Ten Places To See and Things To Do On Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast
Costa Rica was once Central America’s secret travel destination. Tales abound of wandering into a random hotel tucked away down a dusty road and finding the lap of luxury, or stumbling upon some culinary delight previously undiscovered by the masses. Well, the word on is out, so while the hidden gems are still there, they’re a lot less common. Even so, is still a great destination where they love travelers from the , offer a lot for your dollar, have very little crime and know how to treat their guests. Start your trip in San Jose. The city, a typical Latin American metropolis, has the largest airport in the country. San Jose also is awash with great hotels and inns if you want to stay overnight after you arrive; however, since travel to Costa Rica is quite quick from the Eastern United States, if you start out on the East Coast, it is possible to take an early flight, arrive at the airport and either meet a driver or secure your rental car and be on the Pacific Coast within hours of arriving in country. Given this, it makes more sense to arrive in country and head to the coast and then enjoy a day in San Jose on the end of your trip. You’ll want to stay at least a week, if not more to fit in as many activities as possible because the choices are unlimited. However, the main feature of is with the emphasis being placed on active. There are many opportunities to sit and do nothing other than stare at the pool or ocean or perhaps a cold beverage, but to truly experience, you need to get out and get involved. has no shortage of ways to occupy your time, so in an effort to provide some guidance and food for thoughts, below you will find ten different things that should provide some enjoyment and more than a few memories.
Crocodile Watching. As you head from San Jose to the Pacific Coast, you’ll be struck by the scenery. The initial monotony of urban San Jose will quickly give way to the lush hills and valleys that are common to . The roads are generally either pretty well maintained, or so bad that they offer what is called a “Costa Rican massage” from all the bumps. Regardless, the trip is amazing. About an hour out of San Jose on Costa Rican Highway 34, the major road toward the Pacific, you will come to the Grande de TÃ?¡rcoles River. Here you will find a rather long bridge that rises some 100 feet over the river below. For some unexplained reason, crocodiles have long congregated on the banks below. We’re not talking about one or two either. Generally you will see upwards of 30 and these crocs are up to 15 feet long. There is ample room to park before the bridge and it is safe to walk out and look at the crocs below.
Cocktails overlooking the Pacific. Further down the coastal highway from Grande de T�¡rcoles River, you will find the charming inn known as Villa Caletas. This inn is located on Costa Rican Highway 34 between Punta Leona and Jaco. Villa Caletas is perched atop a hill overlooking the Pacific. This inn has 36 excellently appointed rooms, all having beautiful views of the forest, valleys or ocean below. The inn has a great spa and outdoor covered dining that provides views of the Pacific. The inn also has an amphitheatre for watching sunsets or enjoying live music. Stop by for a cocktail
Surfing in Jaco. If surfing is your cup of tea, then the beaches between Punta Leona and Jaco is the place for you. There are numerous surf shops up and down the coast and many guides to show you where the hot spots are. Start here or just wander up the coast and see where the action is. The waves aren’t those that you will find in Hawaii, but for the surfers on the East coast of the , the waves you will find will be massive by comparison.
Spend the day in Quepos. Quepos is a quaint little fishing village located on the Central PacificCoast south of Jaco. The central part of the village is not much more than 6 blocks by 8 blocks, but has a number of offerings. There are restaurants offering local fare, some that will even prepare your fresh catch for you. You can also rent a car here in town or arrange an excursion. There are a number of places to enjoy an afternoon cocktail while you watch the sun go down. The nice thing about Quepos is that even with the rise in tourism, it is still possible to enjoy the local flavor in this little village.
Manuel Antonio. Just over the hill on the outside of Quepos is the sleepy beach town of Manuel Antonio. Here you will find an assortment of open air restaurants, tour vendors, beach massages and a beautiful untouched beach. Come early, rent a beach chair and enjoy the beach for the day. You can even arrange for a day of deep sea fishing if you want.
ManuelAntonio National Park. After a day on the beach, a day in the park will be just what the doctor ordered. The park charges a small admission fee and offers a self guided tour; however, for a few dollars, you can hire a trained guide. The park is beautiful to just wander about. The flora and fauna are amazing and the beaches are undeveloped and untouched. The views you will find are simply breathtaking. However, with the addition of a guide, you will have an entirely different experience as the guide will be able to point out subtleties that escape the untrained eye.
Horseback riding. There are a number of horse back excursions offered around the Central PacificCoast where several hours, including snacks and a lunch, cost around $75. These riding tours through the rainforest will leave you in awe of the natural beauty of the interior of . Many people, after taking a horse back tour of the country’s interior have left saying they felt like they had been riding through the world’s largest green house.
Dinner at Makando by the Sea. This hotel is perched atop a peninsula overlooking the Pacific and the bay formed around ManuelAntonio National Park. The hotel offers a number of excellent rooms, but has an even more attractive open air restaurant. Make reservations and arrive early so you can watch the sun set as you enjoy your dinner.
Drinks at the Cave Bar in La Mansion. La Mansion is one of the most intimate inns you will find along the Central Pacific coast and also has one of the most interesting bars. La Mansion is built on the side of the peninsula between Quepos and Manuel Antonio and offers incredible rooms, a top notch staff, outdoor swim up bar with jacuzzis and the Cave Bar. The owner converted a natural cave into a bar with a gorgeous hardwood bar, that blends into the natural walls of the Cave. Remember, you are in a cave, so even in the warmer months, it can be chilly, but the atmosphere is beyond compare.
Sunset Dinner Sailing. Out of the small port in Quepos you can arrange a sunset dinner cruise. The trip includes pickup at your hotel and transportation to your sailboat that is crewed by a trained and professional staff. There the boat will leave and cruise along the breathtaking. Along your sail you may see dolphins and other marine wildlife. If you want, you can even arrange to have the sailboat stop for some snorkeling. If snorkeling is not your thing, you can sit back, sip a cocktail and enjoy the open sea and a beautiful sunset without borders or boundaries.
Costa Rica is a country that prides itself on being tourism friendly and they do a wonderful job in this area. English is spoken virtually everywhere, even in the outlying towns and villages. Given the stability of the government and the Costa Rican economy, many Americans are retiring there. This solidifies the fact that English will remain widespread, but the downside is that there is a high travel season because so many people want to visit this Central American paradise. If you don’t mind a little rain, travel in the off season to get a taste of traveling without the crowds.
