Matthew Houde's Blog, page 24

Virtual Field Trip to Costa Rica – Part 1

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

At home wishing you were in Costa Rica? Even from afar, there are some meaningful ways to connect with and learn about the country’s rich culture, abundant wildlife, and diverse ecosystems. In this two-part series, we’ll share 10 activities and resources that are fun for both kids and adults alike. Some are things we’ve enjoyed with our kids living here in Costa Rica. Others are books that the kids can explore on their own or for you to read together for an easy learning activity. We hope this virtual field trip gets you excited about your next Costa Rica trip, whenever that may be!

Cooking Beans from Scratch – A Costa Rican Tradition

Did you know that in Costa Rica almost everyone eats rice and beans at least once per day? It may sound crazy but it’s sort of like how you may eat a bowl of cereal or sandwich every day. You just get used to it!

Rice and beans are considered a traditional food in Costa Rica. In fact, beans are so important that in grocery stores here, you’ll find dozens of different types from many different companies. Some Costa Ricans prefer black beans, while others like red beans. In our house, we alternate.

Most of the beans we eat are grown right in Costa Rica. Once the beans mature, they are picked and dried (traditionally in the sun). Then they are put into bags and sent to stores. Unlike the beans you buy in a can, dried beans can’t be eaten right away. It takes some work to get them ready, but it’s worth it. You can infuse delicious flavors into the beans when you cook them yourself.

First, you need to sort the beans, then soak them for several hours, and finally you’ll have to cook them for a few hours more. This is a fun multiday activity to try with the family, but it’s really quite easy so a good one to do with the kids.

To bring this tradition into your own home, try our recipe. In that post, we also share a traditional Costa Rican dish with beans that most Ticos eat on a daily basis.

Our son helping out with the beansLearn About Pineapples and Plant One Too! Background

Speaking of food, have you ever seen a pineapple from Costa Rica in the grocery store? There’s a good chance you have, even if you didn’t know it. That’s because pineapples are one of Costa Rica’s main fruit exports. In some areas of the country, there are giant pineapple fields so big, they seem to go on forever.

A huge pineapple field in southern Costa Rica

These farms produce a lot of fruit, but the pineapples aren’t anywhere as tasty as those grown on smaller farms. Smaller farms also have less of an impact on our environment since they don’t cut down as many trees or use as many chemicals. Costa Rica’s wildlife likes that!

To learn more about a smaller organic pineapple farm in Costa Rica, check out this link. Be sure to scroll down in the article to watch the video too. Near the end, farmer Andres shows a really cool way to cut a pineapple.

Plant a Pineapple

Even if you don’t live in climate that is warm year-round, you can still plant a pineapple in your house and watch it grow. All you need is a pineapple from the store, a pot of dirt, and your hands.

It can take 18-24 months, or even longer, for a pineapple plant to make a fruit. Depending on how much sun it gets, you may get a nice sized fruit or a small, ornamental pineapple flower. If you do this with kids, you could have them be responsible for the watering. We have some papaya and watermelon seeds growing at our house, and our four-year old is in charge of their daily maintenance.

4 Steps to Plant Your Own Pineapple

1) Twist off (don’t cut) the spiky green top of your pineapple. This will take a bit of strength, but all you do is hold the top base of the pineapple in one hand and green spiky part in the other. Then twist the top with some force until it breaks free. Note: Once you take the top off the pineapple, it will ripen quickly.

2) With the top off, remove about 4-5 rows of the lower (smallest) leaves (these are the ones you just exposed). This will show some little roots, which are usually brown dots, but they can sometimes be short and squiggly as well.

3) Press the pineapple top into soft, well-draining soil (roots first). Use your hands to firm the dirt around the roots.

Tip: If you are using a flowerpot, make sure it is at least 12” in diameter to give the pineapple enough space to grow. Here’s a link to a selection of choices you can buy online if you don’t have one at home.

4) Make sure your pineapple plant gets plenty of sun, and be sure to water it when the soil gets dry. For best results, keep the leaves dry and only water the soil.

If you want video instructions on how you plant a pineapple, we found a good link here.

Pull off the small leaves to expose the rootsWildlife GuidesBackground

A big highlight of visiting Costa Rica is its amazing wildlife. In the tropical rainforest, you can find monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, toucans, and all kinds of other jungle animals.

Before your trip, it’s both fun and important to learn about some of these creatures. Field guides are one of the best ways to learn. Using the write ups and pictures in these guides, you can find out where different animals live, what they eat, and other cool facts about them.

For example, did you know that the call of a howler monkey can be heard from up to three miles (4.8 km) away? That’s far! Just knowing this fact will help you figure out on a hike what made that crazy noise you heard, how close you are, and if you might be within distance to see it. The more you learn, the better chances you will have to spot some of your favorite animals in the wild. Additionally, if you already know the basic facts about Costa Rica’s wildlife, your tour guides are more likely to share some of their in-depth knowledge with you since they can skip the simple stuff.

Which Field Guides Are Best?

The best simple field guide that we have found is The Wildlife of Costa Rica by Fiona Reid, Twan Leenders, and Jim Zook. This book has a lot of information but the descriptions are shorter and not over-the-top “sciency.” It also has some great colorful pictures and illustrations. Our four-year-old son often grabs this book when we find a strange insect in our house or want to know more about an animal we saw.

Looking inside the Wildlife of Costa Rica and some other more detailed wildlife guides

For some very simple fold out field guides, you can look at Rainforest Publications. They have several different ones, including mammals, marine animals, reptiles, birds, butterflies, and amphibians. So one day, you can learn about what you’d see snorkeling along the coral reef at Costa Rica’s Cano Island, and another day, about the country’s 42 species of tree frog (see cover photo, above). These pocket guides don’t have much information besides the names of animals, birds, plants, etc. But they have colorful illustrations and are laminated so smaller kids can’t rip them and they carry along well in a day pack.

Wildlife Camera Traps and Videos Background

To see some of Costa Rica’s wildlife in action before you visit yourself (and test out what you learned with your field guides), check out some cool camera trap videos online. Camera traps are small cameras that are hidden in the jungle. They are attached to trees or other structures and have sensors so that when a creature moves past them, it takes their picture or a video.

We set up some of these in our own jungle backyard in Costa Rica a few years back and saw some fun surprises. You can read more about how we did it and what we saw here.

A white-nosed coati that we spotted on our trail camera a while backOther Camera Traps to Check Out

To see even more animals, there are other Costa Rica camera traps you can check out. Here are a few of our favorites.

Hacienda Baru (southern Pacific coast near Dominical) – Hacienda Baru is a hotel and wildlife reserve that has been regrowing and protecting a section of land formerly used for cattle ranching. After working at it for more than 30 years, the wildlife has come back and now there are more animals than ever.

To see some of the species on Hacienda Baru’s property, check out their Facebook videos. You’ll be able to catch a glimpse at monkeys, big cats like pumas and ocelots, armadillos, and anteaters. Something interesting you may also notice are strange tunnels. These were put in under the new coastal highway to help protect the wildlife. They make it so the animals don’t have to cross the busy road above and risk getting hit.

Ocho Verde (southern Pacific coast near Golfito) – These guys have a fun YouTube channel with lots of trail camera footage as well as other videos that guide you through different animal experiences. You can see and learn about things like jungle cats, snakes, and interesting bugs.

Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring (northern region of Costa Rica) – Guanacaste has mostly what scientists call tropical dry forests. That means the forests are adapted to long stretches without rain. Many trees even lose their leaves during drought. While you wouldn’t think there would be as much wildlife there, as compared to say, the rainforest, these camera traps prove otherwise.

Check out their YouTube channel to see things like pumas, coyote, coati (raccoon-like animals), agouti, and many interesting birds.

Costa Rica Storybooks

To finish part one of our virtual field trip, we thought we’d leave you with some Costa Rica-themed storybooks. For the kids, there are plenty of fun ones, plus we’ll plug our own book for adults looking for a Costa Rica-themed story to take them out of their everyday life.

Where’s the Sloth? (Ages 3 to adult) – This look-and-find book will remind you of Where’s Waldo but with cute little sloths to find instead!

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Rain Forest (Readers 4-8) – This book, while not specifically about Costa Rica’s rainforests, teaches kids some amazing facts. It also shows them where rainforests are located around the globe. There are over 200 colorful photographs of things like frogs, snakes, monkeys, and plants. We have some of the other books in this series for our son, and he loves them! They have awesome illustrations and lots of detail to teach them some science.

If I Ran the Rain Forest: All About Tropical Rain Forests (Readers 4-9) – Everyone loves Cat in the Hat books and this one is no different. Here, the Cat takes Sally and Dick through the different layers of the rainforest, meeting animals and people and learning about plants along the way.

Lovely Amelia Travels (Costa Rica) (Readers 4-12) – Lovely Amelia Travels is a series about a little girl who visits exciting destinations around the world. In this one, she goes to Costa Rica and explores jungle, volcanoes, and more. Written by a native Costa Rican woman who traveled the globe as a nanny. 

Sophie Washington: Mission Costa Rica (Readers 8-12) – Part of a nine-book series, this one takes a sixth grader and her friends to Costa Rica for service work. It didn’t go as expected and the friends have lots of adventures.

Two Weeks in Costa Rica (written mostly for adults) – This was our first book that we wrote several years ago and is where the name for our website came from. It’s a fun little travelogue that sweeps Jenn and Matt (that’s us!) away from the snowy weather in Boston to Costa Rica’s tropical beaches and rainforests. Of course, like any trip, there were some bumps along the way.

Conclusion

We hope this list of resources and activities helps give you some ideas on how to connect with Costa Rica, even from your home. Subscribe to our newsletter for free here to get notified as soon as Part 2 of our virtual field trip comes out. We’ll be sharing some other cool resources about things like sea turtles, volcanoes, and more.

Which activity was your favorite? Leave us a comment below.

Some of the links in this post are connected to affiliate programs we have joined. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Planning your Costa Rica dream trip? Check out these posts:

Family Travel: Why Costa Rica is the Perfect Destination – Want to explore a new culture with your kids? This post explains why Costa Rica is a comfortable travel destination for families.

Best Time to Visit Costa Rica – If you are considering which month to plan your visit, this post will lay out your options. Things covered include weather conditions and busiest/least crowded months.

Best Beaches for Families in Costa Rica – Looking for a calm cove and shady palm tree? Costa Rica has many surfing beaches with rougher water, but this post will guide you to destinations that are safe for your little swimmers.

