As the founder of Parasolo Travel, I hope that others can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Costa Rica as I have throughout my life. I was raised in the United States, but both of my parents were born in Costa Rica, migrating to the US in the late 60s to enjoy their dual citizenship. They would often bring me to Costa Rica and show me where they went to school, where they use to hang out, and tell me stories like how my grandfather use to be the “Mango Tree Lawyer” because he gave advice in the center of the city by the mango trees (which still sits there from at least the early 1900s). As a child, I remember spending time at my grandparents’ house (on a rock-hard bed) and having to wake up every morning when the rooster crowed next to my window. Even still, I loved waking up to the smiles of family members and the fresh bread my grandfather would bring home with a stick of “yellow” butter. At my other grandma’s house, I was always on the go because she was always on the go. I don’t remember anywhere we went; I can only recall her quick movement through small towns, the fact that she was always smiling, and constantly finding full meals in her small purse. On a side note, she had the softest arms on the planet and would constantly tell me to leave her arms alone as she laughed about it.

Since then, I have traveled to every province, enjoying the culture, the rainforest, and the beaches on both coasts. I ‘ve also been able to share my Costa Rican culture with my husband and kids for the past several years. At this point, they have practically seen as much as I have… I hope my kids will have something to think back on and share with their own families in years to come.

I now realize that there are plenty of women that would vacation in Costa Rica, but they may not know anyone willing to take the journey with them, or they are simply afraid of traveling to the unknown. Because of this, I wanted women to feel confident knowing that the vacation was planned for them with firsthand knowledge of the country. Adding to that, this would give women the opportunity to make some new friends along the way.

Ladies, this is your opportunity to create your own memories in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida

Shaavon L.