Costa Rica, anyone been?

--cresko-- · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 496

I'm trying to plan a trip a year or two in advance, saving up money and so forth. Most kids my age travel to Europe but I want to do something different. Europe doesn't exactly appeal to me. On the other hand I think Costa Rica would be amazing. It just seems like such a surreal and beautiful place to travel to. So has anyone been to Costa Rica? I would like to do a 3 week vacation at the least. In terms of accomodations, I am looking at renting a beach place, more centralized. Any places to look at, and things to check out?

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

"Costa and Rica" in the search box targeting Non-Wake is your friend. There was a discussion about a week ago. CR comes up about every three months or so.

Alter Ego · Posted: May 22, 2009 5:28 am Post subject:

amazing place and lots to see, so i wouldnt limit myself to one place. Its also an easy country to get around in. We rented a jeep and headed out to the east coast after some time in La Fortuna and Arenal. Tamarindo was the beach town to be at.....

Bambamski · Posted: May 22, 2009 5:56 am Post subject:

I'm looking at Costa Rica for my next holiday for sure. Thinking some kind of surf camp or kiteboarding down there. I'd be interested to hear what everyone has to say about it as well.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Tamarindo has been significantly developed and most do not consider it a true Tico experience as it is very touristy. IMO, while nice, interesting shops and restaurants, you could tell it didn't fit with the rest of CR.

We really like Mal Pais, it's remote at the tip of the Nicoya pennisula, great surfing and jungle excursions. To be honest, if you are going for 3 weeks you should be able to hit it all.

cracka_barrel · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 409

Went for a wedding last November. We stayed at a private resort near Tamarindo. It was awesome. The kids loved the howler monkeys. There is a nice little beach with a bar on it nearby that's a pretty neat hangout. Did the catamaran sail to a black sand beach which was relaxing. We didn't have a lot of time to explore as we would have liked. My favorite part was when we missed our flight and stayed at the Hilton Papagayo about 30-45 min's from the airport in Liberia. I don't know how centralized you want to be, but I've heard San Jose was pretty rough, never got there, so I have no experience, but thought I'd throw it out there. There's no question you'll have a good time.

Edit: Yeah, I'm with jr, 3 weeks will give you plenty of time to hit it all. And Tamarindo is a bit touristy, but having never been out of the country myself, I've never experienced anything like it. To me it was like being in a National Geographic episode whenever we drove anywhere in the little diesel suv's and passing by cows walking across the roads, etc. Laughing

5280HighButter · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 258 City: Littleton

jryoung, I went to Mal Pais as well, so sweet and chill there. However, I got worked over by those waves, they were a little above my skill level. You must be a much better surfer than I, props to you.

FlyZone CR · Posted: May 23, 2009 7:25 am Post subject:

Cresko and Bambamski (and anyone else considering visiting CR) let me know if you have any specific questions. I've been living here for about 3,5 years now so should be able to help you out with whatever you'd like to know.
At this moment I'd just say come and stay as long as you can. 3 Weeks wouldn't even nearly cover it all as all corners of the country are interesting and beautiful in its own specific way, and travelling around takes quite some time.
I would not recommend going to Tamarindo, Jaco etc. Many people do seem to like those places but imo they have nothing to do with what CR is all about. They're more like a tropical gringotown...

Lindsay · Posted: May 24, 2009 5:14 am Post subject:

Went to this place 3 years ago, it was a good time, and pretty reasonably priced. Dominical is not your typical resort-overly-touristy town, it's definitely off the beaten path, but not far from Quepos, which I've heard is great.

http://www.greeniguanasurfcamp.com/

Josh R · Posted: May 24, 2009 5:23 am Post subject:

Is there much of a wakeboard scene there?

FlyZone CR · Posted: May 24, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject:

Not much, yet... Just getting started.