Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Exciting! On December 28th, it’s time to go - or rather continue, since we’ve already spent two weeks traveling at the eastern tip of Mexico. So from one vacation straight into another. The upcoming one might be a little less luxurious, but surely filled with more adventure. I'm stressed on the way to the airport, where my dear parents are fortunately accompanying me. They’ll fly home a few hours later, unfortunately with a cold in tow...

I’m stressed because I generally dislike airports and because I supposedly need to show an exit ticket from Costa Rica. This is confirmed at check-in, where the staff sweetly helps me find a good website for a bus provider. They even give me their internet and at the end, their own phone to make the booking, since the airport Wi-Fi just doesn’t work. Stressful, but then I can finally check in. I say goodbye to Mom and Dad, who I’m lucky enough to see again in a month!

Next stress follows immediately; my flight ticket seems to have gotten stuck in the bag check machine (surely its official name). Fortunately, while packing my things, I notice what’s missing and the ticket is discovered. I had begun to doubt myself. Then we continue; by now the gate should even be open, but when I finally arrive after a long walk, the gate has changed. Great. A little further and finally there. Then I manage everything in complete calm, but there was a bit of panic along the way.

I’m flying via Panama to San José, Costa Rica. I expect to arrive there around 10 PM. They take my prickly pears from me!! No food allowed into the country, come on. Then I receive a new stamp in my passport (always cool) and that's it. I leave the airport - and my Internet isn’t working. Wi-Fi is only available inside the airport. My NERVES. I don’t want to just go with strange taxi drivers who whistle at me, so I’m searching again until I get enough Wi-Fi to call a 20€ Uber, ouch. They kindly drop me right in front of the hostel, so I arrive around 11:30 PM.

I have a four-bed room all to myself. I also manage to get the internet working. So ready for the onward journey tomorrow.

In the morning, I set off around 10 AM to the bus station. The capitals here in the countries are often known for not being very safe or scenic.

Today, I’m continuing my journey to Quepos near Manuel Antonio National Park. Here, I want to relax a bit first. I find a bus for 10€ for the four-hour journey. Unfortunately, withdrawing money doesn’t work yet, but due to its close ties with the USA and the many American tourists, I can also pay in USD, which I luckily still have from you at the beginning of the trip!

The ride is so awesome. I sleep a lot, but when I’m awake, I see real tropical vegetation. I’m excited! And the man next to me gives me good tips for Quepos, where to shop and which beach to avoid and such. When we arrive around 4/5 PM, it’s very hot and humid on the Pacific coast.

The place is small, and the hostel is green and nice. The room is super hot, but at night the air conditioning is turned on. So I usually stay in the open living room or on the balcony, which also has fans. But you still always sweat, and the cold shower suddenly becomes not a problem but the highlight of the day.

In the next few days, I go to watch the sunset, swim, do a bit of shopping, and endure a long migraine. No wonder with this weather. The beaches are super crowded around New Year since the national park is closed, so it’s kind of cozy but not too comfortable. I thought those in Mexico were a bit more intense.

I also spend New Year's Eve here, the place fills up, and there’s live music. And do you know what else they play, besides salsa and cumbia? A cover of Lila Downs, our singer from Campeche! Cool! And so the new year begins; with good music, a view of the sea, and strangers from the hostel.

That evening I speak all my languages, as we 10-12 people come from Germany, Austria, France, Finland, Croatia, Costa Rica, and Peru. While I slept alone in an eight-bed room on my first day here, it’s now well filled. The most exciting are the Finns, as the two friends are cycling from Alaska to Argentina!!! They’ve been on the road for six months now. Incredible, right? After the program on the promenade (Malecón, if you remember) we still go to a bar, but there’s not much going on anymore. Small town just. Well, and then we go to bed around 5 AM. Nice New Year, but it feels very different just like Christmas.

I also try the national dish that I was looking forward to: Casado; rice with beans, plantain, and usually chicken. Tastes good, but Costa Rica is really terribly expensive, the cheapest Casado costs 6€.

When I order an iced coffee and a sandwich in a café, I already pay 18 euros! It’ll surely get better in the next countries.

And then I take my trip to Manuel Antonio National Park, which is what I’m here for. I take a bus at 6:15 AM that takes me directly there. The gates open at 7 AM. They’re strict here; you’re not allowed to bring food, and water only in reusable bottles.

It’s really great to be the first person walking through the forest so early in the morning. Everything is still empty and peaceful. I see monkeys and iguanas, and so many birds, including pelicans and toucans.

One path is closed, and as everything runs out, I lay down on the dreamlike beach. Unlike the last visits, this one is still completely empty and only fills up through the morning. Completely famished, I then head home around 3 PM. Great trip!

For you:)

My next destination is the rainforest. The challenge here is how to get there. As I gather information, it turns out that a road has collapsed. And since public transport here is so poorly developed, I would have to go via San José. This means specifically: 4 AM bus from Quepos to SJ, there take an Uber to another terminal (because it’s supposedly dangerous to walk), and catch the ONLY bus of the day to La Fortuna at 8:30 AM. If you miss that, you have to spend the night in SJ or change again. So an average of 12 hours traveling. I have to be sensible and admit that I don't want to risk that, especially not with my head. That sounds too much like I would get stranded somewhere. So I have to bite the bullet and book a €70 shuttle bus... I guess I have to accept the extra €40 for comfort and safety.

At least I arrive very comfortably in front of my hostel door and had a relaxed 6-hour drive with AC, great views of the sea and mountains, Wi-Fi, and nice company. And I can use the evening!

With a guy from Israel, whom I met during the ride, I stroll through the city a bit and discover Patacones - smashed and fried plantains.

Otherwise, there’s nothing to see in the place; only hotels and tour companies. That is what La Fortuna is known for: volcanoes, lakes, rafting, diving into water holes, hanging bridges, helicopter flights, and so on... I have to think carefully about what I want to do in that one day here.

Back home, we sit on the terrace and win a trivia game together against the other hostel guests. Example: 1. Which country in the world drinks the most coffee (Finland, Costa Rica, or Brazil)? And 2. which country has the most active volcanoes (Indonesia, Italy, or Iceland)? 3. In which country do people live the longest on average (Japan, Monaco, or Sweden)? Answers are at the very bottom.

We win a shot and 15% off an excursion from the hostel. It’s annoying that I paid for my trip to the volcano an hour before... but I’ll be going there the next day. My sleep schedule has changed so much that I now already take the first bus at 7:20 AM to walk through the forest as the very first person.

And because I’m also taking the