for anything we can find to maximize our time on our next adventure. As an old soul, I also still love a paper copy book to mark and tab up. Our favorite hands-on, paper guidebooks are from Lonely Planet. Their most updated edition will be available November 2021, and can be found on Amazon here.
Less of a tip, and more just something to know. When you depart through LIB or SJO, every passenger must pay a $29 departure tax before your airline will allow you to check in. This isn’t a cost that breaks anyone’s budget, but rather a cost to be aware of.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
Costa Rica is a country that has range. You’ll get jungles and volcanos as well as endless sandy beaches. Whether you’re looking for a fantastic adventure or big relaxation, you’ll find it here in the intriguing niched culture of this Central American gem.
Our Costa Rican adventure was focused on the northwestern part of the country as we explored the greater Arenal region and the Nicoya Peninsula. Each town we visited had its own persona: Arenal with its lush forest biome, Samara’s beachy keen relaxation, Santa Teresa that oozed surfer chic, and the Papagayo Peninsula with its opulent luxury. Visiting all four regions afforded us a glimpse of this diverse country. Below I have detailed all the explorations, food, and places we stayed along the way— as well as things we would potentially do differently if we were to do it all again.
When heading down to Costa Rica, there’s two main airports people typically fly into: San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIR). While San Jose is the capital, it’s not always the cheaper option to fly into. Be sure to check both airports when you’re looking at flights. Not only could Liberia be cheaper, but it might mean less drive time as well!
Here’s our road trip map, for anyone looking to enjoy the same outstanding adventure. If you have more questions about some of the logistics of travel, check out our Nine Helpful Costa Rica Travel FAQs.
A R E N A L
the drive in
We landed in Liberia, CR, hopped in the rental car, and started making our way to Arenal. Along the way, we stopped at the Café & Macadamia for the first of many casadas (a traditional Costa Rican plate) we enjoyed during our time here. If you see it while you’re driving, it’s worth pulling over to grab a bite! Not only was the food delicious, but the view from the overlook was beautiful as well. As we continued our drive, the breath-taking views abounded. Taking in all the scenery made the three-hour drive fly by!
mountainous jungle exploration
Arenal is home to a landscape vastly different than the beaches to its east and west. With Mount Arenal as the crown jewel, we found this area to be full with both greenery and adventure. If you enjoy trekking through the forest and spending time with nature, this area is ideal. We spent a morning at Sky Adventures and had the most fantastic time soaring across zip lines, traversing the forest canopy, crossing Tibetan bridges, canyoning, rappelling, and my personal favorite, the Tarzan swing! This is sure to surpass any previous zip lining experience you have had. If you own a GoPro, make sure you bring it to document the experience and save some money! Otherwise you can rent one for the day. If you consider yourself outdoorsy at all, this is a must-do!
white water rafting
As if one action packed day wasn’t enough, we spent our second day in Arenal with Wave, endeavoring in their white-water rafting excursion. We signed up for the Class 3 & 4 rapids trip and had such a blast. On the bus ride to our drop-in point, we had awesome guides talking about the areas we were driving through. We ended up getting dunked in the Sarapiqui River, but we both made it safely back into our raft. That in-the-moment excitement made for quite the story to share with friends and family.
After we victoriously conquered the rapids, we enjoyed casadas, local coffee, and a shot of Cacique Guaro (Costa Rican liqueur). It’s worth noting, this rapids trip was a HUGE adrenaline rush. Be prepared for some fully immersive fun!
