As you know by now, I’m a huge fan of day trips – check out the archived entries to the right and see some of the great, last-minute adventures I’ve squeezed in over the past few months. But sometimes a day’s respite…or even an overnight retreat…simply isn’t enough. Our family found ourselves itching for a REAL vacation during the Thanksgiving holiday. Believe it or not, our last-minute planning yielded one of the best vacations ever: a five day adventure in Costa Rica. Here are some tips for how you might be able to swing a seat-of-the-pants getaway to this tropical paradise.
1. Getting there: unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a non-stop flight from DC. We opted to connect through Charlotte on USAir. My one word of advice: allow plenty of time for a layover between flights. We darn near missed our connection, even with our fleet-footed sprint between terminals!
2. Ground transportation: you want to be able to explore the beautiful countryside at leisure, so arrange to rent a car in advance. We found the best rates through Dollar, but shop around. Word to the wise: spring for the GPS (a lifesaver!). Also, insurance is a mandatory add-on in Costa Rica, so factor that into your budget.
3. Accommodations: we LOVED the Marriott Los Suenos, a gorgeous hotel located on the Pacific Ocean. A gated resort community, Los Suenos has a spectacular water views, a marina, and golg course.
4. Side trips: tempting as it was to laze around Los Suenos, we maximized our time in Costa Rica with some really interesting day trips. Among our favorites was the Manual Antonio National Park (hire a guide with a telescopic camera lens and take home some spectacular wildlife photos), Poas Volcano (just one hour outside of the capital, San Jose), and the surfing village of Jaco, just 10 miles from the Los Suenos hotel.
5. Activities: you want to park yourself on the beach with a good book and a tall frosty drink? I get it! But for the restless in your entourage, there are lots of ways to stay active. We booked a zip-lining adventure through Canopy Vista Los Suenos, horseback riding with Discovery Horseback Tours and a tour of Pura Waterfall Gardens. Those who are even bolder will want to engage in some ATVing with Adventure Tours, the Crocodile Man Tour on Playa Tarcoles, or bungee jumping (!!!) with Pacific Bungee Costa Rica. Another great idea: charter a boat and local captain and spend the day deep sea fishing.
6. Dining: The Marriott had some fabulous options but half the fun is venturing "off property" for some local cuising. In nearby Jaco, we particularly liked Tsunami Sushi, the Taco Bar, and Parrilla Argentina for the best steak north of Buenos Aires. I also highly recommend Juanita’s at Playa Herradura.
7. Souvenirs: Costa Rica is ALL about coffee and you’ll want to stock up while you’re here. Grab sacks of beans for your friends, your house-sitter, your boss…and then line the rest of your suitcase with a year-long supply of your own. The locals’ favorite brand is 1820 – you can find it at any supermarket! Delicious!!!
I just can’t say enough about our wonderful Costa Rican holiday. If you want to learn more about this not-so-far away destination, check out the Department of State’s website or visitcostarica.com, site of the local tourist board. Happy Travels!
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