Trip Recap: Pura Vida Papagayo
Ziplining at Diamante Eco Park
Going to Costa Rica in late June has its pros and cons.
Pros
Fewer crowds
Lower prices for hotel accommodations
Cons
It's the rainy season. And sometimes that means a lot of rain.
It’s humid. See above.
Although we experienced our fair share of rain while we were in Costa Rica last week, we still managed to have a wonderful time! The best things to do in Costa Rica tend to be outdoor activities, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get rained out. Instead, take the waterfall hike, go snorkeling or scuba diving, or jump in the pool - unless it’s unsafe, nothing is really off limits in Costa Rica in the rain (as they say, pura vida). But yes, prepare to be wet and muddy much of the time!
Highlights of our trip
La Leona Waterfall
Our first excursion was a hike to the waterfall - a challenging 2.5 mile hike in the mud, water, and rain. Even though it was a little slippery and not always easy, we had such a great time making our way out to the waterfall and would highly recommend this to other travelers (so long as they are prepared). There were smaller waterfalls along the way and even a “waterslide” that we got to try.
Scuba Diving
I had the great fortune to get in four dives with Rocket Frog Divers while I was in Guanacaste. While the visibility underwater wasn’t great thanks to the conditions above the surface, it was still amazing to get underwater and see some incredible marine life such as white tip sharks, octopi, turtles, puffer fish, many eels, enormous schools of fish, and more. It had been more than two years since my last dive and I didn’t realize just how much I’d missed it! I don’t think I’ll go that long between dives next time!
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
If you want to go ziplining while you are in Guanacaste, this is the place to do it. This eco park has an animal sanctuary, horseback riding, ATV rentals, kayaking, paddleboarding, and also the country’s longest ocean view zipline. At nearly a mile long, the Superman zipline is a must do (unless you are seriously afraid of heights). The views from this zipline are unbelievable and it’s just one of those things you have to try! After our zipline adventure, we had time to explore the animal sanctuary and I was most wowed by the toucans - I had never seen one in person before and was totally blown away by how beautiful these birds are!
the pool at El Mangroove
Our Hotel
We stayed at El Mangroove, a Marriott Autograph hotel, and loved it. It’s a smaller resort, about 80 rooms, so all of the hotel amenities are close together - especially helpful when it’s pouring down rain! The hotel is located on the Gulf of Papagayo so the beach is located on a quiet bay - great for swimming or taking out a jet ski. The food was excellent as was the service. I was able to secure free breakfast for all five of us, a $100 resort credit per room, and connecting rooms. I hope to send more of my clients here in the future.
This is truly such a great family vacation destination - there’s so much to do for all ages and abilities. If you’re thinking about your next family getaway, let us help you plan something amazing, perhaps in Costa Rica?