Days in Costa Rica are long, with one activity flowing into the next. Wearing Ridge allowed members of our group to go farther and stay out longer.
Post by Ridge Merino Co-Founder Susan Benton Russell
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My husband and I have been to Costa Rica a handful of times. We were married in Punta Islita in 2007, and afterward spent a short honeymoon in Cabo Matapalo, on the Osa Peninsula. For years, we’ve wanted to come back for a longer stay.
This isn’t the version of Costa Rica most people see first. It’s farther, a little harder to reach and much less developed - but that’s what makes it special. We recruited another family and planned our trip.
Getting there is an adventure all its own. From the capital San Jose, you can drive more than six hours to the southern tip of the peninsula or take a quick one-hour domestic flight. The domestic planes are small - every ounce of cargo matters. Bags are weighed before you board, and there’s no room for excess or “just in case” outfits.
You immediately feel that you’re heading somewhere remote. On this trip, our family and friends packed light on purpose, focusing on pieces we could wear more than once without thinking about it.
On the flight, we layered Ridge tees under Solstice Hoodies. By the time we landed in the humid Osa, we simply shed the extra layer and kept moving. Everything still felt fresh, which became a consistent thread through the entire trip.
Solstice Hoodies over a Ridge Merino Journey T-shirt or Canopy Merino Tencel Tank were the perfect light layers for sketchy plane rides into and around Costa Rica.
Welcome to the Edge of the World
The Osa Peninsula is intense in the best way. The wildlife isn’t something you go looking for - it’s all right there, in your face.
We saw every species of monkey native to Costa Rica: howlers, capuchins, spider monkeys and squirrel monkeys. Pairs of scarlet macaws squawked noisily overhead every few minutes. Toucans showed up regularly outside our room. Small mammals like agoutis and coatis meandered through the brush, iguanas stretched out in the sun, sloths hung motionless in the trees and scorpions quietly reminded us to double-check our shoes.
This area feels unfiltered. Nothing is staged or kept at a distance.
Toucans perch in a tree just outside our room.
We spent our days on the move: hiking, swimming, horseback riding and one afternoon waterfall rappelling, which felt equal parts controlled and irresponsible.
The light-as-air Ridge Canopy Tank was the perfect choice for waterfall rappelling.
Rugged Trails Lead to Untouched Rainforests and Rare Wildlife
A major highlight of the trip was visiting Corcovado National Park, often described as one of the most biologically intense places on Earth. After being there, that doesn’t feel like an exaggeration.
It’s one of the last remaining stretches of lowland tropical rainforest on Central America’s Pacific coast, and it’s protected in a way that keeps it truly wild. Since February 2014, the only way to access Corcovado is with a certified guide.
The Ridge Solstice Hoodie blocks the sun and wind on the wild ride to/from Corcovado National Park.
Getting there involved a rough boat ride along the coast - sun overhead, waves crashing from every direction. I wore the Ridge Canopy Tank under the Solstice Hoodie for that stretch, anticipating shifting sun and exposure. It provided full coverage on the water, even drying quickly after several splashes.
Once we reached the forest, I could strip back to the lighter layer as needed and move comfortably in the heat and humidity of the jungle.
Solstice Hoodies: check. Our group gets a briefing from the guide before a tour through Corcovado.
Inside the park, conditions change constantly. Rain arrives without warning, trails turn quickly to mud, insects appear in sudden waves and you’re always moving between open sun and thick canopy. Layering became less about planning and more about adapting.
Here we saw dozens of animals including monkeys, sloths, tiny endangered owls, caiman, wild boars and giant frigate birds.
In Corcovado, a squirrel monkey peers down from the dense canopy.
Throughout the trip, I rotated a few key pieces of Ridge clothing - a couple pairs of Boy Shorts, the Send-It Sports Bra, Canopy tops and Solstice Hoodies. Everything worked great for jungle treks (and bugs!), beach days and guided night tours - handling every condition beautifully.
They were lightweight, breathable and still comfortable after hours of heat and movement, with no heaviness, no lingering odor and no need to change after sweat-inducing activities. (Literally, the sweat seemed to “disappear.”) Something that really matters in a place where laundry isn’t always available.
Friends wearing Solstice Hoodies on a beach ride in Matapalo.
The Osa Peninsula isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone. The roads are rough, the closest grocery store is 30 minutes by car and upscale amenities are limited to nonexistent. It’s humid, unpredictable and completely immersive. But if you’re willing to go a little farther and carry a little less, it gives you a version of Costa Rica that feels almost primitive - where the line between you and the environment practically disappears.
