Costa Rica

  • Destination Info

    About Costa Rica

    I have been to Costa Rica a few times and although it doesn’t resonate with me (I love places where there is fascinating culture and delicious food – both of which CR doesn’t have), but I do love nature and CR is mecca for this. You come here to immerse yourself into jungles, visit volcanoes, waterfalls. You can go white water rafting, snorkel and surf. The people are very friendly and it’s pretty easy to get around. Safety is not an issue (which is a relief after some Latin countries I have visited). We have rented cars and navigated quite easily around the country. CR has become a very popular destination for families (especially from Canada). I would recommend heading straight down to the south in the Osa Peninsula where there are hardly any tourists and you can connect with the stunning surroundings and totally chill out.

  • Eat / Play / Shop

    Eat / Play / Shop

    NOSARA

    Hotel Harmony (http://www.harmonynosara.com); there are no hotels on the beach in Nosara (I guess it’s a planning by-law) but it’s very close to the beach and feels like you are in the jungle.

    The Gardens Hotel (https://nosaragardens.com): cool hotel filled with hip young travellers

    Pilates: Page Sieffert at Pilates Nosara (http://pilatesnosara.com/); send Page an email (info@pilatesnosara.com) to set up a session

    Yoga: Yoga Institute — it’s online; schedule will be there.

    Surfing: Jordy Irwin (check him out on Facebook)

    Fishing: We know a local young fisherman named Vibert : 506 8616 1196

    Tennis: The 506 — contact Paul Vargas (506tenniscenter@gmail.com); place has 3 hard courts (1 lighted) and one red clay court; there is also a red clay club

     

    Restaurants:

    Beach Dog (good for breakfast and lunch)

    Harmony (juice bar)

    Basilico (great pizza)

    Guilded Iguana

    La Luna (in Pelada)

    Robin’s Ice Cream

     

  • Itinerary

    Itinerary

    We have only done 2 different trips in Costa Rica:

    -fly into Liberia (Westjet has best flight times from Toronto), rent a car and then visit Tamarindo and then head south to Nosara (I LOVE Nosara)

    -fly to San Jose and then catch a local flight down to the Osa Peninsula (to Puerto Jimenez); you can also drive there (it takes 6 hours) and stop at Manuel Antonio on the way; we stayed at Dolphin Quest in the Osa which was amazing – totally off the beaten path (you take a boat here) and low-key. The owners are awesome and you are totally immersed in the jungle

    -other popular destinations that we never made it to were the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Tabacon Hot Springs

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