Pura Vida

Costa Rica is the perfect destination for those seeking an adventurous journey with abundant wildlife, while also providing opportunities for relaxation! In my opinion, Costa Rica is a very underrated country and I was so impressed with all its beauty and activities it has to offer. Costa Rica is a small country in Central America with three international airports to choose from when flying in. With several different areas to visit in Costa Rica, we chose to head to Quepos with the main reason being Hotel Makanda. If you're interested in exploring the jungle for a few days or staying near the ocean, these are my top recommendations and activities.

We spent our time at Hotel Makanda in Quepos, Costa Rica, which is a two-hour drive from SJO international airport. Upon arrival, there are various transportation options available, such as hiring a driver, taking a helicopter, or a small plane to Quepos private airport and then arranging a transfer. Upon reaching the hotel, guests are welcomed by a golf cart at the entrance and escorted to the Lobby. The hotel is situated on a hillside amidst the jungle, offering stunning views of the ocean. Upon arrival, we were greeted with drinks, given an overview of the property, and then escorted to our room. Our accommodation was a luxurious two-bedroom, two-bathroom villa with a view of the ocean. Each villa is uniquely designed but maintains a luxury jungle theme. The room was particularly impressive, with the bedroom featuring floor-to-ceiling windows. Waking up to the blinds opening in the morning amidst the jungle, with birds chirping and the sound of the waves, was a perfect start to the day. Hotel Makanda boasts two pools (one with a swim-up bar), a beach club, spa, and restaurant. The property is teeming with wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, ocelots, and toucans, making it unnecessary to venture far to see these animals. During our stay, we had the opportunity to observe various types of monkeys and sloths. While some of the animals are more approachable, it is not recommended to feed them.

Day 1 - We arrived in the late afternoon at the hotel. Not having too much time left with daylight, we went straight to our room and got ready for drinks. Located on one of the pool decks overlooking the ocean, they have a happy hour with live music, which is always my favorite. After enjoying the sunset, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant called Arbol. With Arbol's cuisine coming from fresh seasonal products from Central Pacific farmers and fishermen, I was extremely impressed with the food as I didn't know what to expect.

Day 2 - We woke up very early with a fishing charter booked for a half day in the morning. We had arranged for the hotel to have breakfast packed as well as lunch for the boat the night before. The boat day was absolutely incredible, catching many fish including a parrotfish, which is what I was hoping for. I was blown away by how beautiful the water was, being a deep blue with rock formations in the middle of the ocean. It was such a perfect day, and the Captain couldn't have done a better job showing us around and putting us on some fish! After the boat day, we took our fish back to the hotel, and the chef told us to go jump in the pool, and he'd serve us there. It was incredible watching the sunset in the pool, eating the fresh fish we had just caught.

Day 3 - We started the morning having breakfast by the pool with the monkeys staring at us, waiting for us to drop something. It was quite the experience, and the breakfast was wonderful with some of the best fruit I've ever had. Later that day, we had scheduled an ATV tour in the jungle. This was a 2-hour tour with a guide showing us all around the jungle, waterfalls, as well as stopping for lunch. Definitely a fun way to explore. For dinner, we had the hotel take us to a nearby barbecue spot that they highly recommended and did not disappoint.

Day 4 - On our last day there, we decided to relax and take advantage of the beautiful hotel. We went from the pool to the beach all day, as well as had lunch by the pool again, which was so relaxing. We had afternoon massages at the spa and then ordered room service for dinner in our robes. It was an amazing way to end the last day in Costa Rica.

If you haven't visited Costa Rica yet, I strongly recommend it. Despite not having high expectations initially, I genuinely fell in love with the nature and beauty of this country. There are countless activities to choose from, ensuring you will never be bored here, even if you can only do a few. Following this trip, I have returned to Costa Rica once more to discover new regions because I enjoyed my first visit so much! Below, I will provide a list of other excellent hotels for a wonderful stay!

Oceanfront hotels:

Four Seasons Costa Rica Peninsula Papagayo

Hotel Makanda

Jungle Hotels:

Hacienda AltaGracia Auberge

Orgins Lodge

Pura Vida

Xo Carlin