I recently returned from a four-day trip to Costa Rica. I have visited Cosa Rica before, but I was working and did not get to see much of the country beyond a meeting room. Costa Rica is known as an excellent destination for ecotourism, and I was looking forward to exploring some of the wonders of nature.
Accompanying me on this trip was my mother and my wife. The primary objective of this excursion was to travel to a place where my mother could enjoy birdwatching without having to walk much. A secondary goal was to go to a destination resort and avoid constant driving and relocating. After our trip to Ireland last fall, I was looking to stay in one place and to chill out.
After my usual over analyzing and over thinking, I selected the Arenal Observatory and Spa for our four-night vacation. The Arenal Observatory was a beautiful place to stay, particularly for my elderly mother. They provided shuttle service throughout the property, and our room was well set up for her needs. Also, Arenal Observatory is a beautiful place with much of the region’s wildlife found on the resort property. They have miles of hiking trails and provide guides if desired. This location was a hot spot for bird watchers from all over the world. I consider myself a very casual bird watcher; in contrast, these people were intense. Entering GPS locations of bird sightings and having nightly review meetings is a bridge too far for this outdoor enthusiast.
The food at the Arenal Observatory was tasty and reasonably priced. The menu was varied enough for our four-day stay. The breakfast was included with our package. The WiFi was described as sketchy in our room, but we didn’t have any issues. The room and common areas were always spotless, and the staff was very professional and accommodating.
My wife and I did one hike away from the lodge. This excursion was called the 1968 lava hike. It was a hike over the lava flow from the 1968 eruption. We went with a guide from the lodge, and he did a great job pointing out animals and explaining the history of the area and the eruption. On this hike, we were able to see a parrot and a gray hawk. The hike continued until dark, and we were also able to see an owl.
On our return trip to San Jose, we stopped at the La Paz Waterfall and Gardens. This attraction seemed to be a great place to see any animals we may have missed at the Arenal Lodge. We were told a golf cart would be available to drive my mother from place to place. We were disappointed in our visit. The facility was very crowded and expensive. The golf cart was mostly not available leaving my Mom to walk to different exhibits. After seeing a few attractions, I concluded this place is an overpriced zoo. We tried to eat lunch at the buffet they offered. The lines were so long; it was a struggle to get up to the food. I found out later that this place is a dumping ground for cruise ships.
We stopped at Freddo Fresas restaurant next. We also stopped here on our outbound trip from San Jose. Great place with good food. Friendly people, we met the owner, and he is a great guy. The strawberry drink is fantastic.
If you like the outdoors and observing wildlife, Costa Rica is a must see. It is a very easy place to visit, and we always felt safe. One last positive note, the coffee is simply the best I have ever tasted. I thought Kona coffee was good, but Costa Rica coffee takes the crown!
Make the most of this day!
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