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Costa Rica

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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
I'll be headed down there for 5 weeks at 8 PM tonight for a Spanish immersion program/surf trip. I'm going to Heredia for 2 weeks and Tamarindo for 3 weeks for. For all the people who have been to these places, what are some cool spots to go to? Any local secrets you stumbled upon? Natural wonders?

I honestly don't know what I'm getting into here, so if I could get a little heads up and some insider info that would be great.

I'm 18, so I believe I am above legal drinking age, if that opens up any possibilities.
May 1 2010 10:29AM
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-ROY-
Posts: 3633 - Karma: 1,503
my pops went there a few times and came back witha wierd virus type deal..he was sick for a while..
May 1 2010 10:35AM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
playa grande. it's one of the most consistent beach breaks in CR. also, you can take a boat tour of the estuary. see some crocs and monkeys and other wildlife.

also, if you have a few days off, and you want to experience INCREDIBLE snorkeling and an empty beach, check out la iguanazul hotel in Playa Junquillal. it's just down the coast from tamarindo.
i'm talking crystal blue water, fine white sand, all types of fish. it's is one of the most amazing places i have ever visited. so peaceful.
May 1 2010 10:43AM
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Brenone
Posts: 4944 - Karma: 296
i went to costa rica and stayed near tamarindo. i did a lot of sitting on the beach and drinking in the villa. im not a surfer but if you have some days that your not surfing take a day trip to nicaragua. its amazing. you can also go to a place called to rincon where they have white water rafting in single man tubes and ziplining thru a dry rain forest. you need a car to get there its about an hour inland.

if you've never been to costa rica be prepared to never want to come home. its beautiful and the people are awesome. and i dont thin anyone cares about how old you are if you want to drink. if your flashing american dollars they will give you anything you want.
May 1 2010 10:54AM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
Well I'll be in the city of Heredia starting tomorrow for 2 weeks so I'm most interested in that, I know I'll be super busy in Tamarindo. I'm also more interested in what there is to do in the actual villages/cities themselves, I already know that the program I'm going with has a few visits to national parks, estuaries, and other areas planned. But anything helps, ya dig?
May 1 2010 12:03PM
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Gnams
Posts: 891 - Karma: 31
I went there on a spanish trip last summer and most of Costa Rica is beautiful cept San Jose. It is seriously worse than any ghetto or shit neighborhood. Go to Manuel Antonio beach if you want to surf. When I went it wasn't even a windy day and the waves got 4 feet above me and im 6 foot. Clearest water you will ever see too. Shits Legit. Also make sure you eat all the food you can. It is so natural and sooo good. Arroz con Pollo as much as you can. Had that a ton and i miss it
May 1 2010 12:12PM
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punkrock32
Posts: 1183 - Karma: 21

I just got back about a month ago from Tamarindo and had a great trip.  Pretty much did the same stuff as the poster above, mostly relaxing on the beach but a few days of surfing.  I also went to Rincon and went rafting (its currently the dry season, so its the waters really slow and boring to raft), and zip lining.  I can confirm that its about an hour or so from Tamarindo.

My younger brother (16) had no problem getting drinks anytime he wanted them, they'll serve basically anyone.  The estuaries are pretty cool, the bars are fun, and it sounds like you'll have a great time there.

Pm me if you want some more information.

May 1 2010 2:13PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
make sure you eat a tonnn of fresh fruit.
columbian passion fruit and cherimoya, specifically.
May 1 2010 2:15PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799

Manuel Antonio and Playa Grande were both pretty sick.  Definitely go check out the Manuel Antonio public beach and the national park.  If you get to go to the Potrero Bay area (pretty close to Playa Grande), head over to Playa Flamingo and go to the Mar y Sol restaurant around sunset.  They have a bar/lounge upstairs that overlooks a cliff and it was one of the most amazing sunsets I've ever seen.  The food was also really good.

May 1 2010 2:24PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
bump, I leave in 3 hrs
May 1 2010 7:48PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
Well I'm here now in Heredia. It's prettttty awesome. Program starts tomorrow.
May 2 2010 10:38PM
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triebby
Posts: 8670 - Karma: 2,189
I hope that I don't see you on NS for the next month. Nothing personal, but if you're on a trip to Costa Rica, you better be living it up and not anywhere near this website!
May 2 2010 10:50PM
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Gretchen.
Posts: 1163 - Karma: 87
FYI you're most likely going to get sick at some point.. Good thing is that once you get it you'll be fine the rest of your trip.

I loved Costa Rica, it's an awesome place for sure!  If you can get your group to take you up to the cloud forests and the Arenal volcano.  Arenal was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.. At night the lava looks amazing!
May 2 2010 10:51PM
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thebackend
Posts: 45 - Karma: 26
 I agree! Arenal is awesome! Go the the hot springs around there if you get a chance!

