La Choza de Laurel

Most of the time when we fly into Costa Rica, we go to the Liberia airport. Its much easier than flying to San Jose since the customs agents are more friendly and there is less traffic. You are also much closer to the country side and you avoid the big city. You're also right around the corner from our favorite restaurant in Costa Rica.



La Choza de Laurel is not very traditional in style or pricing. For that, you have to go to one of the many many sodas. These are tiny little restaurants serving traditional Costa Rican food for really cheap. A lot of times, you will be eating on plastic chairs on the porch of someone's house. While these are sometimes wonderful places to have a meal, La Choza is much more modern, while retaining that Costa Rican flair. It's a little more expensive than a soda, but the food is always wonderful and the people are always friendly.



To get to La Choza, just turn left out of the Liberia airport and drive about 500 meters. Its on your right and well worth the trip.

Bagaces Waterfall

One of the most interesting trips we made on our last visit to Costa Rica was the waterfall near the small town of Bagaces. Its marked by a small wooden sign, "Catarata Llanos del Cortes," on the right on the Pan American Highway about 20 km south of Liberia. If you get to the town of Bagaces, you've gone to far. Here, you will find a dirt road that takes you to a surprising place.



Most waterfalls in Costa Rica are found in more mountainous places, but this one is in an area that is mostly plains. Also, this waterfall is not as forceful as others and with a sandy beach area, it is ideal for swimming and relaxing.



Best of all, the Llanos del Cortes is not very well known to tourists and can be a very secluded destination. Be prepared to pay a small donation to the Llanos del Cortes school for parking. Sometimes a representative from the school will set up a collection stand at the beginning of the road. Be sure to get a receipt because you will give it to the parking attendant. It is worth it though, for a small price, you will be treated to one of the best places in Northwest Costa Rica.

Off the beaten path

My previous post was originally posted in my other blog, Peculiar Possessions. Although there is a great deal of information about the most popular destinations such as Arenal and Monteverde, I hope to go into much more detail than this. In this blog, I want to give some firsthand information about some of my most interesting experiences. Here, I will try to capture some of the local flavor and show some out of the way places that can enrich anyone's trip to this tropical paradise. Hopefully you like dirt roads and long trails, because the best of Costa Rica can be found in the places that aren't on the map.

Traveling in Costa Rica

My wife and I work quite a bit, but our favorite pastime is traveling. We've been quite a few places, Italy, Spain, Greece, and all over the Caribbean, but our absolute favorite place to be is Costa Rica. I'm not really sure why its our favorite. There's the natural beauty with the towering rain forests, the beautiful mountain views, and the numerous active volcanoes. Costa Rica also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world covered in powder fine white or black sand. Another appeal is the numerous activities available such as zip lines, surfing and the wonderful hiking trails.

In reality, you can find all of these things in other places. Maybe not in one location, but they are available elsewhere. Really, the main draw for us is the lifestyle. Costa Ricans, or Ticos, have a term called "Pura Vida" which literally translates as "Pure Life." It just means that they live a more laid back lifestyle. There's a reason that despite a lower standard of living that Costa Ricans are considered the happiest people in the world. Its this attitude that brings us here over and over again.

When we go to Costa Rica, our favorite place to stay for a while is the little beach town of Playa Hermosa. There's just one road through town and all they have is a few restaurants and a small store. At just 15 minutes from the international airport, its extremely convenient without the typical trappings of a cheesy tourist town.



We always stay at house called Casa de la Buena Vista. In English that means house with the good view and that is no joke. It has one of the most spectacular views of the beach and the mountains that we have ever seen. We've stayed there several times, and it can be rented for a very reasonable price. This beautiful property is being renovated right now, but will be available again in April with four bedrooms. Anyone interested in staying in Costa Rica should definitely check this house out. If you want more information, just click the following links.

Milagro Rentals
Flipkey Listing
VRBO Listing