Do you think Costa Rican travels are only for beach bums? Think again. Costa Rica is so much more than beautiful beaches and all-inclusive resorts. As a travel enthusiast who has explored this amazing destination firsthand, I am thrilled to be your guide and share everything I learned about Costa Rica.
When I started planning my trip, all I seemed to find were pictures and posts about the beaches. Don’t get me wrong, the beaches are BEAUTIFUL but there is so much more to Costa Rica. Nestled in the heart of Central America, Costa Rica beckons travelers with its lush rainforests, and diverse ecosystems teeming with exotic wildlife. From the misty cloud forests to the sun-kissed shores, every corner of this country holds a promise of discovery and delight.
In this blog post, I’ll delve deep into the essence of Costa Rican travels, unraveling its hidden treasures, sharing remarkable discoveries, and recounting unforgettable adventures. So, grab your passport, pack your sense of adventure, and join me as share everything I learned about Costa Rica. ¡Pura Vida!
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1. Costa Rican travels are so much more than beaches
Search social media for Costa Rica and most of what you will see are the beaches. These are amazing white sand secluded beaches with breathtaking sunsets. It’s easy to forget there is also virtually every other type of landscape inland.
San Jose and the Central Valley have peaceful rolling hills, coffee plantations, and secluded waterfalls. San Jose is a modern city with historical charms. Just a few miles out are small quaint villages with fantastic restaurants, cute coffee plantations, and a slower-paced lifestyle. It seemed like there were more cows and houses… much like my travels in the Midwestern US.
The Alajuela Provence region boasts majestic volcanos (active and inactive), cloud forests, and my personal favorite the hot springs. We stayed in La Fortuna, a somewhat touristy town but centrally located to visit Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. Relax after hiking in the natural hot springs available almost everywhere including many hotels.
The northern region has a unique dry tropical forest. It was still hot and humid as I was there during the rainy season. We stayed at a resort near Rincón de la Vieja. There were lush full trees, a lot of wildlife, waterfalls, and colorful flowers. A perfect place to reset your mind, body, and soul. And where the mud bath, natural sauna, and hot springs melt away your stress. It’s a picture-perfect place to host a meditation or yoga retreat. Or just unwind on your own.
2. Costa Rican Travels – Pura Vida Way of Life
Beyond its breathtaking landscapes, Costa Rica embodies the spirit of “Pura Vida” – a mantra that encapsulates a way of life rooted in simplicity, gratitude, and appreciation for nature’s gifts – the pure life. But I quickly learned it’s more than just a saying, it’s a way of life. It’s a place where time seems to slow down, allowing everyone to immerse themselves fully in the present moment and savor the richness of every experience.
Costa Rica is so laid back, that it may make some people crazy after a while. At first, it was hard for me, a Midwest girl, where if I’m not 10 min early to anything, I’m already 15 min late…to be flexible when it comes to punctuality. In Costa Rica though, you need to expect nothing to run “on time.”
But by the end of my two weeks, I learned to embrace it. We all spend too much of our time rushing from here to there. The whole rat race mentality our US culture has set as the gold standard. Pura Vida throws that all out the window.
Put your feet up, relax, and enjoy the simplicity of life.
3. Costa Rica has Delicious Food
I am 100% a foodie! My regular followers know I believe the best way to understand a culture and a country is through their food. My Costa Rican travels were no different. I’ll be honest, in the more rural areas the food was mostly root vegetables with little protein. But everywhere else, the food was fire!
Starting with Gallo Pinto… ok beans and rice for breakfast, weird right? NO WAY!!! My first breakfast in Costa Rica included Gallo Pinto and I never looked back. It was full of umami flavor (from Lizano sauce…OMG!), protein (from the beans), and carbs (from the rice). It’s a fantastic and delicious way to start the day.
Speaking of starting the day, the coffee in Costa Rica is remarkable. Why? It has to do with the coffee local coffee beans but also the way it’s brewed. Sure they have traditional coffee makers but the coffee that comes out of a chorreador, which is a traditional Costa Rican pour-over coffee maker. The slow drip allows the flavor to pop!
4. Monkeys Love Sugar Packets
Learning that Costa Rican monkeys’ love of sugar packets is both sad and hilarious at the same time. While in Puntarenas we stayed at the Hotel Punta Leona. The buffet restaurant area was a covered area with nets surrounding the entire space. At first, I thought it was for bugs but nope…Monkeys. The monkeys can and will steal from the restaurant.
What is sad but cracked me up at the same time is what they love to steal most. It’s not fruit like I’d expect. It was sugar packets from the coffee station. Yes, sugar packets. It’s so bad that if you want sugar in your coffee you need to ask to have it unlocked. Cabinets with sugar are locked up like it was expensive jewelry or the monkeys would steal it all.
There is no way to describe it other than a sugar addiction which is the sad part but I could not help but giggle watching a monkey, who managed to get through the netting, run across the floor when one of the workers had the cabinet open and grab handfuls of sugar packets when she was not looking. The little guy then ran on the roof and sat there opening each packet and licking the sugar inside.
I’d heard of monkeys in Costa Rica grabbing phones, purses, wallets, etc. but never sugar packets.
If you are traveling to parts of Costa Rica where monkeys are prevalent, like around the coast, don’t expect sugar for your coffee without asking a worker.
5. Add a Few Days to Explore San Jose
San Jose, Costa Rica surprised me. It’s one of the primary spots visitors fly into, but I’ve never really seen it as a destination. With so many beautiful parts of Costa Rica, why would someone planning a vacation, not want to just get to the main event right?
San Jose has over 340,000 people, making it the largest city in Costa Rica. With that many people, there are a lot of amazing things to see and do. There are several museums, theaters, and parks to get you immersed in the culture. Shopping is plentiful for those who want to bring home fun and unique items. And not just souvenirs, I’m talking about clothing, artwork, jewelry, shoes…
Bigger cities in any country also come with a wide selection of food, bars, and nightlife that is not always available in smaller villages. San Jose is no exception. There are so many restaurants, from quick street food stands to pubs to fine dining experiences. You can find any kind of cuisine from American to Italian, to Indian, and of course local Costa Rican delights.
Even if your primary reason for your Costa Rican Travels, is to visit the beautiful coastline, or the volcanos and rainforests, you need to plan a couple extra days to explore the history and culture of San Jose.
Happy travels and remember the world is full of adventures all around you. Get out there and explore!
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