The first day when it actually rained in the morning during this rainy season and we’re leaving - for the win! We were lucky this entire trip with minimal rain (despite what the forecasts said) while benefitting from low season crowds.
We had our bagel breakfasts prepared in to-go boxes and I spent some time chatting with the receptionist, Juan Pablo as we checked out and waited for our airport taxi. He loves to travel and gave me tips on how to spot and differentiate tourists. He also shared with me the former local mayor of the area, Quepos, is actually Korean! They call him “Chino Kim” even though he’s definitively not Chinese and apparently owns a hotel next to Manuel Antonio national park. Apparently he is well-liked and has lived here for about 30 years. Go figure and you seriously learn random things while traveling.
We also spotted a few more scarlet macaws flying around the resort and even on our ride to the airport. Actually we only heard our driver get excited about one and we learned macaws in Spanish is lapas.
Our less than three hour ride was uneventful in a comfortable Hyundai minivan with reclining seats. We stopped at a mega souvenir shop where we both picked up last minute items. Thanks Kenneth for the suggestion, but I think he had to go to the bathroom too.
Airport check-in was super easy and we breezed through security. I got to practice my last bit of Spanish as I fumbled through my travel vocabulary.
Marie and I separated as she heads direct to Newark and I transfer in Atlanta as I wanted to maximize Delta miles and in my quest to retain Gold status gifted to me from a generous friend earlier this year. Thanks to Marie for lugging my last minute buys at the airport, because they were liquid and could get confiscated in Atlanta; apparently, I have to redo security and there was potential my bag would sail on thru per Google, so we played it safe. I guess Marie had to fib at the gate when they ask, “did anyone ask you to carry something for them?” Um yeah, hot sauce.
Transferring in Atlanta was interesting as I saw someone arrested and escorted to the nether regions of the airport with about five security / army looking guys. Not much was open (how do places close at 6 pm at the airport?), so I ended up at a Wendy’s - which was a zoo because so many other places were closed. Although we landed early in New York, we waited an hour for the gate to open up. But I was the first one in a cab and home in 20 minutes from LaGuardia.
As I reflect on our Costa Rican trip that was originally planned for 2020, I had asked Marie to join me on a yoga retreat as I heard so many enjoying theirs in this mecca of yoga retreats and because I read Manuel Antonio was a must-see. I’m so glad that I did and that we powered through these past few years. Marie - you’ve been a support during the rollercoaster of last year and you plugged away with researching and options. You planned everything, researched, booked most of the logistics, and helped make this happen. My mind and time have been overwhelmed for the past year and there are very few people in this world that I would trust with my travel planning. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for making the trip so funny, and so fun.
Costa Rica is definitely a country I will hopefully return to. The people and culture are unique in their love of life. They emphasize a “simple life, free of stress, A positive relaxed feeling” as quoted in the National Geographic. They say “Pura Vida” which means pure living when saying “hello”, “you’re welcome”, how are you?”, or just because. No wonder they live so long.
Indeed Costa Ricans do maximize joy and take care of others as represented by their commitment to universal education, healthcare, and environmental protection. We witnessed the love of and excitement for animals many times.
Except for the bugs. My new hot travel tip: I invested in Wirecutter’s best rated insect repellent which is Sawyer’s and has 20% picaridin - effective as deet, but much safer. It did the trick because I’m returning with less bug bites than normal, but as a healthy and happy traveler. Pura Vida!
Showing posts with label Costa Rica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Costa Rica. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Hang Diez
Our final full day in Costa Rica and we’ll surely miss this view with breakfast!
Today we had to get business out of the way and take a taxi to nearby Quepos for a Covid test to return to the States. We needed to get the test first thing to qualify for the day before the flight, and to guarantee receiving our results before our departure. Our kind cab driver waited while we were swabbed and brought us back to our hotel.
Here’s a photo of us with our beginner board after our lesson and the beach - pura vida!
Upon returning to the hotel, we hung out by the pool. It was a little cloudy and it rained a little, but there were birds to keep us company!
And then there were the monkeys that returned and started licking the window of our room and playing on our balcony. Marie got some fun shots which I’ve picstitched here:
After celebrating our negative Covid test results, we then headed out to dinner to Claro Que Si at the Si Como No resort (cute name pairing) where we had chicken dishes for our last night in Manuel Antonio and Costa Rica. Then we returned to the hotel to rest for our early ride to the airport.
Today we had to get business out of the way and take a taxi to nearby Quepos for a Covid test to return to the States. We needed to get the test first thing to qualify for the day before the flight, and to guarantee receiving our results before our departure. Our kind cab driver waited while we were swabbed and brought us back to our hotel.
