Costa Rico Welcome

Welcome to Costa Rica

The flight was uneventful. For the first time in years, a plane holding 175 had 68 passengers.  We had lots of room and the crew was delighted.  The flight was over the Keys and Cuba, with beautiful sites out the window.

Florida Keys

Clearing in took about an hour, by which time we were beat. Then renting a car took another hour, and loading our gear was a hassle.

Our Chariot

Too Much Gear

Waiting for us

Room 3

We found a great local hotel ($63) and were instantly at home.  The receptionist upgraded our room, and couldn't have been more helpful.

   

  Peacocks wandering the restaurant

We ventured about a mile from the hotel for lunch and found our first tropical site.  It turns out we were at the restaurant attached to the best  zoo in Costa Rico.  We ate looking at bird-of-paradise and peacocks, and listened to the birds in the trees.  

A short nap, drinks at the pool, dinner on-site, we could finally relax. We liked it so much we booked another night.

 Breakfast was included and the fresh fruits and juices are terrific.

Great Breakfast Outdoors

Pool at La Rosa

Monday morning we packed the car with maps and Waze, and headed to downtown San Jose.  Traffic was horrific, and going 20 miles took over an hour.  Seeing the city without a guide was not a good idea, and soon (2 hours of sitting in traffic later) we headed back toward the hotel.
Another great idea was to head toward the mountains, to the church and gardens of a small town about 6000 feet above sea level.  What we didn't know was that getting there was 10 miles straight uphill, after spending another hour on the 2 lane "interstate".  Finally, we discovered Zarcero, with a beautiful church and topiary gardens.

Animal Topiary

Church in Fajardo

We found a small cafeteria for lunch.  Ordering from a Spanish menu is an adventure.  This time it turned out better for Tom than for me, which was fine.  I won't order tacos there again!  We also found a liquor store, so we can have cocktails at sunset without breaking the bank.

We headed back to the car for the downhill trip, and the car battery wouldn't start.  Tom found a policeman, but he spoke no English and couldn't help.  So he found a garage, where the manager made a phone call and Mike arrived shortly with a battery pack.  It turns out he lives in California and was just visiting family. Within minutes we were started and he refused any compensation.

Our Savior

Tuesday morning we headed to La fortuna and the Avenal Volcano.  Although the roads weren't as bad as yesterday, we still climbed mountains and descended into valleys for three hours, all on two lane roads - except where the bridges were one lane!

As we got to La Fortuna, a golf friend staying in Costa Rico for the winter emailed me with a recommendation that we try a hot spring.  Since we couldn't check into the hotel until after 2, we headed to Paradise.

Paradise Hot Springs

Lunch at Paradise

Because of the volcano, there are natural hot springs for a large area around the base, and there are many businesses that have developed pools and hot tubs in the area.  The receptionist at out hotel suggested that we try lunch and an afternoon in the hot springs in Paradise.

Tom in the waterfalls

Jo Getting Wet

Lunch was delicious, and it was great to relax after a white knuckle drive. Springs of different temperatures, from 85 - 105 were hidden in the park.  All heated from the volcano above.   We never did see the volcano, as the cloud cover was too thick.

We left for the Pacific coast after finding an ATM, a drug store and some water in the village.  WAZE said it was 80 miles, and would take 4+ hours.  Well, they were sure right.  I only thought the climb up the mountain was an experience.  This time we crossed over the top of no less than four mountains, going up and down grades that wouldn't be legal in the US.  Oh, and always behind a truck.  All two lane roads, with motorcycles weaving in and out.  Tom had to finally stop driving, as the roads were making him seasick.

We finally made it to Puntarenas around 4pm, after driving along the coast for a ways. Thank goodness no more mountains.  Our hotel was on the Puntarenas Bay at the mouth of the Pacific, with a small bay and marina behind us.  So we were surrounded by water. So weird to watch the sun set over the ocean.
Unfortunately, we only booked this hotel for one night.  When we arrived the receptionist said our "apartment" was in the tall building.  Apartment it was: two large bedrooms, two baths, a laundry room, kitchen, living room and dining room.  I was ready to just stay there.

Sunset

View of the Pacific

The next morning, we headed south, thinking we had left the mountains behind.  Not true; it seems there are no flat surfaces or straight lines on any road.  And all the bridges are single lane. So when your side says CEDA (yield), cars on the far side have the right of way.  That's great on the small bridges, where you can see.  But we had to back off a 100 ft long bridge when we encountered a car coming at us.

We found a great marina complex in Quepos for lunch, with upscale shops.  Unfortunately, no time to peruse, and nowhere in the car to put anything, so we ate overlooking the yachts and kept moving.  All the restaurants here are under cover but outdoors.  There is always a breeze (so far) and no bugs, so it is a real treat for me.
ADD Quepos pix

Stopping in Uvita without a reservation, Tom found us a Jungle Room at Cuna del Angel.  We drove up a winding drive through the jungle.  The parking lot was on a plateau, with the reception about 40 steps above us, and our room 40 steps down into the trees.  I looked for monkeys, but still haven't seen one.

Cuna del Angel

Jungle Room

We have now arrived in Golfito.  The boat, having been closed up, was very warm but cooled down after the sun went down.  The marina has about 19 slips, with a nice restaurant and bar.  And the owner couldn't be more helpful, getting us maps of the area and a lot of local knowledge.  Unfortunately. although we have had great internet throughout our trip, it is very spotty here.  Which is frustrating, but to be expected I guess.
It's been a great time seeing Costa Rica. I'm not sure how many miles we have driven, but each one has been an adventure.

Driving Route

Golfito will be our home base for the next two weeks.  I still hope to see a monkey, climb a waterfall, and swim in the Pacific.  However, first tasks are to unpack, provision the boat, learn to use the dinghy and get all systems working.  

Next stop Tahiti.