Life is what you make it! Pura Vida!

January 3, 2024

Pura Vida! “simple life or pure life” The Costa Ricans (ticos) use this term to say hello, goodbye, everything’s great, everything’s cool, and even the things that are not so cool.

On an adventure to Costa Rica. Early morning flight to Toronto with a 3 hour lay over.

No snow in a Toronto

Arrived in San Jose and checked into the hotel for one night. I couldn’t find the shuttle that was to take me to the Adventure Inn. A lady called the hotel and they told her for me to take a taxi and they reimburse me in the morning. I got a receipt for $25 but they only reimbursed me $15. Guess I got taken by the taxi driver!

January 4; 2024
Adobe Car Rental was scheduled to drop my rental off at 10 am. Everything that could go wrong went wrong so it took about 1 hour to get everything sorted. Finally on the road around 11 am. Just in time for the mid day traffic.

Made a stop on the famous Costa Rica crocodile bridge. Tarcoles River is one of the most well known rivers and places in the country because of the crocodiles. Unfortunately, the river is one of the most contaminated and polluted rivers in Costa Rica.

Checked and settled in at the Apartotrl Girasol in Jaco (pronounced HaCo) for the next few days.

View from my balcony

Headed out to the beach to explore. Jaco has a 7 kilometers of sandy beach and is well known for surfing.

First sunset

January 5, 2024
Headed out for a 20 minute hike to El Miro. It is said that a rich man wanted to build a house, hotel or restaurant on top of the hill, because of the great view of Jaco’s coastline. Unfortunately, the man died before the building was ever completed. Over the years it has became a wide-scale canvas for local artists. Now the 3-story building is used as an observation deck. The hike is 1.3-kilometer-long with an elevation gain of 168 meters.

The start of this trail is difficult to find. This kind gentleman provides instructions and parking spaces for weary hikers.

He was so proud of the shed he built with bamboo and the plants that he plants and maintains.

Spent the rest of the afternoon on Playa Herradura, refers to the horseshoe shape of the bay. Sportfishing is the main activity and the marina is home to many large fishing boats and is the host of sport fishing competitions every year.

January 5, 2024
Out on a 55 foot catamaran, Costa Cat, for a trip to Tortuga Island.

Isla Tortuga is located in the southeastern part of the Gulf of Nicola. The island measure 120 hectares with its hitches point at 172 meters above sea level.

The island is state property, but is leased to a costarican family. The family observed deforestation and uncontrolled hunting in the country devoted its own funds and effort to this.

I joined a few people on a really short hike to the viewing point.

In the pic below, you can see a small hole in the wall. I am told that there it’s home to pelicans and frigate birds.

Caught an amazing sunset on the way back.

and this is Stacy….the most hard working person on our boat trip!

This is my last night in Jaco. Tomorrow, I head to Quepso/Manuel Antonio for a few days!