Costa Rica with its tropical forests, birds and plants of many different species is this expat’s dream adventure. Tasty cuisine and the romantic language of Spanish is what one would expect to experience and more. My senses are in over drive as I take a deep breath and start my adventure.
Flower stand downtown San Jose, CostaRica
Downtown San Jose
Shopping district San Jose
Smiling meat butchers downtown San Jose
San Ramon, Costa Rica.
A great place to stay is at the Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel and Nature Reserve which is Trip Advisor’s 2015 Travelers Choice Award.
Lodge at La Villa Blanca
Lodge at La Villa Blanca
Beautiful church on the hill at La Villa Blanca
My stay was in an individual casita in the clouds with a daily roaring fire. Guided nature walks and horseback riding along with other adventures are available and worth your time. Make sure to take the Evening Nature walk.
Take a horseback riding tour at La Villa Blanca
Onsite restaurant provided my tasty meals 3 times a day. There is no need to leave this wonderful Resort. Weather in the clouds can be a bit chilly, but rain provides a tranquil atmosphere.
The walking tour at La Villa Blanca, Costa Rica
Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
Surfer in Tamarindo
This ocean side town is just few hours drive from San Jose on a two lane road which upon itself is an adventure, especially when there is construction work. With views like this who would not want to visit. Onward to the hotel.
Capitan Suizo Hotel in Tamarindo.
Hotel Capitan Suizo beachside pool.
The lovely Captian Suizo Suite
Capitan Suizo Hotel in Tamarindo offers comfortable rooms, refreshing pool, lush garden area with howler monkeys and a restaurant that serves tasty cuisine. All the amenities I could ask for but the beach is calling my name. With its location on the beach I enjoyed surfing and kayaking.
Protected Howler Monkey at Captain Suizo.
Resident Iguana at Captain Suizo
Tamarindo was full of exciting restaurant and bars all located just a walk down the beach.Lots of sunsets can be enjoyed on this western facing beach. Look for the green flash at sunset I did and saw it here.
Sunset on the beach in Tamarindo. Saw the green flash that sunset.
Surfing in Tamarindo
Misty morning walk along the beach in Tamarindo
Costa Rica was an enjoyable adventure along with its friendly people. Bring along a rain jacket, bug spray or your favorite “coconut oil” to keep the mosquitoes away.
Surf Shops in Tamarindo
Local selling trinkets on the beach in Tamarindo.
This expat visited some great restaurants while traveling in Costa Rica. Also found a vegan restaurant that served natural & organic food. Yummy!
Green Papaya great organic Restaurant in Tamarindo
Turbulent Sunset in Tamarindo
Other
For a more details on my Costa Rican adventure see my blogs on San Ramon, Tamarindo, and San Jose. Also check out more adventures with 1Adventure Traveler, on Roatan, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia and the United States.
Remember life is short, go out and have an adventure!
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Please have a look at the link up’s I’m participating in with #FollowMeFriday on Facebook. Here you will find fantastic adventures by other professional bloggers.
Wow! Costa Rica looks amazing! And so green! Thank you for your tip on mosquitos. The accommodation looks beautiful. Adding Costa Rica to our bucket list.
Thanks Sidddharth and Shruti,
Costa Rica is amazing along with the comfortable accommodations. Glad you added Costa Rica to your bucket-list. I try to think of natural ways to protect myself from those pesky mosquitos. lol.
I have been to Costa Rica a couple of times. You went more to the beaches but I went to the Volcanoes and on wildlife tours. My favourite animal is the sloth and there are lots to see in Costa Rica!
Hi James,
Great you have been to Costa Rica. I wish I had more time to visit the volcanoes and wildlife tours like you. I stayed in the cloud forest for a few days also and went to one national park which I have not written about yet. I must check out your articles on your wildlife tours of Costa Rica.
We’ve been trying to figure out where we want to go for a beach getaway this year. Costa Rica is suddenly – and definitely – in the running now! Anyplace we can walk down the beach to dinner is a winner in our book. Add in those sunsets, and wow! We just may come asking for some more recommendations. 😉
Hi Rob and Ann,
Tamarindo sunsets in Costa Rica were amazing. There are also other western facing beaches that I have yet explored. Hope you get a chance for a beach getaway there 😃
Fabulous photos Stephanie. I can really feel Costa Rica’s vibe. It’s on the list and just went up a few rungs on the ladder. 😉
Thanks Shona,
Costa Rica has a great vibe. So much to see and experience and happy it went up on your bucket-list 😃
Nice photos! Thanks for taking shots! There is so much more to see on Costa Rica. The best way to have relaxation!
