Monteverde, Costa Rica: Returning 17 Years Later & the Reality of Full-Time Travel
Seventeen years after my first visit to Monteverde, Costa Rica, I returned with my husband to experience the cloud forest all over again. From thrilling ziplines and a terrifying Tarzan swing to unexpected challenges and learning to balance adventure with our budget, here's an honest look at our time in Monteverde as full-time travelers.
10/15/20264 min read
Returning to Monteverde 17 Years Later
This week, we made our way to Monteverde, Costa Rica, to experience the famous cloud forest and everything this beautiful mountain town has to offer. But for me (Rocio), this wasn't my first time here. It was a return to a place that has held a special place in my heart for nearly two decades.
Seventeen years ago, my family and I visited Monteverde and had an AMAZING trip. It's one of those family vacations we still talk about to this day. Naturally, I was excited to return, this time with Hudson, and see how much had changed.
Our first stop? An Argentine restaurant that my family and I frequented during our visit all those years ago. It felt pretty special to sit down for a meal somewhere that held so many memories.
But outside of that restaurant, almost everything felt unfamiliar!
Monteverde has changed SO much in 17 years. Roads that I remembered being unpaved are now paved, there are tons more restaurants and cafés, and the area has developed quite a bit. It was almost unrecognizable compared to the little mountain town I remembered as a kid.
Finding Our Rhythm as Full-Time Travelers
One thing Hudson and I are learning as we settle into full-time travel is that we have to find a balance between adventure, budgeting, and simply living our everyday lives.
When you're on a weeklong vacation, it's easy to justify spending money on every excursion because you're only there for a short time. But when you're traveling for an entire year, those $30, $50, and $100 experiences add up FAST.
On our first day in Monteverde, we paid $28 each to enter a park for a self-guided hike. We were even required to wait until our designated start time to begin walking, despite there being practically nobody else around. It was a little frustrating, especially considering the entrance fee. Don't get us wrong, we absolutely believe in supporting local tourism and the conservation of these beautiful places. But we're also learning that not every experience needs to come with a hefty price tag.
Aside from that hike, the only other paid activity we chose to do was ziplining and the Tarzan swing.
Part of that decision came down to Monteverde's ever-changing weather, but we also needed some time to regroup, work on our YouTube videos, and catch up on content.
That's another reality of full-time travel. We're not on vacation every single day. Some days are for adventures, and others are for editing videos, working, doing laundry, and figuring out where we're going next!
Ziplining, the Tarzan Swing, and Questioning Our Life Choices
Now, if there was one experience we weren't going to skip in Monteverde, it was ziplining through the cloud forest.
And WOW, was it an adrenaline-filled day.
The ziplines were incredible, but the real highlight (or perhaps the most terrifying part) was the Tarzan swing.
Imagine standing on a platform approximately 150 feet above the ground, knowing that you're about to jump off and free-fall roughly 25 meters before the swing catches you.
Sounds fun, right? 😂
I can confidently say that watching a video of someone doing this and actually standing on that platform are two VERY different experiences.
The videos truly don't do it justice. It was absolutely terrifying, but also one of those experiences that leaves you laughing afterward and feeling so glad you did it. I actually was the first to jump off the platform because I knew if I waited I might change my mind.
Would we recommend it? YES. Would I be terrified if I had to do it again? Also yes.
Let's Talk About Safety
Something interesting that came up several times during our travels was people asking whether we felt safer in Monteverde or in Antigua and Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.
I think safety is such a subjective topic, and I don't necessarily believe in comparing entire destinations based on one person's experience.
That being said, if we're sharing our personal experience, we actually felt safer during our time in Guatemala (outside of the shotgun experience).
A big reason for this was our accommodation in Monteverde.
After arriving, we learned that the Airbnb we were staying in had experienced multiple break-ins in the past. The most recent was in 2025. Although the owners have since implemented several security improvements, including additional cameras, knowing that history definitely made us a little more cautious.
Of course, that doesn't mean Monteverde is an unsafe destination. It simply goes to show how much your accommodation and individual circumstances can influence how comfortable you feel somewhere.
And it's another reminder that sometimes the reality of travel looks a little different from the beautiful photos and videos we share online.
On to Our Next Adventure!
Overall, Monteverde was such an interesting stop for me personally. Returning somewhere I visited as a child, seeing how much it has changed, and getting to create completely new memories with Hudson was really special.
This visit looked a little different from the family vacation I remembered 17 years ago, but I think that's part of what made it meaningful.
We're slowly figuring out what full-time travel looks like for us. Some days are filled with adrenaline and incredible experiences. Others involve working from our laptops, keeping an eye on our budget, and simply enjoying being somewhere new together.
And we're learning to appreciate both.
Next up, we're heading to the Guanacaste coast for some sunshine, beach time, and hopefully a few successful attempts at surfing!
Considering how much I screamed during the Tarzan swing, we'll see how I handle the waves. 😂
Until next time,
Rocio & Hudson
Fit2Wander
