Travel Vibes: Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Costa Rica, simply put, was amazing! The country’s motto “Pura Vida” was spot on with the vibes of the country and the people. I had never been to Costa Rica and it was on my bucket list of “must visit” places so I was happy to enjoy this journey with three of my girlfriends as it was a first for all of us. We stayed in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, which is on the western side of the country near the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed the serene greenery, panoramic beach views, ate food-gasm worthy dishes, danced the night away and of course had girl talk by the pool. I have nothing but good things to say, so prepare to book your flight after reading.

 

The Hotel

 

We stayed at the Tamarindo Diria, the best thing about the hotel was the location and easy pool and beach access. The area felt very safe, we walked to local shops, restaurants and bars. We woke early enough to see the sunrise on the beach a few days and had breakfast every morning (more in that later) with that same beautiful view. The staff was extremely helpful explaining what was in the area, activities, told us about the nightlife.

The Food

 

We did not have anything bad to eat in Costa Rica…ANYTHING! Each meal was better than the next and we ate slow to savor the flavors. We looked forward to eating everyday! The  hotel was not an all inclusive, but did provide breakfast. We were expecting a more continental breakfast but go so much more! We had a full Spanish style breakfast every morning: sweet plantains, eggs, fried yucca, sausage, rice and beans, fruit and an assortment of breads and pastries.

 

We ended up doing light lunches. There was also a small grocery store near the hotel and we bought snacks to carry around with us in case we got hungry. We also bought street food like kabobs and empanadas to hold us over until dinner.

 

For dinner we tried a different place every night. There were quite a few restaurants in the area, most along the beach so it was an amazing view every night! We heard live bands and even caught a mini fire show on the beach performed by the locals. everything tasted so fresh and flavorful.

Things to do

Whether you want to relax or take advantage of the excursions, you’ll enjoy the time. We did a bit of both.

We did a day excursion at first we were going to book through the hotel, but one of my friends was able to negotiate a package of adventures that we all wanted to take part in with a local tour company owner we met on the beach and ended up having the best time with him as our tour guide. (William Tours)

 

We went zip lining in the forest with an epic view and raining mist was simply amazing! The water tubing slide made me feel like I was on the water version of the Jamaican bobsled team and the water from the mountain’s waterfall was freezing, but worth the experience.  Hiking proved to be a beautiful walk in nature where we got to take in the serenity Costa Rica had to offer peaking at a beautiful waterfall. Ending our Costa Rican excursion relaxing in the hot springs of various temperatures, we even got to see a family of monkeys climbing in and out of the trees.  On our drive down we stopped on the hillside to eat dinner as the sun set over looking the city.

We spent our last full day at Playa Conchal (Conchal Beach) where it was perfect beach weather with sunny skies and clear blue water. The sand was completely covered by small sea shells we were told all wash up from the water. I loved the vibes at the beach as the locals were blasting music and cooking food to sell. We ate fresh ceviche and steamed fish; very similar to snapper I’d get in Jamaica, but the flavors were different in an amazing way.

Nightlife

There was plenty to do as far as nightlife was concerned. There was a different “hot spot” every night of the week and most of the locals said the same places. We didn’t go outside of the the immediate area though, so many of the places catered to tourists. They played some top 40 and a lot of reggae and dancehall! I was pleasantly surprised by how much Vybz Kartel I heard and Charly Blacks’ Party Animal played at least 2-3 times in one night! I would have loved the gone to the all Reggae (or “roots” as they referenced it) and a Salsa place, but we missed the opportunity (one being closed for renovations and the other we missed over sleeping) but we’ll save that for next time!

Costa Rica was beautiful. I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the country. Click To Tweet We met so many amazing people; there were a lot of Americans and Europeans who visited and decided to stay in the country and I see why. The country felt welcoming and bustling with culture and good vibes. It This was definitely one of my favorite trips. It was such an amazing experience to relax and enjoy with my friends!

Tips for Traveling to Costa Rica

If you’re looking to go to Costa Rica, here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your trip.

 

1. Think of the time of year you want to go. The beginning of November was perfect. It was towards the end of the rainy season, but right before the high season.
2. Travel with light weight clothing: Cotton materials are your friend! Leggings, tanks, harem pants, jersey so it’s easy to dry if you get wet.
3. Bring sneakers and comfortable sandals (especially if you’re planning to do excursions.)
4. Bring a book bag and plastic bags for wet clothes and to hold your electronics if you don’t have a waterproof case.
5. Bring travel size bug repellent spray, you’ll want to walk with it!
6. Everything is negotiable, but you’ll need to have cash! Most people will take U.S. dollars, so make sure you travel with small bills. Explore a few options before you settle on
7. Ask the locals about what to do in the area.
8. While most of the people we encountered spoke a little English, learning some conversational spanish is great. I was fortunate to travel with two friends who spoke spanish, so they did a lot of the negotiating for us, but I was able to understand and speak a little.
9. There’s an exit fee to leave the country, but Jet Blue included this in the ticket price (Jet Blue you’re still my favorite airline!)
10. Disconnect and enjoy!