To start out, we had our long journey with the plane trip. We had landed in San Jose, Costa Rica mid afternoon and were ready to find our rental car. This airport is not big nor small and pretty easy to get around. Of course our first stop was the Duty Free store to pick up our alcohol we would be consuming during the week. Good ol' bottle of Sailor Jerry's was pretty cheap. What can I say; I was on vacation and drinks were planned to be flowing.
We got our luggage, made it through customs and headed to get the rental car. We had to drive 3 hours ahead of us to get to our destination which would have been cut down by an hour if we could have gotten on that wonderful new freeway. That is for the next paragraph. We got into the shuttle to the rental place and I am noticing all the bobbed wire along the tops of fences of houses and buildings. It was a little nerve racking at first but eventually I found myself pretty comfortable with the beautiful surroundings. We all loaded into our little SUV with our GPS and off we go. Now thank god our friend was not scared to drive here. He just took the bull by the horns and went for it. As we all laughed, we assumed the driving would be crazy. It was not bad at all. A little pushy is all, not like there were no laws on the roadways. Everyone seemed to go pretty smoothly.
We start out following the GPS and the crazy lady's voice on that device trying to tell us to get onto the freeway. UH, no! No on ramp! What the hell? We drive down the road which became a dirt road and come across some kids on little motorcycles and rifles slung to their backs. We drive by them in awe and try to convince ourselves they were probably out shooting iguana's or something, not a big deal. At least that is what kept me from freaking out. You just don't see that much in the states. We are in a foreign land we know nothing about except from what we read in our tour book. "It's an advneture" is what we kept saying and that seemed to keep us laughing through this drive. We drive along and pull into a small town as we try to get ourselves situated with the GPS and her telling us over and over to turn right, (she is pushy) then finally we were able to turn right. Now we found a road that runs along the freeway and we keep trying to find an on ramp. The lady keeps telling us there is one and when we get to it, it is blocked off. We finally get to one that a cop was at. We could see that the traffic was going east towards San Jose in all lanes. The boys go and talk to the cop. Both not knowing any Spanish, this ended up with the cop whose English was not good either he gave us directions to who knows where. That is the thing about Costa Rican's, they don't like conflict with us foreigners so even if they don't know the right info they will tell you something. We knew this before we went and it was no surprise. So at one point looking at our map in our trusty tour book we found out we were on the old highway and to just keep going. We will reach our destination. This road was narrow and twisty but the beautiful scenery and views were amazing.
We drove along hillsides, down to the shoreline, through the palm trees that our palm oil comes from, passing little resort towns including the last one, Quepos. We drive up this really narrow twisty road into a thick rain forest environment with resorts on the cliff edges. We could barely see them through the lush tropical trees. Wow, this is beauty. We made it to the resort we were staying and it was amazing. Los Altos is the name of this resort. These are condos with 3 large rooms, 2 baths with the kitchen and living area. This place was around 2300 square feet. The balconies looked out over the pool, rain forest and ocean. The Bali style interiors were refreshing and clean. While here, my big mouth and my friends husbands big mouth had some how made acquaintance with the owner and his son. They had breakfast with us and were very charming people. The staff is amazing! They helped with every thing we needed with a big smile on there faces. Check the link out. Pretty sexy place let me tell you.
Through this trip we had plans for different things to do. The first thing was the beach. Awe the beach. We go down towards Manuel Antonio and park. We paid a couple of people for an umbrella and a couple of chairs as we all set ourselves to embark into the warm waters. I did nothing but body surf the whole day and would only come out to drink my rum and cokes. The nice thing about paying for the chairs, the lady would run and get us drinks when needed. Good times.
That night we headed into Quepos where we were told to eat at El Grande Escape' (I can't remember how to spell it). This is a lady who had moved to Costa Rica in the mid 80's from our home town. She use to run one of our most popular restaurants here and now she is a successful restaurant owner there. (small world, huh?) We were able to talk to her and get her story. What a great lady and her place is fantastic. She knows everyone who travels there on a frequent basis for the fishing. If you catch it she will have her chefs cook it for you. We ate there twice. This is when my drinking had started kicking in and I was able to understand Spanish but for some reason would answer in Italian. What? Yeah and I don't know squat in Italian but seemed to after a few cocktails and the waitress seemed to know what I was saying. Well, there are a lot of Europeans who go to Costa Rica for vacationing as well.
The next day we went on our adventure to the rain forest for some zip lining. This was one of the best experience ever. We learned all about Costa Rica and it's agriculture, to the eco-system there. Then the zip line itself, woo wee. After floating through the rainforest canopy the company of our tour fed us a great lunch full of Costa Rican cuisine. The best!
On another day we took a guided hike through Manuel Antonio park. This is a preserved place of the rain forest and we saw many animals. From howler monkeys, sloths, boas, to bats and raccoons. We learned so much from our wonderful guide. She was so passionate and knowledgeable.
That same night we did the catamaran boat trip. This was a big boat full of people with drinks and dinner all included. We found some dolphins to play with along side the boat and followed along the coastline that we have been experiencing on land. There was a stop for a little snorkeling and then the sunset began. Gorgeous being out on the water with the orange ball sinking into the ocean waters.
With all of our excursions we were picked up by the shuttle and taken to our destinations and back as well. Our boat tour we were picked up in a cab and it was paid for by the resort to get us back. No worries about us driving anywhere. We only drove into town and to the park twice. That was it. So nice and easy. The resort had done all of the arrangements for every excursion. No stress until the drive back to San Jose.
Now, a word of warning, when you are told to just hit the home button on the GPS it should take you back to the rental car place. No. Not in our case. Check it to make sure it is the right route. We ended up where the picture below shows. Yes someones "home". After this anxiety ridden drive and being in a small town that I would no way get out of my car for directions, we ended up at this little home. What a view.
We did eventually make it back, and before dark. Barely. The rental car place deducted the GPS from our charges but we still got charged for being late. Oh well, all I cared about that I was in the hotel lobby. I can sleep to get ready for our long flights home.
Honestly, I will go back to Costa Rica anytime. Now that I know how to travel around there. It was one of the greatest experiences in a beautiful country. I can see why people move there and love it. The ex-patriots I had talked to have a great love of the country and have not looked back. Now mind you it is still a poor country and there was the notice of that but I met great people from the Costa Ricans to the transplants that live there. What a fun experience and I will say it again, beautiful. If you haven't put this place on your bucket list, you should.
Oh and the food was amazing! The coffee was a coffee I had never tasted and I didn't even need cream. Have the Costa Rican breakfast while you are there as well. Eggs with a rice and bean mixture, to die for. I ate it everyday and never got sick of it. Everything was crisp and fresh.
FYI-
There are times of the years that are best to go. January-June is high season. Around August-beginning of December the rain season is upon them. We experienced a taste of this rain and it makes our dessert monsoons look like trickles.
The money are Colon's and exchange is pretty good. Check before you go. Tipping is appreciated. Even though you are charged when you eat at restaurants for the tips which is somewhere in the tax or something, the waiters or waitresses may not see it depending on the business. So tipping them yourself is nice.
Los Altos link:
http://www.thepreserveatlosaltos.com/
If you have any other questions ask me in the comments below. I will try to answer the best I can. :)
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