But ultimately we loved the restful days hanging out on the beach with no plans, places to go or meals to make.
When they weren't at the beach, the boys spent a lot of time in the pool.
The boys were big fans of the black sand beach, which made them feel and look like they were playing in mud.
We rented kayaks one day and another went for a hike around sunset.
We had a view of the ocean from our room. Arriving just after the rainy season ended, we enjoyed weather in the upper 80s and the green, lush landscape.
Truth be told, Miles was pretty grumpy much of the trip, having just recovered from an ear infection (his third in a month) and missing too much sleep. We had to get everyone up at 4 a.m. on the day we left, and he never quite recovered.
But the promise of a fruity drink usually cheered him up.
One day we visited the Palo Verde National Park, which is known for its diverse wildlife, especially birds. One of our favorite parts of our last trip to Costa Rica was the animals we saw everywhere we went: monkeys and iguanas, coatis and parrots.
On the way to the park we stopped for a cup of amazing Costa Rica coffee and fresh fruit.
In the park, we took a boat tour and spotted crocodiles, iguanas and white-faced monkeys along the banks of the river. We also saw snowy egrets and ibises.
G brought home this sloth that he named Climber.
