Our trip to Costa Rica was awesome! Our house in Guanacaste was just steps from the beach. Rode horses through the jungle, across rivers, and along the beaches and cliffs.
Mango trees, palm trees with coconuts and sugar cane are everywhere, as well as all sorts of critters.
Our backyard had howler monkeys, iguanas, all sorts of lizards, and gorgeous birds and flowers, including a resident hummingbird that fed on the necter of the birds of paradise outside my bedroom window.
As you might imagine, it is quite rustic. Farm animals are herded along the roads, many of which are dirt. I will never again (at least for a week or so) complain about the state of Dallas’ streets after driving on Costa Rica’s terrible, rutted dirt roads –especially after a rainfall –that, at times, forced us to drive across rivers–not even kidding! Where we live, the motto is “Turn around, don’t drown”! If you adhered to that course of action, you wouldn’t get far in this country. It was a good thing the rental car company provided us with a 4-wheel drive vehicle!
Took a riverboat through Palo Verde National Park, where we saw, up close and personal, crocs, capuchin monkeys, iguanas, scarlet macaws, several types of herons and other spectacular birds, as well as long nose bats that line themselves up on tree trunks to resemble a snake to discourage predators.
Visited the tiny village of Guaitil, famous throughout Central America for its pre-Columbian Chorotega style pottery. Native Chorotegas are one of the main indigenous cultures in Costa Rica, and the entire town of Guaitil is dedicated to the pottery trade, using clay from the area.
Did 13 zip lines across 5 miles–the first run was 1/2 mile long and so high–my first time, and it was thrilling! Took a boat ride into the Pacific and swam with Ridley turtles–too cool–and saw lots of dolphins that swam with our boat.
Chilled and hung out at gorgeous beaches.
Had lunch at a treehouse overlooking the ocean–Tree Tops Inn.
Lola’s on the Beach, with your toes in the sand, was a terrific spot to have a bite and drinks while watching surfers.
The local rum and beer made for nice afternoon happy hours. We will be back!
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