Let’s be honest… can we just go back to Costa Rica please?? The past week and a half has been less than stellar [hello ice storm + snow and frigid cold temps]….which has me dreaming and reminiscing about the greatness that was life in Costa Rica last month with the Shop Avara team. Costa Rica definitely stole a little piece of my heart… from the moment we touched down in the hopper plane at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection — perched in the lush mountains with views that made my jaw drop every single morning — I knew this was going to be a trip for the books. Between meeting the sweetest group of women, eating incredible food that somehow always felt elevated yet super delish and healthy, and celebrating the launch of Avara’s newest resort collection, this was 100% a trip I’ll never forget… read on for a little snapshot of each day for the full rewind and recap from this amazing adventure!!
Day One
We kicked off our adventure by boarding the picturesque Carmon Air charter plane [hello, boutique travel vibes!] and headed straight to Hacienda AltaGracia . Once we landed, it felt like stepping into a postcard — tropical greens, mountain views and that fresh Costa Rican breeze centered in the middle of the jungle.
Lucky for us, we didn’t have much on the schedule that day other than getting settled into the sanctuary so we took advantage with a leisurely dinner at the Grano Restaurant, lots of girl talk, unpacking and calling it an early night because it had been a 12+ hour travel day for this lady. They only have 50 private casitas onsite so it’s super small and full of charm and I LOVE that it’s a smaller style oasis = perfect for escaping the everyday AND crowds of people too. And yes, it’s totally family friendly, but I’d recommend more for a couples’ trip so you can really enjoy the property, adults only pool, state of the art spa and check out from reality for a bit!
Day Two
The next morning, I started with breakfast from the comfort of my casita which was the perfect way to start my day out right… quiet time with french press coffee and the world’s best banana bread I’ve ever had [no but really!!]… Then I spent the next few hours shooting looks for the launch with the Avara creative team so we had all the imagery + resources we needed for the big debut! We spent most of the with lots of outfit changes, plenty of sunshine and checking out the resort and getting to know everyone better in between = P.S. the ladies on this trip were INCREDIBLE… such a fun lineup and definitely some new faces you’re going to want to follow as well!
Pictured below are Karina from Karina Style Diaries, Brooke from One Small Blonde, Leigh from LWilliams Style, Emily Wickard from Avara, Karis from Karis Renee, Jess from J.Cathell, Brooke Jensen from The Broke Brooke and Tinsley from Tinsley Erin [not pictured Lucy from Lucy Whims]
Later that afternoon we got ready for the evening and met for welcome drinks and dinner. It was our first real chance to all sit down together, share stories and settle in as one big girl gang. And of course take in the AMAZING sunset with a full on panoramic view of the Costa Rican landscape… taking it all in together and getting to celebrate this amazing adventure = all with great food, fun drinks and the best company as well!
Day Three
Launch day started with another slow breakfast at the hotel before jumping back into photos, filming reels around the resort debut which gave us some time together with a leisurely lunch while chatting all things work, personal and life = it’s crazy because as a full-time content creator you spend A LOT of time alone so trips like this are great for chatting best practices, what works/what doesn’t and general stuff about our industry with others who do the same thing.
We took a little break for a perfect pool day (sun + lots of laughs = total tropical bliss). That evening, we had a tasting experience that was family-style inspired, AND we learned how to make homemade tortillas together with the Tita Tita dining event — such a fun and thoughtful way to end the trip!
PRO TIP | I didn’t get a chance to experience the on-site spa, but apparently it’s ranked on a ton of travel insider’s lists as one of the top 10 in the world so def do as I say, not as I do and make time on your vacation to indulge and relax a bit!
Day Four
We wrapped up the trip with breakfast together before heading to the plane and making the journey home. It was a quick trip, but one that felt really intentional — full of connection, beautiful surroundings, and so many good moments to take with us!! It definitely makes me want to head back to Costa Rica with Jeff and the girls… P.S. this also makes me really excited for spring break coming up next month!
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