Post 8: A Costa Rican Escape
- DCW
- Apr 18
- 6 min read
Caleb’s 40th in Costa Rica – A Throuple Adventure of Epic Proportions
After Will’s wild Alaska birthday (which we’ll recap in the next post before he celebrates another bday😂), we knew we had to make Caleb’s 40th just as unforgettable. And when we asked him where he wanted to go, he didn’t hesitate: Costa Rica.
He’d never been. Daniel had always wanted to go. And Will? He’ll pack for anywhere tropical as long as his men are by his side. So something hot, green, fruity, rummy, and full of adventure? Check, check, and check.
Twelve days. All-inclusive. Three boyfriends. A country that says “Pura Vida” like it’s a way of life—because it is. Here’s how we did it.
Why Costa Rica?
Simple: Caleb is a beachy, ocean-loving adrenaline junkie. He wanted warm water, big adventure, and that laid-back “let’s drink rum with monkeys” energy. Daniel was already sold before we booked, and Will just said, “Are there coconut palm trees? I’m in.”
It had the perfect mix of relaxation and fun chaos—just like us. Add in unlimited fresh fruit, daily piña coladas, tequila drinks, and a swim-up bar we may or may not have shut down more than once… it was the ideal throuple birthday escape.
Getting There & First Impressions
We flew into Liberia, which... not gonna lie, wasn’t what we expected. It looked like Arizona in a drought, and Will literally turned to Caleb and said, “Where’s the green?!” 😂 But the second we stepped off that plane—bam. Humidity. Heat. A UV rating of “stay inside or die.” We were not ready.
Our resort, the Riu Guanacaste, was 45 minutes away. The hotel shuttle wanted $900 a person roundtrip (LOL no), so Daniel put his Reddit sleuthing skills to work and found a company that did it for $300 total. We were like, this is either the best deal ever or we’re getting kidnapped. Turns out—it was perfect! (link to them at the end)
On the drive, we had the “Welcome to Costa Rica” moment when traffic backed up and we realized it was because a woman on a scooter had been hit by a bus. She was just... laying there. No scene tape, no covering it up. Just real life, front and center. We all sat in stunned silence like, “Welp… this trip’s starting off strong.” 😬
But once we arrived—wow. Huge open-air entryway. Palms for days. 700+ rooms, 6 restaurants, a massive buffet, and unlimited drinks. Say what you will about all-inclusive, but when you like to party like you're 22 (but aren’t), they’re heaven.
Our Favorite Adventures
Let’s be real—those massive hotel excursions with 50 people and an overly energized caffeine tour guide weren’t our vibe. Will plans events for tens of thousands of people, so being herded around like goats wasn’t the fantasy we had in mind.
Instead, we booked two private tours with our guy Marcos for just $130/person. And y’all… worth it.
Day One: Jungle Zipline & Mud Spa Mayhem:
We did eight ziplines over a river, through the trees, and across the jungle. Caleb lived his best adrenaline-filled life. There was horseback riding, a volcanic mud bath (yep, we got lathered), hot springs, and a delicious lunch that made us want to cry. Costa Rican food? A+. Rice, beans, protein, fruit, salad—simple but perfect.
We also got to hang out with Marcos’s daughter, who was turning 15 soon and wanted to be a doctor. This girl had big energy and bigger goals, and it was a total vibe hearing her talk about life in Costa Rica.
Day Two: Rainforest & Waterfall Magic:
This was a long day but totally worth it. It started dry, dusty, and hot as hell. We even passed a few fires (which, being from California, weirdly felt like home). But once we crossed into the rainforest, it was like stepping into a different universe.
Rain poured, the trees were huge, and everything turned bright green. Our guide said, “Don’t touch anything—it might kill you,” and then immediately followed it with “Ask me anything!” Iconic.
We saw sloths, birds, frogs, toucans, a baby viper, and more. It was like walking through a National Geographic doc, but with more sweating and less narration.
After a magical rainforest hike, we hit a waterfall for swimming. Caleb and Daniel dove in. Will stayed waist-deep taking photos like a proud gay dad at the beach.
