Categoría: Travel

So you`ve booked your trip to Costa Rica and you plan to visit Manuel Antonio. Wahoo! In this awesomesauce article, we will share with you the top 5 things you must do in Manuel Antonio!

Included you will find our favorite things to do for adventure, relaxation and where to eat!

Also, before I get into it, I just want to say that Manuel Antonio is awesome and if you haven`t been here before, you really need to get on it! Alright, here we go…

You literally get to do 10 different activities in the rainforest. It`s awesome and should not be missed!

Fernando and I have done tons of tours all over Costa Rica, and we both think that the 10 in 1 is by far the most well done, complete and fun tour there is! By well done, I mean it`s not just the activities that you are doing are fun, it`s that from the moment you get picked up till the moment you get dropped off, the tour guides have you entertained the entire time teaching you about the area, the flora and fauna, cracking jokes, etc….it`s just a super fun day! It`s a full day tour so they also feed you breakfast and lunch (and snacks in-between).

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After you have breakfast at their “base camp” I like to call it…you get to hop into this crazy 4×4 safari truck and be taken deep into the primary rainforest. Honestly, just this ride alone is like a tour in itself.  Then once you`re in the rainforest, the adventure begins!

There`s zip lines, waterfall rappels, tarzan swings, free falling into a river pool, jumping from waterfalls, canyoning, etc.

It`s like a giant obstacle course through the rainforest where you feel like you`re some kind of awesome jungle olympic athlete (but really anyone can do it). It`s awesome- I just can`t say it enough!

For real though, who doesn`t love an awesome catamaran ride?!

In Manuel Antonio, there`s several different catamaran tours, but the most kick ass one is the Ocean King. This catamaran has 2 trampolines, 2 slides, 2 spash pools, an upper deck to jump off of or sunbathe and includes transportation, drinks, lunch and snacks.

Also, you have a really good chance of seeing dolphins or whales swimming in the wild, maybe even alongside the boat like we did!

Another fun thing about this catamaran is that you get a couple hours to go down the slides, jump off the upper deck (super high and fun!) or go snorkeling!

This beach is in a bay, so the water is usually very calm making it a great swimming beach. Also, there`s beach chairs & umbrellas, kayaks, SUPs and snorkel gear for rent and even guys selling beer & cocktails.

Travel Tips:

• If you are up for some exercise, you can also hike between Playa Biesanz and Playa Espadilla (the main beach in Manuel Antonio)…it only takes about 40 minutes! Otherwise just drive there or take a taxi and then it`s just a 5 minute walk through the jungle to get to this hidden gem.
• After the beach, you can go to Shana Hotel (just a couple minutes walk from the entrance of Biesanz) and swim in their beautiful pool if you consume something at the restaurant or pool bar. And then if you`re too tired to walk home, just ask the reception desk to call you a taxi!

People always ask me “Do I really need a guide?” …and the answer is simple- YES!  

If you want to see a variety of wildlife, there is no better way to do it than with a guide.  If you go by yourself, you will see the same animals you would see just walking around town or hanging out at the beach (maybe some monkeys, some birds, an iguana or two).  With a guide you will see about 90% more wildlife guaranteed.

Where to go?

Of course there is the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, but we actually have found a tour that we like even better (less people, more nature) and consider it to be the best wildlife tour in Costa Rica.  We even have the hookup to get you a discount on this tour, just simply fill out the form below…

Seriously, I don`t think the view can get any better than this. Barba Roja was one of the first restaurants in Manuel Antonio (since 1975) and continues to be one of the best. After a day of adventure it`s awesome to unwind here for dinner and drinks while watching the sunset. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is that since the sunset is so epic here, everyone in the restaurant claps after the sun goes down! How fun is that?!

