Renowned for its lush rainforests, captivating mountain views, and diverse wildlife, Costa Rica has become the destination for those who crave a true eco-adventure. Wish Kid Merryn departed from her home in Athens, New York, for an experience she won’t soon forget.

After a five-hour flight, Merryn arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica, and headed to the Springs Resort & Spa. Situated on165 acres perched one thousand feet above the Arenal Valley on a mountain ridge, the resort is just six kilometers north of the active Arenal Volcano and offers river tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, rock climbing, hot springs, and an animal sanctuary.

But first things first. After her long day of travel, Merryn was ready for a little time to herself, so she visited the spa on her first full day for a cacao spa treatment. As described by the resort, “The cacao spa treatment is a delightful combination wrap and massage that inspires all the senses, creating an overwhelming feeling of serenity and relaxation by nourishing and smoothing the skin. This treatment ends with a relaxing hot spring bath.”

After three wonderful days at The Springs Resort & Spa, Merryn embarked on a private lake crossing from Arenal to Monteverde, where she checked in at the Cloud Forest Lodge. Offering an experience that feels both isolated in nature yet close to the amenities of Monteverde, the Cloud Forest Lodge is situated in the Bellbird Biological Corridor. The Corridor, which spans from the mountains of Monteverde to the Gulf of Nicoya, was created about twenty years ago to help connect ecosystems and conserve the biodiversity in the region, including the three-wattled bellbird. It was the perfect location for Merryn to pursue her next adventure: bird watching. Setting out with a professional guide at 5:30AM, Merryn had the fortune to spot a bird she had dreamed of seeing in the wild: the iridescent green resplendent quetzal!

Though it was an early morning, that evening provided an exciting opportunity to see even more of the region’s incredible biodiversity. Led by an experienced naturalist guide, Merryn set out on a nighttime expedition to see frogs, snakes, armadillos, bats, two‐toed sloths, insects, sleeping birds, and more.

From the forest floor to the canopy, the next day on her Costa Rican adventure provided Merryn with the chance to get a bird’s eye view as she traversed the world-famous hanging bridges in Treetopia Park. Introduced in 1997, these bridges, which are perched high in the treetops, deliver a truly unique experience, allowing adventurous visitors to safely view wildlife from a perspective typically reserved for birds, monkeys, and sloths.

We think that Merryn’s Costa Rica experience is best summed up in her own words: “The trip was awesome! I definitely got what I was looking for out of this trip and more. I like being able to choose my own excursions, my favorite was the birding. We saw the resplendent quetzal which was one of my bucket-list birds!”

Nature, adventure, and a little spa time—they’re the ingredients of Merryn’s truly spectacular Costa Rica wish. And we thank all our donors and supporters for making it come true.