During a visit to Costa Rica, you will hear and see the
phrase “pura vida” everywhere you go. It’s all over t-shirts and souvenirs, and
is even used in place of “you’re welcome” by the locals. It translates to “pure
life” in English and after a 6 day visit in this beautiful country, I can truly
understand why this is their official motto. Costa Rica is a place where once
can truly experience PURE life in every form. Whether you’re looking for
thrilling adventures, wildlife encounters, a busy city setting, or a relaxing
beach getaway, here you can find it all. I was blessed enough to spend my 27th
birthday on a fantastic vacation in Costa Rica and it was a trip I will never
forget!
A friend and I traveled to the Central American country via
a terrible first experience with Spirit Airlines (which I will NEVER ever fly
again). When we arrived, we were greeted at San Jose airport by a private
driver. We told him we were kind of hungry so he took us to a cute little fruit
stand that sold sweets and made delicious fresh smoothies. Nearby, we got our
first dose of wildlife with beautiful red parrots in a tree and several huge
crocodile lurking in a swamp. When we finally arrived at our hotel in the
touristy beach town of Manuel Antonio on the west coast, we were amazed. Our
room was all glass and authentic Costa Rican wood, with breathtaking views of
the jungle and the Pacific Ocean. We were in awe!
I never really like staying in tourist areas or resorts
where all the restaurants and shops are overpriced and catered to Americans,
but I still enjoyed Manuel Antonio. The people are charming and the hotel put
us smack in the middle of all the wildlife we could ever ask for. We saw a
sloth up close and personal, many monkeys, toucans, and even some small little
fuzzy creature we never even got to identify. Oh and countless bugs that were
way too damn big. We also had the pleasure to be paid a visit by a white-faced
monkey on our balcony one morning and another in the hallway luring us down the
steps. It was truly awesome. The beach in this area was also very beautiful and
the views around us were stunning in every way.
On the day of my birthday, we spend the morning on a hike
through the Manuel Antonio National Park with an excellent and very
knowledgeable guide, who was able to spot and give us details on many animals,
including sloths, monkeys, deer, snakes, hummingbirds, tarantulas, lizards, raccoons,
bats, and grasshoppers that were bigger than my freaking hand. He even used his
binoculars to get some incredible close shots of the wildlife for us, including
an amazing picture of a monkey fast asleep in a tree with her baby cuddled up
on her chest. What impressed me most is how the country of Costa Rica makes it
a HUGE priority to protect wildlife and preserve nature. After all, they are
known worldwide for their forests, all made possible by extreme ecological
conservation efforts. Much of the tourism industry that drives the Costa Rican
economy is centered around their dense jungles and lush rainforests, so this is
a wise tactic and smart investment by the government.
The next day, we did not want to leave Manuel Antonio, but
we made a very long and grueling 5-hour trip through many windy mountain roads
to the volcano town of Arenal. Thank God for the very caring and kind drivers
we had because some of this travel was truly miserable. But we survived and
were happy to arrive safely at the destination. Our next extreme adventure was world-famous
zip-lining through the Costa Rican jungle with unbelievable views of the
volcano. This is something I was freaking out about for weeks, but it honestly
ended up being the BEST experience of my life and the most fun I’ve ever had.
It was totally exhilarating in every way and I did not want it to end! Out of
the 8 lines we completed, one was a half-mile long and lasted almost one minute
at over 50 MPH. And I loved every second of it! The staff was very professional
and helpful, and made the experience even more enjoyable.
Our final adventure was a 2 mile hike through the rainforest
on the “Hanging Bridges” tour, which was even more interesting due to the fact
that it was raining a lot that day. We had to pass through several suspension
bridges that connect one side of the forest to the other, the highest of which
was 180 feet up in the air! This was pretty fun to me because although the
bridges definitely swayed from side to side and were kind of scary, they were
still pretty sturdy and safe.
Afterwards, we stopped and had lunch at a cute
little restaurant on the way back. Unfortunately, I was never truly wowed by
any of the food I ate, but then again Costa Rica isn’t really known for its
food. It was good, just nothing to write home about. The best meals were in local restaurants, which are called "Sodas". After the hanging bridges
tour and a nice nap, my friend and I explored the many pools at our hotel
including the “hot springs” pools and made some friends with a cute young
couple from California. We had dinner in the nearby town of La Fortuna, a $5
plate of local favorites, including chicken in tomato sauce, ripe plantains,
potatoes, rice, black beans, salad, and a fried egg. Afterwards, we had a
lovely time at a nearby coffee-shop enjoying some sweets and delicious local
coffee.
