It is no secret that we love Costa Rica, mostly due to the sloth conservation that is abundant in Costa Rica. There are many different ethical wildlife and rescue sanctuaries and centers. Just a quick note: please never hold a sloth or visit/pay to take "sloth selfies" and hold a sloth or animal. Not only is it illegal in CR, but it is so bad for the sloth (i.e. causing high blood pressure, premature death, and stressing them out).
While we did just go to Costa Rica (San Jose, Cahuita, & La Fortuna) less than a year ago, we were so blessed to have won a trip to go back to the Pacific side of Costa Rica and stay at Si Como No. Si Como No is a hotel, located on the beautiful Pacific Ocean, on top of a cliff. While the views and the hotel is worth the drive, just be warned that the drive to the top of the cliff is extremely nerve-wracking. Some advice is to go to Costa Rica during the dry season. A lot of the roads and places to get to can be off the beaten path (though their highway system is pretty good, it is only a 2 lane for the country, so it takes a while to get places. For example, to go 70 miles, it took us over 2 hours). While the rainy season does offer periods of sunshine, to be honest, I believe that going during the dry season (December through April) will allow you to drive safely and spend more time outside. Back to our stay at Si Como No, trying to drive that (thanks to my husband for being the driver) car up a cliff was hard enough, I cannot imagine doing that in the rain. However, the resort was so beautiful and I could have sat out on the balcony, overlooking the ocean, all night. Seeing some of the most beautiful sunsets of my life was an incredible experience.
Below I am going to provide an updated itinerary on what to do if you want to check out the beaches and go to the Pacific side of Costa Rica.
Manual Antonio Hotel:
-Si Como No: https://www.sicomono.com/
We stayed in the superior suite, which has air conditioning!, two king-size beds, and a balcony overlooking the ocean.
There are two restaurants on the property, a more casual one and then a higher-end seafood restaurant. **We did a lot of activities during the day, so we actually just ordered room service to our room each night, while watching the sunset.
There are also amazing fruit smoothies that the Rico Tico bar (the casual restaurant) served. I had blackberry and my husband had watermelon. So delicious and refreshing.
There are also a lot of seafood and local restaurants you can walk to on top of the cliff. Just do a quick Waze search, or ask the concierge and they'll point you in the right direction. Picture eating fresh sushi and fish overlooking the ocean and sunset. How can you beat it?!
There is also an adults-only pool and a family pool with a slide. Honestly, if you are going with a family, Si Como No would be a great place to stay!
Note: While it did not bother us, just let it be known none of the rooms have TVs. This is actually pretty common in hotels outside of San Jose and La Fortuna (we noticed).
Things to do in Manuel Antonio:
-Beaches! I recommend Playa Espadilla. The water is 80+ degrees, the beach is long enough you can walk down, you can swim in the ocean (just be careful of rip currents), you can take horseback rides along the beach, as well as local vendors walk up and down the beach selling snow cones.
A little parking tip here: while there is a parking lot next to the arrow that states: "Playa", I suggest parking next to the sign, along the gravel street, and not in the parking lot (it is easier to get out). Just make sure to lock the car and not leave valuables in there.
-Visiting and volunteering at Kids Saving the Rainforest
You can volunteer or just take a half-day tour. You get to see beautiful animals (i.e. sloths!!!), as well as they have a pool on the property you can use if you visit.
-Take a sloth walk with The Sloth Institute <link goes to the sloth walk, not the TSI site.
-Visit local sodas for lunch or dinner.
-If you are driving from San Jose to Manuel Antonio (which you more than likely will), on your way you will see a massive bridge that has a small market and shops on either side (you cannot miss it). I highly suggest parking and walking across the bridge to see the caimans. It is a similar landscape to Africa. There are actually so many caimans by the bridge and water bank, that National Geographic did a segment on it!
While I have another itinerary that goes more in-depth with what to do in San Jose, CR, we actually spent 4 full days there this past trip. We absolutely love San Jose and I believe that the trick is knowing where to go! For example, I suggest going to the city center and walking around there, as there are museums, the cultural square, plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as the central market! Heck, you can even go to Starbucks for air conditioning and some fun non-American drink offers (i.e. a frozen refresher!) If you have a car, or want to take a bus or taxi (Ubers are technically illegal, however, they still exist!), you can also do activities outside the main city.
Just make sure that you are back to your hotel by 10 PM, as the streets at night typically have a different vibe. While prostitution is not legal, it isn't illegal either, and there is just a different type of crowd in downtown San Jose, after it gets dark. However, I have never ever felt unsafe staying there.
Hotel/itinerary inside downtown San Jose:
-Costa Rica Natural History Museum -Gold Museum
-Central Mercado and try Lola's ice cream! One flavor and it is so rich and creamy and tastes like graham crackers.
-Grabbing a bakery item/sandwich from a Pandoria or the Mussey (local convenience store, think a Walgreens) and eating outside on a park bench.
-Walking around the central square.
-Eating at any restaurant there: Spoon, Restaraunte Nuestra Tierra, Soda Yogui's, El Patio del Balmoral Restaurant.
Hotel/itinerary outside downtown San Jose (within driving distance though of DT):
-You can stay on property at Toucan Rescue Ranch.
You can also take a slothies and coffees tour and even a nocturnal tour!
-Visit Costa Rica Animal Rescue -La Paz waterfall (located in the Cloud Forest)
-Starbucks or any other coffee plantation tour.
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