Costa rica

A 16-day adventure by Mali & Dimi Read more

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Trip start
January 1, 2022
Costa rica
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Day 1
Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 5 °C
Altitude: 266 m
France EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg 47.5998, 7.5316247°35’59” N 7°31’54” E
Basel EuroAirport
January 1, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C
Getting up at 6am after an amazing new year's party is tough, but if it's to go on holidays, we'll manage😅 After having taken the train from foggy Bern to sunny Basel, and having successfully passed through check-in and security, we reward ourselves with some of our last christmas cookies. Costa rica, here we come!Read more
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Day 1
Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 1:37 PM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 101 m
France Le Mesnil-Amelot 49.00625, 2.5847449°0’23” N 2°35’5” E
2
Transit time
January 1, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Our transit stop is but a mere hour later in Paris. Thanks Covid🙄 We have roughly four hours to pass until we continue our trip to San José. However, once we pass through passport control and arrive at our gate, the first hour is almost over already. Time for some sandwich and rice bowl, yum!😋Read more
Traveler 👍Ä Guätä, lg Lydia und Hedy
1/1/22Reply
Travelermerci :)
1/2/22Reply
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Day 2
Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 6:13 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 904 m
Costa Rica Río Porrosatí 9.99278, -84.199149°59’34” N 84°11’57” W
View from airport apartment
January 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Jetlag makes us wake up at 4am but rewards us with a great sunrise. As soon as the nearby supermarket opens three hours later, we get some breakfast, then call the car rental agency who tells us we can also get our car earlier. Great! After a nice chat with the uncle of the owner and figuring out how to pay for our accommodation of the night, we take a Uber back to the airport, where a shuttle takes us to the car rental.

Overall, we are absolutely blown away by how nice everyone is. Throughout the day we will ask many a passerby, "barrier manager" and infodesk personnel directions, recommendations, and instructions, and all make it a point of going out of their way to explain us how everything works in great detail. Ticos, we are impressed, thank you very much!Read more
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Day 2
Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 50 m
Costa Rica Punta Guapinol 9.59282, -84.624259°35’34” N 84°37’27” W
Rental car - we like it
January 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
May we present: Peligroso Pedro Pellegrino, our trusty companion for our two-weeks trip! Photo taken at El Miro, a viewpoint looking back to Jacó.
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Day 2
Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Costa Rica Playa Jacó 9.61156, -84.627839°36’42” N 84°37’40” W
Stopover in Jacó
January 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Turns out if we wanted to rent the car 1 1/2 hours earlier, we would need to pay an extra day, which with our deal would have amounted to almost two days worth of what we initially paid. We figure in the meantime we might as well go look for a SIMcard, which turns out to be more complicated than expected as well. Walking to a nearby Walmart leaves us with a SIMcard but no data, since the person in charge is off today. We decide to walk to the CityMall, which - who would have guessed - only opens at ten. Hence, we wait. We finally manage to get everything we need and can now with our newly purchased GB order another Uber. Back at Amigo car rental, we let the guy at the counter, Alex, convince us of another insurance, since he makes a special deal and gives us a car that is three categories better than what we anticipated. Oh well...

Now we're finally set and head to our first stop of the day: Jacó. Known as rather touristy, we got the place recommended by friends, so we just have to check it out. And after 1 1/2 hours it is also time for a well-deserved lunch break. We eat close to the beach, take a stroll along the main street, and reward ourselves with a jump into the water. Totally refreshing and the view back onto the beach is also worth noting: a few houses in the middle, with green forests on both sides. Amazing!Read more
TravelerSuper 🤩,wo ist Mali?
1/3/22Reply
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Day 3
Monday, January 3, 2022 at 7:34 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 83 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Bureo 9.39832, -84.154019°23’54” N 84°9’14” W
Like in the series "Lost"
January 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
After our arrival at the Wide Mouth Frog Hostel and a bit of relaxing we find out we should have reserved tickets for the national park nearby in advance and everything is fully booked for the next day (and Tuesday is closed). Mali fears she might not be able to get into the park at all anymore. Luckily, after several calls, our receptionist manages to find a tour where a couple has not confirmed yet, and an hour later we get their spots. What a hero! We can't believe our luck!