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Making Homemade Costa Rican-Style Beans

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

When a lot of people cook using beans, they just open a can that is already prepared. But in other parts of the world like Costa Rica, making homemade beans is a time-honored tradition. We’ve been living in Costa Rica since 2013 and have been making beans ever since. There are tons of different ways to do it. Many locals flavor with meat. We usually make ours vegetarian and season with spices. No matter what you use, cooking homemade beans is a great way to infuse flavor, and although it involves a little planning, it’s super easy. Below is our recipe for making homemade Costa Rican-style beans.

Ingredients

1 bag of dried black beans or small red beans. We use red beans in this recipe, but they can be harder to find outside Costa Rica. Black beans are more readily available and work just as well.

Fresh, whole garlic cloves (crushed) – 4 large or 6 small. If you can find the smaller locally grown type of garlic, these usually have more flavor.

1/4 cup good extra virgin olive oil – This will make the beans have a nice, decadent sauce.

Spices – We like to use cumin for some Latin flavor and also thyme, but you can use oregano or whatever you prefer. A little bit of herbs goes a long way so start with about 1 teaspoon and add more later if you think it needs more flavor.

Salt and pepper

Instructions

The day before, dump the dry beans into a large pot (6 quarts) and sort. You want to remove any beans that look bad or out of the ordinary. This could mean they are shriveled up or have small holes in them (sometimes bugs may have eaten them in the field). Rarely, you may find a few small rocks that snuck through because they are the same size as a bean.

Cover the beans with water, overfilling by several inches. Cover the pot and let sit at least overnight, up to around 24 hours. People here say the longer the better to make beans that are easier to digest.

Drain and prepare for cooking. You will want to rinse the beans well then put them back in the pot. Cover with fresh water. Add garlic cloves, olive oil, spices, and black pepper. Be generous with your pepper – remember, you’re seasoning around a pound of beans. Don’t add the salt yet. Cover beans and bring to a boil on high heat.

Our son helping with the stirring

Once they come to a boil, remove the lid and reduce heat to medium low so that they maintain a steady boil. Cook uncovered. At this point, you may see some white foam starting to form on the surface. This is normal. It’s the part of the bean coming out that causes unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects (aka gas), so you will want to skim off as much of this as possible. Leaving a little is just fine.

Skim off that top foamy layer that forms when the beans start to boil to make them easier to digest.

The beans will need to cook for anywhere between 2-3.5 hours. The drier they are to start, the longer it will take. Keep checking on them periodically and stirring to make sure there is enough water. The beans should always be well covered with water, but don’t add too much towards the end. You’ll want to have a nice thick sauce to go along with the beans. Again, make sure to cook them uncovered especially at the end to achieve a nice sauce. 

When the beans begin to soften (around 1.5 hours into cooking), add the salt. People say to wait to do it until this point so that the beans don’t get tough. You will need a good amount of salt. We use around 1 teaspoon, but start with 1/2 teaspoon and add more if you think it needs it. If you are finding that the beans don’t have enough flavor, you probably need more salt.

Adding salt once the beans have been cooking for a while. Notice the sauce starting to thicken.

You can tell when the beans are done when you test five or six of them and all are nice and soft. Often times, a couple will be soft but the next one you try will still be crunchy. Just be patient and keep checking. When the beans are soft but still firm and not mushy, they are done and ready to eat!

Accompaniments

Once you have your beans ready to go, you can serve them simply on a bed of white rice.

Another popular way to eat beans in Costa Rica is in a traditional dish called Gallo Pinto. This is super simple. All you do is sauté some chopped onions and bell pepper with a clove of garlic and mix together with the rice and beans.

Costa Rica’s traditional breakfast, gallo pinto, is good any time of day

Then to make it really say Costa Rica, top with a little fresh cilantro and Costa Rica’s famous Salsa Lizano or Chilero hot sauce, and you’re good to go!

Beans also freeze well so if you have extra, just throw them in some ziplock bags with a little of the bean sauce.

We hope you enjoy your homemade beans. A lot of people think cooking beans from scratch is a lot of work, but once you have done it, you realize that it’s really not that hard.

Have a question about making homemade beans? Ask us below.

Some of the links in this post are connected to affiliate programs we have joined. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Looking for more information about Costa Rica? Check out these posts:

Traditional Foods of Costa Rica: Learn about six more of Costa Rica’s typical foods.

Life in Costa Rica: Interested in moving to Costa Rica? Check out our Life in CR section for details on getting residency, cost of living, buying a car, and more.

Simple Spanish for Visiting Costa Rica – Learn the basics from greetings to ordering in a restaurant with this handy guide.

The post Making Homemade Costa Rican-Style Beans appeared first on Two Weeks in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

Last Updated: March 9, 2020

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a hot topic these days for travelers. We’ve had some readers and clients inquire about how Costa Rica is dealing with the Coronavirus, if there are any travel restrictions, and whether they should cancel their plans. In this post, we will give you as much information as possible about the situation in Costa Rica along with links to official government websites so that you can ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date news.

Important: As of March 9, 2020, there have been 9 confirmed cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 in Costa Rica. We will be updating this post with any relevant changes as much as possible.

About Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that typically cause respiratory infections. COVID-19 is the most recent addition to this group of viruses. We won’t go into detail about what COVID-19 is, but here are the major symptoms:

• High fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing
• Severe cases can lead to additional complications, and in rare cases, death.

For more general information on the virus, visit the World Health Organization’s website.

Costa Rica Cases of Coronavirus

Currently (as of March 9), there have been 9 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Costa Rica. Of the 9 individuals, 6 are from Costa Rica and 3 are from the United States.

Of the 6 Costa Ricans, one is a man from Alajuela (age 54) who recently returned from Panama on February 22 and soon started showing symptoms. The other 5 Costa Rican citizens (ages 73, 41, 54, 56, and 34) who tested positive were in contact with that man.

Of the 3 US citizens, two are a couple who traveled from New York to Costa Rica on March 1 (both age 49). The man was in contact with someone who had the virus in the US and then traveled to Costa Rica. He did not show any symptoms (and is still asymptomatic), but his wife began showing symptoms during their trip and then tested positive. The other US citizen (age 70) lives in Costa Rica and recently returned from the US, making stops at two airports in the US on the way.

All confirmed individuals are being isolated either in hospitals or hotels under medical supervision. The people who they have been in contact with are being evaluated. Currently all are in stable condition except for the 54-year-old Costa Rican man with diabetes.

Where to Get Updates: Check for more recent updates on the Ministry of Health News website. This is where official announcements will be published. The Ministry of Health shares this information to their Facebook page so that is a good source as well.

Travel Restrictions

Costa Rica has not issued any travel bans or restrictions (as of March 9) that prevent people from visiting the country. However, airline passengers who show symptoms of the virus while flying to Costa Rica will be interviewed and/or tested upon arrival. See more in the section below.

Travelers leaving their home country may need to consult international travel restrictions for connecting flights that land in countries other than Costa Rica.

Travelers to Costa Rica from the United States can refer to the US Embassy in Costa Rica’s news page for updates on travel restrictions. Visitors from other countries can refer to their applicable Costa Rica Embassy (List of Costa Rica Embassies) for travel restrictions.

How is Costa Rica Dealing with Coronavirus?

Costa Rican authorities have put various measures in place to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading within the country. Health officials are currently meeting daily and issuing press briefings regularly on their website. Visit the Ministry of Health News Page for the latest official updates. At the top right of the page, you can select your language.

Here are some notable actions taken:

• Since February, Costa Rica has had the proper laboratory test for diagnosing COVID-19. All testing will go through the Institute for Research and Education in Nutrition and Health (Inciensa). Announcements will be issued by the Ministry of Health.

• Hospitals as well as emergency services (like 911) around the country have protocols in place to deal with patients showing or describing symptoms.

• Authorities have updated the Public Health Event Contingency Plan for San Jose’s SJO Airport to include guidelines for COVID-19. Protocols within the document lay out how airlines, air traffic control, airport workers, and health officials will work together. For example, special rooms have been set up to interview and test passengers who show symptoms on the plane.

• Contingency plans also have been implemented for Liberia International Airport in Guanacaste and the cruise ship terminal in Caldera.

• Campaigns by the government-run healthcare system (CCSS) are informing the public of preventative techniques such as hand washing and cleaning. They are delivering the information through television, radio, and social media.

• Costa Rica’s National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE) issued a Yellow Alert in response to COVID-19 on March 8. This will mobilize additional resources and increase coordination between the country’s emergency services.

• The Minister of Health is coordinating with the Department of Labor and Department of Public Works to strengthen workplace protocols and apply guidelines for public transportation. The Department of Education has issued mandatory protocols for schools, which include cleaning and personal hygiene guidelines.

• Coordination is underway with the religious leaders of the country to begin delivering the Holy Eucharist in the hand instead of the mouth, and to avoid physical contact in the salutation of peace.

• The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) has issued a notice to the tourism sector called General Guidelines for owners and managers of tourist services Coronavirus (COVID-19). It recommends that all tourism businesses define the roles of their employees in preparedness and response to COVID-19 and implement preventative measures recommended by health authorities. It also lays out cleaning and other guidelines for facilities.

Guidance from the Ministry of Health on what to do now that COVID-19 is in Costa RicaShould I Cancel or Delay My Trip?

While we can’t advise you on the risks of traveling during the Coronavirus COVID-19 health event, we can tell you some practical things to consider.

• First, things are developing quickly around the world. With the situation changing daily, many travelers we have heard from are in a wait-and-see holding pattern. They are waiting to see how the situation evolves before making their final decision to go ahead with, delay, or cancel their vacation. The CDC has a page set up to answer travel questions and evaluate the risk of traveling to certain countries. Currently, Costa Rica is in the lowest category of risk (marked with gray on the map), which is “Risk of limited community transmission.” Check the website for any updates.

• If your trip is within days or weeks, you’ve likely already made all your bookings and things like airfare and hotels may be non-refundable at this point. If you are uncomfortable traveling, it is worth reaching out to individual service providers to see if you can postpone the reservations for a later date or at least get a partial refund.

• If your trip is several months away, it may be beneficial to look at the individual cancellation policies for your airfare, hotels, transportation, and tours. Cancellation policies usually have a deadline to cancel (typically 15-30 days for hotels and 7 days to 24 hours for tours, shuttle transfers, and rental cars). These policies usually also lay out any associated fees that come when cancelling (e.g., 100% refund with 30 days’ notice, first night charged with 15 days’ notice). Consider these cancellation policies when picking a date to make your final decision about whether to cancel.