Not keen on such a big epinephrine dump? Accommodating outdoor explorers of all comfort levels, Wave also offered hot spring, sloth, ATV, and horse backing riding tours.
yoga
Before we left El Castillo, we went to Essence Arenal Boutique Hostel for a morning yoga class. The yoga studio is towards the back of the property, so we enjoyed a nice pre-yoga warm up walk. Beautiful, serene, and well worth the price of admission. It was a perfect ending to our time in this beautiful area.
brewskis
As we were headed out of Arenal, on our way to Samara, we stopped at the Lake Arenal Brewery. To be honest, they still haven’t totally mastered craft beers yet (per my craft beer loving husband), but the view is pretty stellar! We didn’t spend the night here, but we were surprised to see they also had a hotel here as well. This could be a cool, local place to stay for a night.
sleeps
We loved the Airbnb we stayed at in El Castillo— a small town in the Arenal region. It had breathtaking views of both Mount Arenal and Lake Arenal from a cozy little botanical garden. The Airbnb listing shows you the gorgeous views, but truly, they’re even better in person. A word of caution… four wheel drive and a bit of determination are definitely necessary to navigate the dirt road up to the house.
If you’re more interested in a resort, Nayara Gardens embodies laid back luxury, with their intimate rainforest abodes. They provide a wonderfully curated relaxing experience while the beauty of nature speaks for itself.
S A M A R A
food first
After the adventure rush of Arenal, the beach town vibes of Samara were a welcome change of pace. Growing up in South Florida, there was a sort of familiarity to the touristy nature of the popular beach town. We arrived in Samara and killed some time at Coco’s while we were waiting to get into our Airbnb. We didn’t have anything to eat, but Salvador only had big thumbs up for the beers he tried. Coco’s seems like it is geared towards the tourists, but do not let that dissuade you!
Later that evening we came back to the downtown area and wandered around. La Dolce Vita had a fun outdoor set-up and tasty drinks… a perfect sunset spot! For dinner, Salvador had a hankering for a whole fish. We found Marisqueria Colochos, and they did not disappoint! He tackled the whole fish at a few different restaurants (4) while we were in Costa Rica, but Marisqueria’s was his favorite.
best way to start the day
All three mornings in Samara, we started the day with a walk along the beach that led to Roots Bakery. Talk about a delicious start to the day! If sweet treats and delicious breakfast sandwiches are your jam, this is the place to be. Starting the day with a breakfast walk was a nice way to be active before spending the afternoon poolside.
Italian in Costa Rica
We went to Mama Gui’s for dinner and highly recommend—both for ambiance and quality of food. When we arrived, it was a 15-minute wait for a table, so they offered us a complimentary glass of wine while we waited. Listening to live music with a glass of Chardonnay in hand on a cooled off evening in Costa Rica? Does it get much better than that? The answer turned out to be an overwhelming ~yes~ not long later as we dug into our food.
the Belen waterfall
The Belen waterfall and swimming hole are only a short, 20-minute drive away. You do have a short, moderately steep walk down to the watering hole. It’s nothing that should deter anyone… to call it a hike would be an overstatement. There’s ample space, so you can sun bathe and cool off in the water. For those feeling extra brave, you can climb up and jump off the top of the waterfall. If frolicking and sunning has worked up an appetite, there’s a small soda (local, outdoor café) on your way back to Samara that sells delicious casados.
A couple notes: make sure to bring a couple colones (Costa Rican currency) for the gentleman in the parking lot. He stays up at the parking lot, watching the cars for everyone at the waterfall. Also, be careful swimming through fast-flowing water as there is an underwater cave people have drowned in before. Nothing to be afraid of—just a friendly reminder not to be reckless.
Salvador won’t be winning Olympic diving medals any time soon, but he sure does jump with gusto!
a fantastic final promenade
Our last evening in Samara, we didn’t have a traditional dinner, so much as we had a tapas-style dinner. You can’t beat sampling drinks and appetizers at various restaurants downtown to maximize culinary exploration. A fun way to round out the full Samara experience!
sleeps
There are lots of different options for sleeping accommodations in Samara, but we liked that our Airbnb had a pool and a hammock you could just hang out in, while you took in the view—made it hard to want to leave!
