Get Away: Costa Rica

A Few Basics

The kind of things that seem really obvious, but they’re worth knowing.

Culture & Tourism

Costa Rica is huge into tourism, and so natives tend to be very pleasant towards visitors. Granted, I visited tourism-heavy areas, but the general attitude was more gratefulness towards the contribution to their national industry than frustration with so many tourists.

Most of the time it’s easy to get by without knowing more than a few basic phrases in Spanish. Still, it’s worth picking up a dictionary, just in case you get off the beaten path. “Pura vida” is the cover-all phrase, meaning something like “good life.” It sounds something like “pula vida” when spoken by natives.

Short-distance taxi drivers were the hardest to converse with, so knowing the name of where you’re headed is very important. Even in this case, popping out something like “a la playa” (to the beach) worked just fine.

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena

Where to Stay

Hotel Fonda Vela

Set a few miles outside of Santa Elena, near the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Hotel Fonda Vela was absolutely beautiful. The room we stayed in had two floors, great for 2- 4 people. The main floor offering a king-size bed, television, roomy bathroom and coffee table surrounded by low benches and chairs. The upper floor consisted of solely a queen-size bed and vanity mirror, good for the busy tourist.

Each building has around eight rooms – not all with two floors. This keeps it pretty quiet and the huge windows offer a great view of the surrounding wilderness. Lawn chairs are scattered about the grounds, though afternoon showers prevent too much time enjoying them.

The restaurant was very nice for all meals, though the menu is a bit limited. The cost is high when compared to other area restaurants, but not that high when compared to a similar quality meal in the states.

Where to Eat

Chimera

The overall group favorite for dining in the area, Chimera is a mile or two down the road from Hotel Fonda Vela on the way to Santa Elena. This “Latin-infused tapas” restaurant is run by an American expatriate (at least, I think she is) but the menu features very regionally inspired cuisine. Each dish is around USD 3 – 6, and they are quite filling. Share them around to get a great mix of tastes.

The roasted eggplant was the best dish ordered though everything, from the coconut shrimp to the papas fritas with cayenne and garlic mayonnaise, was fantastic.

Food & Drink

A traditional Tico (native Costa Rican) meal is centered around rice and black beans. They are eaten at every meal, including being the basis of any good breakfast. Pinto gallo, the normal method of preparation for the morning meal, goes great with other common foods, like eggs, fresh fruit and breads. If you get the chance, try a fried plantain topped with white cheese (plantain con queso).

Fruit drinks (bebidas naturales) are popular with both lunch and dinner. You can get them with water (con aqua) or milk (con leche) and come in a variety of flavors like mango, blackberry (mora) and papaya. Personally, I loved the blackberry with milk.

Imperial is THE beer in Costa Rica. Everybody seems to drink it and it’s rampantly advertised. Fruit-based alcoholic drinks and margaritas are also popular.

What to See

Monteverde Cloud Forest

The cloud forest is an absolute necessity if visiting the region. At 100% humidity all the time and a stunning variety of plant and animal life, the forest is a true wonder. A good quarter of the plant species in the forest are located at treetop level: epiphytes resting on the branches and leaves of the towering trees, using the access to sun and water without destroying the trees themselves.