• Consider official warnings from health officials on travel and self-care. If you fit into the category of a high-risk individual, determine if travel to Costa Rica is necessary or could be postponed. According to the CDC’s website, people of high risk may be:

o Older adults
o People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease

• If you do plan to travel, it is important to consider purchasing travel insurance. Because COVID-19 has become a “named event,” you are unlikely to be covered if you cancel your trip because you are afraid to go. However, you will have medical coverage (depending on your policy) if you become ill while traveling. Travel insurance policies are usually very reasonable and worth the peace of mind.

Protecting Yourself

While the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is scary, worldwide health officials urge that protecting yourself and others can go a long way in preventing its spread. Here’s what we should all be practicing:

• Regular and thorough hand washing (at least 20 seconds)
• Disinfecting surfaces
• Always covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
• Thoroughly cooking meat and eggs
• Avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing
• Staying home at the first sign of symptoms
*We’d also like to add that relaxing on a remote tropical beach in Costa Rica is also a great way to avoid COVID-19.

Jaco Restaurant Guide

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

Jaco is a beach town with a lot going on. For first timers, the options for restaurants can be almost overwhelming. You’ll find everything from upscale gastropubs to hamburger joints and now even Indian food tucked between the many souvenir and surf shops on the main strip. We’ve been living in the Jaco area for a while now and have enjoyed checking out all the options. Here are some of our favorite restaurants to try in Jaco.

Many of the directions below are given based on the POPS building. Like most towns in Costa Rica, Jaco doesn’t use standard addresses. POPS is an ice-cream shop near the center of the strip. It makes for an easy point of reference.

Green Room Café 

The Green Room is our go-to restaurant in Jaco. It has a big menu for no matter what you are craving, with everything from burgers and tacos to refined fish and steak dishes. The atmosphere is super laid back and the servers are friendly. It’s a big space with both indoor and outdoor seating. The Green Room focuses on local and organic ingredients. You can also find artisan craft beer from all around the country. Check out their Facebook page for the menu and info on live music and other events. $8-20. Ave. Pastor Diaz, across the street from POPS.

Graffiti Restro Cafe + Wine Bar 

This upscale, but edgy, spot is one of the best places in town for a nice dinner out. Graffiti has made its mark with its slow food. They use only local ingredients in their innovative dishes. We’re always interested to see what combinations they come up with next, but some of our favorites have been the blackened mahi mahi with coconut rice and pineapple chutney and poke bowl, full of colorful veggies. They also host events and have live music. Check out their Facebook page for details. $10-30. Dinner only. Closed Sundays. Call ahead for reservations. Located in Jaco Walk, on the southern end of town past Mas X Menos grocery store.

Blackened Mahi Mahi with coconut rice and pineapple chutney at GraffitiAmara 

We’re really excited about this new spot on the northern end of town. Amara is a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant. They have a nice list of appetizers for sharing as well as entrees and kids’ meals as well. You’ll find things like Grilled Octopus with hummus and a parsley sauce, Beef Gyro with feta and yogurt dressing, fried artichokes, and chicken-curry croquettes. The ambiance is upscale, but still comfortable. They also have a nice cocktail menu. In a white-washed building on the northern end of Ave. Pastor Diaz, a block up from the entrance to Hotel Tangeri.

Octopus with hummus at AmaraThe Pizza Shop 

Whenever we’re craving pizza from back home, we head to the Pizza Shop. Their thin-crust pies always deliver. They use quality ingredients and smoke many of the meats in house. You can load up on maple-smoked bacon, sausage, and smoked chicken, as well as things like ricotta, pesto, and roasted zucchini. The vibe is super chill. $8-30. Check out their website for the menu. On the northern end of Ave. Pastor Diaz, a block up from the small yellow bridge.

Zona K Bistro 

This small bistro is somewhat of a hidden gem in Jaco. The owner is a Costa Rican chef who is known for his innovative fare with Latin and Asian influences. The food at Zona K may take a little longer because everything is made from scratch, but it’s worth the wait. Some of our favorite dishes are the Cajun Tuna with Sesame or the Breakfast Skillet for brunch. This is a popular spot, and the small dining area can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Closed Mondays. Located on the northern end of town, across the street from Best Brands shoes.

Asian-style Tuna at Zona K BistroPuddle Fish Brewery 

Puddle Fish is a local brewery in Jaco. They had a restaurant in Jaco Walk, but recently closed it to open their new bigger and better brewery and tasting room. Construction is underway now. The large industrial-looking building will house their expanded brewery operations and have a tasting room and beer garden. They’ve also carved out some spaces for projects like a skate bowl, demo on how surf boards are made, and an in-house screen painting studio. The new location will be on the southern end of Jaco across the street from the entrance of Miros Mountain. In the meantime, they have opened Side Car Bar where you can get their craft beer and specialty wines and cocktails. This is next to Graffiti Restro Cafe + Wine Bar in Jaco Walk.

Ohana Sushi Tapas Bar 

For tasty (and beautiful) sushi, Ohana is the place to go. This tapas restaurant has innovative sushi made from the local fresh catch and also some other dishes for the non-sushi eaters. Other options include calamari, tempura shrimp, spring rolls, and skewers with meat, fish, or veggies. On a side street off Ave. Pastor Diaz going to the beach (look for a billboard for Hicaco Restaurant).

Delicious rolls at OhanaSushi at Home 

For more affordable, but still yummy, sushi, there’s Sushi at Home. This restaurant is a little hidden. It’s on the second floor of a plaza in the middle of Jaco, with two different areas for seating. One is open air and the other, on the front of the building, is nicely air conditioned. They have a huge sushi menu and options for noodle and rice bowls. Located about a block south of POPs, past Max X Menos and next to AXR ATV company.

El Hicaco 

The best thing about El Hicaco is its location. It fronts the beach so you can see and hear the waves while you dine. This seafood restaurant is on the upscale side and you do pay a little more for the view, but it’s still worth a visit. The atmosphere is contemporary and the service is very good. We’ve always enjoyed our meals here. Also has a small, nicely shaded playground that’s a hit with the kids. Located on the southern end of town, about a block from Mas X Menos grocery store.

Oceanfront dining at El HicacoPanaderia Artesanal 

Panaderia Artesanal is a bakery that’s a great stop for breakfast or lunch. Homemade quiche, bagels, empanadas, cookies, and pastries are quick options, and they also make sandwiches, wraps, or breakfast plates with quality ingredients. $5-12. Northern end of Ave. Pastor Diaz in the Palm Plaza. Across from Economy Rent a Car.

Heladeria El Barco 

Ice-cream lovers will want to check out Heladeria El Barco. One of our good friends is obsessed with ice cream, and he never misses a stop here when he’s in town. This place has some of the best homemade gelato and ice-cream around. You can choose from more than 20 flavors and load up on toppings, or try a traditional Churchill (shaved ice with fruit syrup and condensed milk) or even a waffle sundae. Ave. Pastor Diaz, a few doors south of POPS.

Just some of the ice-cream selection at Heladeria El BarcoRustico 

For traditional specialties like rice with chicken, olla de carne (Costa Rican beef stew), and even beef tongue, head to Rustico. This super simple soda serves up tasty plates of rice, beans, meats, and sides. It’s buffet style so you just go up and order whatever looks good. This place is very popular with locals so there’s usually a line. $5-8 with a drink. On a side street off Ave. Pastor Diaz going to the beach (look for a billboard for Hicaco Restaurant).

Carne en Salsa at Soda RusticoVida Hermosa (Playa Hermosa) 

This restaurant isn’t right in Jaco, but we couldn’t leave it out. Vida Hermosa sits on Playa Hermosa, a well-known surfing beach about 10 minutes south. The open-air atmosphere gives a beach-bar vibe (you can sit inside or out on the sand under the palm trees), but the food is more refined and delicious. Menu items include burgers, sandwiches, pasta, wraps, rice bowls, and a variety of seafood dishes. They also have a great cocktail list and some craft beer on tap.

*     *     *

With so many good options it’s hard to keep this list short, but those are our top picks for restaurants in Jaco.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Jaco? Let us know in the comments below.Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:

Jaco: Costa Rica’s Booming Beach Town – Our destination guide is loaded with tips for visiting Jaco, including where to stay and what to do.

Esterillos Oeste: Surfing, Serenity, and La Siren – Just 25 minutes south of Jaco’s busy strip is the quiet surfing town of Esterillos Oeste. This is the perfect spot to find a palm tree and relax.

Monteverde, Costa Rica: A Forest in the Clouds – Looking to explore the cloud forest from the beach? Monteverde is a short trip away and worth a couple of nights to see a completely different ecosystem. Bring a jacket because it can get chilly compared to Jaco!

The post Jaco Restaurant Guide appeared first on Two Weeks in Costa Rica.

Manuel Antonio Activities Guide

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

If you’re visiting Manuel Antonio during part of your Costa Rica vacation, get ready for fun! Manuel Antonio is best known for its amazing wildlife and there are excellent tours and guides that will let you see monkeys, sloths, and plenty of exotic birds. Other highlights of Manuel Antonio are the stunning coastline and thick rainforest. Adventure tours like whitewater rafting and zip lining will take you through the lush jungle, while water activities like a catamaran cruise or jet ski tour will get you out on the shimmering sea.

When we first moved to Costa Rica more than six years ago, this is where we landed. We absolutely love this area and still live close by. In this post, we’ll share some of our favorite tours and attractions in Manuel Antonio so you can enjoy them too.

Note: Most of the activities below require prior reservations. We are glad to help with this. We have been booking tours in Manuel Antonio for several years now and know all the best operators. Booking through us supports our site and doesn’t cost anything extra. Get in touch at the bottom of this post if you’d like some help.

Wildlife Activities

Manuel Antonio and the adjacent national park are covered in thick jungle. This is the perfect habitat for wildlife like monkeys (three kinds), sloths, anteaters, frogs, toucans, parrots, and more. Here are three ways to see the most.

Manuel Antonio National Park

This is one of Costa Rica’s most popular national parks and it’s no secret why. A short stroll down fairly easy trails will let you see, at the very least, some monkeys, birds, insects, and lots of cool plants. On our last visit, we were looking at monkeys overhead and a small deer snuck up behind us. It was within a few feet!

While you can see a lot on your own, getting a guide will help you see the most. These guides know where some of the harder-to-find wildlife (like sloths) hide and have powerful scopes to zoom in on species that are far from the trail. On our last tour, the guide used his scope to show us a camouflaged frog and even some exotic wasps that were making an intricate hive. Their knowledge of how the ecosystem works is awe inspiring.

For more information about visiting the park, read our post Manuel Antonio National Park: Hiking, Wildlife, and Beautiful Beaches.

