Snorkeling and Sunshine in Tamarindo

Our time in Tamarindo was definitely one for the books.  From wandering around the touristy areas finding those perfect photo-op spots, to grabbing souvenirs from the local shops, and sipping  cocktails beach-side, there is something for everyone.  The beaches are gorgeous and we loved just sitting under the palm trees, soaking up the sun, and listening to the sounds of the waves. We even managed to ditch the suits for a fancy dinner out one evening.  Now, if you are like us and want to expand your adventures, I recommend two things; snorkeling and/or diving and mingling with the locals to find their off-the-beaten-path hang-outs. Plus, everyone here is super friendly so don't be afraid to get out and about!

After a bit of research, we decided to set up a day of snorkeling with the Pacific Coast Dive Center.  It was the perfect set-up too!  After being picked up from our hotel, we had a few stops to make but were on the boat in under an hour.  They had snacks and beverages for us, gave us a quick low-down on the day, the staff was super chill and funny, and in no time we were off to swim with the fishes!  A quick 30 minute boat ride off the coast to the Catalina Islands and located in the Guanacaste Province within the Bat Islands, this is the perfect spot to snorkel and dive. The island chain is actually a group of rocky islets where the water visibility is up to 75 feet and offers beautiful views.  We went to two different locations and spent about 40 minutes at each site enjoying the underwater world.  We saw many different colorful fish and my two favorites, starfish and deep down below, reef sharks.  It was amazing.

Tamarindo is such a colorful, vibrant, and friendly beach-side town.  It is definitely worth the visit.  I recommend flying into Liberia, a smaller airport located 90 minutes North of Tamarindo.  Costa Rica could just be that place I find myself later in life, owning that surf shop and taking in the ocean breeze and amazing sunsets.

Pura Vida ✌

Until next time Costa Rica!

Shona

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Sunsets and Surfing

After our day of hiking in the Rainforest, we departed (sadly) from our amazing resort that was right in the heart of the jungle of La Fortuna.  But, we knew our next destination would be as incredible, just in a different way.  Next stop, Tamarindo, Costa Rica.  Our trek would include three more hours of winding, narrow roads but would offer us a chance to stop in small towns and embrace more local culture.  About half way to Tamarindo, we needed lunch so decided to stop in Cana's.  A quick grocery store run where I spent only $1 on fresh cut pineapple and papaya and it was more than enough for one person. She even offered us napkins and forks!  Across the street we found a small chicken joint, but we opted for a hamburger, fries, and a coca-cola and spent less than $5.  Now, we are onto the oceanfront views!

Once we arrived in Tamarindo we headed straight to our resort; since we were losing daylight, we wanted to get our luggage to the room, freshen up, put on our suits, grab a beer, and head to the beach! And we made it just in time to see one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen; little did we know, this would be a nightly ritual for us and many others at this particular area.  The Occidental Tamarindo is the only all-inclusive resort in the area and is surrounded by the Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, Sector Playa Langosta, where the wildlife and the land is protected.  It's the perfect blend of relaxation and adventures, the jungle and the sea and some incredible surfing. It's about a mile from the City Center where you can find local restaurants, shops, and experience the more touristy side of Tamarindo.  Fortunately for us, we met some super cool locals our first night on the beach, of course they had dogs which is how we started chatting. We learned they owned a local bar right up the street from our hotel, The Surf Club Sports Bar, where we would find ourselves visiting several times for a cold brew and even an afternoon of horseshoes.

The next day we knew we wanted to tackle surf lessons and since our new local friends knew all the right people, we were sent to the Banana Surf Club.  In no time, we were walking to the beach, surfboards in hand, barefoot, and ready to take on the waves.  A quick lesson pre-water on the boards and our "rad" instructor who had moved to this area from California over a decade ago, took us out for our first ride.  The BF did great in the water and was riding most of the waves; I was definitely nervous and powering through the waves was the hardest obstacle for me.  I never actually was able to do turtle roll under the water, but had no problem getting up on the board and riding the waves into shore.  The BF and the instructor were both super supportive and encouraging; and luckily the surf pro ended up helping me get out far enough because intimidation and my slight fear of water was starting to play a toll.  Two hours of surf lessons, taking in salt water, and being banged up by the board was still the perfect start to the day!

Surfs Up Dude! ✌
Shona

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Hanging Around Mistico

If you didn't see my last blog about staying in the middle of the jungle at the Lost Iguana Resort, go back and read it.  Then, when you book your stay there, be sure and add this little adventure to your list!  The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is 600 acres and part of a protected forest sanctuary that is open to the public.  This diverse ecosystem is full of many of the native species of Costa Rica and is not one to be missed.  They offer many tours such as a Night Walk, Birding Tour, repelling down Spider Monkey Canyon, the Arenal Volcano Expedition, Horseback Riding, and of course the infamous, Hanging Bridges Tour.  Get more info here https://misticopark.com/

We only had time for one adventure and the Hanging Bridge Tour had caught my eye when we were planning our little get-a-way.  We opted to do the self-guided tour but they do offer personal guides that can often point out jungle wildlife you may have missed otherwise.  Tip: if you see the guides have stopped to show their group a point of interest, just casually walk behind them and look for yourself.  Chances are you will see what they have spotted!  I will say, the guides do offer a lot of information that we didn't get to hear, so if you are interested in learning more about the forest, book the guide!  It's about a 2 mile hike and because we like to go at our own pace and not be on schedule, we enjoyed having that freedom of walking through the jungle just us two!

We saw howler monkeys, lemurs, poisonous frogs, and even a small brightly colored yellow snake.  And birds, a lot of birds.  The waterfall known as Blue Morpho Waterfall is just off the beaten path but is definitely worth the small hike to get there.  We had the whole area to ourselves.  Now, let's talk bridges.  There are 15 total bridges in which 6 of them are suspended, hanging high above the jungle floor.  The longest suspension bridge is 97 meters long which is approximately 318 feet and let me tell you, I about didn't make it across.  They got easier for me as the hike went on, but I never looked down and I always wore my sunglasses; they made me feel safe 😎 When we made it to the last suspension bridge, something amazing was happening; a Howler monkey was in the middle of the bridge just "hanging around" and  we were able to experience him without any other tourists present.  Because of the Monkey distraction, I totally forgot about being suspended high in the air, was able to grab a video and a few snaps of him before making my way to the end.  It really was the perfect jungle experience!  

Welcome to the Jungle of Costa Rica!
Shona

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