We had a 9 am surf lesson and it would be both mine and Marie’s first time surfing. A bus brought us down to the beach and we received a quick lesson on how to jump on the board from 19 year old Jimmy with a unique voice. We then headed into the ocean and we think Marie’s instructor didn’t speak any English because he didn’t say much, but had a whole lot of sunscreen on his face.
In our instructor pairs, we tried to ride the wave or hang ten or diez! I got up more in the beginning, but Marie got better and better. Frankly, I was getting tired from the paddling, holding on to the board, and the water slamming into me. I was paired with Jimmy and he said these waves were normal - no wonder hardcore surfers like the waves in Costa Rica! I’ll always remember his pre-pubescent sounding voice: “Paddle paddle Cynthia! Stand up Cynthia, stand up!”
Jimmy also protected me from the big waves and the board when it thrashed around and he would always say “ok?” And I would keep asking him if he was ok. I’m sure it’s not easy holding the board from behind and taking care of a middle-aged beginner. He was sweet, even when I lost my grip and slid right down on to his head and shoulders when the board shot up 90 degrees from a wave. I tipped him well.
In our instructor pairs, we tried to ride the wave or hang ten or diez! I got up more in the beginning, but Marie got better and better. Frankly, I was getting tired from the paddling, holding on to the board, and the water slamming into me. I was paired with Jimmy and he said these waves were normal - no wonder hardcore surfers like the waves in Costa Rica! I’ll always remember his pre-pubescent sounding voice: “Paddle paddle Cynthia! Stand up Cynthia, stand up!”
Jimmy also protected me from the big waves and the board when it thrashed around and he would always say “ok?” And I would keep asking him if he was ok. I’m sure it’s not easy holding the board from behind and taking care of a middle-aged beginner. He was sweet, even when I lost my grip and slid right down on to his head and shoulders when the board shot up 90 degrees from a wave. I tipped him well.
Here’s a photo of us with our beginner board after our lesson and the beach - pura vida!
Upon returning to the hotel, we hung out by the pool. It was a little cloudy and it rained a little, but there were birds to keep us company!
And then there were the monkeys that returned and started licking the window of our room and playing on our balcony. Marie got some fun shots which I’ve picstitched here:
After celebrating our negative Covid test results, we then headed out to dinner to Claro Que Si at the Si Como No resort (cute name pairing) where we had chicken dishes for our last night in Manuel Antonio and Costa Rica. Then we returned to the hotel to rest for our early ride to the airport.
Monday, May 16, 2022
Zip Zip
Zip lining Photos Update:
What is a trip to Costa Rica without some zip lining?! Marie had booked us at El Santuario Canopy which had a crew of awesome guys who made us feel very safe. After our hotel breakfast, we waited for our transport which took us about 45 minutes away.
The crew of 4 guys or so were jokesters too and they had great energy. It was 9 of us as participants and we were all pretty efficient navigating each station. We were also all from America except for some Israeli sisters, one in a tube top no less. In summary from the website:
We didn’t have to brake ourselves which was a relief and the views were great. They had someone take professional photos and we’re waiting for access to the photo website. This allowed us to focus on the safety and especially since some tree platforms were a bit small. At points, we were zipping up to 60 miles an hour over the canopies!
But in the meantime, here’s a selfie after getting suited up and yes, I asked for child-sized gloves:
We both finished the entire adventure course despite not feeling a 100% - I think I got motion sickness from navigating the bridges and walkways. So when we returned to our hotel, we rested by the pool and I napped quite a bit.
For dinner, we headed to Rico Tico Jungle Grill which was in a lovely family resort. I forgot to take a picture of my salad, but here’s my tomato soup:
As it started to rain, we called a taxi that took us back to the hotel and eagerly await the zip lining photos. Check back later to see them!
What is a trip to Costa Rica without some zip lining?! Marie had booked us at El Santuario Canopy which had a crew of awesome guys who made us feel very safe. After our hotel breakfast, we waited for our transport which took us about 45 minutes away.
The crew of 4 guys or so were jokesters too and they had great energy. It was 9 of us as participants and we were all pretty efficient navigating each station. We were also all from America except for some Israeli sisters, one in a tube top no less. In summary from the website:
The adventure tour features Central America’s most impressive zip line at over 4,300 feet (yes over 8/10 of a mile!), 14 tree platforms, six hanging bridges, three nature walks, one double belay rappel, and 10 double-anchored zip lines, totaling over 3.6 kilometers in length.
We didn’t have to brake ourselves which was a relief and the views were great. They had someone take professional photos and we’re waiting for access to the photo website. This allowed us to focus on the safety and especially since some tree platforms were a bit small. At points, we were zipping up to 60 miles an hour over the canopies!
But in the meantime, here’s a selfie after getting suited up and yes, I asked for child-sized gloves:
We both finished the entire adventure course despite not feeling a 100% - I think I got motion sickness from navigating the bridges and walkways. So when we returned to our hotel, we rested by the pool and I napped quite a bit.