Self-guided Tour: $16 adults | $5 children ages 6-12

Guided Group Tour (6-8 people max): $59 adults | $39 children ages 5-11 | Children under 5 are free
Private Guided Tour with only your family/group: $79 adults | $49 children ages 5-11 | Children under 5 are free
Tour Times: 7:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m.
Note: 8:00 a.m. tours are not offered in the high season (late December through end of April) due to park occupancy limits. 
Duration: About 4 hours
Includes: Bilingual naturalist guide, entrance fee, round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, water, and a snack.

Three-toed sloth in Manuel Antonio National ParkNight Tour

If you think the jungle is active during the day, you’ll be amazed at what comes out at night. Manuel Antonio is one of the best places to do a night walk because of the wildlife density (lots of critters packed into a smaller space). These tours start around sunset (5:30 p.m.) when the jungle creatures that were sleeping during the day, suddenly wake up. It’s fairly common to see frogs, interesting insects, snakes, spiders like tarantulas, and sometimes elusive animals like kinkajous or anteaters. You’ll probably see some sleeping birds and lizards too.

Group Night Tour (6-8 people max): $49 adults | $35 children ages 5-11 | Children under 5 are free
Private Night Tour: $69 adults | $45 children ages 5-11 | Children under 5 are free
Tour Time: 5:30 p.m.
Duration: About 3 hours 
Includes: Bilingual naturalist guide, round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio, flashlight, rubber boots (if needed due to conditions), and a bottle of water.

Tree frog on a night tour at a reserve near the national parkMangrove Tour to See Wildlife (Boat or Kayak)

Wetlands are an important habitat for the wildlife around Manuel Antonio. A boat or kayak tour through the nearby Damas Mangroves will give you a different perspective than you’d get on land. These mangroves, just north of Quepos, are home to white-faced monkeys, iguanas, snakes, and many species of wetland birds like kingfishers, herons, Mangrove Hawks, and more. There is even a special kind of racoon that lives here called the crab-eating racoon. For this tour, you can choose to take a small covered boat or kayak through the wetlands on a single or double kayak. 

Mangrove Boat or Kayak Tour: $70 per person. No discount for children.
Tour Time: Start time depends on the tide. Let us know your preferred date and we can inquire.
Duration: About 4 hours, door to door from your hotel
Includes: Round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, bilingual naturalist guide, all equipment, and a typical style meal.

Note: There are several tour operators that feed the monkeys to attract them to the boats. Please don’t support these guys. Feeding monkeys changes their natural behavior and the bacteria from humans can make them very sick. The operator we use knows the importance of protecting wildlife. You will still be able to see the monkeys close up anyway, so don’t worry.

White-faced Capuchin monkey on tour of Isla DamasKids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Center

If you haven’t seen enough wildlife around town or want a closer look, head to Kids Saving the Rainforest. This non-profit rescue and rehabilitation center does a lot to protect wildlife in the area. You’ll see their monkey-rope bridges draped over local roadways as you pass through town. These bridges are essential to keeping many animals from getting hurt by passing cars.

Kids Saving the Rainforest is also the go-to rescue and rehabilitation center in the area for animals that are injured, confiscated, or in need of a permanent home. The group does daily tours at 9:00 a.m. to teach the public about wildlife, see animals up close, and help in the conservation effort. They usually have monkeys, sloths, wild cats, parrots, and much more. The tour is 3 hours long and you can use the pool after to cool off. This is a great one for families and animal lovers.

Wildlife Center Tour: $65 adults | $45 children under 12. Proceeds support the animals.
Tour Time: 9:00 a.m.
Duration: About 3 hours 
Includes: Bilingual guide, round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, snack, and use of pool after the tour.

Adventure Tours

If you’re visiting other areas of the country like La Fortuna or Monteverde, you may check some of these activities off your bucket list there. If not, Manuel Antonio has a great selection of adventure tours to get your thrill on.

Zip Lining

There are at least a half-dozen zip-line companies in the Manuel Antonio area. Our favorite takes you deep into the mountains and gives a glimpse of country life. From there, you will gear up, have a safety talk, and do a short hike through the jungle to the starting point. The cables themselves offer exhilarating fun, but experiencing the views through and above the rainforest canopy from a zip line is a truly unique experience.

This was one of the first tours we ever did in Manuel Antonio and we loved it. The guides were really fun and safe, and the experience is much more personalized than through some other companies.

Zip-line Tour: $85 per person. No discount for children.
Tour Times: 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., or 1:30 p.m.
Duration: About 5 hours, door to door from your hotel
Includes: Bilingual guides, all necessary equipment, round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, and breakfast or lunch, depending on the tour time.
Minimum Age: 3. Young children will ride tandem with a guide.

Zip lining deep in the rainforest near Manuel AntonioWhitewater Rafting

For rafting, the nearby Savegre River offers an exhilarating whitewater experience on Class II-III rapids (good for beginners but still fun and bumpy). The scenery is also stunning as you float through sections of primary rainforest and visit a sparkling waterfall for a snack break. These tours are about a half-day long and include a typical-style meal.

Class II-III Whitewater Rafting: Around $105 per person + 13% tax. No discount for children.
Tour Times: 7:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.
Duration: About 6 hours, door to door from your hotel
Includes: Bilingual guides, all the professional gear required (U.S. Coast Guard approved), breakfast, fruits, snacks, and full lunch. Round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio/Quepos.
Minimum Age: 6

More intense rafting is also available but varies by time of year and rainfall/flow. Contact us at the end of this post for more info about either option.

Adventure Combo Tour

If you can fit in only one adventure tour with your time, this is a great option. This tour combines zip lining, waterfall rappelling/canyoning (scaling down a waterfall by ropes), a Tarzan swing, and freefall into a river so you get to try a little bit of everything. Best of all, it takes place in a section of remote rainforest that’s so wild, you’ll feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.

Adventure Combo Tour: $139 per person + 13% tax
Tour Time: 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
Duration: About 7 hours, door to door from your hotel
Includes: Bilingual guides, round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, all necessary equipment, a typical-style meal, and snack.
Minimum Age: 6

Zip lining across a canyon with a huge waterfallOcean Adventures

Manuel Antonio is beautiful from land, but the view of the lush green coastline from the water is outstanding. There are several ways you can get out on the water to enjoy. Here are some of our favorites.

Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling

You can choose from a few different boats and it all depends on the experience you are looking for. A larger 100-foot catamaran gives somewhat of a party atmosphere with music, an included meal, and plenty of booze if you are so inclined (up to 8 alcoholic drinks). A smaller 50-foot trimaran gives a more personal, low-key experience but still has some cocktails, great food, and music onboard.

Both boats motor down the coast and explore the area around Manuel Antonio National Park. On the way back north, they’ll search for sea life like dolphins, turtles, and even whales (seasonal). The boats then anchor in a calmer cove for snorkeling (equipment included). While Costa Rica isn’t a famous snorkeling destination, it’s still fun to swim off the boat and see some colorful fish. Both also have water slides that are fun for kids and adults alike!

Option 1 – Catamaran Cruise (Large Boat): Around $85 per person adults, $55 per person kids (ages 6-11).
Tour Times: Morning tour – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or Afternoon tour (dry season only – December to end of April) – 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Duration: About 4 hours 
Includes: Round-trip transportation from hotels in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, light snacks, lunch or dinner, 8 alcoholic drinks per person, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, safety equipment, and use of snorkel equipment and water slides.

Option 2 – Catamaran Cruise (Smaller Boat): $95 per person adults; $85 per person children ages 3-11
Tour Times: Morning tour – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or Afternoon tour (dry season only – December to end of April) – 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Duration: About 4 hours
Includes: Round-trip transportation from hotels in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, fresh fruit, lunch or dinner, unlimited cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, safety equipment, and use of snorkel equipment and water slides.

Catamaran tour on the larger boat in Manuel AntonioSportfishing

The brand new, state-of-the-art Marina Pez Vela in Quepos (neighboring Manuel Antonio) is arguably the best place to set up your sportfishing excursion in the whole country, and maybe the world. Offshore fishing trips go for species like Sailfish, Marlin, Yellowfin-Tuna, and Mahi Mahi. We regularly hear about dozens of Sailfish being caught on a single trip, and the last time Matt went out they hooked over 20 Mahi-Mahi.

Inshore fishing is great for less expensive half-day trips too. These trips target species like Rooster Fish, which fight like a shark!

Prices for fishing charters are all over the map (from $550 to $2000 per boat). We work with simple, no frills boats, luxury charters, and everything in between. Just let us know what type of experience you are after and we can help you get on the right boat.

Jet Ski Tours

Another fun way to get out on the water is by jet ski. These tours have you bouncing through waves down the coastline and around Manuel Antonio’s rocky islands. Along the way, you might spot marine life like stingrays, flying fish, sea turtles, and even humpback whales (seasonal). The tour we like also has a stop for some snorkeling. If you want to make it extra special, go for the sunset tour, which ends right as the sun drops into the mighty Pacific.

Jet Ski Tour: $160 (double/2 people on jet ski) or $130 (single)
Tour Times: 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
Duration: About 2 hours
Includes: Round-trip transportation from your hotel in Manuel Antonio/Quepos, all equipment, guide, life jacket, snorkel equipment, and a tropical fruit snack.
Minimum Age: 4. Minimum Age to Drive Alone: 14

Ocean Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP)

For a more mellow experience out on the water, consider a SUP tour. On this tour, your trusty guide will lead you to scenic coves, away from the crowds in Manuel Antonio. You’ll also stop at a secluded beach for a snack.

Ocean SUP Tour: $65 per person
Tour Times: 9:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m.
Duration: About 3 hours
Includes: Round-trip transportation from your hotel, bilingual guide, all equipment, snacks, and water.

Booking a Tour

If you would like to book a tour, use the Booking Form below or send us an email at bookings(at)twoweeksincostarica(dot)com. In your email, please include the following information:

(1) Your preferred dates and times

(2) Number of people (adults and children, with ages of children), and

(3) Pickup location if you would like the included transportation.

We’ll make all the arrangements for you (we are a travel agency). The way it will work is once we have all the information we need from you, we’ll contact the tour operator to check availability. Once the operator confirms, we will send you an invoice through PayPal for the amount due. The invoice will contain all the information for the reservation, including number of people, date, time, price, pickup location and time, as well as the contact information of the tour operator and applicable cancellation policy. We cover all PayPal fees so the price is the same as if you booked directly. After you pay the invoice, we send you a confirmation with the details for each tour and reconfirm with the operator a few days before the tour date to make sure everything is all set.