S A N T A T E R E S A
As we hopped from one beach town to another, we couldn’t help but notice the vibe of Santa Teresa was completely different than that of Samara. Santa Teresa is a larger town, but somehow felt less touristy. There’s basically one main, dusty road than runs the length of the town. Pretty much everything you need can either be found there or not far off the path.
a sports bar . . . in paradise?
We arrived into town around lunch, and I am not one to miss a meal, so we sought out Chicken Joe’s for some authentic cuisine. Wish I could say it wasn’t so, but our first evening in Santa Teresa the Baltimore Ravens were playing in the NFL playoffs. Being the die-hard fan he is, Salvador just couldn’t miss it. So after dropping our things at our Airbnb, we found ourselves at Kooks—a sports bar, playing American sports in the middle of Costa Rica. Ladies, hide your husbands!
Despite initially rolling my eyes, both the food and drinks were delicious—plus they recommended La Glida, the gelato shop down the road. Anyone that leads me to fresh gelato is good people! Certainly, not a bad way to kick off our first day in Santa Teresa.
hang ten
It had been a while since we’d attempted surfing, so instead of just renting boards we committed to a surf lesson with Randy at Jackalopes Surf Shop. Zero regrets about this decision as we were all the better for it. Salvador has a frustrating knack for coordination, while I on the other hand received a majority of the patient tips and encouraging corrections from our newfound amigo. That being said, BOTH of us caught waves by the end of the lesson! Plus we were able to use the board the rest of the day to conquer the whitewash waves with confidence.
After getting tossed being repeatedly humbled during our surf lesson, a massage sounded like a dream. I was all too grateful we’d arranged this in advance! How it it that 60 minutes of relaxation flies by so quickly?
sustenance stops
We had more than worked up an appetite by the time we landed at El Carmen. The beachy views and good food would have made for an above average meal themselves, but the pipas frias (cold coconuts filled with fresh water) cart right by the outdoor patio were the perfect replenishment to our afternoon spent battling the waves.
Along our way home, we stopped at The Bakery for a little sweet treat. It was the first of MANY trips to this tasty spot. If you have a sweet tooth, you absolutely must check out the amazing collection of baked delights.
Tortuga Island
Perhaps out most adventurous day in Santa Teresa was actually when we hopped in the car and drove down to Montezuma for a day trip out to Tortuga Island with Zuma Tours. The boat ride out to Tortuga Island takes about 45 minutes, but we stopped along the way for an unexpected surprise. The captain spotted some humpback whales! We kept our distance, but it was so incredible to see such a huge animal in its natural habitat—especially since we saw a mom and her baby.
Once we arrived at our destination, there were far more animals to be found, with myriads of fish galore. My favorites were a black tip reef shark and a couple starfish that seemed partial to me. We were able to snorkel around two different areas, and then we headed to the island for some lunch and lounging. The food was all freshly prepared, and for those looking to elevate the meal, the bar on the island sold pipas frias with the option to add rum for any snorkelers that deserved a little extra treat.
The boat ride back to Monezuma went smoothly, with a school of dolphin joining us for a while along our journey back. Outside of the scenic trip itself, the tour guides went above and beyond to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves. Could not recommend this highly enough! If you have a GoPro, this would be the adventure to bring it on.
beach bum daze
Spending an entire day on the beach was on Salvador’s Costa Rican bucket list. On our last full day in Santa Teresa, I went to a yoga class at the Nautilus Boutique Hotel, while Salvador set off to find a worthy beach-side set-up. As an occasional yogi at best, I found the flow challenging yet inviting. It was a nice way to have some meaningful movement before heading to the beach. I left more than ready for some bummy beach-side relaxation!
