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Feb 2005:
Duration: 1 week
Where: San Jose, Costa Rica
Review: ***1/2 (out of five)
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Flew out non stop from Toronto Pearson International airport to San Jose. Flight was about 4.5 hrs. I love short flights like these. The plane took off, had a meal, watched a movie and it was time for landing. Just perfect. Just another reason why travel to central America is lovely. If I'm only going for a week or two might as well not waste 15 hours on a flight. 15x2 = 30hrs or over a day wasted.
Approaching landing in San Jose
Touch down!! San Jose Airport
The road to San Jose
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica. It's located on a mountain about a mile high (1.4 kms above sea level) smack in the middle of the country. It has an oldish feel to it much like all other central american cities. But like them it also has great architecture, friendly easy going people and a great atmosphere.
Costa Rica has two coast lines one on the Caribbean sea and the other on the pacific. San Jose is in the middle and about 4-5 hours drive from both.
Me and my ex stayed in a small hotel (that was converted from an old spanish mansion to a hotel) in downtown San Jose. it cost us about $40 a night (all figures are in U.S.) Quaint little place that we got comfortable in real quick.
We hit the streets of this great city everyday and went to a few museums (no pictures allowed), went sight seeing and being with my ex ofcoarse shopping!
*shakes head*
women!
Downtown San Jose. Avenida Central (I think)
Basically their main "central" road where no cars are allowed.
Just pedestrians. Love it.
My hotel, forgot the name. Hotel Hemmingway (I think)
Money: Colones, the exchange rate was something ridiculous like 354 colones to $1. It was difficult to calculate what you were buying in the dollar on the fly because the prices were like 20,000 cl, etc. I hate that. I finally bought a calculator, don't know for how muchbut it was much better after wards.
San Jose, Costa Rica
Food: Food was great & cheep in Costa Rica. Many choices all tasty for great prices! One can't go wrong. Beware, you might gain a few pounds!
One could eat a great meal at a nice restaurant for the equivilant of ($5-7). But don't forget the Sodas! that's what where the local folks eat are called.
I'd go as far as saying that the sodas are infact better. IMO anyways. Cheaper, "more authentic" and taste way bettter. I know many people would think twice about it for "health reasons". don't buy that crap and indulge. Though I didn't drink the local water, I never do. That's a whole different than food that's been cooked on high tempreture stoves, somtimes for hours. Eat!
I've had the best breakfast ever in this restaurant on my way to Arenal.
Their sign.
I forgot to mention that Costa Rica has the finest coffee I've tasted. It might have something to do with the volcanoes and their fertile land, but believe you me I haven't tasted coffee as good prior or since my trip there.
Other cities I've been to in Costa Rica:
Arenal
After a few nights in San Jose me and my ex decided to go to a city called Arenal which has the world's most active volcano in it. This Volcano literarly releases a little lava and gasses daily. Costa Rica as a whole has over 100 volcanoes and becuase of that it is a very lush, green country.
Took us about 4 hours in a friends car (whom I met in the hotel) from San Jose that took some seriously whindy roads up the mountains to reach Arenal. We rented a motel room that was located at the foot of the Volcano Arenal for about $50 a night. We only stayed for 1.
Sadly it was a cloudy day and we didn't end up seeing any of the lava coming down but we did get into some natural hotsprings that result from the volcano. Oh, nothing better than being in a hot spring with a cold beer in one hand and your honey in the other. Well maybe 1 more lady under the water. J/K!! ;)
Don't go in February if you're planning to go to Arenal because the Motel owner who was an American guy which I later became to know and shot the **** with for a while, while my ex got some rest, told me that it's cloudy the whole of february and that the sun doesn't start breaking through till end of march/april.
Needless to say we had a relaxing time there and moved on the next day.
Driving through the clouds on my way to Arenal.
Lake Arenal
Road to Arenal
My ex sitting infront of our Motel room in Arenal.
Sorry about the blur, She probably wouldn't approve. I ain't asking.
You can read more about Arenal here
Jaco
We went back to San Jose and spent another day there until we planned our next move.
Jaco, Costa Rica. A coastal (very touristy) town on the pacific side. Hot. Very hot and great beaches. I'll tell you about the climates later.
The drive from San Jose to Jaco was about 4 hours in a very crowded bus that got lighter as time passed by. Same old treacherous mountain passes and steep cliffs all the way down the mountain to the coast line. It cost us about $3-4 on the bus. Very crowded at the begining but very pleasant in the last couple of hours.
Very gorgeous trip but very dangerous. All the time there I saw Crosses planted on the side of the roads. as little shrines people who have lost loved ones to these roads put up in remembrance. It was the same on my way to and back from Arenal as well.
Jaco itself is a very small town that consists of nothing other than hotels, motels, bars & restaurants along the beaches. Dark clay coloured beaches with pretty good waves for surfing.
Jaco, Costa Rica
Jaco Beach.
Jaco Surfer.
Jaco Beach's palm trees.
Plaza Jaco - where you gotta go to catch the bus back to San Jose.
Still around Jaco
Love is in the air in Jaco!
Climate:
Costa Rica is one crazy place when it comes to climate and make up.
Central area (San Jose): It's very high so it's very understandable that's a bit cooler. When I went it was 20-25C days and 15-19 C nights. Quite pleasant for a Canadian. Some people might find the nights a bit chilly but not me. It was great.
Pacific coast (Jaco): Very hot. 30-35C days and 25 at night! Imagine that, only 4 hours drive from San Jose.
What's amazing about Costa Rica:
The thing that I found most amazing about CR is the diversity in climates, elevation and scenes all within close proximity with each other.
On my trip from SJ to Jaco, I went through colder mountains, drove through the clouds, rain forrests, volcanoes, and ended up in a sunny beach with palm trees all within a 4 hour drive. It's amazing.
Heading out of San Jose to the airport for final take off!
Bye bye Costa Rica
Remembrance shrines along the road. R.I.P. And be careful folks, those rodes are very dangerous
A few other shots of Costa Rica will follow.
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