My sister, Lila, and I went on such an awesome sister trip to Costa Rica in December. I love my sister to pieces and it was so great having her all to myself for a week! We are so compatible for traveling which is a huge plus. : ) I hadn’t been to Costa Rica since photographing a wedding there a couple years ago and I had been itching to get back there ever since.

We stayed at Flamingo Beach Resort in Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We loved the smaller size of the resort and the fact that it was right in the town of Playa Flamingo and across from Flamingo Beach, the public beach, so we didn’t feel like we were in a total resort bubble. We also chose not to do the all-inclusive food plan (except for breakfast) so we could go out and experience the ambiance and cuisine of the restaurants in the area. Many of the restaurants even offer a free pick-up/drop-off service in the area which is such an awesome plus! Some of our favourites were Carlos & Carlos (Amazing Italian with thee best service. Try the Exotica Anana C cocktail!), Papaya Restaurant (awesome tree-house ambiance, complete with a hammock area. Best spring rolls I’ve ever tasted), and Nibbana Beach Bar & Restaurant in Tamarindo (great ambiance right on the beach with yummy, fresh food).

We spent our days exploring the nearby towns and beaches as well as relaxing on our own beach of Playa Flamingo. My favourite outing was when we did a Sunset Snorkel tour through Manta Ray Sailing. We got picked up from our hotel and taken to a beach where we hopped in a small boat that took us to the Manta Ray Catamaran. Lila also did a day trip on her own to the Monteverde Cloud Forest where they also stopped at a coffee plantation and hummingbird sanctuary that she loved.

I felt so at home in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. I loved the Pura Vida (Pure Life) lifestyle that everyone lives by of not focusing on consumerism and owning things. It’s all about being positive, enjoying the little things in life and time with your friends and family, as opposed to a materialistic lifestyle. It really inspired me and I just felt like, “These are my people!” haha. I may even go back to Costa Rica for a few months next winter in my off-season, I loved it so much! I’m looking forward to photographing more weddings here as well.

Below: Flamingo Beach Resort in Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where we stayed.Doesn’t the below, right cliff look like a turtle?Sunset view from the Manta Ray Sailing snorkel tour we did. I highly recommend it!Playa Conchal beach! I did a Trash the Dress shoot here a couple years ago when I photographed a wedding in Guanacaste and it was great to come back. Instead of sand, part of it is made up of tiny little seashells. Gorgeous!The final stretch of road to the beach is… a beach. Haha. We walked the 2 shorts kms but lots of SUVs and horses passed us as well.Fishing with the Pelicans.Tamarindo, is an awesome surfer town in Guanacaste with lots of character.Time for a bunch of beautiful sunsets! There was a stunning sunset over Playa Flamingo beach literally every night we were there!