Costa Rica Vacation

Off the Beaten Path – Costa Rica

Kay and I recently spent a week in the Central American country of Costa Rica. Per our usual travel arraignments, we “winged it” on this trip. Our only reservations were our airline flights and a car rental reservation. We had a general idea of where we wanted to visit, but no firm hotel reservations or places to visit.

Like is often the case, the first night “in country” we were questioning this decision. We had yet to learn the laid back “Costa Rica way”. Nothing happens very fast here. The language barrier wasn’t all that difficult, since quite a few Costa Rican’s speak English, especially in the coastal areas where the tourists visit. After a couple of days and a few misadventures, we found our groove and enjoyed our stay. We like to travel to out-of-the-way places so chose to drive a lot of dirt roads and visit lesser-known destinations along the Pacific coast. Luckily we rented a 4WD Suzuki SUV and were glad to have it as we rattled along unimproved dirt roads and over low water crossings. In these more remote areas, Spanish was the preferred language, yet we were able to navigate and find where we wanted to go without too much drama.

Kay was very excited about doing a zip line tour in Costa Rica. She had heard that these were spectacular. I wasn’t that wild about the idea – not because I am scared of heights – I am not. More that I am not a fan of organized activities. But I was wrong on this one. We had a fantastic time and a really fun day riding the zip lines, plodding along on horses, and tubing down a cold swollen river.

We spent many hours on the beautiful beaches. Our morning routine was to run along the beach first thing in the morning, eat breakfast, take a nap, then spend the rest of the day exploring.

Below are pictures from our week in Costa Rica.

Our last night along the Pacific Ocean.
Kay wades into the Pacific Ocean on our last night at our favorite stop.
After the cold river, we got to warm up in the hot springs nearby.
Kay with one of our guides on the river. They did a great job.
Kay with one of our guides on the river. They did a great job.
We didn't try the waterfall.
We didn’t try the waterfall.
I gotta strap a machete to my mountain bike just like this.
I gotta strap a machete to my mountain bike just like this.
We had fun playing in the suprisingly warm Pacific Ocean.
We found a lovely 6 mile long beach right in front of our remote hotel. We never saw more than a dozen people on this long stretch of beach.
We found paradise – finally.
We certainly need to learn some Spanish.
Kay was serenaded by a small band – for a price.
Oh for a motorcycle….we
We stopped at a hair salon. They didn't speak english and we didn't speak spanish, but they were able to communicate and did a great job on Kay's hair.
We stopped at a hair salon. They didn’t speak english and we didn’t speak spanish, but they were able to communicate and did a great job on Kay’s hair.
These are the Canadian owners of our favorite hotel, along with their youngest daughter.
These are the Canadian owners of our favorite hotel, along with their youngest daughter.
We stopped in at a festival along the beach one night and watched some fire dancing.
We stopped in at a festival along the beach one night and watched some fire dancing.

The food was so awesome Kay had to give the chef a kiss. He retired from Los Angeles to Costa Rica and opened this incredible restaurant in a remote part of Costa Rica. People come from all over the world to eat at his unassuming place along a dirt road.

We discovered a 5 star french restaurant on our travels. Best. Food. Ever!
We discovered a 5 star french restaurant on our travels. Best. Food. Ever!
This was our room for several nights while in Costa Rica.
This was our room for several nights while in Costa Rica.
An example of some of the roads we traveled in Costa Rica
Each morning we ran and explored along a beach on the Pacific Ocean.
Each morning we ran and explored along a beach on the Pacific Ocean.
Small motorcycles were everywhere and the preferred method of travel.
Small motorcycles were everywhere and the preferred method of travel.
Motorcycles were extremely popular in Costa Rica.
Plenty of fresh food was available everywhere.
Plenty of fresh food was available everywhere.
We were able to ride horses to the river for tubing. They were tame nags but it was still fun.
We were able to ride horses to the river for tubing. They were tame nags but it was still fun.
Kay was a bit nervous on the zip line.
Kay was a bit nervous on the zip line.
I had fun on the zip line.
I had fun on the zip line.
Kay once again on the river.
Kay once again on the river.
I was the only one in our group to descend into a canyon and climb out. It was pretty easy I since they provided these fantastic handholds, plus I was roped to safety.
I was the only one in our group to descend into a canyon and climb out. It was pretty easy I since they provided these fantastic handholds, plus I was roped to safety.
Kay barreling down the river rapids. This was not your typical "lazy river".
Kay barreling down the river rapids. This was not your typical “lazy river”.
The water was COLD. The river tubing was suprisingly long and the water was flowing strong so the rapids were pretty wild the entire time. Nothing like floating an Oklahoma river!
The water was COLD. The river tubing was suprisingly long and the water was flowing strong so the rapids were pretty wild the entire time. Nothing like floating an Oklahoma river!
We listened to the instructions prior to tubing the river.
We listened to the instructions prior to tubing the river.

We just happened upon this small "eco-hotel" along the coastline that had only opened a month before. A Canadian couple had purchased it and opened it for visitors. We were lucky to find such a great place to stay for only $100 per night.
We just happened upon this small “eco-hotel” along the coastline that had only opened a month before. A Canadian couple had purchased it and opened it for visitors. We were lucky to find such a great place to stay for only $100 per night.
We could walk right out of our small hotel to the beach.
We could walk right out of our small hotel to the beach.

Cactus was growing on this host tree in Costa Rica. Our guide one day said you could plant anything in Costa Rica and it would grow.

We certainly like traveling down dirt roads in unusual places. This was a very remote road in Costa Rica.
We certainly like traveling down dirt roads in unusual places. This was a very remote road in Costa Rica.
Trees grow to massive size in Costa Rica. Note the dirt road we traveled down.
Trees grow to massive size in Costa Rica. Note the dirt road we traveled down.
We made several low water crossings in the back roads of Costa Rica.
We made several low water crossings in the back roads of Costa Rica.
We ran across a lot of these thorny trees on the back roads of Costa Rica.
We ran across a lot of these thorny trees on the back roads of Costa Rica.