Why This Seasoned Traveler Finally Tried Luxury Experiential Travel (And Can’t Stop Thinking About It)
I’ve been to 34 countries and 6 continents. I’ve backpacked through hostels, ridden motorcycles across borders, and slept in everything from beach tents to five-star hotels. I’ve led food tours in foreign cities, navigated language barriers solo, and cracked transportation systems that would challenge most people. For me, travel planning was always part of the adventure.
So when someone suggested I try a fully curated luxury trip to Costa Rica with TerraFauna Journeys, where instead of scrambling to figure out meals, I’d be choosing from chef-crafted, locally sourced dishes, I hesitated. Why would I hand over control when I had mastered the art of meaningful travel?
Turns out, I didn’t know what I was missing.
The Quiet Gift of Presence
Here’s what travel has taught me over the years: being fully present is everything. It’s how you stumble into life-changing conversations, spot wildlife others overlook, or get swept away by a sunset.
What I had not realized was just how much mental energy went into planning. Even on the road, I was always thinking ahead. Where do we eat tonight? Did I double-check that tour? Will the hotel actually look like the photos?
And while I’ve made some unforgettable memories on my own, I’ve also gotten things wrong. I’ve booked what I thought were ethical sanctuaries that weren’t. I’ve stayed in places that looked charming online and turned out to be anything but. I’ve missed out on experiences that needed weeks of prep.
What It Feels Like to Be Truly Cared For
From the moment our TerraFauna host met us at the airport, early, unhurried, already handling the bags, I felt something shift. That feeling deepened with each passing day.
The Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, accessible only by boat, sat quietly near Corcovado National Park, a region that holds 2.5 percent of the planet’s biodiversity. To put it in perspective, the park is nearly the size of Denver, yet offers no accommodations within its boundaries. This lodge is the rare exception, grandfathered in before building restrictions, and uniquely positioned as the only property where you can hike directly into the park instead of relying on day trips by boat. Despite its remoteness, the food rivaled fine dining, the beds were dreamlike, and everything simply worked. Fresh towels appeared when needed. Cocktails arrived as if conjured. Even the pools stayed leaf-free, surrounded by thick jungle.
“But the true magic was in the people. From concierges Marco and Roger to guides Adrian, Tibi, and Diego, every person we met seemed to know us by name and genuinely cared about our experience. “
When my partner felt sick, they brought fresh ginger tea. And when a tapir was spotted off-trail, the team whisked us into a staff truck and rumbled down a 4WD jungle road in search of it. At first it had disappeared, so we waited quietly, watching scarlet macaws and toucans in the trees. Then, with the sharp eyes of Tibi and Adrian, we finally found it. The tapir wandered right up to our new friend, close enough to smell her from just inches away. It was an intimate, unforgettable encounter.
By the end of the trip, I was so accustomed to being looked after that I actually left my backpack in the taxi. I had forgotten I was supposed to carry my own things.
The Whale Encounter I’ll Never Forget
The moment that changed me came during a whale-watching trip. Our group of four found ourselves alone with a humpback mother, her calf, and several sub-adult males circling nearby. These males, full of testosterone and persistence, had come to mate with her, a natural part of the migration that brings whales to this region each year. But any sudden movement from a 40-ton humpback could put the calf at risk, and the males themselves would target the baby to get to the mother. What we witnessed was her fierce protection, the kind of unconditional, unparalleled love only a mother knows. For more than half an hour we watched in awe as she shielded her calf, holding her ground against the advances. It was raw, powerful, and unlike anything I will ever experience again.
Then our guide lowered a hydrophone into the water. We heard them singing. Their voices echoed through the boat’s speaker, raw and resonant. My partner and I were in tears. It was humbling beyond words.
We spent two hours in their presence, led by someone who not only interpreted their behavior but helped us feel the weight of the moment. Not just a sighting, but a connection.
The Freedom of Letting Go
What surprised me most was the mental spaciousness that came once I stopped worrying about every detail. At first, it felt strange to not be in control, to not be planning the next move or solving the next problem. But in that release, I discovered a different kind of freedom. When I was not thinking about logistics, I could really see. I connected more deeply with other travelers, with our guides, and with the land itself.
And because the experience was so thoughtfully designed, I did not lose anything. In fact, I gained everything. Unforgettable wildlife encounters. The most beautiful place I have ever stayed. Meals that nourished more than my body. All the richness of planning, without the stress.
Related Reading: The Life-Changing Magic of Group Travel: How Community & Shared Learning Transforms the Journey
Luxury Travel That Truly Gives Back
What made the trip even more meaningful was knowing that every element had a purpose. The lodge ran on solar and hydro power. Local schoolchildren visited for environmental education. Beach cleanups happened weekly. Every member of the team was Costa Rican.
Our journey also directly supported conservation. We met with head researcher Caroline and her team, who are studying coral immunology with Innoceana, an organization dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems. Our stay helps fund their work, along with initiatives like NAMA (focused on regenerative land practices) and Restor (a global movement that gives people tangible ways to engage in conservation). TerraFauna does not just talk about sustainability, it invests in it, and those efforts are visible at every layer of the experience.
The Journey That Shifted Everything
I came home feeling more than refreshed. I felt reconnected. To nature. To myself. To the people I met. I am still in touch with some of them. And I was already thinking about my return before I had even unpacked.
As someone who thought they had travel all figured out, this experience showed me another way, one rooted in trust, care, and genuine connection. Sometimes the best adventure is the one where you surrender the map and let someone else guide you. Not away from meaning, but deeper into it.
