Lu's Activities
Costa Rican Adventure
Spring 2022 - Mike and I start seriously thinking about a Costa Rican vacation, and begin looking at Group Tours. We were more than thrilled when Tracy and Francois said they would be interested in joining us, at which time we decided to plan the trip ourselves.
Summer 2022 - The planning begins. Where to go, what to do, and what to see. Dates are chosen, Plane tickets are booked, AIRBNBs and Rental car are reserved.
Winter 2022 - Itineraries are completed, reservations are confirmed and the countdown begins!
Itinerary
Jan 21st - Liberia
Jan 22nd - Jan 24th - LaFortuna
Jan 25th - Jan 27th - Quépos
Jan 28 - Jan 29th - Cabuya
Jan 30th - Feb 2nd - Playa Grande
Montreal -1c🌥️ to Liberia +28c ☀️
Montreal to Liberia - Air Transat Flight TS600 - Departure 12h00 PM. Five hour flight. How exciting flying out into the Pacific, and back over the Costa Rican Coastline - Thoughts of Jurassic Park. Landed at 5PM. Cleared customs and picked up our Mitsubishi. Headed for our first AIRBNB for our one-night stay. Had a little trouble finding the place. The area was rather old, maybe a little run down, but felt safe. Appartment was clean and cozy. Walked the neighborhood, picked up some beer and snacks. Supper at MARISQUERIA LA MACHIO ROCA MAR - Excellent seafood and chicken plates -Best Basil Lemonade ever!
Day Two
30c☀️ Liberia to LaFortuna 26c 🌥️
Left our AIRBnB at 8h30. Stopped at Walmart in Liberia for groceries. Were on the Road by 11h.
Stopped to see some monkeys, and to check the view of Lake Arenal.
Lunch at Café Macadamia, and more Basil Lemonade!
Stopped for souvenirs, and pastries at Tom's Pan German Bakery.
Arrived 4ish. Place was very nice, with a beautiful outdoor living area. Interior could have used more seating, and lacked some essentials (dishtowels, bowls, salt, pepper...). Otherwise it was cozy. Sausages and potatoes for supper.
Café Macademia
cafemacademia.com
Monkey See, Monke Do
You can do it, Trace!
Our AIRBNB
Day Three Lafortuna +28c
Enjoyed our chocolatines from Tom's Pan German Bakery for breakfast.
Headed out to the Free Hot Springs.
Picnicked on sandwhiches and beer in Nuevo Arenal.
Toured the town of LaFortuna. Stopped at the Lava Lounge Brewery for drinks.
Visited the Mama Sloth and her Baby at the Sloth Park.
Barbecue Chicken and Slaw for supper.
Chilling at the Hot Springs
Lava Lounge Brewery LaFortuna
Later that night - Oohhh I wanna dance with somebody...
Mama and her Baby
slothwatchingtrail.com
Left LaFortuna at 9h30 - Lots of fog and traffic through the mountains.
Stopped at Tarcoles Bridge to see the Crocodiles.Lunched at Soda El Guacimo Arrived at Quépos at 4 and were greeted by the playful monkeys. Soul House is absolutely wonderful with lots of room, all the necessities and the most wonderful outdoor living space. Pura Vida!
Day Five
29c 🌥️ LaFortuna to Quépos 29c ☀️
On The Road
Crocs at Tarcoles Bridge
Soda El Guacimo
Cheeky Monkeys at Soul House
Our AIRBNB
Soul House
Day Six
Quépos +31c
Awoke to the amazing sounds of the jungle.
Relaxing morning followed by our Vanilla Villa Tour. Our host, Joyce was so informative, and really dedicated to the farm. You can tell she loves what she does! Frank and Tracy went to the beach.
Supper at El Avion - Burgers, Seafood and Rice and a wonderful Sunset!
Hit the sound and listen to the Howler Monkeys. More thoughts of Jurassic Park! Do you find it scary?
I loved it.
Vanilla Villa Tour Rainforestspices.com
Playa Espadillo
El Avion Restaurant elavion.net
Day Seven
+30c ☀️ Quépos
Again - the amazing sounds of the Howlers is the first thing we hear.
Off to the Town of Quepos - where we visited the the Marina , saw lots of Iguanas, and did some more shopping.
Spent the afternoon on the Pacific - aboard a wonderful Catamaran. Were spoiled rotten by the staff, with drinks, snacks, and supper. Swimming and snorkelling in the ocean. Closed off the tour watching another brilliant Sunset.
Morning stroll through Quepos
Ocean King Sunset Cruise to Manuel Antonio, with swimming, slides and snorkelling.
Day Eight
30c ☀️ Quépos to Cabuya 30c ☀️
On the road again - Left Soul House at about 8h3o and headed for Paquera to take the Ferry at noon. Ferry was packed, but it was a beautiful day so we lounged in the sun (well some of us did).What an interesting drive from Paquera to Montezuma - very rural. Arrived at our little Bohemian Oasis at about 3PM. Slight mix-up, and ended up moving all our things, but truly for the better. This was a wonderful spot. Small but really quaint and comfortable. Once again we were greeted by some cheeky little monkeys.
Had a personalized Pizza Dinner prepared by Jenny our host at Cafe Coyote.
The Ferry from Punteranas to Paquera
Our AIRBNB
Our little Oasis (shared with the monkeys of course)
Day Nine
Cabuya 30c ☀️
Woke up with the monkeys, again! And watched the most wonderful sunrise.
Hiked to Montezuma Falls - Very tough but well worth it!
Visitted the town of Montezuma and it's beach. Boy it was hot!! Treated ourselves to Ice Cream.
Supper at Calala Lodge.
Bats, Bats, Bats.
Waking up in Cabuya
The Beach
Montezuma Falls
And Town
Calala Lodge
Day Ten
30c ☀️ Cabuya to Playa Grande 31c ☀️
Again awoke to an amazing Sunrise!
Eggs and Potatoes for breakfast and hit the road at 10ish.
Lunched at Soda Y Masqueia Rafita - and bought the world's largest watermelon!
Arrived at the Frijoles Surf Shop (our home for the next three days) at about three and hit the beach (5 minute walk). Smooth white sand, great big waves, and a very pretty sunset. We even saw a whale spouting way, way out.
Did some grocery shopping, and dined on Pasta and Garlic.
Playa Grande Beach
Our AIRBNB
Frijoles Surf Shop
Day Eleven
30c ☀️ Playa Grande
Mike and I went for a morning stroll, and picked up some delicious Breakfast Buns at Padoka Brazilian Bakery.
Off to Tamarindo to check out the Beach, and do some Afternoon Bar Hopping.
Back home to our Playa Grande Beach.
Some shopping at the Frijoles Surf Shop.
BBQ Chicken for supper with some homemade Sangria. Yum!
Day Twelve
30c ☀️ Playa Grande
Late morning.
Off to the Beach for Frank's Surf Lesson.
Lazy afternoon, strolled the area and relaxed on the deck.
Mike and I went for Supper at Ripjack's. Ribs, wings and salad.
Tracy and Frank went to town, dined at Ander's Restaurant in Brasalito.
Day Thirteen
Liberia 32c☀️to Montreal -40c ☁️
Left Frijoles Surf Shop at 10am.
Made a quick stop at Playa Hermosa.
One last look at the Pacific.
Dropped our rental off at 11 and shuttled to the airport for a long wait.
Had to drink our beer to lighten our check in bag.
Saw some Security Dogs in Action.
Flight TS601 - Boarded on time at 5h15. Smooth flight, but a rather bumpy landing around midnight.
Frigid winter temperatures!
Home Sweet Home