Things to do in Costa Rica on its Pacific Coast
El Mangroove
We wanted to visit Costa Rica on its Pacific Coast. Flying into the international airport in Liberia was just a short 2 3/4 hour hop from Miami or about 1101 miles. We were picked up quickly after going through baggage claim by our hotel’s shuttle and whisked to the upscale El Mangroove / Autograph Collection.
El Mangroove is part of the Marriott chain, of which I am very partial. Our hotel is located on the picturesque Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste province on its Pacific Coast. It is an outstanding resort that allows visitors to swim in several pools as well as the Pacific Ocean. As Marriott Titanium members, we got a full breakfast buffet along with an upgrade to a two-room suite. The main restaurant Makoko offers many choices ranging from burgers to the catch of the day. Their creative bartenders will make a wide variety of drinks to relax with. The Matiss restaurant is open for lunch as well as provides drink service at the pool. Let’s keep those pina coladas flowing. Other great resort choices as well as other travel needs are on Booking.com. Do as I do and save, save, and save.
The weather during our 5-night stay in December was heaven. The temperature was about 90 during the day and at night usually averaged in the high 70s with a gentle breeze coming in from the Pacific. There were not too many clouds in the sky since this was the beginning of the dry season (December through April) for Costa Rica on its Pacific Coast.
Coca
Our resort El Mangroove is delightful, however, sometimes you want to do a little exploration. El Mangroove has a shuttle available in which they can drop you off a various locations as well as pick you up. The nearby beach town of Coco (only 15 minutes away) proved to be a nice escape. The town has on main street (Route 151) that goes right to the beach. As you might expect there are lots of souvenir shops where to be sure you can bring back a memento of your Costa Rican holiday. Also, Coco has lots of restaurants as well as many bars to pass the night.
My favorite was the sports bar named Coconutz https://coconutzbrewhouse.com/where I had a nice coconut shrimp dish that I washed down with one of the local brews (Imperial). Quite a scene being in a Costa Rican beach town in a sports bar that had a Southern California vibe where you could watch ice hockey from Canada on the wide-screen TVs.
Jungle Boat Cruise: A Costa Rican Must Do
The Jungle Boat Cruise is a must do. Costa Rica is known for its nature and of course, this is a great way to experience it close up as they say. This tour had us sailing down the Tempisque River in the Palo Verde National Park where equally important our boat captain brought us quietly up to the critters for some great close-ups.
After our cruise, we went to lunch at a sugar cane plantation that provided us with a nice lunch of beef, rice, and beans. Also, we had some demonstrations of sugar cane harvesting.
My Zip Line Adventure: A Costa Rican Must Do
The Zip Line is another must do. This is something that I have always wanted to do. Nothing like cruising along a treetop level above the ground which proved to be a morning that I will never forget. We did this at Congo Trail Parkhttps://www.thecostaricatoursite.com/papagayo/tours/Congo-Trail-Canopy-Tour-Guanacaste.php. There are 8 to 10 zip lines from different platforms and we are aided by very skilled guides who give you a safety briefing as well as make sure that you are properly strapped in for a very safe and fun adventure. For other adventures by Viator please check below.
Flying There or a Brief Film Review
My flight to Costa Rica gave me a chance to see Barbie. I found this to be somewhat of a “chick flick” but still good for some laughs. Will Farrell was great as the Mattel CEO who seemed a little bit unhinged.
The better choice on the way back was the CNN series Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy. The show marries the well-known actor celebrity with food and lets him loose in Italy. Of course, Tucci is perfect for this role as he is Italian, loves food, and is quite charming. They were playing season 2 with 4 episodes: Venice, Umbria, Piedmont, and the Italian diaspora in London. Stanley meets some interesting characters and enjoys some outstanding meals. I will have to look for season 1. For a cheap fare and a great flight options check out cheapOair on the banner below
A Word from Steve
As, I always say, this is not only a mini travel guide but a personal journal as well. It’s curated to my interests which of course I hope that my readers will find very helpful. Thanks for reading.
Steve