Thanks Avon,
Costa Rica is amazing for relaxation!
Costa Rica is actually number one on my travel bucket list at the moment but I am looking for the perfect time to go and check out as much of Central America as I can. Thanks for sharing, just reaffirms how much I want to go there!
Thanks Alexei,
Costa Rica is an amazing place and I have only seen such a small portion of the lush green place. I am ready to go back and see some wildlife in the rainforest and more beaches. Like you I want to visit more of Central America and make a trip to Machu Picchu in South America. Life is short we need to get out there and travel 🙂
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Where haven’t you been Stephanie!? Costa Rica is definitely on our list. Looks like you had a great time, the hotel, the beach and bars look wonderful, so tropical and colourful! I think it’s the wildlife that really attracts me to visit Costa Rica, as you get to see iguanas and more in their natural habitat, like you did! great photos and tips! have pinned it!
Thanks Garth,
There is so much to see in Costa Rica and I only touched the tip of the iceberg. I was fortunate enough to visit the cloud forest and the beach. I would love to go back and see more wildlife. I visited a State Park but it was raining and everything was hiding. lol. The two hotels I stayed were fabulous and highly recommended.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
I have yet to visit there and really want to. It just looks like a fabulous place! Obviously, plenty activities to do and so much nature to see. Your accommodations look great and cozy. I will pin this for later, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Lisa,
Costa Rica is such an interesting place to visit with the Rain Forest, Cloud Forest and the Beaches. I hope you get a chance to go and happy you pinned this for later. The accommodations were amazing!
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
I would happily return to Costa Rica! Visiting the cloud forests was magical, the country has so much amazing nature and wildlife. I sadly didn’t make it to Tamarindo but everyone says its really nice and fun. Can’t believe you saw the Green Flash, that’s meant to be a pretty rare phenomenon right? Your photos are fantastic, such beautiful sunsets.
Thanks David,
Costa Rica is so diverse and amazing place to visit. Glad you had a chance to go but sorry you didn’t see the green flash at sunset. I was unable to capture it with the camera. Only saw it once when I was there. Seen the green flash at sunset only 3 times. Roatan Island in the Caribbean, Tamarindo Costa Rica, and Wakatobi in Indonesia.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Great post! Costa Rica looks absolutely spectacular. Love your photos…. especially the caterpillar!… and so much to do. It is on my bucket list.
Thanks Kelly,
Costa Rica is amazing and so much there to see. The cloud forest with the night creepy crawlers was fun and exciting to photograph. Lets not forget the surfers at Tamarindo. Hope you get a chance to visit someday.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Omg! Through those photos I felt I was there with you for a few seconds. I bet this was an amazing experience 😉. Keep going 👌!!!
I have always wanted to go to Costa Rica. You’re pictures are lovely!
Thanks Allison,
Costa Rica is a wonderful places from the Rain Forest, Cloud forest and Beaches. Two weeks for me wasn’t enough. Hope you get a chance to visiting there one day.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Oh I definitely want to visit Costa Rica, I did before I read this post and now I want to even more! Your photos are so lush and green and the colours so vibrant, just as I envisaged. I want to visit for the animals mainly, so to hear about the howler monkeys an see that gorgeous lizard is very pleasing. As for the beaches, well, stunning is all I can say! Thank you for making me want to visit sooner rather than later!
Thanks Angie,
Costa Rica is as lush and amazing as anyone can image. The photos don’t do it justice. There are so many places to visit whether its the Rain Forest, Cloud Forest, or Beaches. I was there for a couple of weeks and it wasn’t enough. I would love to see more animals like you and take more photos. Hope you get a chance to visit soon.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Costa Rica has been on our list for some time now! Sunsets are always one of my favorite things – maybe when we make it one day, we will catch the green flash too!!!
Hi Jenn,
Costa Rica is so lush and tropical. I’m more of a beach person and loved the many gorgeous sunsets. I only touched on a few places to visit while there but their both fantastic places to enjoy. I have seen the green flash on sunsets on Roatan in the Caribbean too. There fun to look for.
Happy Travels – Stephanie:-)