[contact-form-7]What are you most interested in experiencing in Manuel Antonio? Leave a comment below.Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:

Manuel Antonio Restaurant Guide – Now you know the best things to do in Manuel Antonio, check out our restaurant guide to find the best food. 

Packing for Costa Rica: The Essentials – Costa Rica has several microclimates and widely ranging weather. Read our guide for a comprehensive list of what to bring on your trip.

Money Matters – Have questions about currency, exchanging money, or using your credit card? Check out this post.

The post Manuel Antonio Activities Guide appeared first on Two Weeks in Costa Rica.

Best Beaches for Families in Costa Rica

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

Costa Rica is famous for its miles of coastline along both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. While most visitors want to experience the country’s tropical beaches, many don’t realize how diverse the choices are. Along the central and southern Pacific coast, for example, you’ll find mostly surfing beaches with bigger waves. In contrast, the very northern Pacific coast is carved into calmer coves. Finally, on the Caribbean Coast, you’ll find little development along the beach, except for a few specific towns. There’s also a lot of differences in how beach towns are set up and what activities they offer.

We live in Costa Rica with two kids. In this post, we’ll give you our recommendations for some of the best beaches in Costa Rica for families. We’ll let you know about some destinations that are safe for swimming with children and also have family-friendly activities.

Samara

Located along the Pacific coast, Samara is one of the best beach destinations in Costa Rica for families. This light gray sand beach has a wide cove with smaller waves that are perfect for swimming. Just a five-minute drive away is another tranquil beach, Playa Carrillo, a favorite spot among locals.

Samara is set up with a main town center along the sand, making it very walkable. For activities, in between the rows of tall palms are surf shops offering lessons on the small waves. You’ll also find horseback riding, boat or kayak tours to see wildlife, turtle-watching tours, a hike through the tropical dry forest, and a visit to a macaw parrot breeding center.

To learn more about Samara, read our separate post Samara: Guanacaste’s Most Overlooked Destination.

The beautiful Playa SamaraPlaya Hermosa (Guanacaste)

Tamarindo is Guanacaste’s most well-known destination, but for families looking for a quiet beach escape, we recommend Playa Hermosa. This beach town on the northern Pacific coast has a gorgeous wide cove with gentle waves, making it ideal for young children. From Playa Hermosa, you can also access other beaches with calmer water like the nearby Playa Penca, Playa Panama, and Playa Ocotal.

While most people visiting Hermosa spend the majority of their time at the beach, there are also some fun things to do with kids. A nearby eco-adventure park offers zip lining, a nicely maintained animal sanctuary, and cultural tours. You can also do a boat tour of Palo Verde National Park to see wildlife like monkeys, crocodiles, and a lot of birds. Catamaran tours are available locally or you could explore the bay in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard.

Gently lapping waves at Playa Hermosa in GuanacastePlaya Conchal

The last beach in Guanacaste on our list is Playa Conchal. This is our favorite in this region because of its turquoise-hued water and unique sand made of shells. Another notable feature is that you can snorkel right off the shore. Along the rocks at the northern end, we’ve seen puffer fish, eel, snapper, and many other colorful fish.

Playa Conchal is isolated and harder to access. If you are a guest at the Westin Playa Conchal or one of the other resorts on the beach, you will already be right there. Otherwise, you’ll have to walk about 10 minutes along the sand from the town of Brasilito. Read our post Playa Conchal: The Allure of Shell Beach for up-to-date details on how to arrive.

Clear water and snorkeling at Playa ConchalManuel Antonio

For those looking for lush rainforest, there’s Manuel Antonio on the central Pacific coast. This is one of the most popular beach towns in the country. It not only has a beautiful beach, but also thick jungle filled with wildlife. In and around town, you can see three types of monkeys, sloths, deer, lizards and iguanas, and birds like toucans, trogons, and hummingbirds. It also has a huge restaurant selection and lots to do with kids. You can go zip lining, hiking, waterfall rappelling, whitewater rafting, and do boat or kayak tours, night tours, surf lessons, and much more.

Although the main beach in town, Playa Espadilla, can have rip tides, it’s still decent for wading. Those looking for calmer water will find it at Playa Biesanz. This sheltered cove has gentle waves that are great for kids. There are also some calmer beaches inside Manuel Antonio National Park.

For more information about visiting Manuel Antonio, read our post Manuel Antonio Trip Planning.

Playa Manuel Antonio, one of the beaches in the national park with calm waterJaco

Jaco, also on the central Pacific coast, is another good spot for families. Although it has a reputation as a party town, this is mostly late at night. During the day, you’ll see a mix of people, including lots of kids. Jaco has one main street with plenty of family-friendly restaurants, some with play areas for children. There’s also a community playground, and from time-to-time, you can find activities like painting workshops and puppet shows. At only about one hour from San Jose, it’s also a good option for those not wanting to spend much time in the car.

The main beach in town isn’t the most scenic, but Jaco is close to some stunning beaches. Playa Blanca to the north is a calm cove with clean white sand and aquamarine water. To the south, there’s Playa Esterillos Oeste. This is a surfing beach, but at low tide, you can access the amazing tidepools that are perfect to explore with kids. Those looking for an off-the-beaten-path beach town would love Esterillos Oeste.

Jaco also has a lot of activities that are good for families, including zip lining, ATV tours, catamaran tours, crocodile river tours, horseback riding, and the NeoFauna wildlife center.

For all the details about visiting, read our post Jaco: Costa Rica’s Booming Beach Town.

The tidepools at Esterillos Oeste, a beach about 20 minutes south of JacoPuerto Viejo de Talamanca

Last on our list is Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the southern Caribbean coast. The highlight of Puerto Viejo is its beaches. They are some of the most beautiful in the country, with dramatic backdrops of lush green and clear, calm water. Here, you’ll find the Jaguar Rescue Center, one of the most well-known wildlife rehabilitation centers in Costa Rica. There’s also a great chocolate tour, surfing, horseback riding, SUP and kayak tours, and hiking. Lots of wildlife like monkeys and sloths is visible around town as well.

Although we do recommend Puerto Viejo for families, the area does have some crime, making it not right for everyone. Most visitors do not have any problems, but if you are nervous about traveling with your kids, we’d recommend one of the other destinations. For tips on visiting and to learn more, read our post Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: Caribbean Cool in Costa Rica.

Serene water at Playa Negra in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Over the past few years, we’ve explored many of Costa Rica’s beaches with our boys. We know how important finding the right destination is when you’re traveling with kids and hope that our recommendations have helped narrow your family’s itinerary.

Have a question about traveling to Costa Rica with kids? Ask us below.Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:

Family Travel: Why Costa Rica is the Perfect Destination – Learn why Costa Rica is a great option for a first international family trip. Covers culture, safety, water, and more.

Traveling with a Baby in Costa Rica – We’ve had two kids here so have done this twice now. Read our post for tips on what to expect.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Wildlife Up Close – La Paz is a highlight for many families visiting Costa Rica. Learn all about this wildlife sanctuary near San Jose and how to plan a visit.

Rental Car Discount – Check out our discount through one of the reputable rental car companies in Costa Rica to save 10% and get free extras like car seats.

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La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Wildlife Up Close

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

If you’re coming to Costa Rica to see as much wildlife as possible, there are several ways to do so. Our favorite always has been to trek through as many national parks as we can. But if you’re short on time or not able to scour the country’s extensive park system, a wildlife center may be your best bet. There are many of these centers around the country. One of the nicest is La Paz Waterfall Gardens, not far from San Jose. This facility has a beautiful layout, an amazing array of animals, and several waterfalls. In this post, we’ll tell you all about La Paz Waterfall Gardens and how you can plan a visit.

Note: While we highly recommend a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, this is a popular, touristy attraction. It can get very busy during high season (late December through March).

About La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Driving from San Jose, the ride to La Paz is a little more than an hour, depending on traffic. Once you arrive, you’ll realize that in that short amount of time, you have entered a completely different environment. That’s because La Paz Waterfall Gardens sits at a higher elevation (around 4,000 ft/1,219 m) and is surrounded by lush rain and cloud forest. The vast property sits nestled into the mountainside on the back slope of Poas Volcano.

The property is 70 acres (28 hectares) in total. Forty acres (16 hectares) of this is cloud forest and rainforest. The remaining 30 acres (12 hectares) was cleared previously to pasture cattle. One of La Paz’s goals is environmental preservation so the forest land is currently protected and they are working to reforest the other patch of pasture land.

As the name implies, La Paz Waterfall Gardens has a series of beautiful waterfalls worth checking out if you have time, but in our opinion, that isn’t the main draw.

We’ll go into more detail below, but what makes this place special is its separate exhibits (buildings) for jungle cats, frogs, birds, snakes, monkeys, and butterflies. Many of these are enclosures you can walk right through, giving an up-close view of animals. Traditional zoos are outlawed in Costa Rica. That means that all the animals at La Paz Waterfall Gardens have either been confiscated as illegal pets or injured and unable to return to the wild. The frogs and butterflies are the exception since they are bred onsite or bought.

Property Layout

At the entrance of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, you’ll find secure parking, the main reception area, gift shop, a restaurant, and bathrooms. Next door is the popular Peace Lodge, which is located above the wildlife exhibits. This hotel is known for its luxurious rooms and forest views. It’s a great base for exploring not only La Paz, but also Poas Volcano and the nearby Catarata del Toro, a beautiful waterfall.

Tip: Be sure to bring a sweatshirt or light jacket since temperatures on the mountain can sometimes be chilly. On our visit, we saw a lot of cold visitors buying expensive sweatshirts from the gift shop!

From the reception area, it’s a somewhat steep walk down a concrete path and several sets of stairs to the main exhibits. If you have trouble walking, they also have a golf cart that can bring you down to this level (or back up). If you can walk, we’d recommend it, since the property is beautifully landscaped with tropical plants and flowers. There are also hummingbird feeders right after the reception area that are worth checking out.

Once you reach the lower area, you’ll find a large buffet-style restaurant with more restrooms. The exhibit areas and animal enclosures are spread out from there and make an easy loop.

If you’re up for it after visiting the wildlife exhibits, you can walk the property’s 2.2 miles (3.5 km) of hiking trails. These lead to a series of five waterfalls. The last one, located at the lowest point on the property, is La Paz Waterfall. This also can be viewed from the main road (Route 126).

The Wildlife Exhibits 

Like we mentioned above, the animal exhibits are the major highlight when visiting La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This is a great way to see wildlife up close that would normally be hard to see in the wild. Although the basic entrance fee is for a self-guided tour, each station has helpful employees that will share information about what you are seeing and answer any questions. Here’s more information on what you can see.

