But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books is the secret lore of ocean.
— H.P. Lovecraft

After arriving in Costa Rica for the first time, I focused my thoughts as we traveled in our “Turismo” marked van to the Pacific Ocean coastline. Traveling with my husband, I was also excited for him to see it—as it was his first time seeing the Pacific. Our traveling group of four gushed and oohed and awed when our van driver made a small pitstop for us in Jacó, and pulled over for us to take in the Pacific for the first time in our trip.

There is something majestical when you think about the Pacific, as a midwesterner in the U.S. Being fairly smack dab in the middle of the country, there are hundreds or thousands of miles to go to travel to either ocean, the Atlantic or the Pacific. For most purposes, most midwesterners end up going to the Atlantic, for it’s closer and more popular in the region. You can experience the “colder” region of the Atlantic in the New England states, or make your way down the coastline to the more visited beach areas of the Carolinas and Florida. Personally, I had made my way to the Pacific in California just once when I was there for a business trip a few years ago, and even though my trip didn’t have a day at the beach in the itinerary, I made a vow I must travel to the Pacific at least once to take it in and see how it differed from the Atlantic Ocean I had traveled to before.

When I experienced seeing it for the first time in California that year, I remembered noting that the sand was darker and rockier, and those rocks—those large rocks lining the coastline of Newport Beach, California—they were quite impressive and from what I hear (because I am not a surfer, but in another life I would love to be!) makes for good “crashing” waves for surfers.

When we got to Jacó, and saw the Pacific, I recall thinking that the Pacific here in Costa Rica was just as majestic, just as impressive and different than my midwestern viewpoint of the beaches and oceans I had traveled to in the past, but similar to my first take of it in California.

Then, when we arrived at our destination hotel in Quepos, and I stood out on our balcony, the true glory of this magnificent beast called the Pacific was revealed. Massive crashing waves, beautiful blue hues of water for miles and miles that we could view, surrounded by the rainforest areas of Manuel Antonio National Park; it truly was unlike anything we’d both together had ever seen. I knew right then why the hotel claimed you didn’t want TVs or any other distracting electronics like phones or computers, but rather this was the place to come to realize the grandeur and magnificence of this ocean. To sit on the balcony, overlooking it, and hear yourself think for once and be mesmerized by the wildlife that appreciates it so much more than any human ever could (although I did sit there, appreciating it fairly well!)

I went to bed that first night at the ocean, listening to the sound of the frogs and the crashing waves of the mighty Pacific in our all-screened room and wondered for those that hadn’t yet been to this part of the world, had they really experienced the joy that I was feeling right then? The joy of knowing that this place existed, that the call of this part of the Pacific was so addicting, and the joy that night I was experiencing of inner peace that I hadn’t felt in a long time. All because my surroundings were calling me to listen to it.

Have you ever been to a place that made you feel the most at peace you have ever been? Where is it? (But most importantly, where can I find it?)

For me (and I’m pretty sure for the rest of my days) that place is listening to the Pacific, in the middle of the rainforest, in Costa Rica.

Marissa is a traveling, U.S. based photographer and graphic designer. This last year of a discovery journey she has been on has led her to question what home truly means, and if “home” can be made and found anywhere. If you are inspired by the photographs she has shared in this post, you can purchase prints or canvases here through her online gallery. Email her at [email protected] or comment here with your own stories of travel and discovery, she would love to hear about them!
Costa Rica travel agency specializing in custom itinerary vacations.
Family nature resort, Lands in Love, animal friendly.