I was born and raised in San Carlos, Costa Rica and lemme tell you, it is a stunning country!
In April 2021 I took a trip home to Costa Rica as a tourist with 3 of my girlfriends. It was so fun to not only show them the country I called home for 15 years, but to also have them experience the Latin culture that I know and love.
We landed in San Jose, immediately got our rental car, and started our beautiful drive through Poas to La Fortuna where we spent the first 3 days. We got an awesome Airbnb in the rainforest with a view of the Arenal volcano.
La Fortuna is a small town filled with souvenir shops and cafes. It's located right below the Arenal volcano and only a short drive from Arenal lake. The area is known for it's beautiful hot springs, zip lining, hiking, hanging bridges, and bird watching.
We got to drive back through the mountains on our way to Jaco where we spent a few days enjoying the beach, attempting to surf, being terrified of crocodiles, and getting painfully sun burnt.
Food is one of the best parts of Costa Rica. The classic plate called "Casado" is a must try. It consists of rice and beans, meat of your choice, fried plantain, salad, and depending on where you eat it, a few more sides.
There's taco shops, fresh corn tortillas, and lots of fresh produce. I'll forever treasure my childhood playing in pineapple fields and eating mangos till I was sick :)
We said our goodbyes to the pacific and headed back to San Jose. We got an Airbnb on the 7th floor and had a beautiful view of the city, including the soccer stadium.
If you're a coffee drinker, Costa Rica has the very best! Before our flight home we got lattes and fresh bread at the organic market, Féria Verde. I can't say enough good things about this place, highly recommend!
Pura vida, amigos!
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