DAY 5 -  Puerto viejio

Some times everything looks better in the daylight. Day five was one of those days. After arriving late in the Caribbean on Wednesday night, we were exhausted, hungry, and completely unfamiliar with our dark surroundings. The hostel seemed dumpy, a crab crawled over our feet in the restaurant, and the town looked ragged and unsafe. However, in the light of day we realized that we could not be more wrong. Puerta Viejo had a charm like no other beach town we had see .

Rising with the sun, we found our way down to the beach and ran into the water. It was the first time either of us had put our feet in Caribbean waters. After our morning coffee, we explored the town and were blown away by the bright colored walls on every building. We just couldn't help but document them.

Next we met up with a couple, who guided us on horseback through the jungle trees and across the beach. They even stopped to get us fresh coconut water (straight from the coconut!) from a vendor along the way. Needless to say, the tour was unforgettable. From the massive Sangrio trees to the howling monkeys to cantering along the blue waves, it was almost too much to take in at once. The couple that took us were incredibly sweet and so loving to their horses. She was from Italy and grew up riding and training all different styles. The man was very clearly a Costa Rican Caribbean native. Their story of how they came together inspired us both.

We ended the night at a place called Hot Rocks; dancing with the locals to a live reggae band. Jen even sang with the band!

Fun fact of the day: Ten years ago she took a trip to the Puerta Viejo and met a Caribbean man. They fell in love over the three days that she was visiting. They were unable to exchange information or have any way of keeping in touch, so when she left they both thought they would never see each other again. Seven years passed, both remembering each other and their connection. Finally she returned to Puerta Viejo on vacation with a friend, and who did she happen to cross paths with? The Caribbean man. After that, she moved to Puerta Viejo and they were married months later. Now they run a riding club together, taking visitors on tours of the area. She said something about their story (in her beautiful Italian accent) that stuck with me. She said, "Some times, movies are real." I feel like that little phrase summed up this trip. If your planning on visiting Costa Rica's Caribbean side, check out Caribe Horse Riding Club! You won't be disappointed!

DAY 6 -  Puerto viejio

Day Six: We awoke to the sound of heavy rain on the tin roof of the hostel. The birds were singing in a chorus and the air smelled of rain. As the soil darkened, the hues of the plants and flowers stood out all the more. With our ponchos on, we left to grab some coffee and breakfast. Along the way we found a boutique with handmade dresses and jewelry. Every piece had such vibrant patterns and colors.

When we were in Arenal, the woman working at the front desk of the hostel told us that she grew up in Puerta Viejo. She said that while we were visiting there, we must rent bikes and hop from beach to beach. So that is exactly what we did! We each rented a rickety, old bike and set out towards Manzanillo beach. The road to the beaches was hugged on either side with tall jungle canopies. In the beginning, the dirt road was crowded with cars and bikes but after a couple miles, the traffic died down and the ride was extremely peaceful. Instead of engines churning and horns honking, all we heard were the birds and monkeys. We passed two beaches as we rode: Cocles beach and Punta Uva. Once we arrived in Manzanillo we locked up our bikes and ran to the water. The sun was hot and the water there was a brighter blue. It was almost too much to fully take in all at once. We stayed there an hour or so, lying on the beach and reading. On our way back, we stopped at an ice cream shop in Punta Uva. The man who owned it had recently moved from New York because he wanted a more tranquil life for his family. If you ask me, I think he found what he was looking for. If there is one word to best describe our adventure that day it was: tranquil.

Fun fact of the day: Black sand on the beach in the Caribbean is typically a result of an explosive volcanic past— the rich color is a result of a mixture of iron, titanium, and several other volcanic materials. We were told that due to the minerals that make up the black sand, it can be completely separated out of the white sand with a magnet.