Hello!
As you might have heard (or followed through my Instagram), I recently traveled to Costa Rica with eight of my closest friends. The land of jungles, beaches and volcanoes took my breath away last year as I visited for the first time during a work trip, so I decided to come back to continue exploring Tamarindo and Arenal.
These notes will provide some insight on the places we visited, the food we tasted and the activities you should not miss in order to experience the full meaning of "Pura Vida".
Fun Facts
Its one of the most eco-friendly countries
Costa Ricans refer to themselves as "Ticos" and "Ticas"
Costa Rica is home to more than 5% of the world's biodiversity
"Pura Vida" is the national slogan and has a very similar definition to "hakuna matata"
Costa Rica is home to wild sloths
There is no standing army in Costa Rica (because they are such a friendly and democratic nation - they don't need one!)
Nikol's Take: Costa Rica is a destination suited for any occasion and for any type of traveler. One of the reasons why I fell in love with it from the beginning is because I could see myself coming back with a group of friends, with my family, or on a honeymoon. There are so many types of activities that you could truly make this whatever you need it to be. Costa Rica is equally thrilling, adventurous, relaxing, fun, and renewing - and it hits the spot every time you visit it.
Packing Essentials
Bug repellent - its like Jurassic Park out there and you WILL get bitten by mosquitoes :)
Water bottle - the quality of water is known to be very poor, so you will want to buy water and keep it cool in a reusable bottle. If possible, avoid tap water and ice at restaurants.
Dramamine - this will come in handy for the winding roads you will encounter when traveling to Arenal. Buy motion sickness medicine - you will thank me later!
Comfortable and permeable clothing - if you are anything like my group of friends, you will be packing your days with physical activities. Bring comfortable clothes that you can wear all day and even get wet. A light jacket is also recommended as the temperatures can get chilly at night.
TAMARINDO
also known as Tamagringo by the locals
Tamarindo is a town in the Guanacaste Province, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast known for beaches with strong surf, like Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta. It is a very popular destination for Americans and offers some of the best beach experiences and parties.
We stayed here for 2 nights and wished we would have booked a longer stay!
Where to stay? There are several hotels in this area including a JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa and many small independent hotels. However, Airbnb and VRBO offer exceptional options for great prices. Competition is high so the quality of Airbnb experiences you will find is superb! Pro tip: Our Airbnb had absolutely everything we needed, from towels, to kitchen essentials, so there was no need for us to pack or buy these items in advance.
What to do? Because this is a beach town you can expect there to be a strong surfing culture and laid back attitude from the locals. We chose to book a day of ziplinning and ATV racing through Pura Aventura - which ended up being a fantastic way to enjoy a day in Tamarindo. Pro Tip: wake up early to catch the sunrise by the beach and grab a big breakfast before heading out to any activities as the tours will likely only offer a plate of fruit for nourishment. Also! Ask the tour guide if you can zip line upside down - its so thrilling you wont regret it!
What to eat? The fruit in Costa Rica is exquisite! I encourage you to stop at a middle-of-the-road store and buy a bag of mangos, watermelon and taste one of the local exotic fruits like the Pitaya. In Tamarindo, check out Witch's Rock Surf Camp for happy hour specials (delicious mango daiquiris and nachos), sunset views, and live music. For a more upscale experience visit Pangas Beach Club - I recommend the Volcanic Rock Grilled Rib Eye and the Octopus salad as some of my favorites.
What to buy? There are several shops in the main strip that offer unique souvenirs. If you are looking for a gift or even a special item for yourself, I recommend checking them out as you won't find Tamarindo branded items anywhere else in Costa Rica.
ARENAL
the land of volcanoes
Probably one of the most visited areas in Costa Rica, Arenal is home to the Arenal Volcano. This majestic giant takes your breath away with its ominous presence and surrounding jungle. This is one of those magical places that will impress you so much, you will beg the driver to stop the car to take pictures.
Where to stay? There are plenty of lodging options in La Fortuna (the closest city to the volcano), but here is what I would suggest: for a large group of people, stick to Airbnb. For an upscale experience, check out The Springs Resort , mostly known for its feature on "Keeping up with the Kardashians", but also because it has a comprehensive amount of amenities to keep any traveler happy (including their own hot springs and views of the volcano from any room). For a honeymoon, check out Nayara Spa and Gardens where you can book your own bungalow and get access to five star service for surprisingly affordable prices. For a design and community-focused experience, stay at Selina La Fortuna, located in the heart of the agricultural town center and offering a vegan-breakfast, cooking classes in the communal kitchen and at night, live folkloric music in the common area.
What to do? Arenal is the place to check off pretty much any activity you wanted to accomplish in Costa Rica. From cliff jumping to taking a volcano excursion, the possibilites are endless. Here are three of my favorite activities:
If you are looking for some thrill, check out white water rafting through Swiss Travel, who was great at helping us organize group activities!
Hot springs - we found Ecotermales La Fortuna to offer a fantastic experience at a great price. The tickets included access to lockers, towels, a restaurant and over 10 hot springs and waterfalls. Dinner was included.
Get up close and personal with Arenal Volcano by taking a hike through ancient lava and exotic vegetation. Check out this guide to locate the main trail that will take you to the closest lookout point for some sweeping views.
What to eat? Since our group was quite large and because of the packed itinerary we committed to, we decided to check out one of the local super markets for snacks, coffee and chocolate souvenirs. You cant go wrong with purchasing the essentials and cook breakfast if your hotel or home offers a kitchen. Do be advised that coffee and chocolate are a bit pricey but you are better off buying it locally than at DutyFree.
I hope that these notes provided you value and that they help you when you plan your next trip to Costa Rica. Feel free to share them with friends and family and refer them to my site for more recommendations!
Thanks for reading along!
xoxo
Nikol