My husband and I decided to delay our honeymoon for a few months. We got married in October and went on a "mini moon" to Charleston, SC for a weekend but decided to hold off on our big trip until it was actually cold in Canada. We went to Tamarindo, Costa Rica for 8 days this February for our big honeymoon (a time when it was freezing at home) as well as for my 30th birthday!
Why Costa Rica: the weather, people, food and natural landscapes are all incredible!
Where: Tamarindo, Costa Rica (right on the Pacific coast about 1 hour from the Liberia airport)
We stayed at the Wyndham Esplendor and it was incredibly beautiful. We opted to stay at a place that was not all-inclusive because we had heard the food in Tamarindo was amazing (which it is + we are so glad we did!) The hotel included breakfast every day which was good
The hotel was at the top of the hill and every single room overlooks the Pacific Ocean! The rooms are modern, simple and clean with gorgeous balcony views!
One of the MAJOR benefits of the hotel is that there is a shuttle running every 30 minutes to drive down the hill into town (5 minute drive, 20 minute walk) as well as to a beach club and wellness centre, so we got the views plus the beach, the best of both worlds!
What we did:
Ate, swam, relaxed + repeat!
but also...
The beach club + wellness centre were amazing! I did yoga and got a massage/body scrub and my husband worked out at the facilities daily
A catamaran sunset cruise on my birthday! It started at 1pm and ended at 6pm, which included lunch, an open bar (I have never had better pina coladas in my life!), as well as an hour stop with paddle boarding, snorkelling, and swimming. We saw a school of dolphins and it was the best way to celebrate my 30th.
Our favourite restaurants:
Mexican:
Green Papaya, loved their shrimp tacos + brownie! They have swings in the restaurant which is very cool too!
Little Lucha, a modern and delicious restaurant. We went on Taco Tuesday where they were $2/each
Italian: La Pachanga, amazing thin crust pizza and pasta!
BBQ: Longboards, we went back here 3 times in 8 days! Best nachos ever! My husband became obsessed + even bought one of their t-shirts to wear back home. We made friends with the owner who is from North Carolina and he even gave me the recipe for their in-house hot sauce that I loved. If you go back tell him the Canadians with the hot sauce recipe sent you!
Burgers: Surf Shack, enough said!
Mediterranean: The Falafel Bar had the best (you guessed it) falafel plates!
Breakfast: La Bodega, it is organic and delicious! I loved their homemade jams and my husband enjoyed it all!
Dessert: Waffle Monkey for their waffles and ice cream
Other: La Oveja Negra I was able to get Bulletproof coffee there! We liked their nachos a lot too!
What else to know:
Currency: we brought American and sometimes they would give us the local currency (colón) in change when we paid with USD
Average cost per meal: for 2 people was usually approx. $30 USD
December-April is high season and it is around 30-45 degrees celsius every day with barely any clouds in the sky. Wear lots of sunscreen, we went through 4 bottles!
Their supermarkets have a great deal of things you would see in Canada. I would buy local Kombucha from them too!
Many people rent golf carts for the week and go to and from town!
It is very laid back and casual in Tamarindo! Ladies, think flip flops + sun dresses! Guys, t-shirts and shorts.
Tamarindo has a very boho, hippy like feel to it! It is like Bali meets Thailand meets Mykonos.
If you have never been to Costa Rica, I would highly recommend it! It is in my top 3 places I have ever been (along with the Greek and Thai islands, what can I say I am a water baby!). PURA VIDA BABY!
Comments