5 Things You Must Do in Manuel Antonio Recap:

1.  Do the 10 in 1 Tour at ADR Adventure Park

2. Go on a Catamaran

3. Chill at Playa Biesanz

4. Take a Guided Wildlife Tour

5. Sunset Dinner at Barba Roja

Have you done any of these activities?  Comment below if you`d like to share your experience, or if you have anything you think should be added to the list!

If you need help filling in the details of your trip, check out our travel planning services and / or stay with us!

Welcome to Playa Linda!

In our opinion, this is Costa Rica`s best hidden beach. We have been to tons of beaches all over Costa Rica, and this one is hands down our #1 favorite beach for these main reasons:

• It`s off the beaten path
• Not touristy at all
• There is nothing built on the beach- it`s just sand, water and palm trees
• The waves are perfect for swimming, boogie boarding and surfing
• It`s ridiculously beautiful

How To Get There

Playa Linda is located in the south pacific of Costa Rica, between Matapalo and Dominical (only about a 40 minute drive from Manuel Antonio).  The easiest way to get there is by car.  Waze is the best navigation app in Costa Rica, so even though this beach is like a hidden gem, it actually does show up in Waze!  If you are driving without wifi access, here is a quick description of how to get there using landmarks:

1. From Manuel Antonio / Quepos, get on highway 34.  It`s a really pretty drive through palm plantations. It looks like this:

2. You will pass a small town of Matapalo. Keep going and look for these 2 cell phone towers- this is your landmark of where the entrance is. *there is no sign for Playa Linda, you just have to find it!

3. Look for the sign that says “Hatillo Dominical Plantanillo” and turn right at the gravel road entrance:

4. Drive on the gravel road for about 5 minutes and then you will see the beach! Turn left and drive along this path until you find your perfect spot to set up for the day!

When to Go

Weekdays are the best time to go to Playa Linda, as you will most likely be the only people there, or maybe see just 1 or 2 other people.  On the weekends, this is where the locals hang out, so then there will be more people there, but still it`s a huge beach and there`s plenty of space for everyone.

Also, it`s best to go at low tide.  Use a tide chart to see when low tide will be and plan to spend your day there within 2-3 hours before and / or after low tide.  As the tide starts to come in again, that`s the best time for boogie boarding!

What to Pack

• hammock(s)
• beach blanket
• towels
• cooler / ice
• plenty of water / drinks
• lunch and snacks
• beach toys (frisbee, soccer ball, boogie boards, surf boards, etc)
• a good book to read
• music / speaker
• large jugs of water (to give yourself a little shower and get the salt water off your skin)
• sunblock 50+
• insect repellent
• lighter / fire starting stuff (for beach bonfire)
• a change of dry clothes (it feels so good to get out of that wet swim suit for the drive home!)

What To Do

First, set up a comfy spot to chill all day.  We love to bring enough hammocks for everyone, and set up a little kitchen area with our cooler and portable grill to have a cookout on the beach.  The whole beach is lined with palm trees, so there`s plenty of shade to set up your area!

Once your spot is set up, now load up with sunblock and go have fun! Our favorite things to do at Playa Linda are boogie board, play soccer with our dog Luka, swing in hammocks, drink fresh coconut water, grill out and have beach bonfires at sunset. Every day we spend at Playa Linda feels like the happiest day of my life! I just LOVE it there.

Tip: Even when there`s nobody else there, there always seems to be this one guy who is walking the beach selling fresh coconuts! He normally charges 1,000 colones ($2) per coconut, but if you speak Spanish and don`t act like a tourist, you could get it for 500 colones ($1). Also, he really appreciates it when you share snacks with him (we always give him some chips or fruit). Drinking a coconut on the beach is the best!

*that`s me with Fer`s brothers enjoying the fresh coconuts

*some of our guests (and now friends) enjoying our favorite hammock

Don`t forget your boogie board or surf board and if you have a dog to take with- even better!

*that`s my mom sporting her boogie board and our dog, Luka, with his favorite frisbee

Build a beach bonfire (you`ll be able to find a bunch of dead palm leaves, sticks and coconuts you can burn) and watch the sunset! Awesome way to cap off the perfect day!