While I was getting Zen, Salvador’s search led him to Nantipa. He bought two day passes, staked out a prime lounging location, and we stayed there until the sun went down. The passes cost $75/person, but we each had a $50 credit to use towards the Manzú Beachfront Restaurant. In addition to the dining credit, we were also afforded use of their pool, towels, bathrooms, and assortment of lounge chairs. It made for a calm relaxing day, and when we went on a walk in the afternoon, we left our stuff on the beach without worry. At the end of the day, we had a front row, toes-in-the-sand view as the sun dipped into the ocean.
sleeps
Perhaps the most obsession-worthy view of our trip was that from our Santa Teresa Airbnb. We had the most amazing sunset view, but the infinity pool was certainly a cherry on top. We stayed here for five days and loved that someone came every other day to tidy up. Check out that view!!
P A P A G A Y O P E N I N S U L A
We rounded out our Costa Rican adventure with two days on the Papagayo Peninsula at the Andaz Resort, and the views did not disappoint! What is it about an infinity pool that just takes relaxation to the next level? This was our most posh stay during our time in Costa Rica, and it was wonderful to finish our trip luxuriously. You can learn more about our experience as well as additional adventures available through Andaz Costa Rica here.
eat wander repeat
Upon arrival, we ate lunch at the Rio Bhongo Restaurant. Our lunch hit the spot, but their breakfast menu caught our eye and had us making breakfast plans for the following day. After lunch, we settled into our room and then headed out to explore the resort property. Our favorite way to acquaint ourselves with a new place is simply to wander about.
Our exploration took us through the resort, down the beach, across the marina, until we could walk no farther. A restaurant/bar called the Dive Bar (not dive-y at all) was a perfect spot to share drinks and look out across the inlet. Tuckered out from our long day, we ended up calling it an early evening and ordered room service. It arrived in a festive picnic basket—the cutest dinner-in-bed experience!
bike n’ beach babe
We woke up excited to hit the breakfast buffet and smoothie bar at the Rio Bhongo, and it was just as amazing a spread as we’d hoped. After breakfast, we discovered the Papagayo Peninsula electric bike share program (included in the resort fee), and hopped on a few bike to explore AND get a bit of exercise in. We rode bikes down to the Beach House on Playa Nacascolo, the shared beach area between Andaz and Four Season’s, and were delighted by the lounging set-up and beach-side service.
It is not uncommon to see cute little Capuchin monkeys in the trees while you’re lounging by the pool or down by the beach, but beware! They may try to run off with your things—cute but clever! A short walk down the beach, a local was offering rides on a banana boat, which was a perfect way to cool off. We wandered back to the Beach House and shared some homemade ice cream from the Beach House before heading back to our room.
authentic eats
For our final evening in Costa Rica, we left the resort to have a truly authentic meal a bit north at Casa del Mar. Playa Cabuyal is a short walk down the road, so we found a bit of sand to hold down, watched the sun set, and headed towards the restaurant for Salvador to enjoy his final Costa Rican whole fish. We were the only ones there, so we were able to have quality conversations with the bartender and cook. It was a very nice place with equally kind people.
pre-flight paddle boarding
Our last morning here, we woke up and headed down to the beach for some paddle boarding as soon as they opened. Salvador had never tried it before and was surprised how much coordination it took—even on a calm, flat day. When it was time to go, we hopped back in the car and made the short, 30-minute trip to the airport. We weren’t ready for our Costa Rican adventure to come to a close, but we were so thrilled to have been able to explore such a special place.
IF WE WERE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN . . .
Costa Rica was a wonderful place to enjoy a delightful array of niched sub-cultures. Each city we visited had its own distinct identity. Arenal is so different from Santa Teresa, which also differs from the Papagayo Peninsula. We stayed 2-5 nights at each city we visited, so we could cultivate an authentic snapshot of each area but still gain an appreciation for the country as a whole.
THE HIGHS
If you’re not looking to road trip, you could easily spend a whole week in Arenal, Santa Teresa, or the Papagayo Peninsula. Arenal has a truly breathtaking microclimate, and is a must-visit if you thrive on outdoor adventure. Hanging bridges, Tarzan swings, zip-lines, hot springs, rafting… if you’re looking to connect with nature and feel alive, this should be at the top of your Costa Rica itinerary.