Birds

The large bird enclosure at La Paz allows you to walk right through. Watch out when you enter since there are several Toucans that like to fly right overhead. You can get a close-up view of these beautiful birds and many others. We saw several types of green parrots, Scarlet Macaw Parrots, Whistling Ducks, and even a Long-Tailed Manakin. Outside, near the monkey enclosure, there is also another nice hummingbird area with flowers and feeders set up.

A Scarlet Macaw in the bird exhibitMonkeys

La Paz has three of the four types of monkeys that live in Costa Rica. You’ll be able to see howler monkeys, known for their loud calls that can be heard from miles away, spider monkeys, which have only four fingers and like to swing from branches with their long arms, and white-faced capuchin monkeys, which are quick and playful. The fourth type of monkey, which you won’t see, is called a squirrel monkey. These are the smallest monkeys in Costa Rica and are mostly seen in either Manuel Antonio National Park or on the Osa Peninsula in places like Corcovado National Park.

Butterflies

If you like butterflies, you’re going to love the gigantic butterfly enclosure. You can take your time to walk around to see the many different species such as Blue Morpho, Great Owl, Monarch, and Malachite. The inside is set up like a botanical garden so there are interesting tropical plants as well. In the hatchery, you can learn about the lifecycle from egg, to caterpillar, cocoon, and finally adult.

Inside the butterfly enclosureFrogs

Costa Rica has some amazing frogs but the chances of seeing the most spectacular ones in the wild are slim. That’s because many frog species are active at night and live along rivers or deep within the jungle. At the frog exhibit, it is easy to see some of these beauties. The most famous is the red-eyed tree frog, which many people recognize from posters and advertisements. You’ll learn about two species of these, one that lives on the Caribbean slope and another that lives on the Pacific slope. Some other favorites that we saw were the tiger-legged tree frog, green and black poison-dart frog, and blue jean poison-dart frog.

A colorful red-eyed tree frogJungle Cats

Jungle cats are another group of animals that you’ll have a hard time seeing in the wild during a vacation to Costa Rica. Most of the big cats at La Paz have been confiscated from people holding them illegally as pets. La Paz has given them a good home since they will never be able to return to the wild and fend for themselves. Through large glass windows, you can see smaller wild cats like ocelots and margays. You’ll also be able to see the larger felines like pumas (also known as mountain lions), and of course jaguars, which are the largest of them all.

A jaguar in the jungle cats exhibitSnakes

If you’re into snakes, La Paz Waterfall Gardens has a large variety. If you’re a bit scared, you can take comfort in knowing that they are all safely kept behind glass. The snake room has dozens of species of venomous and non-venomous types. Some of the highlights are the fer-de lance, the deadliest snake in Costa Rica, and oriole snake, which has a beautiful pattern on its skin. There’s also a large boa constrictor that is fun to see.

Other Exhibits

Some other exhibits that are smaller but still interesting are the sloths, which are located at the edge of the bird and butterfly exhibits. This exhibit was under construction during our visit, but you’ll be able to see both two- and three-toed sloths through the glass. Next to that is an insect exhibit with hundreds of species of dried insects displayed and labeled. Finally, you can find a small orchid garden next to the casita/farmhouse. At the orchid garden, you can see some of the delicate flowers that grow in the rainforest. The farmhouse next door is a replica of an old country home from hundreds of years ago. Outside there is a stable with a large ox and next to that is a small petting zoo with a very feisty goat. Our son Sam had a lot of fun with him!

The Waterfalls

You can spend several hours visiting the animal enclosures, but if you are up for a hike, your entrance fee also allows access to La Paz’s hiking trails. These cover a distance of about 2.2 miles (3.5 km). According to the staff, you’ll want at least 2-3 hours to complete the walk and you must be able to do quite a few stairs. We didn’t venture down the waterfall trails this time since Jenn was one week overdue with our second child (he was born three days later), but we did grab a shot of the waterfall (see below) from the road. A shuttle service back to the top is offered during certain hours, so make sure to inquire before heading down the steeper trails.

View of La Paz Waterfall from the roadPlanning Your Visit and Booking a Tour to La Paz Waterfall Gardens

There are three different options for visiting La Paz. We are happy to help you book any option. Booking through us costs the same and helps our website continue to grow. Get in touch with us through our Tour Booking Service page or email us at bookings(at)twoweeksincostarica(dot)com. We’ll just need to know your desired tour date, number of people in your party (adults and children), and if you need transportation.

Option 1: La Paz Waterfall Gardens Tour from San Jose or Alajuela with Transportation

If you are staying in San Jose or Alajuela without a car, we can arrange a tour that includes transportation, admission to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and lunch. This is a fun all-day activity and the ride there and back will show you some beautiful landscapes as well.

Cost: $105 per person adults; $79 children 10 and under
Offered: Morning departure from San Jose
Duration: 8 hours (approximate)
Includes: Round-trip transportation from San Jose-area hotels, entrance fees for La Paz Waterfall Gardens (self-guided), and a buffet-style lunch.

The buffet includes several traditional Costa Rican dishes like rice and beans, chicken, fish, tortillas, soups, as well as a salad bar, pizza, breads, French fries, and fruit. Unlimited juices, coffee, and tea are also included.

Option 2: Private Shuttle Between San Jose Airport Area and La Fortuna (Arenal) with a Stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens

For travelers needing a shuttle from the SJO Airport area to La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) or from La Fortuna back to the SJO area, La Paz Waterfall Gardens makes an excellent stop. For this tour, we will book both the shuttle and admission tickets for you. You would have up to 3 hours to spend at La Paz, with the van waiting for you.

Shuttle Cost: $250 (SJO area to La Fortuna or La Fortuna to SJO area via La Paz). Flat rate up to 8 people with waiting time for you to visit La Paz.

Admission Tickets to La Paz: $45 per person adults, $29 per person children (ages 3-12)

Buffet Lunch (optional): $14 per person adults, $8 per person children (ages 3-12)

Lunch is available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The buffet includes several traditional Costa Rican dishes like rice and beans, chicken, fish, tortillas, soups, as well as a salad bar, pizza, breads, French fries, and fruit. Unlimited juices, coffee, and tea are also included.

Offered: Custom times based on your preference
Duration (Ride + Time at La Paz): 6 hours (approximate)
Includes: Private shuttle transportation from San Jose-area hotels to La Fortuna-area hotels or vice-versa, entrance fees to La Paz Waterfall Gardens (self-guided), and a buffet-style lunch (optional). Includes up to 3 hours of shuttle waiting time at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Option 3: Self-Drive

Lastly, if you have a car, you can easily drive from the San Jose area in a little more than 1 hour or make a stop here if you are traveling onward. You can securely park in the guarded lot and parking is free. We recommend that you still remove your most valuable items from the car and bring them with you in a backpack. There are only a few parking attendants in a very big lot. We haven’t heard of any problems, but it is best to be cautious.

Hours: Open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (we suggest planning for at least a 2-hour visit, more with lunch)

Admission Tickets: $45 per person adults, $29 per person children (ages 3-12)

Buffet Lunch: $14 per person adults, $8 per person children (ages 3-12)

Lunch is available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The buffet includes several traditional Costa Rican dishes like rice and beans, chicken, fish, tortillas, soups, as well as a salad bar, pizza, breads, French fries, and fruit. Unlimited juices, coffee, and tea are also included.

Have you visited La Paz Waterfall Gardens? Let us know your experience in the comments below. Looking for more articles to help you plan your visit? Check out these posts:

Renting a Car in Costa Rica: Clearing up the Confusion – Nervous about renting a car and getting overcharged? Read this article to understand how renting a car doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ve also included a special discount for our readers.

Packing List for Costa Rica: Ready to zip up your suitcase? Did you remember the …? Make sure you’ve got all the basics covered with this post. Includes tips for rainy season travel too.

Best National Parks in Costa Rica: Want to search for some of these animals in the wild? Check out this list of the country’s best national parks.

The post La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Wildlife Up Close appeared first on Two Weeks in Costa Rica.

Esterillos Oeste: Surfing, Serenity, and La Sirena

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast is filled with busy beach towns, but there are still some quiet stretches of sand left to be discovered. One such place is Esterillos Oeste. This small town just south of Jaco is well known to surfers and locals but has remained off the tourist map so far. But with its proximity to San Jose, gorgeous beach, and restaurants only steps from the sand, it may not stay that way for long. In this post, we’ll share why Esterillos Oeste is worth a visit and give you some insight into what to expect for activities, restaurants, and hotels.

Orientation

Esterillos Oeste is located off coastal Highway 34, about 1.5 hours from San Jose Airport and just 20 minutes south of one of Costa Rica’s most developed beach towns, Jaco. Although Jaco is only a short drive away, Esterillos Oeste remains quiet and peaceful. The town is surrounded mostly by patches of rice fields, grazing cattle, and thick tropical rainforest. Once you arrive in the modest town center near the beach, you will find a couple of small grocery stores, a few restaurants, no-frills lodging, and a mix of simple homes with larger houses in the surrounding hills. Mostly Costa Ricans live in Esterillos Oeste, but there is also a sizeable population of expats from around the globe.

The beautiful Esterillos Oeste Beach

There are two turnoffs for Esterillos Oeste. The main one is the first if you are coming from the north. Just past Esterillos Oeste (west) is Esterillos Centro (center) and Esterillos Este (east). These are separate, even smaller, beach communities with a handful of restaurants and accommodations. Continuing south, you will reach the busy Manuel Antonio/Quepos area in about 45 minutes. Here, you’ll find one of the most well-known national parks in Costa Rica and a plethora of tourist amenities.

We highly recommend a rental car if you’re staying in Esterillos Oeste so that you can explore the surrounding area. Be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% on a car and get free extras.

Activities in Esterillos OestePlaya Esterillos Oeste – Beach and Tidepools

The beach is by far the town’s biggest attraction. Along the light gray sand, you will find local families barbecuing under the palms, fishermen putting out their boats, and surfers lined up for the next big wave. The beach is long and it’s easy to find a spot all to yourself. A beach trail/road runs along the ocean, making it easy to pull your car right up.

With its larger waves and riptides, the beach isn’t great for swimming. You can wade in the shallow waves, or for calm water, check out the tidepools on the northern end at low tide. These are a great place to bring kids to see the tiny crabs and fish living in the small pools, and also to swim. In between rock formations, there are a few perfect places to take a dip in the tranquil water. Here is a link to the tide chart to plan your visit. Low tide is best for exploring the tidepools.

