View Full Version : Costa Rica
cback0220
12-16-2005, 22:18
I am heading down to Costa Rica this Wed. I was wondering if anyone has been there. We are mostly going to surf, but might throw in some diving if there is an inexpensive oppurtunity. Any reccomendations?
Dan
Leozinho
12-17-2005, 07:13
Check out the Volcan Arenal (an active volcano) when you drive back to San Jose from the Nicoya Peninsula or the Guanacaste region.
It should be the dry season, so you can watch the volcano erupt at night. (If you go in the wet season, clouds may obscure the volcano for days at a time.)
http://www.arenal.net/
Costa Rica isn't really a diving destination, unlike Honduras or Belize.
Have fun.
Firebeef
12-17-2005, 11:02
hey I'm headin down in January! Do a good recon bud! I have been talkin with www.richcoastdiving.com They're located in Playa del Cocos in Guancaste. I am only doin 1 day of diving, because like the other gentleman said, CR isn't so much a Dive destination as Belize or Hondo or Aruba. There's lots to see and do, and I am really salivating at the thought of walkin thru the jungle, and NOT carrying a ludicroulsy heavy ruck, wearin camo on my face and hands, and being able to go into an Air Conditioned place and havin a few cold ones once the "jungle Op" is over....!!
cback0220
12-17-2005, 21:20
hey I'm headin down in January! Do a good recon bud! I have been talkin with www.richcoastdiving.com They're located in Playa del Cocos in Guancaste. I am only doin 1 day of diving, because like the other gentleman said, CR isn't so much a Dive destination as Belize or Hondo or Aruba. There's lots to see and do, and I am really salivating at the thought of walkin thru the jungle, and NOT carrying a ludicroulsy heavy ruck, wearin camo on my face and hands, and being able to go into an Air Conditioned place and havin a few cold ones once the "jungle Op" is over....!!
I will do a good recon sir, should be here on the 31st. All my experience will probably be on the northwest coast as that is where the surf is this time of year. I am looking forward to the treetop canopy excursion though. It is some kind of zip lining adventure. I checked out that page, and rentals for $15 a day is awesome. We will probably try to walk on. Here is a link to the trip package I am taking. With the exception that we are staying for another 2 days 1 night.
My stoke is unmesurable!
http://www.wavehunters.com/costarica/cazadores_stormchaser.asp
Been there on several deployments and lived there for a year. I really like the place. A little touristry (tourist traps) in San Jose and the Guanacaste area but you will have a great time. Pace of life is extremely slower than that of the US. The better jungles are along the border with Panama. Go to the Osa peninsula. I don't play golf put they have PGA class golf courses there also. Anywhere in CR is great. Merry Christmas.
Firebeef
12-18-2005, 20:23
even tho it's been quite a while since I surfed, I'm gonna give it a try too! Jungle tours and zip lines, Arenal and cerveva! I stumbled onto another site, which is owned and operated by a retired Navy couple (he's rumored to be ex-UDT....not sure). Cool surf site by the way!! Thanks
www.scuba-diving-in-costa-rica.com
wheels up for me 18 Jan. I'll be expectin a full brief back, especially cool surf and drinkin holes! Have fun and be safe!
surfcolt
12-19-2005, 08:13
Playa Tamarindo is a great beach town for surf. You can dive there too.
Good town, good people, good food, good beer, great surf.
At least 9 years ago it was.
I drove from Panama to the States in 1972. After crossing the mountains between Panama and San Juan I had to change the plugs in my car. It was starved for oxygen at the altitude.:eek: The whole trip was great but I spent an entire week in Mexico!
Leozinho
12-19-2005, 11:32
I drove to CR in 98. No sightseeing, and it took 9 days. (Just me and another fellow, and we didn't risk driving at night.)
Mexico took 3 days. The first two days were boring drives from Matamoros to Tampico to Veracruz. On the third day I decided to take a "short cut" in Chiapas. It turned out to be a beautiful drive through secondary roads in the mountains, and about the only other cars on the road were Mil/LE. Good times but probably not the safest route to take.
My best diving was done at/around Playa Conchal...absolutely beautiful. Great visibility, amazing wildlife...we were followed VERY closely by two, possibly three manta rays that were quite literally the size of a Buick.
Oh yeah, the all-inclusive five-star restaurants, swim up bar, nightclub and all that weren't too bad either...
http://centralamerica.com/cr/hotel/conchal.htm
cback0220
12-31-2005, 14:19
Back from Costa Rica. Beutiful warm country. We had a great time. We stayed at Playa Hermosa, near Jaco. And then at Playa Negra near Tamarindo. We did not unfortunately get surf for the first three days, but we got a good Christmas swell, that lasted the rest of the trip. The water is warm, but you have to watch out for nasty sting rays, and big submerged stuff(rocks, shelfs, coral). But there are also friendly things like mantas and sea turtle(we saw one)
Costa Rica is cheap, you can get beers for a dollar at the bars, or six packs for about $3. Shots are expensive at the bars, but a bottle of Flora Canye Rum is $5 and to me that is pretty good rum! You can get dollar shots of Guaro(?) but that stuff is terrible and will leave you hung over.The local beer is good, Imperial, Bavarian, and Rock Ice are the biggest three, and you will find those everywhere, for around a buck. If you get to Jaco there are some good clubs that get going around midnight, Monkey bar, and beatle bar were the best. We also went to the local rodeo up in Tamarindo, really fun. You can run out in the middle and get chased by the bulls, pretty rad. Food was super good, if you are in Jaco area, go to the Las Olas hotel and eat at the resturaunt on the beach. It is honestly some of the best food in that country. And it is cheap.
If you are going there you have to do the treetop canopy tour. It was definently an experience, if I had a digital camera I would load some great pics.
There are monkeys iguanas and either mackaws or parrots. The highest you are is 150 meters, and that is also about the longest line.
The roads are by far the worst part of Costa Rica. It is scary to drive almost anywhere. It is like there are no rules. And that is on the paved part, the unpaved part is worse. Just remember, the Pura Vida attitude ends once you are in a car.
Overall it was a great trip, a really great last hurrah before basic next week. If you have any questions, let me know soon because I ship the 3rd. The trip would have only been improved by my ability to speak spanish. It does help to know it.
Dan