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Costa Rica
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  • Smiffy

Costa Rica

New adventure in Central America. Costa Rica spans the continent, arriving on the west coast (Pacific Ocean) spending a few days before travelling to the east coast (Caribbean Sea). Full of volcanoes and rain forests, Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 4, 2024
  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    ARRIVED San Jose, Costa Rica

    November 6, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Arrived!!!! Flight delayed by almost 4 hours and they had to request that the airport be kept open for 2 hours longer (normally closes at midnight) otherwise we wouldn't have gotten here today.

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Hotel

    November 7, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Our hotel guest house is great and old 159 year old colonial house that's been converted. Got taxi here from airport (10 USD not bad for 2 o'clock in the morning). Of course he took us to the wrong place first!!Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Alajuela City

    November 8, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    This is where we are staying the capital is San Jose which is 15 Kms away although they sorta run into one another. It's low rise rambling sort of place. Not exactly a tourist hangout as there's little to see but you have to start either here or San José.Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Rescate wildlife rescue centre

    November 8, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Visited this place, well worth it. Tried out the local buses, £1:10 flat rate wherever they go!

    Lots to see, claims not to be a zoo, but only houses abandoned or sick animals. Unfortunately some are so badly injured or too tame to be released into the wild.Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Trying to leave

    November 8, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Went to try and book our ticket to next stop (Cahuit on the Caribbean coast). Should have been simple; bus to airport (no problem) and there should have been a connection bus to MEPE bus terminal. Alas, no information anywhere. Tried airport, no luck. Tried asking no luck. Eventually decided to go into San Jose to see if we could fair better. Now it's torrential ☔ rain! No information in bus station noone had a clue. So big failure. We are heading to bus terminal, by taxi!, tomorrow without a ticket. And no, you can't book online!Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Food

    November 8, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Food. Cheap food is served in places called Sodas. It is cheap and cheerful. They have menus but it's irrelevant because the all serve Breakfast if the day, Lunch of the day, and dinner of the day! In small, medium or large servings. It's whatever they have, the only certainty is that it will come with rice!
    However, there are an inordinate number of restaurants here with all the American chains and lots of fried chicken places

    We pushed the boat out and went to a Colombia restaurant, as above, with a large glass of wine each £20 odd .    Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Leaving from MEPE bus station

    November 9, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Why are all bus stations in the shittist part of town!!!
    Anyway got Uber here ( yes they do have it ) took 45 minutes and cost £13 a bargain. Couldn't book tickets in advance only on the day and in person. Got tickets for 10 am bus as planned. Off to Cahuit pronounced Ka wheat aaRead more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Cahuita

    November 9, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Well we got here. Interesting drive as there's lots of greenery unfortunately broken up small towns. Stopped for a break in Limon ( another rundown town) and now near the beach on the Caribbean coast.

    Pre booked room but couldn't find the place. Map said we were here but couldn't see anything. Fortunately a local stopped to help us and he phoned the property. We were yards from it, it was up a small alleyway and NO sign at all. Duh! Twats.    Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    A bug hut with chitchats!!

    November 10, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Our accommodation isn't posh but it's got a nice outside area, it's very basic but very clean with a fridge and cooking facilities. And we have 2 little chit chats in the garden and a visiting hummingbird. A bargain for 235USD for a week. It's also very central being opposite large supermarket, close to bus station and short walk into town. Unfortunately didn't have a any sign or name outside!!!! Took a local and a phone call to find it duh!!!!Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Evening time in Cahuita

    November 10, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Went for a quick wander last evening. Lots of restaurants and bars everywhere!! Only covered a small part as we were tired and hungry so more exploring tomorrow.

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Breakfast

    November 11, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Mini bananas and rambutan s for breakfast. Local supermarket across the road has everything you could want, including wine! Larger than life advocado!

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler
    Rice, beans, smoked pork assorted vegetables £9A fine glass of wine

    Walk along the beach road

    November 11, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Went for stroll along the beach road. A few hotels and restaurants along the way. Run into a local football match, very noisy!!!

    Had some beers and then dinner when the heavens opened and we struck in a bar! Drink prices are a bit cheaper than UK but no bargains. Beer is £2-3, wine, a large glass £5.Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Cahuita National Park

    November 11, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    One of the smallest parks, but in first 10 minutes we saw a sloth, a racoon that wandered down the road, and a troop of monkeys swinging thru the tree tops. We cut short the walk as we had to wade thru a mangrove stream to continue so we turned back. Will go again and be better prepared.Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler
    Look carefully for green iguana

    Another walk in coastal rainforest

    November 13, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Went again to Cahuita park saw a toucan, a troop of monkeys, a group of racoons, several iguanas, some big wading birds, and a bright yellow snake. Only covered about 1/3 of the park as we had a wade across a small river to get there and we thought it was too deep. We may go at low tide or try access from different direction.Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Long walk thru rainforest

    November 14, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Went for long walk through the rainforest. Got Uber to main entrance, then walked the 6 Kms all the way to our village in Cahuita. Didn't actually seeu h except huge trees and marsh. Hear a lot of things but only glimpsed a troop of monkeys in the canopy. Had to wade one river to get home!Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Leaving today Cahuita bus station

    November 15, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    This is Cahuita bus station. We are leaving for a place 30 mins down road. We are staying in a small beach area called Playa Chiquita, it is half way between the large resorts called Manzillio and Puerto Viejo. Bus run every hour up and down the road (Manzillio is end of the road stops just short of Panama).

    Now I'm not saying this bus station is bad but the next pictures are of the vultures waiting but the entrance!!!    Read more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Playa Chiquita

    November 16, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    This is our next port of call . It's on the main road about 20kms away from our stop at Cahuita. It's got nice beaches, a few restaurants, and supermarkets. Splashed out on air con as it is very hot and humidRead more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    Mananzillo beach

    November 18, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    At the end of the road, about 10 Kms away is where the road stops before giving way to jungle and Panama. (You can't reach Panama from here as there are no roads, ) This is the small village of ManazilloRead more

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    The main road

    November 20, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    This is the main road that runs by the top of our apartment. It does actually have traffic on it!!!

  • SmiffyCosta RicaTraveler

    It's called a rainforest

    November 22, 2024 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Well it's called a rainforest for obvious reasons!!
    Actually it's not been too bad only had a few days like this although we have had heavy showers.

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