The awesome tidepools on the northern end of Esterillos Oeste

To access the tidepools, you can park in the main area near the town center and walk along the beach. Even easier is to turn right on the paved road after Super Sol market and follow it until the end. Here, you’ll find another parking area right in front of the tidepools. When parking, make sure not to leave anything in your car. While the community is overall very safe, car break-ins do happen occasionally.

Watch our video to get a sense of how big the tidepools are.

Another notable attraction at Esterillos Oeste is the large statue of a mermaid jutting out of the tidepools. You can walk out to La Sirena at low tide to get a picture, or just view her from the shore at any tide.

La Sirena, the Mermaid, who looks over the town of Esterillos OesteSurfing

As we mentioned, Playa Esterillos Oeste is a well-known surfing beach. It is the most popular of the Esterillos beaches, but usually doesn’t get too busy. Experienced surfers come here to take on the beach break, but it’s also a good spot for those just starting out. You will find a few different surf shops in town that offer lessons and rent boards.

Horseback Riding, Adventure Tours, and Wildlife

Not far from town are some great options for tours. Horseback riding tours will take you through the tropical forest to explore the countryside, see wildlife, and even visit waterfalls. A nearby adventure park offers thrill seekers zip lining, waterfall rappelling, and ATV. And, of course, there are a multitude of options in Jaco and Manuel Antonio, including catamaran tours, crocodile river tours, and kayak/SUP tours.

For wildlife, in Esterillos Oeste you will see Scarlet Macaws parrots flying overhead, iguanas, and many kinds of birds. To see the most during your visit, we recommend also checking out Manuel Antonio National Park for the day. This park has thick tropical rainforest filled with birds and animals, including monkeys (3 types) and sloths.

A Scarlet Macaw in an almond tree

If you’d like help booking a tour for your time in Esterillos Oeste, we’d be happy to help. Contact us through our Tour Booking Service page or send us an email at bookings(at)twoweeksincostarica(dot)com. We’ll need to know (1) the tours you’re interested in, (2) your preferred date, and (3) the number of people in your party, adults and children. We’ll then send you some information and help you book. Booking through us costs the same and helps support our website!

Restaurants in Esterillos Oeste

Esterillos Oeste has a few small local restaurants and new options have started popping up, offering more contemporary food.

Los Almendros

Los Almendros is the most well-known restaurant in town and for good reason. The cuisine is fresh and made with local ingredients and housemade sauces. Asian-Caribbean fusion dishes like Pad Thai, Caribbean-style Chicken, and Jamaican Jerk fill the menu. Also features a fresh catch like mahi mahi or tuna and has vegan and vegetarian options. Open for dinner only. Located one block up from the beach, near the soccer field and under the almond trees.

El Patio Bar and Grill

El Patio has been open for only a short time but already has made quite an impression. Locals love the casual, but refined, fare and friendly service. They have a big Tex Mex menu, wings, and more upscale offerings like steak and fresh fish entrees. We think that the burger is one of the best in Costa Rica. Open for lunch and dinner. Located next to Super Sol grocery store, a hundred or so meters before the beach.

The burger at El PatioRancho Coral

This chill pizza place at Hotel Rancho Coral is right on the beach, so a great option for grabbing a bite in between waves. The thin-crust pies are made in a brick oven with fresh, tasty ingredients. Rancho Coral is run by the same people as El Patio so you can expect the same friendly service. Open breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Doesn’t serve alcohol but you can bring your own. Located on the sandy beach trail/road to the left when the paved road ends; look for the thatched roof rancho shortly after the school. You can also access the restaurant from the inland side (follow signs for the school) and park in their lot.

Soda Margarita

For authentic Costa Rican food, there’s Soda Margarita. This super rustic restaurant is run by a local lady who serves up delicious traditional meals for breakfast and lunch. Our favorite dish on our recent visit was the arroz con camarones, a fried rice plate that was perfectly seasoned and full of shrimp. Located in a neighborhood on the very northern end of town. Look for the path to the left before you reach the parking area. The small restaurant is set back (near a large tree) and has a palm thatched roof.

Rice with Shrimp at Soda MargaritaAccommodations in and Around Esterillos Oeste

Being a small town, Esterillos Oeste doesn’t have a ton of accommodations. A few simple hotels and campgrounds are spread out along the beach. Airbnbs and vacation rentals can be found seaside or up in the hills just outside town, many with ocean views.

Hotel Rancho Coral

Right in Esterillos Oeste is one very good budget to mid-range option. Hotel Rancho Coral is a comfortable 7-room hotel on the beach, surrounded by thick tropical greenery. Rooms have varying bed configurations and can hold up to six people, making them a good option for families and groups. We recommend the Deluxe Villa for the best ocean view. The staff at Rancho Coral is very friendly, and the hotel has a delicious on-site restaurant (see above). $55-165/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.

Deluxe Villa facing the ocean at Hotel Rancho CoralLa Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita is another budget-friendly option. The hotel is also right on the beach, but in the center of town. Rooms are on the small side and simpler, but clean and comfortable and all have a kitchen for cooking and AC. One room has a direct ocean view. La Dolce Vita has a small pool. $45-85/night (double occupancy). Check Rates and Availability Here.

The Spot

Backpackers love the Spot, one block inland. This simple hostel has colorful private and shared rooms made from old shipping containers. Visitors love the owner who really makes the place feel like home. Private rooms starting at $35/night. Bed in a shared dorm, $10/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.

Higher End Option Nearby – Alma del Pacifico Hotel

Our pick for a high-end stay is Alma del Pacifico Hotel in neighboring Esterillos Este. This is a beautiful boutique hotel with 20 villas and bungalows on the ocean. The architecture of the hotel has unique artistic flair, with bright colors and lots of curvature. Some rooms have direct ocean views and private plunge pools. $160-500/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.

Garden Bungalow at Alma del Pacifico Hotel

Since moving to the central Pacific coast earlier this year, we have fallen in love with Esterillos Oeste. It has quickly become our go-to place to hang out on the weekend. Our whole family loves to soak up the laid back beach vibe and enjoy the good food at the seaside restaurants. If you’re coming to the central Pacific coast, make sure to check it out too!

Have a question about visiting Esterillos Oeste? Ask us in the comments below.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you book a hotel using one of the links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.

Looking for more information to plan your trip to Esterillos Oeste? Check out these posts:

Rainmaker Nature Reserve: About 45 minutes from Esterillos Oeste is Rainmaker, a nature reserve with hiking through dense rainforest, hanging bridges, and waterfalls. Plan your visit with this post.

Jaco: Costa Rica’s Booming Beach Town: Learn about what Jaco offers for activities and restaurants. Includes some gorgeous secluded beaches, info on the weekly farmers market, and more.

Rental Car Discount: Esterillos Oeste is best explored with a rental car so that you can check out other area towns and things to do. Use our discount to save 10% and get free extras

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Living in Costa Rica: 5 Years Strong

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

A half decade (yes, five years!) has passed since we first boarded that plane to Costa Rica with our eight mismatched suitcases and twinkles of adventure in our eyes. When we landed, we were like many people who move here. We had no clear plan of what we’d do, but we knew that we were searching for something different, something new, and something exciting. And like most people, that is just what we found.

 

 

Looking Back at Year 5

Looking back at those five years, it is clear that those different, new, and exciting things were easy to find in the first year or two. To this day, we still get that same tingly feeling of excitement when exploring a new beach or hiking trail. Costa Rica has so many different experiences to uncover, we’ll never find them all. The picture above was yet another magical morning sunrise that we experienced while traveling. This one was in Drake Bay.  

But as time goes on, the honeymoon phase of living somewhere new starts to wear off. You begin to miss the people and things that you once had available to you at the snap of a finger. You start to realize that when something is different, it’s not always an exciting challenge to figure out. Quite the opposite, you might get frustrated, mad, or feel defeated by some of the obstacles.

As a foreigner trying to get anything done in a different country, you have to learn what hoops to jump through and accept that things are different. In Costa Rica specifically, you’re not just going to make a few clicks and have what you need delivered to your door. You’re also not going to walk into a public office and get a certain document, certification, stamp of approval, etc. without some red tape. It may take several trips and full days of effort to get what you need. In our case, you may have to travel 3-4 hours to San Jose, pay for a night in a hotel, get in line early the next day, and still fail at getting something accomplished. Add to that the many times the internet or power goes out, roads get closed, unknown holidays impede your schedule, and so on. It can all get frustrating after a while. Sure you learn as you go, but it can feel like a never-ending learning curve.

 

A typical line at Migration in San Jose

 

In our five years, we have seen these obstacles and limitations force many people to give up on or change their dream. People with ambition and drive. People with an overwhelming sense of adventure. But in the end, Costa Rica wasn’t right for them for one reason or another, and they realized it. They might be better off now for having given it a try, but nonetheless, they’ve left (sad face for those friends that have). Some last one year, some two or three. It seems the ones that make it past that have the potential to stay, like us. It doesn’t make anyone better. In fact, it takes a lot of guts to call it quits and know what is better for you and your family.

Challenges in Year 5

This past year gave us some challenges that made us shake our heads and wonder if we were doing the right thing ourselves.

One of the biggest was health related. This is a common reason people do end up leaving. Late last year, Matt contracted an uncommon disease called Leishmaniasis. It is caused by an insect, which carries a certain parasite. The disease manifested as a large open sore that wouldn’t heal. His was on his thigh. We’re not sure where he got the bite (as we travel quite a bit and the insects can be found in a lot of places), but it was a tough road for a while. There was a scary misdiagnosis at first then a lot of painful tests to get to the real cause. For the wound to finally heal, he ended up needing 45 injections (1 per day) over the span of a month and a half. All in all it was a four-month process. The wound itself wasn’t painful but the toxic medicine really did him in (sort of like a mild chemotherapy). The good thing was that we figured out how to use a combination of the private health centers and the public hospital system during that time. Eventually we made daily visits to either the local clinic or public hospital for the shots.

This whole experience made us slightly paranoid. Something bad had finally happened to us in Costa Rica, and we wondered, would it happen again? Had our luck run out?

Overall, this and a few other health-related incidents, along with the obstacles of being a foreigner have been balanced out. On the other end of the scale is our true love for Costa Rica, our optimism that things will work out, and our accomplishments since moving here. Even weird bug diseases won’t scare us off!

Accomplishments in Year 5

Our biggest accomplishment, which we announced in our four-year post, was getting our permanent residency approved. We later followed that up with getting our cedulas (local ID cards), signing up for the public healthcare system (good thing, since we needed it), updating a million papers for our business and bank accounts to reflect the change, and most recently, getting our Costa Rica driver’s licenses. Each one was a small victory for us. These things have not only bolstered our confidence that we can make it work here, but have also gained us a bit of clout with the locals. Flashing your cedula instead of a passport really means you’re not a tourist anymore!