I spent about a week in Tamarindo and it was amazing! The surfing just south of Tamarindo, in Nosara and Samara is unbelievable, but getting there is tough, the roads are unpaved and you have to drive through a few rivers, don't walk or swim in the rivers, there are alligators. Nosara and Samara are really desolate, there are a few choices for hotels, but be warned they are a little sketchy. Dont drink the water or any beverage with ice cubes in it, and peel your own fruit. I learned the hard way and spent a good 2 days in the bathroom of my hotel in Tamarindo. Other than that, the people are awesome and the country is unbelievably beautiful! Have fun!
May 2 2010 11:02PM
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skiingonskis
Posts: 2076 - Karma: 262
Was just there for a week,and now i love surfing.  Tamarindo sounds dope, have fun man.  The Ticos are super cool people
May 2 2010 11:04PM
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Brenone
Posts: 4944 - Karma: 296
Pura Vida!
May 2 2010 11:11PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
Wow...first night and I hear gunshots out my window. Apparently taking a taxi home is the way to go.
May 3 2010 12:27AM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
my friends went to costa rica and it sounds like the cities can be pretty sketchy. this is common sense but don't wander around at night by yourself. a couple of the people my friend was with wanted to go outside the hotel gates at night one time and the manager lady straight up wouldn't let them
May 3 2010 12:33AM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
heredia kind of sucks

Tamarindo will be awesome, I have a good friend who lives in a house on the beach. That being said Tamarindo is rather touristy.

As far as secrets, not really a secret but the Babylon is really fun on Thursday nights (reggae night), if you need to find ganja thats the time to do it, just ask one of the rastas. The Crazy Monkey is fun too. There is also the Aqua, which is the only indoor bar/club, kind of pricy but it can be good. Nogui's is my favorite restaurant on the beach. Surfing in Tamarindo during the day is fun if the swell is up.

Whoever said Playa Grande is a good spot is right, great surf break and beautiful location. Also, its worth taking a trip down to a restaurant called Lola's down at Playa Avellanas, about 15 min south of Tamarindo.

God damn, I wish I could go down there right now. I've got some stories from that place. Like the one night we brought these two hot Canadian girls back to my friend's place. They went skinny dipping in the pool because they lacked swimwear, that was fucking awesome. I'll leave the story off there.

Basically, you'll have a great time.
May 3 2010 1:05AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51296 - Karma: 157,981
My sister went there for a few months on a spanish language trip to live with a family there. I'll ask her whats legit.

I'm pretty sure you can drink easily there even lower than that, and 10 is the age of consent
May 3 2010 1:08AM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
dude costa rica is surreal, so beautiful....look for local swimming holes, we found one with a huge rope swing and stuff, it was a definite highlight of the trip
May 3 2010 1:10AM
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Gretchen.
Posts: 1163 - Karma: 87
Yeah the cities especially close to the borders of Panama and Nicaragua are pretty sketchy
May 3 2010 8:01AM
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beardstatus
Posts: 800 - Karma: 19

this is all so sick to hear. im going to costa rica for 3 weeks in july for a summer biology program

May 3 2010 8:57AM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
Bump, headed to tamarindo tomorrow.
May 14 2010 8:04PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
.
May 14 2010 8:25PM
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Dukeybrains
Posts: 1030 - Karma: 11
The sewage runs into the ocean super crucially in Tamarindo but the surfing is sick!
May 14 2010 8:31PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
All I've been doing in Santo Domingo is going to school, the people in my program here are really serious about their studies. Last night was the first night I went out to and "lived it up". I have a feeling that I'll be living it up a lot more in Tamarindo but where I'm at until tomorrow has been really sketchy at night.
May 14 2010 8:31PM
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Dukeybrains
Posts: 1030 - Karma: 11
Hop on a bus to Nicaragua
May 14 2010 8:35PM
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seemeski
Posts: 4210 - Karma: 124
A while ago I was in Heredia for a week and then we went to Monte Verde for another. I was young so I went to a Spanish school, we went to the zoo and a theme park and that was really fun. I can't really remember because I was in third grade..
May 14 2010 9:41PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
So it's official, tamarindo is the shit.
May 22 2010 10:27PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I went for two weeks last winter to build help build a Christian school in San Jose. Didn't go to far from San Jose, but Yaco beach is pretty sweet. You have to try this kind of ice cream sandwich there its called "Treats" or something like that, its delicious. Also, watch your back, some people in my group got robbed at gun point.
May 22 2010 10:33PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
get some vodka flavoured rum
May 22 2010 11:02PM
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laurence^
Posts: 1575 - Karma: 19
Sick man!          Threads
May 22 2010 11:20PM
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