*check out Fernando below making a bad ass bonfire!

Now you know what to do to go and have an adventure on your own. I hope you have the best day ever at Playa Linda! If you need help with your vacation, check out our vacation planning services and / or stay with us!

There are 3 things that every trip to Costa Rica has in common. You need to sleep somewhere, you need to eat and you are coming to do activities! Costa Rica is not a cheap country, but that doesn`t mean you can`t enjoy everything it has to offer without spending an arm and a leg!  In this article, you will learn 3 simple ways to travel Costa Rica on a budget.

Costa Rica is one of those countries that you can travel and have a really local experience. It`s not like traveling to countries like Mexico where it`s best to just stay inside your all-inclusive resort. There are thousands of vacation rentals available all over the country giving you the opportunity to stay right in a local neighborhood and have a more authentic experience. Also, staying at an Airbnb rental allows you to have your own kitchen which leads me to the next tip…

Cook at Home:  When you stay at a vacation rental vs a hotel, you will have your own kitchen and can save a ton of money by preparing meals at home. Food in general is expensive in Costa Rica (comparable to US prices and in many cases higher), so the more meals you can prepare yourself, the more of a budget traveler you will be!

Eat Out Like a Local: Now, I understand eating out at restaurants is something that most people enjoy doing while on vacation.  I know I do!  So this is not to say that you should eat all of your meals at home.  To save money eating out at restaurants, go to the local “sodas” which I can best describe as a “ma and pa” type feel of restaurant.  Sodas mostly serve casados (typical Costa Rican meal) for about $5-$7 each.  This price usually includes a natural juice of your choice (my favorite is tamarindo).  Nothing hits the spot like a good casado!

Shop Like a Local:  The main supermarket where the locals shop is called Maxi Pali.  Think of this like a Walmart (they are actually owned by Walmart in fact).  Maxi Pali stores are all over the country and you can stock up on groceries for your trip.  Keep in mind they mostly carry local brands.  If you are looking for American brands, you will need to go to a touristy supermarket (names vary depending on the town).   For example, in Manuel Antonio, at the tourist supermarkets (Super Joseth and Super Pura Vida) you can find many American brands that you are used to from home, but the prices are significantly higher than what you are used to paying. A regular size jar of peanut butter costs something around $16 to give you an idea of how outrageous the prices can be.   For produce, go to the weekly local farmer`s market (la feria).

Alcohol:  This one is simple.  Buy liquor at the airport, duty free!  Buy beer and wine at the local supermarket!

Traveling Costa Rica on a budget does not mean you have to miss out on all the cool places to see and things to do!  This is where knowing a local or making friends with one really comes in handy. You can research online all day for cheap things to do, but nothing is quite as valuable as that personal conversation with a local! Also, Costa Ricans are so friendly that if you ask your new local friend where you can rent bikes, for example, if he has one, he will probably lend it to you for free!

Here`s a perfect example of what I mean… Nauyaca Waterfall is about 45 minutes away from Manuel Antonio and is one of the must do activities if you visit this area.  A guided tour is around $130 per person (includes roundtrip transportation and lunch)….so if you`re traveling with a group of 4 people, that is $520 to go to the waterfall.  Or, you can just rent a car for the day ($50- $60) to get there, pay the entrance fee ($8 pp), pack some snacks and hike to the waterfall by yourself.  That takes your $520 waterfall adventure down to less than $100 for your group of four.

Now, please don`t get too crazy and think that you can do every activity by yourself, nor should you! You do not want to miss out on the awesome tours that this country has. Costa Rica really has their act together when it comes to tours (world class safety standards and tour guides) and there are many activities that you absolutely need to do in a group tour like zip line, rafting or catamaran for example.

