One final recap from our Costa Rica trip earlier this year. I can’t believe that was almost 4 months ago! I still remember that trip like it happened yesterday though. What an amazing experience it was with my sister Dylana, our friend Kiara and her boyfriend Mike. We spent the first half of our time in Costa Rica staying at the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo. My favorite part of our stay there was the easy access to the beach and the unlimited opportunities to get adventurous in the water. We surfed, we paddle boarded, zip lined and jet skied our way through our part of Costa Rica. We went wild, and we got tan, and we danced to local music. It was such a freeing experience. But although we were adventurous most of the time we did get to relax for a little bit, too. Massages and some time at the hydro therapy spa. My body felt renewed. I wish I could go back and relive it all again. And again. And again.

Well, at least now I can with this video we made with footage from our trip. Check it out below and follow my YOUTUBE. Filmed by Mike Bish

Dresses by Gentle Fawn

Shoes by Teva

The post FOUR SEASONS PENINSULA PAPAGAYO VIDEO first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

There is nothing more brilliant than dipping yourself in your very own hot spring pool. From Peninsula Papagayo we hit the road one evening through the sunset to La Fortunado. Our destination? The dreamy Nayara Springs hotel. We arrived just past midnight and woke up to the sounds of a man and his guitar playing Hotel California in the restaurant. Nayara Springs is surrounded by jungle. Hills so lush and so green. Just getting to our room is like going through Jurassic Park. We took it’s narrow bridge surrounded by tall trees decked in twinkling lights up to our casita. But it wasn’t until the crack of dawn that we really got to experience all of Nayara’s beauty. Our backyard hot spring was surrounded by leaves so big you really couldn’t see anything a mile away…maybe just a small glimpse of the volcano. We spent hours in our hot spring pool. The steam worked miracles on our skin. We’re talking baby soft. Just what we needed after days roughing it out surfing in the sun. We started our days with a classic Costa Rican dish of eggs, cheese, wild rice and watermelon smoothies, followed by yoga during the rain. Fully chilled out thanks to the burning incense of palo santo wood and the sounds of the guitar. Want to go on a honeymoon? Go here.

// Wildfox sunglasses, Tori Praver swimsuit //

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This gigantic straw hat has been to many beaches with us. From lazy mornings in Miami to here at dusk in Costa Rica. It’s been this close to getting washed away into the ocean that I’m surprised it’s still here in my closet back in New York awaiting it’s next sandy adventure. Here we are just minutes from losing the sun at the beautiful Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo. The beach so quiet all you could hear was the buzzing from the trees and the crashing of the waves. Pure paradise. New York City felt extremely far away. Suddenly you smell of sunscreen, the ocean, and bug spray. A comforting combination. It’s nice having these photos to soak back in this little moment. When all you need is a beer and your best friend’s shoulder to lean on.

// Aerie swimsuit, Hatattack sunhat, Phyllis + Rosie jewelry //

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There’s a super magical place in La Fortunado, Costa Rica called Nayara Springs. It’s a total honeymoon spot. A place to laze around your casita…dipping in and out of your backyard’s hot spring plunge pool. The humidity and hot springs makes your skin glow better than any face serum could. The heat immediately makes you want to close your eyes and doze off into a daydream. It’s one of those places where you rarely see your neighbors because everyone stays in their own little world among the jungle’s chirping birds. Talk about seclusion, my favorite way to escape.

I definitely did a bikini a day…and you know how much I love the vibrancy of the color red. I found this baby at Aerie. Complete with a matching satin red headband and a bottle of Sun Bum. Less is more.

// Aerie swimsuit, Gloria Yu headband, Phyllis + Rosie cuff and rings, Kamryn Dame ring //

The post FIERY RED | AERIE first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

My adventure monkeys and I have been planning an epic getaway to surf, sunbathe, and explore. Costa Rica seemed like the perfect place. There’s something so special about those empty beaches and lush, humid jungles. Plus, I love any excuse to wear a bikini along with one of the best travel shoes around, Teva. Through the years, I’ve collected so many pairs. Each have their own tale. Trails from the ocean, the cobblestone city streets, roadtrips through the South, and the California desert. They’re ideal at home for hot summers in the city, but of course they’re even better when traveling in the most exotic of beaches. I traveled with my two favorites, Kiara Schwartz and Dylana (duh)…with a little help from our photographer/videographer pal, Mike Bish. We love the outdoors and we’re not afraid to get a little grimy. We live for that adrenaline rush. We all live in different cities…LA, Vancouver, and NYC, so the pura vida lifestyle of Costa Rica made for a rejuvenating and memorable reunion.

We began our trip at Peninsula Papagayo, the exclusive beach just by the Four Seasons where we stayed for the first half of our trip. I totally recommend visiting this Four Seasons. But, seriously. It’s unlike any other of the resorts complete with gigantic infinity pools overlooking the water, one of the best spas (yes, we got a killer massage and the plunge pool is like WOAH), and crystal clear waters. It’s so removed from the rest of Costa Rica which makes it feel like you’re far away from everything else in the world. Our villa was out of a little fairytale. Though we did spend a lot of time by the pool and diggin’ into the classic Costa Rican dishes, most of our days began at 6am and ended being in bed straight after dinner. The wonderful thing about tropical destinations is just being about to go with the flow. Waking up early to the sounds of the birds and monkeys, and falling asleep with the buzz coming from whatever is up in the trees. It’s a lot like sleeping a low hum. Every day was spent on our feet. We were always covered in sand or sweating out butts off in a pair of denim shorts. Bug spray and endless amounts of sunscreen are necessary when hiking…taking an 11 series zip-lining tour…climbing down rocks to get as close to the waterfall as possible. All strapped into our Tevas. What would you do without them on a trip like this? I really don’t know. But my feet thanked me that’s for sure.

From Peninsula Papagayo, we went straight for La Fortunado, famous for it’s gorgeous jungle. We were ready to get down and dirty for a more rustic adventure out in nature, looking for snakes and exotic animals. We hopped in a van for a late 3 hour ride catching the most beautiful sunset. It was red like fire. Talk about pulling off the side of the road and taking a breather, and really just soaking in how beautiful and magical Central America really is. The next half of our journey awaits. Stay tuned.

featuring:

TEVA original sandals, slides, and flatforms

-Suboo black swimsuit, Gentle Fawn cover-up, Frankie’s yellow swimsuit, Wildfox green swimsuit, Vitamin A brown swimsuit, SINGLE silk kimono, Aerie red one-piece.

-Jewelry by Sabrina SL and Phyllis + Rosie

-Maria Castelli backpack 

The post PURA VIDA | COSTA RICA IN TEVA first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.