I ought to have identified that our deliberate trip to Costa Rica was destined to be unpredictable as quickly as our driver didn’t present up at 5am on the Sunday morning we had been to depart for JFK Worldwide Airport. We didn’t know this on the time however apparently the night time earlier than that stated driver (a buddy of a buddy) entered 4pm as an alternative of 4am on his sensible cellphone. What we did know was that we had been 85 miles away from Queens, NY and neither of us had been within the temper for nor possessed the inclination to tackle New York Metropolis visitors that early within the morning. What in the end pushed us ahead was our unique thought of flying outdoors of the nation to get pleasure from a stress-free (and news-free) week in a dream vacation spot.
The prospect of vacationing in Costa Rica, or “wealthy coast,” a comparatively small nation in Central America was tremendous thrilling to me as a result of zip lining, mud bathing and Sizzling Springs would now be checked off my bucket checklist and James was thrilled largely due to his eager fascination with all issues nature.
We selected the month of October for our Costa Rican trip as a result of the lodge resort charges are very enticing through the wet season so you will get extra to your greenback. Additionally we figured it could not be as crowded as it’s through the so known as “dry season” which runs from December to March. We had been on the finish of Costa Rica’s ‘Winter’ the place it rains on and off on this Southern Pacific Coast between the months of Might by way of November. On our week there it usually rained each single afternoon between 3pm and 6pm however typically we had been caught off guard with a fast and laborious downpour early within the morning or later within the night. The upside was that every one this pesky rain created lovely lush greenery and surroundings seemingly out of a postcard as soon as the intense solar got here again out.
We stayed at Secrets and techniques Papagayo Resort in Guanacaste on the Southern Pacific coast. The promotional video reeled us in with the Bungalow Suite King room and picturesque ocean views.
What we found once we acquired to our room and instantly pulled again the sheers and stiff curtains to the deck had been what may solely be described as peek-a-boo views of the ocean. James promptly acquired on the cellphone and labored his magic with the concierge a lot in order that by the very subsequent day we had been moved from our room within the 300s right down to a room within the 100s. This room was an identical to our different room however now we weren’t solely nearer to the motion however extra importantly, looking we had the expansive view of the ocean that we had been drawn to within the promotional video. If trip had been a person, he was now beginning to resemble a tall, robust, muscular creature with lengthy angular arms and crooked fingers, beckoning me to take refuge within the consolation of my new environment…
We took a guided 2 hour Jet Ski tour on the Pacific Ocean our second day there. We stopped at 3 completely different seashores throughout this tour. The primary seashore the place we stopped had a darkish cave like space the place we took turns with the opposite couple we had been on the tour with taking silhouette footage.
The second seashore featured a cliff that we needed to climb as much as. As soon as there we stood simply shut sufficient to seize nice picture ops.
The third and final seashore featured a woodsy space with white confronted monkeys – these sneaky little thieves that steal your sun shades and hats proper off your head – these mischievous monkeys boldly rejected the opposite couple’s wholesome peaches in favor of salty wealthy Doritos that some child had dropped (smile).
The experience again on our Jet Ski was quick and livid as now we had been heading instantly into the excessive winds inflicting me to cling that a lot more durable to James’s waist. I couldn’t keep away from the chilly ocean water spray both because it spit throughout my face and naked arms. Brrrrr, it was chilly!
Again on the resort I used to be by no means impressed with the delicacies. Nevertheless Market Cafe, which featured a buffet of worldwide delicacies, was surprisingly good. I’m not a buffet particular person however their each day breakfasts, lunches and dinners carried a loads of weight of their meals selections. We each appeared ahead to consuming at Himitsu, a Pan-Asian Fusion place, as a result of we love sushi and Asian meals basically. Because it turned out, Himitsu didn’t disappoint. Our favourite entree was the pork bellies – we actually ordered them on three separate events!
Date night time at Himitsu
Portofino, the flowery Italian restaurant featured 5 programs in addition to a costume code (which meant that males needed to put on pants and in the event that they confirmed up in shorts, they had been supplied a pair!). We understood Portofino was identified for its wine checklist however since I gave up wine on the onset of the Pandemic again in 2020, I sipped on chilly bottled water.
