July 1998, 2006 and 2007

The destination: Costa Rica. The Protagonists over the years: Megan, Jake, Christopher, Suzie, Bryan, Keith, Jason, Mark, Luigi, Nina, Chris, Tina, Ed, Christina, and John . The virgin trip: July 1998.  

Here is how it all started back in 1998: Megan, Jake, Chris and Suzie looking for a new adventure hopped on the red eye from LA to Atlanta – a flight, which I can assure you, was not short on bon voyage convivials - and from there it was onto the San Jose, Costa Rica express.   Hard to believe today given the growth of Costa Rican tourism, but this was Delta's first foray into the country. The plane descended through the Caribbean cloud layer just as we were making landfall over the sprawling verdant hills of Nicaragua. Despite what you may have heard, we were treated to very little guerilla warfare in the jungles below.

The plane made a sweeping left turn and set down gently on the cement tarmac of San Jose, Costa Rica.  Back in '98, the airport was still new to the game of welcoming jumbo jets from America.  So the pilot simply turned off the runway, shut down the engines, and sat waiting for one of those funny stair-ladder trucks to roll up. As the passengers made their way across the tarmac to the warehouse-y terminal, a gentle summer rain began to fall. The rain was relaxing, the mood was tropical and the foliage lush. Good start.  Today, the experience is a bit more like arriving in Miami.  Travelers are welcomed into a comfortable air conditioned terminal, complete with a Burger King and a Pizza Hut.  Oh well.  

On the inaugural trip, we first hit San Jose, then drove over to Arenal, and last flew down to Lapa Rios.  Ten years hence, Christopher and his amigos have made Costa Rica a regular stop on the get-away weekend circuit.  Popular spots include Jaco for fun in the sun and surf, and Manuel Antonio for some soft adventure and abundant micheladas.  Check out the map below for details.: