Grecia, Costa Rica
As Kelli and I settle in to Costa Rica for 2 and a half months I remembered why I love this little country.
Hopping over to this lush county from our native United States for the 3rd time inspired me to write this post.
Costa Rica is generally viewed as the #1 wildlife destination in the world for those lacking the thousands upon thousands of dollars to do a safari. Think of it as an exotic trip not engineered to break the budget.
You will likely be greeted by what I call the “Costa Rica National Anthem” at roughly 4:30 AM every day. Birds begin calling melodically at this early hour throughout much of the stunning countryside.
Friendly locals add charm. Toss in solid if not spectacular fare and you have the recipe for the “Pura Vida” culture.
My Costa Rica Experience
I have visited Costa Rica in:
- 2013 (Playa Potrero, Nueva Arenal, Quepos, Atenas, San Jose)
- 2016 (Bribri, Puerto Viejo, San Isidro, Playa Dominicalito)
- 2024 (Grecia)
Travelers dream of visiting this exotic hot spot. Make no mistake about it; the place is dreamy indeed. But knowing what to expect gives you confidence enough to make the right choice for you.
Keep these ideas in mind before booking a trip to Costa Rica.
1: Wildlife Fans
Costa Rica boasts 6% of planet earth’s biodiversity despite being the size of West Virginia.
For all of my USA-based readers: imagine if 6% of the species in the world resided in West Virginia.
This is difficult to wrap your mind around until you arrive. I saw a toucan, parakeets, lizards and more species of less exotic birds to count on the first full day here in Grecia. The kicker: we are staying in a semi-rural spot close to town.
We have seen monkeys, sloths, toucans, parrots and Jesus Christ lizards in or around towns all around this country. Dizzying in nature, this place is like a giant zoo without cages.
Hunting is not a thing here. Locals generally respect wildlife deeply. Animals sense this and reveal themselves quite freely….according to the species’ natural instincts, of course.
If you journey even a few moments outside of the few cities here it is only a matter of time before wildlife appears.
Trending into semi-rural areas makes for a Jackson Pollack painting. Forget about the mesmerizing natural scenery – we’ll cover that next – the electric colors sported by gaudy-looking tropical birds, primal-looking lizards and a stunning array of exotic-looking insects is like a children’s coloring book run amok.
Wildlife-lovers; Costa Rica is pretty much tops.
PS….as I was writing this post 4 toucans landed in the backyard.
Here is one of the handsome chaps:
Toucan, Grecia, Costa Rica
2: Lovers of Gorgeous Natural Scenery
Based on circling the globe for 13 years, Costa Rica rivals New Zealand for raw, natural beauty.
This green nation is:
- environmentally conscious
- like really, REALLY green as far as its lushness
Forests, fincas and fields, most receive enough rain to be perpetually green. Low season rains create an inviting hue begging you to slumber in the grass.
Lush Spots to Keep in Mind
- Quepos (by Manual Antonio National Park)
- Grecia (15 minutes north of town)
- Monteverde (cloud forest)
- Nueva Arenal
- Playa Domicalito
- San Isidro de El General (30 minutes outside of town)
The Pacific side seems to offer more dramatic views but the Caribbean spoils visitors with beaches hugged by palm trees. The central highlands yield perhaps the most stunning vistas of all. Peep the featured image for this post: I snapped it in Grecia while hiking toward the coffee plantations near the top of the hill.
3: Travelers Appreciative of an Underrated Culture
Costa Rica gets the short end of the stick on the culture scale from some travel bloggers.
As the world judges things, the country is young, food not first class and it may not jump out at you like Thailand (ornate temples, monks, street food) or Bali (shrines, temples and spiritual customs).
But I enjoy the hearty tipico fare, festive town squares, religious culture and warmth of Ticos. I also sport an addiction to sweets, or dulces, in Central America. Pinguinos, Suave Cremas, Bimbo and Chokis forever have a place in my heart.
Friendliness is the national culture. That makes Costa Rica culturally-rich enough for me.
Colorful, relaxed and generous, it is a feel good spot.
La Pura Vida is quite literally The Pure Life. People here live it. Simple, pleasant and generous, you will never find a happier culture which is why it usually ranks tops as the happiest country in the world.
4: Tourists Who Enjoy Getting Around Easily
Costa Rica offers fabulous tourist infrastucture.
The bus system alone gets you virtually anywhere in the country; it is one of the best in the world to get you from Point A to Point B from my experience.
Heavily-touristed towns have everything set up seamlessly. Costa Rica is a well-oiled machine for frequent and infrequent globe trotters alike.
A fair number of Ticos speak English. Folks who speak only Spanish tend to talk clearly. Costa Rica and Peru offer the clearest Spanish-speaking from my experience. I speak un poco myself and understand folks here easily.
Even if you speak not a lick of Spanish, using Google Translate does the trick easily in a place like Costa Rica.
Conclusion
There you have it, folks.
Costa Rica is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for good reason.
Book your trip if you’re the type of globe trotter who vibes with La Pura Vida.
