For years, I have wanted to visit Costa Rica. Every person I talk to that has been to this country raves about its beauty. Having only 1 week of vacation time, I needed to strategically plan out my agenda. Being a sun lover, I wanted to explore as many beaches as possible. But having heard about the beautiful tropical forests, wildlife, and national parks, I wanted to allot some time to visiting a few of these places as well. With the plan being to move from place to place, I wanted to pack as little and as lightly as possible. Of course, flip flops and bathing suits were the first to go in my luggage. Hiking boots were recommended but I didn’t want to lug them around in my backpack. I decided to bring my leguano barefoot shoes because they are so comfortable and lightweight. I just wasn’t sure how they would hold up to hiking in the rugged terrain of Costa Rica.
Fast-forward and I am back from my trip and what a trip it was! If you haven’t been to Costa Rica, I highly suggest you fit it into your travel plans. The beaches in Guanacaste were beautiful and surprisingly solitude. After many discussions with locals, I decided I wanted to spend a few days away from the beaches and visit Tenorio Volcano National Park. The lodge I chose to stay at was incredible with my cabin overlooking a roaring river with a wood burning hot tub.
They had a hiking trail on the property, but I was concerned that I only had my leguanos and not hiking boots. It had just poured buckets and was extremely muddy and slippery. But I was in Costa Rica for an adventure, so I decided to give it a go. I threw on my leguano Pink Beats and hit the trail. The hike started at a stable and I had to climb a path of slippery wet rocks. So far so good! My feet felt great in my barefoot shoes. They protected me from sharp stones and sticks that were hidden in the muck. The trail then took me through beautiful green pastures and into a lush tropical forest by the river. I was so sure-footed in my non-slip leguanos that I didn’t even think about my feet or shoes. I was in awe of the beauty as I watched Toucans and other tropical birds fly by. I did sink deep in the mud, but my shoes kept me protected. At this point, I was grateful that I didn’t have to continue the hike in heavy mud encrusted boots. Leguano shoes have a very thin sole that allowed me to feel the squishy ground beneath my feet. It was so enjoyable feeling more connected to the earth! After about 2 hours, I got back to the lodge and went straight to the dock to cool off in the freezing cold river. Again, I was grateful to be wearing my leguanos as they are a great water shoe. It was quite rocky and slippery, but my leguanos kept my feet protected and I was not worried about what I might step on. I swam out to the little waterfall, stuck my feet in and gave my filthy shoes a good wash. The mud rinsed off instantly!
I got so much wear out of my leguano barefoot shoes on this trip. I wore them on the plane, walking the beach, in the ocean, shopping, exploring and on my hike. They are the perfect travel shoe as they roll up in a ball and take up no space in luggage or beach bag. The shoes are breathable and kept my feet cool in the hot climate. They dry quickly and are antibacterial keeping odor to a minimum. I highly recommend bringing a pair of leguano barefoot shoes on your next trip!
