In the midst of climate change, a pandemic, rampant inflation, and everything else the last few years has brought us, we tend to forget how fulfilling the simple pleasures in life can be. "La Pura Vida" (The Simple Life) is a saying that comes a long way within the Costa Rican lifestyle; representing its natural vegetation, environmentally friendly atmosphere, biodiversity, and all around laid-back way of life. Specifically the Nicoya Penninsula, which has quite the reputation for healthy living considering it is one of the five renowned Blue Zones (AKA highest population of centenarians; people living past 100). The Nicoya Penninsula sits on the northwest corner of Costa Rica right along the Pacific. Although it stretches around 121 km in length, don't underestimate the boundlessness of this Penninsula. It can take hours on end to get from one village to another due to the rough terrains, mountainous surrounding, and unpaved roads. Despite all of that, exploring this extensive area is worth the effort.
Santa Teresa
Starting off strong, we have the magnificent Santa Teresa which isn't a hop, skip, and jump (4 hours/205 km south to be exact) away from the Liberia Airport but the most worthy of being explored. The peaceful tone in this beach town makes sipping on a coconut with your surfer buddies a necessity in your day-to-day life here. The best way to get around is by renting an ATV and roaming the coastline that way. One of the most beautiful beaches in this area is Playa Hermosa, which is ideal for those who are eager to surf, tan, and meet fellow expats. I found that the cuisine here varies for those who want traditional Costa Rican dishes and the slightly more health conscience group of travelers who yearn for plant based options (right up my alley might I add). Another fun bohemian jungle (and fairly close by) area is Mal Pais, where sunset watchers can thrive and vegans can feast at restaurants like Nula Kitchen.
Montezuma
If you want a reenactment of "The Blue Lagoon" in which you feel like you're on a remote island living with wild life and eating bananas on the beach, I'd recommend taking a drive over to Montezuma. A mere 30 minutes from Santa Teresa, this area is a true escape from reality with flowing waterfalls, monkeys, jungles, and even more monkeys. My favorite trail was the Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve, a 10 km hike that allows you to submerge yourself in mother nature with all its creatures and green-life to see. The Montezuma Waterfall is less of a challenge with a moderate trail upstream, leading to 3 waterfalls to take a dip into. Once at the largest waterfall, you have the option to continue your excursion with a steep climb up the cliff which will finish at a natural pool above the waterfall.
Nosara
A long 4 hours and a severely dusty vehicle later, we arrived in Nosara. A haven for those who pride in yoga, relaxation, and surf. Nosara is a small village with slightly more development and tourism than its fellow towns along the south of the Penninsula. One of the most impressive restaurants I went to on this trip was located high above the mountains in Nosara, called Coyol, with a view that can leave anyone in awe. Yoga is a common interest in this village with studios on every street corner, one that caught my eye was Bodhi Tree Yoga due to its beautiful architecture and professional staff.
Papagayo Penninsula
To finish up our journey and take a lighter approach to the end of the trip, we headed back up north to the Papagayo Penninsula. A 30 minute drive from Liberia and 24 km of coastal land, this is a dream destination for those who prefer a less extreme and more tranquil style of travel. This touristic area is filled with wild life and plenty of activities from snorkeling to dolphin watching. Approximately 30% of this penninsula is occupied by resorts making it easier for travelers and harmless to wild life.
Tune in for my next trip, hasta luego!
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