Santa Teresa epitomizes the “pura vida” lifestyle the country is known for, in all the best ways. As a bonus, Montezuma is an easy 30-minute drive, making it easy to pop over for a day. Despite being at the bottom of the Nicoya Peninsula, we felt Santa Teresa was worth the drive!
The resorts on the Papagayo Peninsula are the definition of luxury in Costa Rica. While we certainly enjoyed Andaz (and recommend it highly!), it truly seems like you can’t go wrong with any of the resorts on the peninsula. This seems like a perfect area for couples looking to splurge… honeymoon anyone? Or perhaps a family interested in all the activities they offer— you could certainly keep the kids busy! The only word of warning? The private beaches, infinity pools, and luxury amenities might make it hard to want to leave the resort!
THE LOWS
While we certainly enjoyed our three relaxing days in Samara, it did not leave us wanting more the way the other three areas did. A wonderful, calm change of pace from our Arenal excitement, but also just a too bit touristy for us. If we were to do it all again, I’m not sure we would return to Samara. No horror stories or sordid tales, I’m just not keen on visiting another country to have a touristy beach vacation.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
Whether you’re traveling for work or for pleasure, leaving the comfort of your gym or exercise routine can make it more difficult to get your workouts in. Now, in my opinion, the best way to combine exploration of a new area and an easy-to-plan workout is to go out on a walk or hike. If hiking is more your style, AllTrails is an awesome tool to help you discover local trails! It shows a trail’s difficulty rating, elevation, comments from recent hikers, and pictures of the view you’re hiking to.
Perhaps hiking isn’t an option, or maybe you’re wanting something that gets the heart pumping. There are loads of free resources that are easily accessible from one’s phone. First and foremost, I have included individual workouts that can be found on Youtube. This is a collection of some of my favorites! Whether we’re traveling or I’m trying to get in a workout over my lunch break, these are my go tos! All the original content creators are listed in the description— we love supporting female led channels!! If you like the style of the video, most of these fit gals have hundreds of other workouts to peruse. I have also included a few easy-to-navigate apps, with a wide array of no-equipment-needed workouts!
YOUTUBE
PILATES
A nice little 15 min workout with a focus on thighs & cardio from Sarah’s day. Checkout these pilates-chic sets to keep you moving in style.
This is a short and sweet 8 minute workout from The Balanced Life Pilates. It can serve as a nice warm-up to a longer workout or perhaps a quick movement moment before you start your day. It’s part of a 30-day challenge if you’re looking to integrate a little bit of pilates into your exercise practice.
This 15 minute workout from Blogilates will make exercisers of any pilates experience level feel like they’re crushing it. It has both beginner and moderate/advanced levels of exercises demonstrated.
This 30 minute workout from GrowingAnnanas is perfect if home-workouts sometimes get boring for you. Here you’ll be doing a different exercise every minute of the workout for a total of 30 different exercises.
This 40 minute workout from Sydney Cummings has a focus on cardio and abs, but your whole body will be ready for a break when the clock strikes 0:00!
LEG & BUMWORKOUTS
This 30 minute workout by Sydney Cummings is a fantastic leg workout that had me sore for days after the first time I did it. While she does use some bands, but it’s certainly still doable if you don’t have any resistance bands! She does an awesome job of showing alternate movement patterns if her primary exercise doesn’t work for you.
This workout from Fitness Blender comes in at just under 30 minutes, but you better be ready to WORK!!
No pre-amble, no introduction, this 30 minute lower body workout from GrowingAnnanas will have you feeling. the. burn.
This nearly 24 minute yoga strength workout by Yoga with Adriene is challenging in a way that sneaks up on you! If you’re looking to get more consistent with your yoga practice, this video is part of a 30 day series.
APPS
Nike Training Club
This free app features 251 no equipment needed workouts, ranging from 5 minutes to 60 minutes in duration. Users can sort the kind of workout they’re looking for by workout format, duration, intensity, and focus.
