Love sharing life and travel with my hubby
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July 2016
A week of Spanish immersion (4 hours of school a day)
Intercultura School: www.interculturacostarica.com 1 week was not long enough; I need a month of immersion!
My momma tica’s house. Since she didn’t speak English and with my limited Spanish, it was a quiet week!
Beautiful blue-green water in the lagoon past Playa Carrillo 
Isle Tortuga – a delightful hour boat ride past this deserted island
Wild island pig (not dead, just sleeping)
Puffer fish (he is dead)
Found this starfish while snorkeling with friends (we didn’t keep it, we returned it quickly after the photo)
This stork didn’t seem bothered by my early morning walk to Playa Carrillo
July is the rainy season. It did rain every day, but not all day. Provided great waterfalls and swollen rivers.
It was usually sunny until after noon
Quite a procession. I believe this was part of a grand, ocean wedding that afternoon.
Perhaps this school needs a principal? I could easily be convinced to move to Samara!
Looking out the airplane window – the rainy season makes everything so green and lush. Leaving Costa Rica, but I’ll return soon!
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March 2016
I like to be as near to the edge of the ocean as possible
My idea of the perfect beach bungalow
Rincon de la vieja
Horseback ride to the volcanic hot springs & mud baths
Stunning sunsets
Wonderful wildlife – roaming free
Coolest crab I’ve ever seen
Howler monkeys
white faced capuchins
great reminder – live the pure life
The sunset bar at Buena Vista Lodge, Rincon de la veijo
great friends sharing the views
Playa Samara
Playa Barrigona
The entrance to Mel Gibson’s estate (this is my pic)
here’s the exact same pic from Christie’s from the opposite end of the path
It’s for sale; check it out: http://www.christiesrealestate.com/eng/sales/detail/170-l-141-1305141650000450/playa-barrigona-other-costa-rica-cr-50904
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the end of an era – story to follow 🙁
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunset in Nosara 2014 – Staci handstand – proof that if your mind is willing, your body will cooperate! (age 47)
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Buena Vista Lodge, Rincón de la Vieja, Liberia, Guanacaste
Visited October 2015
Click on link above to see my “Relaxing Mountain Lodge” comments on TripAdvisor
Beautifully landscaped paths
My travel partner loves Costa Rica as much as I do!
Our hacienda
Exploring the mountain trails . . . the trees are gigantic
We signed up for the “Extreme Adventure Combo” that included zip-lining, horseback riding, hot springs, and a mountain waterslide . . . water was cold; slide was fast – lots of turns; view was amazing!
Stopped for a snack of homemade sweets, breads, local coffee (Costa Rican coffee is the best in the world) and sugar water
Relaxing after a full day of adventure and activity . . . my favorite spot . . . from here we were fortunate enough to observe a family of lemurs in the woods
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Playas de Coco visited April 2012
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Puerto Viejo, Caribbean Coast
Visited November 2012
Stayed at Banana Azul – beautifully landscaped, blend of jungle and beachfront – very peaceful.
Nice beachfront accommodations, plenty of shade, plus beach bar service!
We rented bicycles and rode into town; we also rode for miles to Manzanillo (approximately 13 km from Puerto Viejo) – getting there was rather easy, considering the trip back was another story!
Crazy looking tree
Great reminder . . .
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TreeHouse Hotel, Santa Clara, San Carlos
November 2013
Many walking trails leading to hidden waterfall
We walked from our treehouse to this little, local restaurant to celebrate our anniversary
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Brasilito
Visited October 2015
Stayed at a quaint, hippie-style, B & B Qunita Esencia
Beachfront dining – had the best lobster in my life – this Tico prepared fresh caught grilled lobster 18″ long
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Jungle’s Edge, outside Nosara
December 2014
Yep, we actually stayed in a tent!
The beach in Guiones is within walking distance of Jungle’s Edge, but it’s a LONG, HOT, and DUSTY walk up many hills (it was so dusty the road crews were actually spreading molasses on the roads, which helped with the dust and smelled great, but you can imagine the sticky mess it left for those of us walking!) . After day 1, we opted for a less strenuous mode of transport – we rented a golf cart!
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Always fun to find a secret waterfall and wading pool
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I purchased these flipflops on my very first trip to Costa Rica (when my ONLY pair of flipflops broke exiting the shuttle van from the airport – this is a story I will definitely write about soon!); they have gone with me on EVERY trip to Costa Rica in the past 5 years (actually just broke on last trip in October, but I glued them and am planning to take them with me in March!)
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Playa Samara in Guanacaste is my favorite beach town. It is on the Pacific Coast.
Visited December 2014, April 2015, and October 2015 (and plans for March 2016)
Tico Adventure Lodge is my favorite place to stay in Samara
This is the room my sister and I occupied when we visited in October 2015. Very private and quiet; located behind the pool.
Refreshing pool under ample shade; sometimes howler monkeys play in the trees above.
Look closely; howler monkey in tree above pool. We tracked 2 of them across town to the beach where there was one lone monkey crying for help – must have gotten left behind.
Massages offered on-site at Tico Adventure Lodge
Top of the hill; intersection near Tico Adventure Lodge advertises some of the businesses in town. Beach is 3 blocks down the hill; Tico is 1/2 block to the left of the signs.
And, now my favorite part of Samara . . . the beach!
View from lazing in a beach cabana
Here’s the cabana; located outside Locanda. There are only 2 available so you must get there EARLY (before 9am). But they also have lounge chairs, a few with beach umbrellas, and several shaded beach-front tables.
Evening in Samara on the beach is beautiful
Here’s the view of Playa Samara from up on the ridge a few miles away (a beautiful horseback tour).
Lots of opportunity for surf lessons. Here’s my favorite – Pato’s Surf School, right beside Locanda. Plus, Pato’s girlfriend, Kate, operates a beachfront massage studio here as well – she’s wonderful!
Another favorite beach bar/restaurant is La Vela Latina. Plus, locals gather weekly to play poker – loads of fun!
Lo Que Hay is another favorite beachfront bar/restaurant. It is my favorite breakfast spot because they offer their full menu all day long, so I can have fish tacos for breakfast! It is farther down the beach.
Very helpful business located behind Lo Que Hay. Very friendly expats can answer ALL your questions and find ANYTHING you need in Costa Rica.
Gusto’s Restaurant is one of my favorite (high end) restaurants. They served the best ahi tuna I’ve ever had in my life. Below is a picture of their beachfront restaurant at night.
New Italian beachfront restaurant; located down near Gusto’s.
Best street food in Samara. Located near the police station.
Cafe Esmeralda is right around the corner from Tico Adventure Lodge (down the hill toward the beach). They have fabulous Italian dishes and wine
Lots of low cost options for lodging – hostels galore
Wild horses occasionally roam the beach and sometimes even the streets
If not horses, look out for the many motorcycle and 4-wheelers
My favorite mode of transportation . . .
Lots of beauty year round
Chance to see turtle’s nesting if you’re brave enough to cross the estuary
