Cameron and Holden Janssen in Costa Rica.
Last week I wrote about Vanessa and Liana Janssen's recent visit to Japan. In actuality, the Janssen family consists of three children in total. It simply was not feasible for the entire family to make the trip east, as airfare to Japan was quite costly. So the head of the family and Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Sean Janssen, researched alternate destinations with cheap flights for a trip with his two young sons, Cameron, age six, and Holden, age 4. He found a terrific deal from Seattle to the capital of Costa Rica! The inconvenience was the trade-off for the cheap price. Thus the trip was quite extensive with two stops and long layovers. Sean was quick to say that although the flights were of great value, he "would not recommend them for travel with kids."
Once in the capital of San Jose, Costa Rica, Sean and the boys were met with Sean's sister and an old friend. They took a 3-hour bus ride to the coastal town of Quepos. Located on the Pacific Coast, this harbor town features a tropical inlet with a magnificent backdrop made up of lush rainforest. Best known for its world-famous sport fishing, its moderately warm temperatures also lure tourists to its shores. Average weather temperatures throughout the year vary between 78°F-92°F. Indeed during their travels, the boys enjoyed sunny weather with light bouts of rain throughout the day, despite it being the area's wet season. Still, it was a welcome change from the weather we were experiencing locally. We had a low of 5°F and a high of 53°F that same week in October.
The best part of the trip for the Janssen crew was visiting The Manuel Antonio National Park, located a mere half-hour from their hotel. Once named by Forbes as one of the world's most beautiful parks, this place proves to be a natural wonderland featuring abundant wildlife and some of the gorgeous vistas on the planet! The park features three beautiful beaches and a network of trails for discovering the diverse flora and fauna native to the rainforest. Sean and the boys were fortunate to take a guided tour of this extraordinary place. During their exploration, they saw a variety of tropical birds as well as howler, squirrel, and capuchin monkeys. Other species that inhabit the area are spider and white-faced monkeys, coatis, pacas, anteaters, ocelots, and oddly enough raccoons. Sean's favorite part was witnessing a sloth in its natural habitat.
Another notable experience was their accommodation. Sean described it as "a tropical villa with open walls." This type of lodging is customary to the region and allows for maximum views of the stunning landscape. Not to mention the open-air concept proves to be functional during their hotter months. Cameron and Holden particularly enjoyed the on-site pool. During their stay, the group learned about a newly discovered, rare species of crab indigenous solely to that area. Sean and the boys were able to view these small wonders from their hotel, where they learned that these land-based crabs feed on plants and seeds.
Costa Rica, in general, is a relatively small country. It is 19,700 square miles, comparably a little smaller than the state of West Virginia. This Central American country holds coasts on both the Caribbean and Pacific and is best known for its natural beauty and diverse landscape. Boasting magnificent beaches and volcanoes, a quarter of its rugged terrain is made up of majestic rainforest responsible for 5% of the world's biodiversity! Tourism is its primary industry. People from around the world flock to Costa Rica to explore it's wildlife, as well as to experience active adventures such as hiking, biking, kayaking, surfing, fishing, boating, and zip-lining. However, relaxing on their fine sand beaches is always fun too! Although Spanish is the primary language spoken throughout the country, it is not a requirement for visitors. Most of the people in the tourism industry, such as hotel representatives, tour guides, and many restaurant workers, happily speak English. The Costa Rican people, more popularly referred to as Ticos, are generally friendly, polite, and educated people.
So while the Janssen ladies of the family traversed Japan, the boys merrily experienced an unforgettable adventure of their own in the awesome lands of Costa Rica!
