Where: La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Stayed: The Springs Resort & Spa Arenal
Traveled with: Kids, grandparents, and a few favorite cameras
Weather: We went during June, which is rainforest rainy season. We had excellent weather – sunny most mornings, rainy some afternoons, and never too scorching hot.
It’s so easy to work on vacation.
You think, “I’ll just keep up with my email” so you don’t have to deal with an accumulated amount of email when you return.
You’ll attend a meeting virtually so you don’t appear to be – not committed? unavailable? so essential you have to be a part of every conversation?
It’s absurd.
Take a break.
And I say this admonishingly because I have done it a million times.
I’ve worked on almost every vacation I’ve taken – trying to keep up with the inbox while attempting to keep up with the vacation activities. Sneaking in emails, checking off the little tasks that seem innocuous.
But all of those little work activities take a big toll on a vacation. And on your mental health.
Cutting it off, absolutely, makes a huge difference.
UNPLUG. Your brain needs the break. You need the break.
No matter your position, people need to figure out how to make decisions without you.
If they can, that makes you a great leader.
You can’t be effective if you aren’t balanced. A real vacation gives you the balance.
And your people will follow your lead – if you’re working on vacation, they will feel obligated to do the same. (And feel exhausted instead of refreshed.)
And if you work for a company that can’t embrace this? Rethink your corporate culture. My boss was pretty adamant that I take a break and not work. (I feel so blessed.)
I followed his advice. And it’s a directive that I instill in the people who work with me, too. We work so hard – do so much – make such an impact – our family time is precious.
Brain dump, delegate all the tasks, be clear about your expectations – and don’t check in.
Turn on your out of office and CHECK OUT.
You’ll feel better personally – and professionally, you’ll be back ready to take on all the tasks when you return.
Why Costa Rica?
We wanted an escape. Not just a vacation—but a real break from the routine. So we packed up our crew (kids, grandparents, and camera gear included) and headed to The Springs Resort & Spa Arenal in Costa Rica. It turned out to be the perfect home base for a week of wild, wonderful adventures in La Fortuna.
🎥 Watch the video →
What to pack
I packed WAY TOO MUCH.
The resort had a laundry room so we could do a load everyday – had we anticipated this, we would have packed a little differently.
Some things to consider when you’re packing…
Shoes: I only packed one pair of closed toed shoes, a pair of cute Birkenstocks for dresses, and Tevas for water adventures. I wore the slip-on On Clouds on the plane and a lot during our trip, and Tevas everywhere else. I could have left the Birks behind.
Dresses: Maybe 2. You don’t need anything fancy – just comfortable. I packed a lot of dresses I never wore.
Swim: I did wear a lot of swim suits and casual clothes (shorts, t-shirts.)
Sunscreen & Bug Spray: It was $30 to buy bug spray at the resort. Buy it at Target and pack it!
Wine: Get a few bottles of wine at the duty-free shop at the airport when you land. They had wines you can’t get in the states like a Veuve that we wished we’d picked up to try on our trip. We were such in a rush to get baggage claim we sped right by it. You’ll have a fridge to chill anything you buy! Stop and get a few bottles!
Cameras: I used the Fuji xs20 with the 16 – 80 lens for photos, the Osmo Pocket 3 for videos, and an old GoPro for action shots the most. I love these cameras because they are so easy to use to capture the moments with minimal effort. ALSO I love the little flying camera – the DJI Neo – for drone shots. I am still trying to find the perfect sling, but used an old Lowepro sling that looks like a camera bag but also carried all my gear. Read more – Favorite Cameras
🧳 Getting There
We flew into San José and took a three-hour drive to the resort (coordinated through The Springs.) Along the way, we stopped at a local Costa Rican restaurant for lunch and a scenic waterfall—proving that the journey is half the adventure.
🌋 Staying at The Springs Resort & Spa Arenal
This resort has it all: jungle views, hot springs around every corner, and a front-row seat to Arenal Volcano. Our room had a balcony overlooking the rainforest, and mornings started with strong Costa Rican coffee, birdsong, and an incredible buffet in the main building
🍳 Breakfast Goals
Let’s talk about the buffet. Every morning featured:
- Made-to-order eggs
- A fresh juice bar
- Smoked salmon + tropical fruit
- Granola + yogurt bar
- Potatoes, rice and beans, plantains, jalapeño poppers (yes, really)
- French toast and enough pancakes to make our kids’ dreams come true
💦 Club Rio Adventures
Just a short shuttle ride from the resort is Club Rio, where you can easily spend an entire day (or two). We tubed down the river (and got stuck plenty), explored the animal sanctuary, climbed a rock wall, and even had a relaxing lunch with a view.
We spent a few days here with the activities – but tubing was our definite favorite!
Bonus: You don’t have to be a resort guest to get a Club Rio day pass.
🐛 Eco Walk + Termites
We booked an Eco Walk from the resort. While not our top excursion, it was still a great way to learn about the rainforest’s plants and wildlife. Our guide taught us a survival tip we didn’t expect: termites are edible. Will tried one. I… did not.
The tour we loved the most was the nighttime Sloth Park tour – it was similar, but we saw a lot more animals and wildlife.
🍫 Don Juan Chocolate & Coffee Tour
One of our favorite stops! We made our own chocolate by hand, learned how cacao turns into candy, and dove into Costa Rican coffee—grinding beans, learning the roasting process, and tasting everything along the way. We all loved blending our own special chocolate concoction!
🌌 Night Walk at Sloth Park
Sloth Park wasn’t high on our list, and it was not recommended by anyone, but we’re so glad we went. Our private night walk ended up being one of the most magical parts of the trip:
- We saw a baby sloth with its mom
- Spotted colorful dart frogs
- Had a safe-but-heart-racing encounter with a fer-de-lance snake
Afterward, we had dinner at Don Rufino in La Fortuna before heading back to the resort.
🎥 Watch the Full Video
Want to see the whole adventure in motion?
🎥 Watch the full video here:
📌 Final Thoughts
Costa Rica gave us volcano views, wild adventures, and family memories that will last forever. If you’re thinking about visiting The Springs Resort & Spa Arenal—consider this your sign.
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