Where to Next? Try Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica.

I’ve had the opportunity to travel to many wonderful destinations over the years. I can’t say that I have a favorite spot because knowing me, that list would likely change every week and because there’s so much still to see and experience. What I can do is recommend travel-worthy destinations you should visit, though. And if you love great weather, a slower pace, and quiet beaches, Playa Flamingo should be on your list. Here are a few hot tips to make planning your visit a little easier.

Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

Outdoor adventure, stunning sunsets, beachside food and drinks, and relaxing ocean water.

IMG_2174

Playa Flamingo lies along Costa Rica’s famous Gold Coast in the Guanacaste Province. It is a breathtaking mile-long, crescent-shaped beach just as beautiful as any of the famed beaches in the country and a perfect setting for a vacation.

I visited in November with a group of friends, each of us searching for a relaxing getaway and tropical weather with outdoor beauty and adventure. That’s exactly what we got. Playa Flamingo offers white sand beaches, warm blue ocean water and plenty of outdoor activities such as ATV tours, jet-skiing, and ocean cruises. But if you’re expecting an exciting nightlife, high-rise hotels, and crowded shops, this isn’t your spot. Expect less-crowded beaches and local restaurants since most tourists start rolling through in December.

Hot Tip #1: Fly into Liberia

Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport offers seamless travel to the Playa Flamingo which is an hour or less drive away via a paved road. Rental cars are available from Alamo, Avis, and Budget near the airport.

Hot Tip #2: Rent a house for you and your friends.

Resort stays at amazing places like Flamingo Beach Resort are great, don’t get me wrong, but a private house for you and your closest friends will make your stay even more enjoyable. We rented Casa Miramar, a six-bedroom villa perched on the side of a hill with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Having our own on-site chef was certainly a highlight as well. She was amazing, friendly, and an amazing chef which could not have been easy for our large group. (Reminder: Tip well!)

IMG_2010
The view on your way to Casa Miramar.
IMG_2018
The view of the Pacific from the back terrace.
IMG_2148
I enjoyed coffee and spectacular views every morning on my visit.

Hot Tip #3: Have some fun

ATV Tours and jet skiing is offered by friendly locals right outside of Flamingo Beach Resort. If scuba diving is your thing, hit the water at Islas Catalinas which offers amazing diving among marine life.

IMG_4301

One day our entire group also chartered a private catamaran with Lazy Lizard Sailing for an afternoon of kayaking, snorkeling, and ocean cruising.

IMG_2252

IMG_2222IMG_2257

Hot Tip #4: Grab a drink.

You have two options to enjoy some of the best cocktails in Costa Rica. First is Coco Loco. This oceanfront bar and restaurant offers lunch, dinner, drinks and panoramic views. If you’ve rented a beach chair, their friendly staff will gladly take your order and bring those tasty mojitos right to you.

IMG_2044

The other option is The Sunset Lounge, a rooftop bar right on the beach at Flamingo Beach Resort. The friendly staff serves up tasty food, cold beer, wine and incredible hand-crafted specialty cocktails.

IMG_2014
The view from Sunset Lounge.

Hot Tip #5: Relax and enjoy a spectacular sunset.

IMG_2105

IMG_2139IMG_2172

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s

Blog at WordPress.com.