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Saved: February 23rd 2016
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Such a phenomenal impression Costa Rica left on me, that I decided to go back in July during the wet season to pay the rest of the country a visit. We left for 10 days, very loose itinerary. Me, Joa, and Ashley. Joa and I are Dominican. Ashley is Black American. Together we composed a uniquely distinct spectrum of colors from lightest to darkest, everywhere we went people asked us if we were together. They noted that seeing such a diversity amongst a group of travelers was a rare sight for them. It was interesting to see how one of us would blend in in different parts of the country, in Puerto Viejo where there were darker people we were told that Ashley blended in, while I stuck out more. Closer to the Panamanian border, Joa resembled the people better than we did. We would often explain to our new Costa Rican friends that we're a common mix in NYC, where not seeing such a thing is the rare sight! We met friendly people everywhere, talked to strangers both foreign and local, and got to hear their insights on Costa Rica and their lives. It was a truly unforgettable adventure. I
Rincon De La Vieja
Another secret gem... these hotsprings were the bets ones I've seen and the cheapest! came back to the US with the inability to wear heels, straighten my hair, or eat anything out of a can.
Day 1 - Flew into Liberia around 11:30AM, got our car around 12:30. While we waited for Ashley, me and Joa decided to drive to JUMBO and buy some groceries. We realized we still had abour 3-4 hours to kill so we drove north. Wandering. We ended up driving into
Rincon De La Vieja. AWESOME place. We went to the hot springs, only $10, and later lathered in mud and then rinsed it off in the river. After this, we got back into the car and went to pick Ashley up aronud 5:30PM. We then drove into Bijagua. For our excursions the next day.
Day 2 - Tenorio National Park. Probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life. Gorgeous hike and waterfall. We saw natural springs, natural fresh water sources, beautiful bridges. We were about an hour before the sun set and realized we hadn't finish all of the points on the hike. Each point had a beautiful suprise from nature, a waterfall, a hot spring, little bridges,
lagoons that looked like you had transported to venus, view points, swings made of tree branches, I could really go on. We bumped into a Costa Rican tour guide and his tourist couple, during the last two points. He offered to help us exit on our way back. It turned out it was another route that we didn't know about. A route only locals new and took, because it did not require the entrance fee. It turned out to be one of the wildest hikes of my life. IF not the wildest. I'm talking about... walking on the edge of a muddy 1 foot wide cliff, type of hike. Running over armys of biting ants, spiders, sliding down the mountain, walking through what looked like a scene from the movie Avatar due to the sun glimmering through the fog and the tall lush trees. Finally as we get off on the other side of the mountain, we realize we're too far away from where we entered. We have no way of getting back to our car unless we hike down the mountain and back around on the side of the road (not inside the park). It was only getting darker
and we did not want to take those roads by foot at night with only the moon as our street light. When the Costa Rican man offers to give me a ride to my car on his motorcycle, we hesitate for a long time. Debating on what to do. Safety vs... well safety. Finally frustrated and hungry I do what I advise no one else to do. Joa secretly hands me a giant rock and a book bag with a pocket knife as I ride off with him in his motorcycle. I mean, this was really stupid. But at this point I was exhausted, it was getting dark and we really needed to get to the car. So I finally get to my car, after driving a motorcycle through a Volcano mountain. And we drive back down Tenorio, and into Bijagua.
Day 3 - We decide to take off to La Fortuna for some hot springs at Baldi. After the gnarly hike, we really needed to relax. On our way down, we meet and give a ride to 2 women from Jehovah's Witness. They tell us stories and give us advise until we drop them
off to their destination. We get to Arenal, and decide to spend the entire day in hot springs. Here we meet a couple from San Jose and some Americans. The Costa Rican couple tells us that the Caribbean side is not as bad as they make it seem, that its a unique experience and that we should definitely try it out. The next day....
Day 4 - We pack our bags and head out to Puerto Viejo, here we party at night, stay at an awesome hostel and indulge in awesome Caribbean food.
Day 5 - We spend the day touring
Puerto Viejo, sleeping, strolling, shopping, and later eating at Soda Isma's. Later we meet famous blogger Camille Willemain
thisamericangirl.com and we taste chocolates and chat up the afternoon. Before it gets dark, we stumble into a place that offers trips to Panama for the day. We spend the evening talking to a Panamanian boy about life and finally leave that night to get some food, shop for some food to prep for the next morning and go to bed early.
Day 6 - Rising and shining early, we get picked up at the crack
Bocas
Bocas, Panama of dawn and drive into
Panama. We walk across a very sketchy bridge and remind both people in both sides of the border to please stamp us.. Totally relaxed/Latin transaction. I kept saying the phrase "there is no law in Latin America" to remind my friends of the lax mentality. It was mostly amusing to us. So when get to
Bocas del Toro, and the sun comes out we're basking in it, drinking beers and pina coladas, going from one boat to the other. Awesome set of islands. Beautiful waters. We see dolphins, go snorkeling, and finally end up at a beautiful red frog beach. I think the alcohol had hit me at that point because I didn't care that I was under the sun fighting with the waves on a broken boogie board for hours. Later we get back to our hostel crispy skin, happy, and tired. After a good meal, we fall asleep like babies.
Day 7 - We decide to leave the Caribbean for some Pacific sunshine. We drive straight into
Manuel Antonio. Stopping by a few places, eating and exploring. We get hit with a very heavy thunderstorm. We were so high up in altitude
in this part of the country, that we felt the thunder hit the ground because the floor beneath us would shake every time. Luckily we find economical hospice in a hotel. We go out for some food and knock out.
Day 8 - We spend the entire day on the beach, swimming in beautiful waters, watching wild animals: raccoon, crocodiles, friendly monkeys, birds, lizards. We go shopping, I find an awesome bow and arrow. We swim in the pool at night, before getting ready to go out and eat and there we meet a hilarious Canadian who we hang out with for the rest of the night.
Day 9 -We drive to San Jose, where we drop Ashley off at an awesome hostel called Casa Colon. Me and Joa drive to Liberia, where we bump into a festival of horses. I ride a horse for 5 seconds before realizing that they are dangerous creatures and go back into my car. We can't find a single hotel that's open due to this event which we had no idea about, and we end up sleeping in the car. Thankfully Hotel Liberia is nice enough to lend us pillows, blankets, their
bathroom and their parking lot.
Day 10- After a hardy breakfast, we take off to the airport. And fly back to 2013.
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