I'd like to start off by saying thanks to Southwest for making this trip possible. AKA Chuck opened a credit card, got 50,000 points, we drew destinations out of a hat, forgot, and then about a year later we randomly booked flights to Costa Rica.
About three AM Chuck's alarm went off and we started our day. At about 3:45 we were waiting for our Uber and Chuck realized he had requested the car for PM instead of AM and quickly got us a new car. Got to the airport, checked our bags (can I just say how much I love that Southwest checks bags for free!) and waited for our 5:30 flight. Needless to say we were tired. I ordered a hot chocolate and Chuck a diet coke and we made our way to Houston.
Our lay over was only 45 minutes - we had just enough time to recheck our bags and then we were on our next flight!
For weeks and weeks we did research about where to go, what to see, and where to rent a car. Costa Rica has a mandatory car insurance, so where Priceline will tell you its $22 for a rental car for a week, its $22 + $200-$300+ for the car. Chuck booked our car through Adobe, where the prices were upfront. Also be careful you don't rent a manual car if you only drive automatic!
After we picked up our car, we headed to a bank to change out our dollars for colones. Which after all isn't totally necessary. All the places we went to accepted credit cards and american dollars.
First stop after picking up the rental car, I got this random pastry at the store and throughout the trip I get them at our hotels - later I think I found it its dulce de leche?
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| View from our AirBnB - Playa Conchal |
DAY TWO
When we woke up and it was bright outside Chuck asked me if I knew what time it was. I guessed maybe 5am but he told me it was 10... PM... the same night... YES WE ONLY SPLET FOR AN HOUR. We were dying it was so hot. We both swear the listing said a/c yet there was just a standing fan and a ceiling fan and an outdoor light that we both thought was the son. Tired and annoyed Chuck looked up places nearby that had A/C and like thieves in the night we left and headed to a new place. Also annoyed we had book this place for two nights.
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| Playa Flamingo |
We both woke up the next morning refreshed and in paradise at the Playa Flamingo Beach Resort and Spa. We loved it so much we booked two more nights. This place was beautiful! Right on the beach, with a pool, two restaurants, game room, and AIR CONDITIONING. After breakfast, we swam in the ocean, swam in the pool and looked for a place for lunch. The concierge recommended COCO LOCO, and I remembered hearing about that place before and we excited to try it!
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| PURA VIDA |
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| COCO LOCO |
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| Mint Limeade |
I loved mine so much! Served with fresh fish in a coconut, it was amazing! Feet in the sand, this place can't be beat!
That evening we decided to head down the coast to Playa Tamarindo. We had booked a hotel there for the last two nights and wanted to see what it was all about. Total opposite of what we both wanted, a surfer/party town, but tons of restaurants and cute shops. We chose a little pizza shop tucked in the corner and it was after ordering we found out the original owners had sold it and the recipes had changed. It wasn't the worst it but I wouldn't recommend it.
Finished the night off with come gelato!
DAY THREE
Woke up in paradise again! Took it easy again today and did breakfast, beach, pool, and got some more gelato! Then we decided to do a kayak/snorkel tour!! The kayaking was hard but I'm so glad we did it! We headed north around a small peninsula to a tiny island called "Bird Island" tons of crabs, urchins even a dried up snake! Then we snorkeled around the island. We saw tons fish, a blow fish, a snake, an abandoned backpack... it was so much fun! On our kayak ride home I was so beat and didnt think we would make it. But we did and Chuck rewarded me with Coco Loco round two.
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| View from our room! |
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| Mint Limeade and Mango smoothie! |
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| Playa Flamingo sunset |
DAY FOUR
It was a bittersweet morning saying goodbye to Playa Flamingo and the resort. We had one last breakfast, beach & pool swim and packed our stuff up and headed inland.
We stopped in Liberia and checked out the one and only Walmart in the country. Then we had lunch at FKC. It was honestly so good and the placed was packed! After another hour and a half drive to the middle of nowhere in the rainforest we reached our next place.
The Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel. This was honestly the most beautiful place ever! Totally different than the coast. It was cooler and it rained a few times. After we got settled we checked out part of the river that the hotel has private access to! It was the most beautiful blue color though it was pretty cold! After our swim we headed into town and bought some snacks and dinner and got ready for our hike the next day.
