Dyana Hesson

Feels Like the First Time – Costa Rica

It Feels like the First Time

Costa Rica, January 2024, the dry season.

I recently did some flower hunting in Costa Rica!

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Traveling to a new place, especially an international destination, can be a little overwhelming. If you’re like me, you prepare by talking to people who have been, gathering information, and making a nice tidy folder. I watched YouTube videos, travel videos, so that in some way I was familiar with the place in my mind before I arrived. I also bought a nice Nat Geo map. I love maps.

All of that preparation is helpful. But there’s nothing like putting your boots on the ground. 

Our trip was a girl trip, and we planned  for about a year and a half. My friends all used their superpowers to help. We held zoom calls with our Costa Rican host, had group chats, and we made a plan. Slowly the hard details like flights, hotels and shuttles were in place. We decided on activities loosely and nailed those down once we arrived. 

Three of us were coming from Arizona, one from Minnesota, and one from California. The Arizona girls took Southwest Airlines through Houston.

We flew into San Jose, spent one night at the Fairfield by Marriot, which was perfect. Great breakfast, clean and quiet rooms, friendly service, and a free shuttle to and from the airport. In the morning we used a shuttle service (Costa Rica Trip Guild) to get from San Jose to the Dominical area. Our Driver made interesting stops along the way. We picked up a rental car in Uvita, (EC rent a car) got groceries, and drove on our own for the week. I was mainly the designated driver, and after a short while I felt very comfortable navigating the roads and all the steep ups and downs.  

We stayed at a beautiful vacation home by owner (https://www.vrbo.com/11133866ha) in the hills overlooking Playa Dominical. We heard howling monkeys and Toucans every morning. We took walks, explored local waterfalls, took surfing lessons, swam in the pool, and ate a lot of great, fresh, local food.

My overall impression? Costa Rica is a beautiful country. The people are friendly and hard-working and helpful. The food is delicious, the scenery is breathtaking, and it is such a huge country, there is so much to explore time and time again.

Would I go back? Absolutely.
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Tips and notes:

-With connecting flights, our bags went straight through to Costa Rica, but on the return flight, we had to pick them up in Houston and recheck them. Southwest has a flight from Phoenix to Houston and Houston to San Jose.

-If you are driving on your own, a 4-wheel drive is a must. I would not have driven on my own in the congested city of San Jose, but the Uvita/Dominical area was fine.

-We were asked for our passports one time at a road side check.

-We had one night where it rained 3 inches, but I only had to drive in the rain once. Pack a rain coat.

-Be leery of anywhere that advertises photos with with wildlife. It’s not good for a “wild” monkey to sit on your shoulder for a photo, and they have been known to eat their own. Leave the wild, wild. Use a zoom lens. There is a great Animal rescue in Uvita you can visit and learn more.

-I didn’t drink the water, all my friend did, we were all fine.

-a 10% tip is added, so no need to tip extra. This made life easier, and service was still great although not super fast. We did tip our shuttle diver, etc.

-Mas o Menos (More or less) reigns true with scheduling. It’s still good to arrive to your tour etc on time, but waiting once you arrive is not uncommon.

-the surf at Playa Dominical is gentle and a great place for surfing lessons.

Packing:

I took a midsize checked bag in a small carry-on with my toiletries and things I would need for one night. That way I would not have to rummage through my large suitcase at the first night hotel.

I did not wear my hiking pants, boots or any socks at all.
But If I were to go back and hike more of Chirripo NP. I’d bring them for the cooler temps and rough terrain.

My swim suit took too long to dry. Next time I would bring a fast drying two piece and wraps and quick drying tanks for over the top.  If your accommodations have air-conditioning, things will dry faster inside, even if there is sun outside.

Ladies, loose dresses are perfect. You can wear your bathing suit underneath and be ready for a dip in the ocean or a waterfall at a moment’s notice.

Pretty much, just pack like you would for Hawaii. Plan to sweat, a lot. Don’t bring anything valuable, and don’t leave things in your car.

Pura Vita!

Dyana Hesson

Dyana was born in 1966 in the Gold Country of California. There she was always happiest outdoors. Her weekends were spent visiting the local nursery and working on the natural landscaping of her family’s home. When she was 12, her father gave her a camera. She began photographing all that was interesting to her; the trees, the flowers, and the natural landscapes.

After a short stay in Southern California (where she met and married her husband in 1985), she moved to Arizona. Although the climate and landscape varied drastically from that of California, the inspiration did not.

Dyana became interested in painting as a way to express things that she couldn’t through a lens alone. She chose oil as her medium because it possessed a fluid quality perfect for the subjects she was painting. She began to experiment with thin layers of carefully blended paint, and the results were luminous. She earned her degree in Art at Arizona State University in 1991 and graduated Magna Cum Laude. After a four year detour to southern Michigan, Dyana and her family returned to Arizona. She continues to live in Mesa with her husband Randy, daughter Sydney and Dog Boon.

Dyana is always in search of her next painting. She takes long hikes in the desert and mountains, and frequently visits botanical gardens across the country. She feels she has the most success when she has the luxury of bringing her subjects home. She then has more time to study them and combine them with other elements. Using only natural lighting in her paintings, timing and weather are always factors.

Dyana is most excited about using her art to glorify God by drawing attention to His creation. She feels that the relationships and opportunities to serve with her art have been the most valuable aspect of her career.

Dyana is a proud to be a Signature Member of American Women Artists, Founding member of the Phoenix Zoo Art Committee, and Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine Master of the Southwest, 2017.

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