The best of Playa Grande, Costa Rica
Instead of agonizing over what to get each other for Christmas this year, my boyfriend and I bought each a trip to Costa Rica for New Year’s Eve. In other words, we may have started the best tradition yet because it was actually a gift that we both truly loved.
This was also my first true vacation in a long while: it wasn’t a press trip or a collaboration with a hotel brand, and I didn’t have to Instagram absolutely anything. The Vimeo offices were closed, so I didn’t even have to worry about any urgent work emails coming through. In short: I didn’t have anything to do but go to the beach, and it was wonderful.
The vast majority of the time was spent on the beach: we read books, watched the surfers, took walks and/or runs with our toes in the surf. Cold beers were drunk and spicy tacos were eaten. 
We woke up one morning before sunrise for a canoe tour through the nearby estuary: our guide was a local named Jonathan who was so incredibly passionate about the birds and the wildlife in the area. The estuary was so beautifully quiet and still at that time of the morning, and we were able to see so many different types of birds AND howler monkeys! We’re not general big birders, but Jonathan’s enthusiasm was contagious: worth the early wake-up call, for sure. 
Our only other “activity” was a sunset sail from nearby Tamarindo Beach on New Year’s Eve: we went snorkeling in a private cove and just generally enjoyed the views from the sea. The water was pretty choppy that day, so I mostly stuck to water and a motion-sickness tablet–but the tour does have an open bar and really delicious fajitas. It was super fun!
We booked five nights at La Marejada Hotel, mostly because it was next to the beach, cheap-ish and had air conditioning. It was great because it was everything we needed and nothing more: a place to sleep comfortably and shower off the salt water. Bonus: the restaurant has great fish tacos! The owners, Gail and Mario, are quintessential surfer expats and they were so helpful and laid-back. 
We had tacos and local beers every day for lunch at Taco Star, this great little taco joint right on the beach. They also have the most excellent banana bread. And we also discovered fresh fish tacos and a free pool table at Shaka’s, right up the street–we went there every single night after another tourist recommended it to us. 
I’ve gotten so obsessed with Mara Hoffman suits: they’re so colorful and fun! I actually found this one for more than half off on Amazon the week before we left–perks of traveling to sunny places during the off-season. 
We had breakfast every morning at Ripjack Inn, the hotel right next to ours. They have a lovely open second floor and lots of fresh juice options. There is also a yoga class almost every morning here. We tried to go on New Year’s Day, but that was the one day that the instructor decided to take off (rightfully so!). 
One thing we did every single night we were there: walk down and watch the sunset on the beach. There are so many surfers on the waves and the temperature was just perfect: it was such a nice way to end every day.
Overall, we had such a fantastic and relaxing time. Most people only come to Playa Grande for a night or two while they’re traveling around Costa Rica, unless they’re super into surfing. We stayed for five nights, and while we definitely could have packed more activities and traveling in–I’m really glad we took it easy. We loved going back to the same places for the same meals and chatting with the owners and finding out about their stories, and getting into a bit of a routine every day: breakfast at Ripjack Inn, beach, lunch at Taco Star, afternoon at the pool at Marejada, a siesta in the AC, watch the sunset on the beach, dinner and beers at Shaka’s. I miss it already!
What’s your favorite photo of Playa Grande? Bonus: in video form here!
p.s. while I was grabbing links for this post, I noticed these women’s surf retreats based at La Marejada. This would be such an awesome place to learn how to surf and a really cool opportunity to travel by yourself, if either of those are 2016 resolutions!