Talking of giving up alcohol, my favourite non-alcoholic drink was the Inexperienced Monster – it was wholesome, refreshing and delish! One afternoon I drank 4 Inexperienced Monsters poolside just because the waiter stored refilling my glass (smile).
Seaside Grille was the seafood restaurant on the resort – through the day they piled fried seafood on platters and served them poolside and at night time they supplied fancier entrees the place you dined of their cool, air-conditioned inside.
All in all we do love resort life (particularly the All-Inclusives) since you don’t have to fret about what you’ll do for the day, your mattress is made and room is cleaned each day, there are deliberate actions posted each day, meals is all over the place whether or not you might be searching for one thing quick or informal, and there are many issues to do on and off the resort. When you come as a pair you may have the chance to fulfill and hang around with different like-minded {couples}. We met this excellent couple named Randy and Rachel from Nashville, TN over dinner our second night time on the resort. We had been eating at Himitsu – seated outside – and since we had been sitting so near them, we couldn’t assist however strike up a dialog. James stated it reminded him of a Sienfield episode. Suffice it to say, we stored bumping into our new trip mates till they talked us into becoming a member of them afterward within the week on a 9 hour mega tour.
They caught us on the proper time too as a result of we had been simply on the brink of e-book the rest of excursions for the week with Amstar (since we loved the Jet Ski tour a lot) after they instructed us about this younger man who was tucked away unseen on the resort however not too removed from the Most well-liked Members membership the place we had been assembly for drinks. They took us to him and it turned out that his excursions had been so low-cost as a result of they had been Costco excursions. Suffice it to say, we acquired a 9 hour mega tour (horseback using, espresso cultural tour, sugar cane cultural tour, mud bathtub, sizzling springs, big water slide, zip lining, bus experience to and from and lunch(!) for simply $150 {dollars}. We met them and 4 to five different {couples} on the Thursday morning at 745am for an hour and a half bus experience to the our first leg of the mega tour, horseback using.
Horse again using was attention-grabbing as a result of the horses had been so properly educated that we actually didn’t need to do something however maintain on to our straps. They principally took us on a protracted stroll down a muddy filth highway the place the horses every comically took turns pooping all over after which stepping in every others messes (smile).
The subsequent tour was the sugar cane cultural tour the place we had been supplied delish expresso, cornbread, a sugar cane, and goat cheese on small plates. Right here we sat in laborious backed chairs and listened to the information as he gave us the historical past of the sugar cane. Afterwards we walked down the hill (the place it abruptly began to rain!) and met the star of the day, the oxen. This oxen (with the assistance of two volunteers – James and Randy) walked round and round in circles to provide contemporary sugar water whereas James and Randy caught the canes in a tree like opening. It was delish!
The subsequent tour was zip lining. I used to be feeling somewhat underneath the climate that day so the trek up the mountain to the zip line fairly actually took my breath away. As soon as I used to be strapped in and felt safe, the remainder was a breeze. We went on 5 completely different zip traces so I didn’t have time to consider whether or not I may do it or not – it was exhilarating for certain!
Some folks on the tour bus stated that this was the perfect a part of the day – lunch! We had been fed wholesome parts of genuine Costa Rican delicacies together with rice and beans and spicy rooster. We sat in giant room with picket tables and acquired in a lot wanted relaxation whereas we inhaled our delish sizzling meals.
The final a part of the tour concerned the massive water slide which we skipped as a result of I didn’t have it in me to stroll up one other mountain to get there. Then got here the mud bathtub and sizzling springs. I liked the recent springs as a result of the water was extraordinarily sizzling. The mud from the tub needed to be taken off in a chilly outside bathe in order that was not a lot enjoyable. And I slathered the mud on in all of the crevices not realizing that I’d would wish to make use of chilly water to take away it. Had I identified…The recent springs (5 in all) had been superior and felt like heaven on earth with the warmth rising from the water. Every sizzling spring we entered acquired somewhat cooler than the one earlier than so by the fifth one, it was like being in a lukewarm bathtub. A beautiful and becoming ending to our day. And a gorgeous finish to an unpredictable vacay (smile).
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