Hence, we get picked up the following day by Alan, Carla and driver Freddie. On our way to the park, we drive past a restaurant where the bar is in a real plane, another that is inside an old train wagon, and finally, a resort, where one of the suites is to be found in an airplane as well. (The owner of the plane places is the same person apparently.) The latter is shown in the photo and reminds us of the TV show "Lost".Read more
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Day 3
Monday, January 3, 2022 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Costa Rica Playa Gemelas 9.3815, -84.144979°22’53” N 84°8’42” W
Manuel Antonio @ the beach
January 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
The Manuel Antonio National Park is awesome. While (one of) the smallest on land, it encompasses a rather large area of the underwater world as well. Naturally, there are also several beaches to enjoy. In this heat they offer a much needed way to cool down...even though the water is quite warm as well😅Read more
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Day 3
Monday, January 3, 2022 at 2:00 PM
🌧 26 °C
Altitude: 53 m
Costa Rica Playa Espadilla Sur 9.38668, -84.143619°23’12” N 84°8’37” W
Manuel Antonio National Parc
January 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
In hindsight, we got extremely lucky we didn't know about needing to book tickets in advance and thus took the tour option. Going with a guide made all the difference. We are absolutely certain we wouldn't have seen even 20% of the animals wandering the place on our own. Many of them were only clearly visible through binoculars, and Alan managed to find basilisks, anolis, bugs and spiders where we wouldn't have even known to look for them. The few people we encountered that didn't have a guide seemed rather lost in comparison. Apart from the iguana right on the side of the road, the monkeys on the roof of the bathroom, the deer right under the path, and maybe a frog or two because of all the people gathering around, we would have probably not seen anything else had we been on our own. So no iguanas on branches, (5!) two- and three-clawed sloths (with even a small one), or different other reptilians. Yup, going with a guide is a great idea here.Read more
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Day 4
Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 4:00 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Costa Rica Herradura 9.64998, -84.656119°38’60” N 84°39’22” W
On the way
January 4, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Having booked very spontaneously the night before we go diving/snorkelling - to not miss out on anything but also to have a proper break on our way up north. After a small detour we find Herradura beach, hop on a boat and get to see part of the Costa rican underwater world. Mali sees a swarm of big blue fish, there's rays jumping out of the water and the divers go to a shipwreck on their second dive. It's nice for a break but the visibility leaves to be desired and our sunblock seems to have given up the fight with the Costa rican sun and we get burned noses. Oh well!
Having strengthened ourselves with a lunch on the beach we continue our drive. Next stop: Crocodile bridge at Tárcoles river. Apparently people used to throw their foodwaste out of the cars when driving past (nowadays strictly forbidden but apparently still happens at times), which led to an abundance of crocodiles. (The waste you see is by the way not from the locals but was carried all the way from San José to gather here where two rivers meet.) One, two, ... up to twelve crocodiles at one glance off the safety of the bridge! Definitely an impressive sight! And it feels different knowing these animals live here in the wild than just seeing them in a zoo.
Further north we go, away from the coast and up ever trickier roads. We're glad we have a 4x4. And then we finally arrive in famous Monteverde! Check-in at the Hotel Don Taco, booking tours for the next day, and rewarding ourselves with some delicious food at the Treehouse restaurant. Very cool location - impressive how much wind a tree can hold off. Then, off to sleep!Read more
TravelerSo geht Ferien!
1/6/22Reply
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Day 5
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 1,315 m
Costa Rica La Cruz 10.34751, -84.8421310°20’51” N 84°50’32” W
Monte verde extremo park
January 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
We start with the Canopy Extremo tour, meaning ziplining (with a superman line as well!) over a valley with beautifully lush cloud forest. Awesome! And Dima tries bungee jumping! Definitely not something for the weak of heart but an amazing memory for sure!Read more
TravelerOh mein Gott!!!
