Costa Rica
COSTA RICA
LOCATION
MUST DO
- Ziplining in the rainforest
- Mud baths
- Hiking
- Take a surfing lesson at Tamarindo Beach
- Snorkeling at Playa Conchal
Trip Details
When: December 2010 – January 2011
Where: Guanacaste, Liberia, Tamarindo
How: Independent travel with family
TRAVEL TIPS
- Flying in to the Liberia airport in the north west part of the country is usually cheaper than flying into San Jose. Plus, they have beautiful beaches and rain forests in that area.
- Although you can certainly book your trip independently, keep an eye out for good deals on vacation packages (flights + hotel). I’m constantly seeing deals to Costa Rica for less than $600 per person.
- Stay: Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort. This resort is half hotel, half villas. My family of 7 rented a three bedroom, two bath villa here with an amazing ocean view at a good price. The service was excellent! We were treated like family. There are excursions that you can book on site, as well as a a great pool and swim up bar, and short stroll to Playa Hermosa, one of the best beaches in Costa Rica. And a great place to watch the sunset!
- We booked a full day excursion through the resort to go horseback riding, visit the mud baths, and ziplining in the rainforest. It was an adventure packed day, but I love that we were able to do so much in one day. There are many similar excursions you can book, and they will take care of all the driving and logistics.
- BEACH HOPPING! We hired a local taxi driver with a van to pick us up and go beach hopping down the western coast. This is a thing. You settle on an amount in advance, buckle up, then the driver will drop you off for a few hours at 2-3 of the best beaches in the country:
- Playa Conchal was one. It’s so named because the sand is made up of millions of small, broken pieces of coral. You can walk right off the beach into the water and snorkel around for some great marine life.
- Playa Flamingo – white sand, beautiful water, mile-long crescent shape, marina nearby with deep sea fishing trips. Lavish area.
- Tamarindo beach – casual, surfer/beachy vibe. Beautiful sunsets. Shops and restaurants along the beach.
NOTES
I loved Costa Rica!! I would definitely like to go back and explore more of the country, since we only spent time in the North west part. Our family spent New Years there. We rented a beautiful villa with a view, spent time at the pool, eating, laughing, beach hopping, and had lots of adventures. One of my favorite days was when I went on an excursion with my sisters to the mud baths, horseback riding, and ziplining upside down in the rain forest.
There is something for everyone in Costa Rica, from relaxing pool side, a dip in the ocean, spa treatments, outdoor adventures and sports, exotic wildlife, as well as cultural experiences. I loved it and am sure you will, too!