FitOn
As you create your account on FitOn, it asks questions about your fitness goals, how often you workout, the kinds of workouts you enjoy, etc to curate a workout program for you. If you’re not in the mood for the programmed workout one day, you can tap over to the workouts tab and sort through hundreds of various options. This app provides more than just workouts as it embodies more of a fitness lifestyle approach as it includes recipes in the ‘Meals’ tab and a wide array of wellness articles under the ‘Advice’ section. There is a Pro upgrade available, but a wide array of content is available to free users!
Fitbod
If real-time workout videos aren’t your thing and you like to crush a workout in your own way, this app is perfect! Every day a new workout is prepared and waiting for you. It will design a workout according to whatever equipment you have available— even if that is no equipment! Before you begin your workout, you can click on any given exercise to see a video of how it’s done if you’re a little unsure. If you’re previewing your workout and see something you either don’t think you can do or don’t want to do, you can easily replace it or delete it!
Peloton
While this company is widely known for their high-end spin bikes, their app has a huge collection of no-bike-needed workouts. Their categories include strength, yoga, cardio, meditation, running, outdoor, cycling, stretching, tread bootcamp, bike bootcamp, and walking. The outdoor collection features audio-only instruction, so you can enjoy an instructor-led run in the beautiful outdoors. Peloton has an awesome collection of pilates and barre classes that can be found under the strength section. This is my current favorite app to use for working out— I just love the range of exercises to choose from. Individuals that have already taken the classes rate how difficult they perceived it to be on a 1-10 scale, so you can factor that in when considering how hard you want to hustle for this workout. This app does cost $12.99/month, BUT they always have a free trial of at least one month (sometimes more, depending on the time of year), so you can decide if it’s for you before fully committing.
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
In the southwest corner of Colorado the charming, yet bustling town of Durango thrives. Sitting at an elevation of over 6,500 feet, this mile high city is a cornucopia of influence as Colorado flair meets the historic epoch of the wild west. All with a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountainous beauty. We visited in the summer and savored our long weekend in Durango, but this four-season destination left us wanting more.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Outdoor adventure abounds at a wide array of comfort levels. The Animas River Trail is a tranquil, paved path anyone can enjoy via varying modes of transportation. If you’re looking for a little more interaction with nature, the following options are sure to thrill.
Epic Explorations
Mountain biking trails are littered throughout the mountains as this area is a known mountain biking utopia. If you are flying in for a short trip, Pedal the Peaks has bikes available to rent. AllTrails and MTB Project are two awesome resources to consult out as you plan which trails to hit. Eager to give mountain biking a try, but are hesitant about navigating the journey? Durango Mountain Bike Tours is available to help guide you!
White Water Rafting on the Animas River is the perfect way to enjoy both an adrenaline rush as well as a historical recounting of Durango. Durango Rafting Company tours take you through some Class III rapids and run either 2 hours or 4 hours. The 4-hour experience includes three hours on the water and a delicious lunch from Serious Texas BBQ.
The Animas Mountain Trail is a beautiful six-mile loop that is easily accessible from town. This makes it an easy hike for visitors without a rental car to explore. We were looking for a shorter hike, so we did the Hogsback & Slime Gulch Loop, and it was humbling!! As you approach the summit, the trail becomes rather steep and narrow. As a group of moderately fit mid-20s to early 30s, we were able to do this loop in sneakers without poles, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that for everyone. The first portion of our descent was a combo butt-scoot/crab walk down. AllTrails reports it at 3.3 miles, but we must have done a bit of extra wandering as my Apple Watch tracked it at just under 4 miles. The view was amazing from the top!
Mesa Verde National Park is about 40 minutes outside Durango, so you will need to either rent a car or go with a tour group. If you choose to rent a car, be sure to pay your entrance fee before you go, as service in the park can get spotty. Durango River Trippers offers a 7.5-hour tour that allows for full exploration of the national park as well as lunch. Whether you go with a tour or adventure alone, the cliff dwellings transport you to another lifetime! Another must-see, the Park Point trail is a unique opportunity to overlook four different states from a single vantage point.
