After a slew of vacations to all-inclusive resorts, I decided that it was time to mix it up. The convenience of a vacation 'one stop shop' was great, but laying around with a poorly mixed drink for a week is not how I like to spend my free time or money!
I visited Panama in April 2015 and really loved the people and the weather. Being so close to the equator, it was non-stop hot, hot heat all the time. I thought that this time around, Costa Rica would be a great option being Panama's neighbor and having heard endless positive talk about the real life paradise.
I started to research rental homes and things to do and I somehow found a small area in Playa Grande called Palm Beach Estates. A surf town filled with locals and many North Americans who are now permanent residents. Just a moments walk from the beach with plenty of local surf shops and eateries, my casa for the week was better than any all-inclusive.
I visited Panama in April 2015 and really loved the people and the weather. Being so close to the equator, it was non-stop hot, hot heat all the time. I thought that this time around, Costa Rica would be a great option being Panama's neighbor and having heard endless positive talk about the real life paradise.
I started to research rental homes and things to do and I somehow found a small area in Playa Grande called Palm Beach Estates. A surf town filled with locals and many North Americans who are now permanent residents. Just a moments walk from the beach with plenty of local surf shops and eateries, my casa for the week was better than any all-inclusive.
Every morning I woke up in cool, crisp white sheets to the sound of toucans as I slipped into my bikini. Outside my window I saw palms and vined trees filled with howler monkey's and their babies enjoying the morning rays.
With all of the natural beauty that Costa Rica has to offer, there is no time to waste. Up with the sun at 6 am, most head to the beach for a 7am surf. Can you think of a better way to start the day? On the walk back to my casa, I loved to stop by Cafe Mer Azul for an iced coffee.
Tamarindo is where you can find all the hustle and bustle that Playa Grande is sheltered from. I spent a couple afternoons exploring Tamarindo, others collecting sea shells along the beach or catching some zzz's whilst wrapped up in my hammock!
At 4 pm the tide returns. A quick board wax at Playa Grande Surf Camp and I was off. Back to the beach to ride the waves until the sky turns to cotton candy and the sun sinks into the Pacific. It's always a good day when you wake up in Costa Rica!
Retiring my surfboard, I'd head back to Cafe Mer Azul for a well deserved meal. Most nights I enjoyed a plate of traditional, Costa Rican casado for dinner...along side a hard mint lemonade, of course.
I spent my week enjoying Costa Rica for it's surfing and beaches, but there is so much more! Rio Celeste Falls, zip-lining, volcano hikes and scuba diving to name a few. It was a great destination to find adventure and make the most of my time away. I hope to return in the near future.
Costa Rica definitely gets The Meg Life stamp of approval!
Costa Rica definitely gets The Meg Life stamp of approval!