 

Celebrating success outside the office after getting our driver’s licenses

 

This last year also has been great for our website and business. Our success has helped prove to ourselves that our hard work and determination have been worth the effort. Any doubts we had about leaving successful careers back in the States are gone as we enjoy the flexibility and freedom of being our own bosses. Our site has continued to grow steadily and reach more people. We’ve added new services like tour and shuttle bookings to our already popular customized itinerary service. And the number of readers we get on a monthly basis is at an all-time high. We are so grateful to all the new followers as well as those who have been with us since the beginning. To keep up with everything, we’ve hired more help to balance the workload and attempt to control the seemingly endless hours we were putting in last year (this is still a work in progress at times).

Along those lines, another thing that has really made a difference in our life is childcare. It’s funny because we mentioned last year how amazing it was to both be stay-at-home parents (while working, of course). We cherish the time we are able to spend with our son, as he grows up, but we also realized this year that he needs his own social interactions and playtime. Before this, it was mom and dad, all the time. We literally live in the middle of the jungle so playgrounds, community centers, meetups, etc. are distances away. Our immediate families also live thousands of miles from us, so date nights and unscheduled drop offs at grandma and grandpa’s house are just dreams to us.

Thankfully we now have a system that has a nice balance of time at home, daycare, and a part-time nanny, who comes to the house. We get to work while hearing him giggle outside on some days, and on other days, we get to hear his stories from “school” about what the other kids are up to.

Final Thoughts

Overall, life is very good in Costa Rica and we are still happy we made that giant leap five years ago. Sure we’ve had challenges but those can happen no matter where you live. We’re happy to be steering through them here. As the years pass, we’ve become comfortable here. When we visit family and friends back in New England, we even feel a little out of place. It’s amazing to see everyone and home will always be where we grew up. But we’ve been in Costa Rica long enough now to call it home too. Our son doesn’t even hesitate when we ask him where he’s from. Costa Rica! he’ll say.

 

 

Want to follow our story from the beginning? Check out these posts:

We’re Moving to Costa Rica!
First Impressions on Living in Costa Rica
Living in Costa Rica: One Month Update
Buying a Car in Costa Rica
Fun Facts from Our First Six Months in Costa Rica
Our First Year in Costa Rica
House Sitting: How to Live in Costa Rica for $2,000 a Year
Two Years in Costa Rica: How Life Has Changed
Having a Baby in Costa Rica
Applying for Residency in Costa Rica Without a Lawyer
Living in Costa Rica: Three-Year Update
4 Years in Costa Rica: Settling Into the Everyday

 

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Family Travel: Why Costa Rica is the Perfect Destination

Two Weeks in Costa Rica |

If you’ve been considering taking the kids overseas for the first time, you may have some reservations. We often hear from parents asking if Costa Rica is a good destination for families. They raise concerns about safety, aren’t sure what to expect, and are overwhelmed by planning a family vacation to a foreign country. Our answer is always that Costa Rica is the perfect destination for a first international trip with kids. We’ve been raising our son here and couldn’t be happier with the environment he’s growing up in. In this post, we’ll explain why Costa Rica is the perfect destination for family travel.

 

 

Culture

One of the main reasons that Costa Rica is such a family-friendly destination is the culture. The people here are very friendly and genuinely kind. They absolutely love kids, and family life is paramount. As an example, for the locals, Sundays are typically devoted to spending time with family. If you head to the beach on a Sunday, you are guaranteed to see families there for the day, barbequing or playing soccer on the beach. Family is embedded in the culture so it only makes sense that it is a great place to bring kids.

Tourism is Established

Another big reason that Costa Rica is great for families is that the country is set up for tourism. Tourism is the number one industry so planning a trip here is relatively straightforward. Sure, there are many choices for destinations within the country, but you will have no problem finding suitable options for hotels, activities, and transportation. In addition, hotels and many restaurants are set up for children. Hotels often have portable cribs if you’re traveling with a baby or practical bed configurations that work for older children (like twins or bunk beds). Many restaurants, especially in popular destinations, have kids’ menus for those picky eaters. For getting around, rental car agencies offer car seats, and transportation companies have to provide them by law as well.

If you’re thinking of visiting with your baby, be sure to read our post Traveling with a Baby in Costa Rica for more on what to expect.

Keep in mind that just because you’re visiting a place where tourism is established, that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on a cultural experience for you and your family. The locals take great pride in their country and love sharing it with others. So even if your guide speaks fluent English, he or she will still teach you about their way of life and let you practice your Spanish if you want.

 

Chocolate tour near Manuel Antonio

 

Safety

Food safety concerns that exist in some other Latin American countries don’t really apply in Costa Rica. The food is safe to eat, even raw foods. We let us our son try fruits right from the local farmers’ market. The water is safe almost everywhere too, and treatment is regulated by the government. There are exceptions, however. If you’re traveling to certain beach towns in Guanacaste or to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Tourtuguero, Cahuita, or Drake Bay, we recommend filtered. Most hotels, vacation rentals, and restaurants in affected towns will provide filtered water, but it doesn’t hurt to ask if you aren’t sure. You could also bring a water bottle that filters it automatically.

Costa Rica is also quite safe from a crime perspective. The country has a peaceful democracy and no army. That means you won’t see military personnel holding scary guns or anything like that. Most crime is petty theft that can be avoided by taking precautions. A great example is going to the beach. Bags left on the sand while people are swimming are a target for thieves. But this can be easily avoided by bringing nothing of value with you or having one person stay with the bags. For more information on staying safe, read our Safety Tips post.

Wildlife and Nature

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. It has almost 250 species of mammals and more than 800 different types of birds. There aren’t too many places in the world where you can literally have wildlife like monkeys, toucans, and sloths right outside your window. Some of the best destinations for wildlife viewing, which are also great for families, are Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Uvita/Dominical, Drake Bay, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, and Tortuguero. Follow the links to our destination guides with detailed information about the different towns.

 

Two-toed sloths most often can be seen on the Central and southern Pacific coast, as well as the Caribbean coast

 

Not only is wildlife plentiful, but there is so much opportunity for your kids to be out in nature. Since the climate is favorable, with tropical temperatures year-round, almost all activities are outdoors. Your kids will love exploring the rainforest, discovering cool plants, bugs, and butterflies along the way. Another interesting thing to note is that although Costa Rica has a tropical climate, some regions have different ecosystems. That means that one day you can be exploring the rainforest, and the next, the cool misty cloud forest.

Kid-Friendly Activities

Costa Rica is the postcard for ecotourism and adventure travel, making it a playground for kids too. There are kid-friendly activities for all ages. You will find wildlife rehabilitation centers that will let them get up close to animals, hanging bridges through the forest canopy, and fun night tours to see the creepy crawlies that come out after dark.

 

A night tour in Drake Bay

 

If you stay in one of the more popular destinations, like La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano or Manuel Antonio, you also will be able to do a ton of different adventure activities. Some may sound scary at first, but things like waterfall rappelling, zip lining, safari river floats, kayak tours, and horseback tours all can be great activities with kids.

Beaches and Waterfalls

Another obvious plus of traveling to Costa Rica with kids are the plentiful beaches. Costa Rica has thousands of miles of coastline, bordering both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. With so much beach, everyone is sure to find their perfect spot. Although some of Costa Rica’s beaches have rip currents, with a little research, you can find plenty with calmer water for swimming. Some beach towns that are particularly good for families are Playa Samara and Playa Hermosa in Guancaste or Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific coast.

Waterfalls are also abundant in Costa Rica and so fun with kids. Some, like Llanos de Cortez, have sandy beaches where you can spend the day. Many, like the Uvita Waterfall, are easily accessible and perfect for young children. Others, like the Nauyaca Waterfalls, are harder to get to, but spectacular and well worth the adventure.

 

The stunning Nauyaca Waterfalls near Dominical

 

Ease of Travel
Building an Itinerary

Although Costa Rica is small on a map (about the size of West Virginia), the country is divided by big mountain ranges that can make travel more complicated. Still, it’s not too difficult to put together a family-friendly itinerary. With kids, we suggest picking two or three destinations depending on the length of your trip. This will allow you to see the country’s best beaches, rainforest, and wildlife, without having to spend too much time in the car.

Tip: Be cautious of staying in only one destination and doing day trips from there. Some hotels advertise day trips from beach destination to the cloud forest or volcano areas. These excursions can be extremely far away and costly in some cases. For many, you may have to travel 3+ hours in each direction and pay hundreds of dollars per person. In our opinion, it’s better to stay a few nights in those far-off destinations and get in your beach time separately.

For a sample one or two-week family itinerary, check out our book, Top 10 Costa Rica Itineraries. We also design custom itineraries and can help plan a getaway based on your family’s specific wants and needs. Learn more on our Itinerary Help page.

 

Hiking in Cahuita, Costa Rica with our son

 

Transportation

Another factor that boggles many parents is transportation. Fortunately, there are several options. Renting a car is easy and what we recommend for most families if they’re comfortable driving. Rental cars are often more affordable than shuttles for a family of four and give you the flexibility to stop and go as you please. That means you can make quick stops to let the kids run around and stretch their legs to break up those longer drives.

For those not interested in getting behind the wheel, shuttles are a great option and connect major towns and some smaller ones too. Private and shared shuttles are available. For more information on which is best for your family, read our post Shuttles in Costa Rica: How They Work and When to Use Them.

 

We hope that this article gave you some general guidance on what makes Costa Rica a family-friendly destination. In the coming months, we’ll be writing more posts about family travel. We’ll cover more specific topics to help you figure out the best destinations to visit and things to do with your children. To receive our articles by email, just sign up for our mailing list. It’s free!

Have a question about traveling to Costa Rica with your kids? Ask us below.
Want more information to plan your family getaway to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:

Driving in Costa Rica – If you’re unsure about renting a car, read this post for more information on what it’s like to drive here. Covers road conditions, local customs, and rainy season travel.
La Fortuna Hotel Guide – La Fortuna is a great destination for families visiting Costa Rica for the first time. Read our guide for the best hotels with hot springs and volcano views.
Best Time to Visit Costa Rica – Costa Rica has two distinct seasons, dry and rainy season. Find out why rainy season can be a great time to visit with this post.

 

The post Family Travel: Why Costa Rica is the Perfect Destination appeared first on Two Weeks in Costa Rica.