For dinner, we headed to Rico Tico Jungle Grill which was in a lovely family resort. I forgot to take a picture of my salad, but here’s my tomato soup:
As it started to rain, we called a taxi that took us back to the hotel and eagerly await the zip lining photos. Check back later to see them!
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Manuel Antonio
Our first morning at La Mariposa, and we were up early for our wildlife hike in Manuel Antonio - the most visited park in Costa Rica. We started off with the included breakfast looking over the pool. I ordered the traditional gallo pinto which reminded me of the Costa Rican breakfasts we had in Montezuma. A photo below:
Our tour guide was Alex and he picked us up with Carlos the driver, and we rode less than 10 minutes to get to the entrance of the park. We were greeted there by his 9 year old nephew, Dejan. All the guides knew each other, and one of them was Alex’s brother and Dejan loves scouting for animals in the park so he comes when he’s not in school. Their group was always near ours, so we got to interact with Alex’s family and hear about how many steps Dejan had taken as he was addicted to his pedometer.
We saw a lot of animals on a very well managed trail and all the guides carried standing telescopic lenses to spot the animals - you could even take photos from your phone through the lenses. The walk was wonderful as they were no other guests with us, so essentially we had a private tour. Here’s Marie at the entrance area pointing to the map:
Here’s a crab:
Some plants related to the bird of paradise:
A lizard:
We saw this snake in the wild and from afar - very poisonous and see if you can spot it!
A tent making bat who pokes a hole and protects itself under large leaves:
A white tailed deer - one of the Costa Rica symbol of wildlife animals:
A sloth - also a symbol of Costa Rica:
Dreamweaver spider:
The tour included fruit and juice in the middle at a cafeteria:
Here’s Dejan and Alex spotting a sloth:
Here it is kind of as a fur ball, but you can see the three toes…there are two toed sloths and three toed ones…
At the famous Manuel Antonio beach. We didn’t bring our bathing suits, but we were also okay with not going in:
Another lizard:
Espadilla Sur (south) beach… the north beach is a public one and not in the designated park area which has grown over the years to protect the wildlife:
You can see our hotel from here which is the highest in Manuel Antonio:
The poisonous tree - the bark, the leaves, the fruit, all poisonous, but the lizard can eat the fruit!
And touch it:
Here’s Alex and I making the classic “Stephen” face as Marie always yells out his name and makes him look back for photos:
After our 3 hour walking tour with our nature guide, we returned to the hotel where we had a quesadilla and caprese salad. I also had a piña colada and finished my book. Marie took a photo of me in a different pool underneath the water:
Marie headed up first to the room and on my way up, some of the servers were looking at some monkeys. I didn’t think anything of it, but when I got out of the elevator, there were two laying in from of our room and another two on the railing. These were the white faced mean omnivores and when they saw me, 3 of them jumped into the tree. But this one stared at me - definitely felt a bit alpha and I yelled for Marie and she came out of the room. She was so excited she tried to take photos while I rushed into the room as I was afraid he would follow us in:
After washing up, Marie enjoyed a drink watching the sunset while I took a call while watching the sky from our room. Then I joined her for a walk into town, where we ate at Agua Azul - we split tuna tostadas, seafood pasta, and panko breaded tuna. I also had an Imperial beer Michelada style, so with lime juice and salt. We then returned to the hotel as we have another early morning to minimize any rain during this technically rainy season.
Our tour guide was Alex and he picked us up with Carlos the driver, and we rode less than 10 minutes to get to the entrance of the park. We were greeted there by his 9 year old nephew, Dejan. All the guides knew each other, and one of them was Alex’s brother and Dejan loves scouting for animals in the park so he comes when he’s not in school. Their group was always near ours, so we got to interact with Alex’s family and hear about how many steps Dejan had taken as he was addicted to his pedometer.
We saw a lot of animals on a very well managed trail and all the guides carried standing telescopic lenses to spot the animals - you could even take photos from your phone through the lenses. The walk was wonderful as they were no other guests with us, so essentially we had a private tour. Here’s Marie at the entrance area pointing to the map:
Here’s a crab:
Some plants related to the bird of paradise:
A lizard:
We saw this snake in the wild and from afar - very poisonous and see if you can spot it!
A tent making bat who pokes a hole and protects itself under large leaves:
A white tailed deer - one of the Costa Rica symbol of wildlife animals:
A sloth - also a symbol of Costa Rica:
Dreamweaver spider:
The tour included fruit and juice in the middle at a cafeteria:
Here’s Dejan and Alex spotting a sloth:
Here it is kind of as a fur ball, but you can see the three toes…there are two toed sloths and three toed ones…
At the famous Manuel Antonio beach. We didn’t bring our bathing suits, but we were also okay with not going in:
Another lizard:
Espadilla Sur (south) beach… the north beach is a public one and not in the designated park area which has grown over the years to protect the wildlife:
You can see our hotel from here which is the highest in Manuel Antonio:
The poisonous tree - the bark, the leaves, the fruit, all poisonous, but the lizard can eat the fruit!