As always, a highlight for me whenever I travel is meeting
the locals and learning about their ways of life, as well as other travelers
from all over the world. I could really appreciate the simple life in this
beautiful country, which enjoys a much better standard of living and higher
development rate than other Central American countries. This is largely due to Costa
Rica’s lack of military, which allows government resources to go towards
tourism and environmental causes. While I am definitely familiar with most
Hispanic and Latino cultures, I must admit that this was one I did not have
much experience with or knowledge of due to the limited exposure to Ticos
(local term for Costa Rican), who do not immigrate or visit the US very much it
seems. Overall, I was impressed and fell in love with the people’s kindness and
hospitality, as well as all the unforgettable things this country has to offer.
We were totally surrounded by nature and beauty everywhere we went and it really
puts things into perspective. It was a great vacation and I applaud the travel
agency I used to book the trip, Anywhere
Costa Rica, who truly ensured every detail was taken care of and very
little effort was required on our parts.
If you’re thinking about where to go for a trip full of adventure
and excitement for a decent price, Costa Rica is definitely a great place to
consider which I would absolutely recommend. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted
to go, especially the amazing zip-lines they’re famous for, and I am so
thankful I got to experience! It was definitely the true definition of “PURA
VIDA”.
Here are some things to know ahead of time in case you do
decide to visit the beautiful nation of Costa Rica.
Pros of visiting Costa Rica:
-
Most of the locals who work in tourism speak
very good English and therefore communication barriers are minimal in most
cases. It was so good that I was actually extremely lazy with my Spanish.
However, their Spanish is also a lot more understandable and clear than many
other dialects in other countries.
-
It’s incredibly safe. Everywhere you go, you
will see tourists freely wandering and mingling with locals, who embrace and
welcome visitors unlike other places. Crime, especially against tourists, is
very seldom.
-
While the local currency, Colones, is quite easy
to convert, the US Dollar is widely accepted everywhere, making paying and tipping
very easy and convenient.
-
There is an unlimited amount to do and explore.
I literally do not think there is anyone on the planet who could not find
something they love and enjoy here. From both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts
to mountain towns, villages, forests, and urban settings, there’s something for
everyone.
-
It’s pretty cheap in comparison to many other
vacations. I spent far less than anticipated on incidentals, such as food, tips
for guides and drivers, and souvenirs. Booking the trip was also a very good
deal for all that was included. Again, I highly recommend Anywhere Costa Rica
who will customize a package based on your preferences.
-
Close encounters with the wildlife was simply
priceless. This is something anyone should enjoy and appreciate, and may not
get a chance to in most other places.
-
The $29 exit tax that we had to pay at the airport
to leave the country, which no one told us about. A little ridiculous.
-
I did NOT like the airport experience at all. It
was an awful way to end a great trip. The airport itself is one of the nicest I’ve
ever been to, but the staff is so unlike everyone else we had encountered
during our stay- totally rude. They also check your bags once AGAIN before you
board the plane and don’t allow you to even bring a bottle of water with you to
drink on the plane, even if you purchased it AFTER security within the airport…
Something I have never seen before in any other country or airport.
-
The bumpy rides were honestly pretty rough.
While most of the roads are pretty well-developed, on those that weren’t so
smooth, it was made worse by what appeared to be the lack of shocks on most vehicles
(or something… I know nothing about cars but I do know that passengers are not
supposed to be flying up into the air for every bump and dip). As with most
other countries, they drive like nut jobs so transportation can be quite
uncomfortable and uneasy. I will never complain about American drivers again.
-
Again, the food was OK. Most of the hotel
restaurants grossly overcharge for their interpretation of American dishes. You
have to venture into town to get an authentic meal. Costa Rican food is like
traditional Hispanic food but nothing too special or delicious from what I
experienced. As many know, I am a foodie and I plan entire trips based on food,
so this was disappointing although other parts greatly made up for it.
-
I know this is petty but the bugs were CRAZY
here. They literally fly all over you and bite you the whole time. As an
absolute bug hater, this was hard to deal with. They were even in our hotel and
I almost died when I found a spider in my bed one night. I know it’s inevitable
in the jungle areas we stayed in, and was a small price to pay for the great
wildlife that came with it. But. Still. Oh. Emm. Gee.
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