TRAVEL BY RAIL
The Silverton Train departs from the train station in downtown Durango, and takes you on a full day’s adventure. The ride is three and a half hours each way, allowing you to take in the uniquely southern portion of the Rocky Mountains. Throughout the journey, passes through Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge, and the Animas River Gorge. Riders are allotted a little over two hours in Silverton to explore before heading back on the train. The rush of the train ride and the breathtaking view make this worth every. single. penny!!!
BOTTOMS UP
For being a small town, Durango’s breweries really come out swinging. While we were there we made it to three of them and didn’t sample a single subpar beer. Steamworks and Carvers are both located in the heart of Downtown Durango. Carvers has a relaxing beer garden in the back of the building, with some funky large-scale outdoor decor. Not only were the beers good, but they have a large soft pretzel that is guaranteed to hit the spot. Steamworks had a line out the door when we walked by, but we were able to snag a couple stools at the bar. You can choose up to six beers for their flights, so we chose a variety and chowed down on some popcorn shrimp (a fantastic post-hike snack!) while we sampled. Animas Brewery is less central to the Downtown hub, but only a mile walk on the aforementioned Animas River Trail and boasts plenty of well-crafted beers. They have some outdoor seating and are family friendly, however don’t be surprised to wait a bit! While we waited, we were able to enjoy some beverages outdoors that feeds off the ambiance of the surrounding park and river.
If you enjoy a well-crafted cocktail, Durango Craft Spirits is a must-try— reportedly one of the best Old Fashioneds Salvador’s ever had! We love a breezy patio, but the experience was made even better by the knowledge AND quality service from the bartender.
GOOD EATS
When we arrived in Durango, we wandered through the downtown area, not overwhelmingly hungry, but peckish for a hearty snack. We knew we had struck gold when we landed upon 11th Street Station. The multi-food truck set-up provides a myriad of options to choose from. With pizza, smoothies, pressed sandwiches, gourmet sliders, poke, salads, sushi, and rolled ice cream, you’re sure to find something. In addition to the food, there is a bar and coffee shop– truly something for everybody! We both enjoyed refreshing smoothies that had us refueled and ready to go walk the Animas River Trail.
We didn’t make it to the Himalayan Kitchen, but we were intrigued by the allure of the Nepalese cuisine. We’d hoped to return and enjoy a meal there, but we simply ran out of time. If you stop in and give it a try, please let us know how it was!
You may think to yourself, “do I really need to stop by a chocolate shop while I’m visiting this pinnacle of outdoor exploration?” and the answer is YES! Run, don’t walk to Animas Chocolate Company. This bean to bar chocolatier creates decadent little chocolate treats. The customer service is above and beyond as someone will walk you through the case of chocolates, explaining each one, while you enjoy a sampler of “sipping chocolate”. It goes without saying the coffee and chocolate chip cookies were also divine.
Our friend’s rehearsal dinner was held at Serious Texas BBQ (the south one!), so we knew the barbecue would be good before we arrived because Tyler (the groom) does not mess around when it comes to good ole southern fixins’. Besides the food, the general atmosphere was far more ethereal than you’d expect for a BBQ joint with live music softly playing, a gorgeous overlook, and twinkle lights strung up over a cozy fire pit.
PARTY VENUE
If you know anyone looking for a stunning, mountainous adobe backdrop to their wedding vows, look no further! The River Bend Ranch Durango delivered magnificent views in spades. As a bonus, there were three paddle boats available to be raced around the pond!
written by Hannah
Hannah has learned the hard way to be careful what you wish for— sometimes happily ever after lands you with a husband and puppy… in the Midwest. Despite leaving Florida to move to Wisconsin, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves spending weekends exploring newfound hikes.