And touch it:
Here’s Alex and I making the classic “Stephen” face as Marie always yells out his name and makes him look back for photos:
After our 3 hour walking tour with our nature guide, we returned to the hotel where we had a quesadilla and caprese salad. I also had a piña colada and finished my book. Marie took a photo of me in a different pool underneath the water:
Marie headed up first to the room and on my way up, some of the servers were looking at some monkeys. I didn’t think anything of it, but when I got out of the elevator, there were two laying in from of our room and another two on the railing. These were the white faced mean omnivores and when they saw me, 3 of them jumped into the tree. But this one stared at me - definitely felt a bit alpha and I yelled for Marie and she came out of the room. She was so excited she tried to take photos while I rushed into the room as I was afraid he would follow us in:
After washing up, Marie enjoyed a drink watching the sunset while I took a call while watching the sky from our room. Then I joined her for a walk into town, where we ate at Agua Azul - we split tuna tostadas, seafood pasta, and panko breaded tuna. I also had an Imperial beer Michelada style, so with lime juice and salt. We then returned to the hotel as we have another early morning to minimize any rain during this technically rainy season.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Crossing the Gulf of Nicoya
After our last breakfast at Aves, our transport came to pick us up and bring us to the beach. It was Zuma tours that provides a taxi boat from Montezuma to Jaco and crosses the gulf of Nicoya. They provide transport also from Jaco to our hotel which is south of Jaco by about an hour in Manuel Antonio.
Here’s a photo of Marie pointing to the boat and the porter carrying our wheeled luggage and more photos from our 40 minute boat ride:
Our shuttle bus dropped off folks at hostels and hotels in Jaco and Quepos and we passed these African palm farms that provide palm oil:
We safely arrived in La Mariposa which has a lovely view of the water and is on a cliff. Hotels are up on the cliffs for the views, but also development near the beach and near the most popular national park is not permitted in order to conserve the park and area.
At the hotel, we were greeted by a squirrel monkey which had longer fingers than mine, enjoyed the pools while our room was still getting prepared, and monitored the poolside iguana who had eaten a nearby sunbather’s lunch.
For lunch, we headed up to the bar where there was a swim up pool next to it, so I had jumped in and shared a salad and french fries with Marie.
Alas, our room was ready which was on a higher floor with an ocean view and in the corner with a wraparound deck! So beautiful!
We washed up and walked 3 minutes into town and down the hill, where we perused souvenirs and shops. Marie had researched all the restaurants and we decided on Karolas which was a part of the nearby Los Altos resort. We both ordered the typical Costa Rica fish dish which reminded us of Jo’s cooking with the side salad, vegetables, plantains, and mahi mahi. Afterwards, we walked up the first hill to an ice cream shop where I had a chocolate cone. We then walked back and up a hill to the hotel and Marie took a picture in front of the sign:
We went to bed early as we wake up early for our guided tour of Manuel Antonio park, the most popular in all of Costa Rica!
Here’s a photo of Marie pointing to the boat and the porter carrying our wheeled luggage and more photos from our 40 minute boat ride:
Our shuttle bus dropped off folks at hostels and hotels in Jaco and Quepos and we passed these African palm farms that provide palm oil:
We safely arrived in La Mariposa which has a lovely view of the water and is on a cliff. Hotels are up on the cliffs for the views, but also development near the beach and near the most popular national park is not permitted in order to conserve the park and area.
At the hotel, we were greeted by a squirrel monkey which had longer fingers than mine, enjoyed the pools while our room was still getting prepared, and monitored the poolside iguana who had eaten a nearby sunbather’s lunch.
For lunch, we headed up to the bar where there was a swim up pool next to it, so I had jumped in and shared a salad and french fries with Marie.
Alas, our room was ready which was on a higher floor with an ocean view and in the corner with a wraparound deck! So beautiful!
We washed up and walked 3 minutes into town and down the hill, where we perused souvenirs and shops. Marie had researched all the restaurants and we decided on Karolas which was a part of the nearby Los Altos resort. We both ordered the typical Costa Rica fish dish which reminded us of Jo’s cooking with the side salad, vegetables, plantains, and mahi mahi. Afterwards, we walked up the first hill to an ice cream shop where I had a chocolate cone. We then walked back and up a hill to the hotel and Marie took a picture in front of the sign:
We went to bed early as we wake up early for our guided tour of Manuel Antonio park, the most popular in all of Costa Rica!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)