Scuba Day & Beach Life:
Caleb and Daniel did a scuba dive about 40 feet deep and saw stingrays, starfish, a seahorse, and all kinds of fish. Will stayed behind to work on the book (more on that soon 👀) and lived his best beach bum life.
The beach was incredible—black sand from the volcanic rock, and UV levels so high we turned shades of red Crayola doesn’t even name. We finally made it to Playa Blanca, the secret white-sand beach you can only reach at low tide, and it was 100% worth the hike. Peaceful, stunning, and practically empty.
And yes, Will and Daniel got FRIED. Still red five days later.
Best Food Moment:
The Monkey Bar. Fresh lobster under wild monkeys swinging in the trees. We came back a second time for drinks and apps because it was that good. 10/10 would let the monkeys watch us eat again. We made 3 stops back to the monkeys to just hang out.
Awkward, Funny, and Totally Us Moments
When Daniel and Caleb were signing up for scuba and the woman asked, “Why isn’t he doing it?” then followed up with, “Are you all brothers?” We said, “No, we’re boyfriends.” Her whole face shifted like we had just explained quantum physics. “Wait… like kissing boyfriends?” she asked. “Yup! Nine years strong.” She was shook. 😂
Our poolside Canadian friend who photobombed our white party pic… and then didn’t remember us the next day. Must’ve been the tequila.
Caleb’s surprise birthday dinner: balloons, a full chocolate cake, and a table of waiters singing Happy Birthday in Spanish. His face? Lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
Birthday dinner at Cafe Liberia.
What We Took Away from Costa Rica
This trip gave us everything we needed and more. We spent 13 full days together, sunup to sundown, and somehow didn’t get sick of each other. That’s love, baby.
We remembered that when things feel heavy, it’s not us—it’s the grind of California life wearing us down. Costa Rica reminded us to slow the hell down and breathe.
The people there? So kind, welcoming, and full of life. Their country runs on 100% renewable energy, has no army, and puts that money into education. That’s the dream.
The Pura Vida mindset is real—it’s about gratitude, presence, and keeping things chill.
No wonder we keep looking at Hawaii as our future… the island vibes are calling. 🌴
Travel Tips If You Go:
Book private tours if you can—they’re cheaper and better than the big groups.
Guanacaste is dry, so the best time to go is Jan–April.
The hotel gift shops are expensive AF. Buy your souvenirs from the beach vendors—they sell the same stuff for 75% less and it supports local families.
Oh, and wear SPF. High SPF. Trust us. Plus bring your own or it's $50 a bottle.
Our transportation and guide: https://arenalprivatetourscr.com/
Final Thoughts
Caleb’s 40th was perfect. He told us it was the best trip of his life, and honestly? That’s all we needed to hear. The goal was to celebrate him, reconnect, and reset—and we nailed it.
Would we go again? Already planning it. This time: deeper into the rainforest.
Got a birthday trip dream spot? Drop it in the comments—because you know we’re always planning our next adventure. ✈️🌊🍹
Life Lately: Back to Reality: Post-Vacation
Not really much new—just trying to get back to normal life after the trip. We had a day planned to relax when we got home before diving back into work, but of course... our living room TV died that morning. What are the chances? We called warranty, and naturally, it’s going to take weeks to fix. But Will was not about to let that ruin his decompression day—especially on four hours of sleep. Best Buy had a spring sale, and by 11 a.m., a new TV was in the truck on the way home. Don’t mess with a man and his smut TV time to recharge. 😂
Getting back into work has been rough for all of us. Day one back felt like a full week, but that’s adulting, right? Ready or not, we’re back in it.
The book is coming along AMAZING. We actually finished the full first draft—over 200 pages in standard format! Now we’re deep into the second version, tweaking and tightening to make sure it’s perfect. It’s been such a trip taking our real-life experiences and threading them through fictional characters—love, drama, spicy scenes, and all. Will’s already got ideas for book two, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves (yet). The goal is to release in May, but if editing takes longer, June it is. We only get one shot to launch it right, and we want to make sure it’s perfect.
Have a great holiday weekend and we’ll catch up soon!
Pura Vida,The Dudes 💙💙💙
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