1/6/22Reply
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Day 5
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 2:10 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 1,404 m
Costa Rica La Cruz 10.34511, -84.8414810°20’42” N 84°50’29” W
More gliding over the forest
January 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Some ziplining impressions...
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Day 5
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 2:25 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 1,352 m
Costa Rica La Cruz 10.34493, -84.8417510°20’42” N 84°50’30” W
Mali's "Kriegsschrei"
January 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Included in the price is also a Tarzan swing. Dangling high above the ground you suddenly get dropped, caught by the rope, and then you swing over the treetops. The first milliseconds make your heart drop - hence the scream - then it's just awesome. Pure adrenaline and not something you would want to miss out on.Read more
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Day 5
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 1,590 m
Costa Rica San Gerardo 10.34112, -84.8003110°20’28” N 84°48’1” W
Selvatura Park
January 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
After waiting quite some time for Dima's bungee jumping video and chatting with some Israeli and a German traveller, we drive on to Selvatura park, where we have lunch and then go on to explore the canopy from hanging bridges. Some are quite high, which is somehow scarier than the way higher ziplining we did before. Impressive trees but birds are making themselves scarce.Read more
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Day 5
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 8:30 PM
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 1,295 m
Costa Rica La Cruz 10.32837, -84.8386710°19’42” N 84°50’19” W
Kinkajou Night Walk
January 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Mali does a night tour in the evening which is definitely worth the money despite starting half an hour late. Night is when most animals are to be found, which is true in this case: a sleeping waterbird, a tarantula, an olingo (endangered species related to raccoons which is very rare to encounter), a red-eyed frog (super-tiny! These are the frogs you find on every Costa rican tourist guide and info center. The good photos is thanks to Joaquín, the guide, who managed to get close enough to the frog to take them.), a green viper (dangerous!), sleeping monkeys, two different types of sleeping toucans (way smaller than I expected), different insects (one of them a moving stick), a sleeping colibri, a running armadillo, a scorpion (perfectly invisible in its camouflage under the torchlight - I would have definitely died out here alone. The photo was attempted under black light), a sleeping piapia, a porcupine (on a tree?! Apparently they do that here), ... The Kinkajou night walk was more than worth it!Read more
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 7:00 AM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 1,511 m
Costa Rica Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 10.30189, -84.7938810°18’7” N 84°47’38” W
Monteverde Reserve
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
While Dima sleeps off his sunstroke, Mali goes on an early morning walk in the Monteverde nature reserve. The receptionist warned of too many people visiting and entry capacity being met early on already at times but standing at the entry at 7 sharp makes you omit all of this. And there's a first coati to be encountered on the road I declared my inofficial parking lot already! Wandering through the forest to La ventana, a beautiful viewpoint, as well as to a small waterfall, let me see all sorts of different plants and a few different types of birds. However, after the incredible tour the night before I can hardly believe I would only find so few animals on my own. Ah well, it was said that nighttime is better to see animals, and besides, it's a good sign that guides make such a difference. I learn about the continental divide as well as about part of the forest having been cattle pasture only 40 years prior. It's impossible for me to imagine anything else but trees there now.Read more
TravelerBravo Mali!!!!👏👏👏👏❤️
1/13/22Reply
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 9:06 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 1,355 m
Costa Rica Santa Elena 10.32079, -84.8235110°19’15” N 84°49’25” W
Cute hotel
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Our wonderful hotel Don Taco with a great view; made even better by the amazing weather, which is kind of a surprise given the area is known for being cloudy and rather rainy. It is a bit chilly though...Read more
TravelerNice, nice…!