But no matter where you go in the country, there will always be activities and places to explore on your own. The trick is to do your research and talk to locals to find out where these hidden gems are and how to get to them. Have fun!

I bet one of the main reasons you`re coming to Costa Rica is to see the wildlife. Well you picked the right place! Costa Rica is the world`s most biodiverse dense country (just one of the reasons why Costa Rica is awesome), and if you are planning a trip here, you cannot miss out on a guided wildlife tour!

We have done many guided wildlife tours around the country, and our #1 favorite pick is:

More Nature, Less People.

Everyone has heard of the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, and that`s why Manuel Antonio has become such a famous tourist destination. The park is beautiful, but because of it`s popularity has become super crowded almost every day of the year. After guiding tours there for years, Freddy wanted his guests to really be able to focus on the wildlife he was showing them and not seeing other people- so he has switched his focus to Baru. Located in Dominical, it`s only a 35 minute drive from Manuel Antonio, and there are about 90% less people. Totally worth the short drive if you ask me.

• Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge encompasses a variety of habitats (Primary and Secondary tropical wet forest, swamp forest and mangrove estuary) for a total of 815 acres.
• It is home to over 300 species of birds, sloths, monkeys and many mammals not seen in the Manuel Antonio National Park including otters, ocelot, margay, paca and peccary.
• There are 7 kilometers of walking trails and 3 kilometers of pristine beach.

Tour Rates

• $65 per person (transportation from Manuel Antonio included)
• $55 per person (drive yourself there)
• Entrance fees to the park are paid separately, $15pp

*Minimum of 2 people required.  If you are a solo traveler, the rate for a private guided tour for 1 person is $120.

What to Bring

• wear lightweight clothing
• shoes comfortable for light hiking
• water
• snacks
• insect repellent
• sunblock
• camera (you will be able to get awesome pics through the lens of the telescope!)
• money (there`s a restaurant there where you can have lunch after the tour and also a small gift shop)

Territorio de Zaguates (known in English as “Land of the Strays”) is the world`s largest no-kill dog shelter, located in Costa Rica.

We recently did the walk with the dogs and it was the most magical experience! Just imagine the amount of happiness and love 1 dog gives you and multiply that times 900! If you are a dog lover, you definitely need to make a point to visit this doggie paradise on your next trip to Costa Rica! At any given time, there could be up to 900 dogs that are free to roam in this gigantic mountain property. Of course the goal is to get these dogs adopted out, but in the meantime of rehabilitation and being taken care of, I cannot imagine a better place on earth!

Check out this video we took of the dogs running together. It`s so cute…

How to Visit

Where

Land of the Strays is located just about an hour outside of downtown San Jose, Costa Rica.  The easiest way to get there is to drive yourself using the navigation app Waze.

When

The only time you can visit is on the weekends (usually twice a month) to do the walk with the dogs.  This walk is 3 hour walk through their mountain property with hundreds of dogs!   It is important to get there early (at least 8:45am) so you are ready to start the walk at 9:00am with the group.  They are very strict about the start time and do not allow anyone else in the gates once they start the walk.

Since Territorio de Zaguates is located only an hour outside of San Jose (where the SJO airport is), I recommend planning to visit either at the beginning or end of your trip to Costa Rica.  You should plan to stay at a hotel at least 1-2 nights in San Jose.  Do not try to visit Land of the Strays the same day you have a flight, it will just not work out logistically.  So for example, if you visit at the end of your trip, you could go to San Jose on Friday night, do the walk Saturday morning, stay in San Jose again on Saturday night and then fly out of SJO on Sunday.

What to Wear

Be sure to wear clothes you don´t mind getting dirty in.  Dress in layers because you will be on top of the mountains and sometimes it can get a bit chilly or rain, so if you dress in layers, you will be comfortable no matter what the weather brings.  Tennis shoes that you are comfortable hiking in are best (you will have a hard time in flip flops).

