The journey to our home in Costa Rica was a windy and humid one. We had chosen a popular way of travel here: buses. Very cost-efficient and relatively easy, the country is not big in size, but the lack of roads throughout its territory can make some trips longer than necessary.

We kept rolling with the stop and go of the bus, compact cars and trucks sharing the one lane road with us.

Twisting along the jungle road, epic, lush, green hills and mountains surround us. No ground allowed to peak through the thick vegetation that covers this nation. It is known as “one of the greenest countries on the planet,” perhaps only superseded by Norway and Sweden.They are not joking. The whole nation is inside a rain forest. Like many places around the world, they have been losing their forests and jungles due to farming and clear cutting, but because of the nations dedication to its own richness, they have protected more than quarter of their land within state parks and protected rainforests.

Although the bus ride is usually 5 hours or more from the capital of San Jose to the Caribbean coastal town of Puerto Viejo, we make it in 4! Record time, considering many have said it took them 6 to 7 hours. We got lucky.

Once we arrive, I understand why Karim thought I would enjoy this place, it is a Rasta town. Yellow, red and green painted on many buildings and signs, and the vibe is chilled, relaxing, with sounds of Bob Marley in the distance. You’re on ‘island time’ here, and I can get used to this!

Have you traveled around Costa Rica or Central America? What were your favorite places to visit and what modes of transport did you use? Comment below, I would love to hear about your travels!

If you have any questions regarding my trips, or want to exchange information, feel free to reach me at [email protected] 🙂