1/6/22Reply
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 9:45 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 1,556 m
Costa Rica Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 10.30271, -84.7953510°18’10” N 84°47’43” W
Colibri Café
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
After about 2 1/2 hours of wandering around the Monteverde nature reserve, sometimes finding myself completely surrounded by forest all on my own, I head over to the Colibri café. Here, the tiny animals get fed on hanging food dispensers. Swirring around your head at incredible speed, there is constand humming and chirping. Very cute!Read more
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 1,350 m
Costa Rica Santa Elena 10.32718, -84.829410°19’38” N 84°49’46” W
Magical tree
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Before continuing our journey towards La Fortuna, we visit a ficus tree that built a bridge over a brook. Feels enchanted!
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 1,358 m
Costa Rica Santa Elena 10.32663, -84.8293210°19’36” N 84°49’46” W
Magical tree
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 2:12 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 839 m
Costa Rica San Miguel 10.41819, -84.9280410°25’5” N 84°55’41” W
Discovering waterfalls!
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Just when we think a break would be nice, we stumble upon this (very hidden!) gem! No travel blogs or tourist websites we read mentioned the Viento Fresco waterfall in the slightest. After a bumpy road and only a few hundred meters down some stairs there are four waterfalls - one more amazing than the other. The one completely blowing our minds is the third: the Arco iris waterfall, pointedly named after the rainbow it creates. At 75m it's probably the tallest waterfall we've ever seen. And even better: we have it almost completely to ourselves! We cannot believe our luck!Read more
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Day 6
Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 724 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Grande 10.43283, -84.9424410°25’58” N 84°56’33” W
Wildlife on the road!
January 6, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
On the way to the fourth waterfall we encounter a snake! We haven't quite figured out which species yet...and neither how dangerous it would have been😅
Later, back on the road there is an armadillo! Now also Dima has seen this cool creature and it lets us approach quite closely. As soon as Dima takes a bigger step, however, it seems to realize we are there and jumps into the bushes. Maybe it's due to its bad eyesight: As the night tour guide explained, armadillos feel vibrations on the ground to orientate themselves. We are just glad it's a bit further off the side of the road😊👍Read more
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Day 7
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 536 m
Costa Rica Pueblo Nuevo 10.47388, -84.7594210°28’26” N 84°45’34” W
More animals on the road
January 7, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Driving from one nature reserve to the other, we come across white-nosed coatis. Some tourists feed them peanuts (not sure we're supposed to do that) and the curious animals approach quite closely.
Meeting horses on our way down a trail.
A central american agouti (we think) in the midst or our resort, encountered on the way to breakfast.Read more
TravelerFantastisch!
1/7/22Reply
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Day 7
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 601 m
Costa Rica Pueblo Nuevo 10.46801, -84.7299810°28’5” N 84°43’48” W
Volcano Arenal
January 7, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
The area is famous for volcano Arenal with its signature cone shape. We're lucky to see it in its entirety on the day of arrival and the next day. On day two and three, when we depart, it's at times completely hidden behind clouds and you would not suspect anything being there at all. We hike around on different trails, through forest and lava fields, both in the Arenal ecological park and the Arenal volcano 1968 trails, enjoying food and drinks with a view.Read more
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Day 7
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 493 m
Costa Rica Palma 10.48853, -84.72310°29’19” N 84°43’23” W
Hot springs
January 7, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
On our way back we come across the free Thermals: Right around a bridge people are sitting in the naturally hot waters of the brook, some enjoying a drink or two. Here we like it best!
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Day 7
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 5:00 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 271 m
Costa Rica La Fortuna 10.45808, -84.6424710°27’29” N 84°38’33” W
El Salto
January 7, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Because the La Fortuna waterfall reception has no electricity for the moment and we do not have enough cash for the entry, we decide to postpone the attraction to another day and head to El Salto instead. The recommendation from other travellers at the night tour in Monteverde is definitely as cool as they said. Here, young locals and tourists meet to jump from a liana and rocks into the water, one more artistically than the other. So fun to watch we spend quite some time here, before we go for dinner in one of La Fortuna's many restaurants.Read more
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