What to Bring

Pack light as you will be hiking for 3 hours and probably don`t want to carry too much.  I suggest packing a small backpack with the following things:

• phone / camera to take pictures
• cash (to buy tee shirts or make donations after the walk)
• water bottle

If you need help planning your visit to Land of the Strays or your trip to Costa Rica, check out our travel planning services and / or stay with us.

If you`re taking a trip to Costa Rica and flying into the international airport in San Jose (SJO), chances are you need a place to stay that first or last night of your trip. Most tourist destinations are at least a 3+ hour drive from the airport, so if your flight arrives late at night or leaves early in the morning, it`s logistically much easier to spend the night in San Jose to be close to the airport.

Fer and I call Adventure Inn “our home in San Jose.” It is so cozy and the staff is so welcoming that it really does feel like home. Also, they have a few rooms that are pet friendly so we especially love that we have a place to stay where we can bring our dog, Luka.

I really cannot say enough great things about this hotel. To break it down for you why I love it so much, I came up with the 5 main reasons..

1. It`s not just another boring hotel chain. It has Costa Rican character and charm!

I don`t know about you, but when I travel to a foreign country, the last thing I want to do is go to American brand chains like McDonald`s or the Hilton. I want to experience the culture of the country and try something new. This is one of the main reasons I recommend Adventure Inn.

Just check out the wall behind the front desk.  The ENTIRE hotel is covered with tropical paintings.  I love staying here just to admire the artwork everywhere.  Each room is painted differently so every time we go there I get excited to see which painting we`re going to get!

2. Breakfast is included and it`s really good!

They have a large buffet of tropical fruits, muffins, etc… plus you get to order a meal off of their menu- all included in the price of your room. Breakfast is from 6-10am, but if you need to leave earlier than that to catch your flight, they will pack you a fresh breakfast to go. All you have to do is ask the front desk when you check in.

Also, the restaurant is open all day so if your flight gets in late at night, it`s easy to just grab dinner at the hotel without having to get in a car and go somewhere. If you feel like going out, there`s a few really nice restaurants (Italian, sushi, Mexican, etc.) within a 10 minute walk!

3. They have a FREE shuttle to and from the airport (SJO)!

You would think all hotels close to the airport include this service, but surprisingly, they do not.

Adventure Inn makes getting to and from the airport free and super easy and it`s only about a 10-15 minute drive each way.

4. There`s a pool, a hot tub and a gym!

This is something I super duper appreciate about Adventure Inn.  Many of the hotels close to the airport either don´t have a pool or they just have a pool but no hot tub.  San Jose can be a bit chilly at night, so having the hot tub there really makes a difference when it`s too cold to go swimming. Also, it always feels great to work out before getting on a plane all day. I need to get a quick workout in before a flight, otherwise I find sitting all day a total nightmare!

5. The prices are reasonable and affordable!

You will not find a better value for your money.

One time, Fer and I thought we`d treat ourselves to a “fancy” hotel on one of our trips to San Jose. We looked at different rooms all over, some costing upwards of $400 per night, thinking that they would be super luxurious and worth splurging on. We were wrong! There are several American brand chain hotels that are charging a ton of money (probably just for the name) but their rooms are super outdated, smell musty, they don´t have pools and in general feel like a total scam. We ended up going back to our “home” at Adventure Inn because we honestly find it to be much more comfortable and a way better value than any other hotel we`ve seen.

If you feel like treating yourself, you can upgrade to one of their Jacuzzi suites for just $20 more per night which includes a king-size bed, an in-bath Jacuzzi, microwave, mini-fridge and a nice outdoor sitting area.

We`ve got the hookup for a DISCOUNT on your room!

Since we`ve been there so many times and have developed a personal relationship with the owner, we are authorized to offer our readers a 10% discount on your reservation! Just click the link below to book your room and the 10% discount will automatically be applied!

If you need more help filling in the details for the rest of your trip, check out our travel planning services and / or stay with us!

Happy travels!