Someone once told me that the best way to reach a big goal is to set a series of small goals. I never truly appreciated this concept until I stepped off the plane, beginning this 6 month Latin America trip. It was the series of small goals that Thomas and I set over and over again, that brought us here...we are finally here! To reap the fruits of our labour, is the most amazing feeling. Today is day 4 in our first destination; Playa del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We actually managed to get ourselves here from Liberia Airport on local transportation (man, are those buses packed!) and found our lovely little Airbnb, without getting lost, getting ripped off, or throwing our backpacks in the garbage; I guess getting used to carrying 30lbs on my back will take time (aka I’m throwing a bunch of stuff out).
The release of all the preparation, planning, and sacrifice has really made relaxing in a beach town that much more...well, relaxing. We have slowed down so much, and so quickly, that we are already losing track of the days of the week. We have been waking up around 6am everyday, sans alarm clock. If you happen to know me, you know that 15 alarms and hitting snooze 100 times is life. Not anymore. Switching gears has been seamless, and we are in full swing.
Playa El Coco is located about 45 minutes from Liberia Airport on the pacific coast, and is what small pleasures are all about. The beach is quiet and private, the center of town is vibrant and lively, and the food...the food is made with love. Thomas and I like to cook most of our own meals when travelling, and really enjoy trying to find the perfect grocery store without the tourist price tag. Last night however, we treated ourselves to a meal at a local pizzeria and even though I’m typing right now, I’m really just thinking about that pizza. We highly recommend you stop by Senor Pizza if you ever find yourself in this little slice of heaven in Costa Rica (see what I did there?).
If you’re up for a bit of adventure, a boat tour through Palo Verde National Park, should tide you over for a bit. There are crocodiles, snakes, monkeys and bird watching galore. In town, you can rent quads/ATVs, motorcycles and scooters if you prefer a little power laden entertainment. There are of course plenty of other tours being offered from the centre that will take you horseback riding, zip lining, and I think I even saw one for skydiving. It is a small town, but there is plenty to do if you have a bit of cash to throw around. For budget travellers, take in the seaside beach, the happy hour bars from 11am to 7pm (check out Zi Lounge), and get some sports going. You don’t really need much in the ways of entertainment when you’re in good company, so pick some decent travel companions and you’ll do great out this way.
We rented our stay through airbnb here https://abnb.me/mgKgKPp8WL if you like affordable, comfortable, clean, and air conditioned living, with an outdoor pool and being just minutes from the beach, this is your place! You can also visit their website at www.pequenoparaiso11.com. Pat is a great host, and the property manager Dean is knowledgeable, friendly...and a fellow Canadian! Go on, you know you want to... ;)
Hasta la promixa vez,
The Shake Escape Team
#CostaRica #PacificCoast #CentralAmerica #PlayadelCoco #Planning #Liberia #Guanacaste #PaloVerdeNationalPark