STARTING OFF IN COSTA RICA

On Sunday we flew from Panama City to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Stayed at a great hotel in a self catering unit. Went for a walk to the local park across the way whilst waiting for our car to be delivered to the hotel. Hundreds of people enjoying the really pleasant weather – having picnics, jogging, cycling etc – there was even a best dressed Chihuahua competition! Very impressed with how clean everything was – recycling bins all over the place.

  

We then picked up our car and headed out of San Jose towards Quepos. Our Self-catering unit was around 20 k's outside it and where we were basing ourselves for the next week. Got there around 4:30 unpacked and relaxed. The next day we drove along the coast to Dominical – a real “hippy” ,(sorry for showing my age) cool spot. Some people camping under the trees along the beach, all trying to make a living selling handicrafts, clothing etc. Hostels, surf schools, yoga classes, massages on the beach, little “sodas” - a bit of everything. Saw an interesting rock outcrop along the coast and decided to drive further along to see if we could reach it. Found the little “town” of Dominicalito (little Dominical) with a little dirt road leading to the beach.

The beach at Dominical

 

Our Daihatsu Bego 4WD for the next four weeks....

We then drove back to Quepos for lunch at a restaurant on the shore serving really great Costa Rican food and then a drive back to La Palapa where we are staying.

Part of the view from our lunch spot

Beautiful little bay at the end of the road in Quepos

On Tuesday we went to Uvita along the coast which is famous for its "whales tail" - a narrow strip of land when exposed at low tide, connects to a rock formation offshore. It's a national park and about a 20 min walk from the office to the tail. Did a bit of snorkelling - saw quite a few fish, but the visibilty wasn't great.
Quite a nice little town - its even got an interior design store, which was closed when we were there. Will definitely go back to this area to what rentals are available.

Looking back from the tail towards the mainland

Snorkelled along the rocks further out on the RHS