Exploring
the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and Panamá
Update: I visited Costa Rica again in Sept 2019 with my daughter and her friend to celebrate her 21st birthday. A few things have changed:
- Monly's is no longer located on the main street but a few blocks away in a larger space. We ate there and had a great meal, well worth the visit
- The best mojitos we had were at Nemas
- "Lazy Mon" changed their name to "Stamfords", which apparently they were before
- "Sol del Caribe" appears to be out of business- closed the entire time we were there
"Blue Conga Hotel" is still a great value
Update: I visited Costa Rica again in Sept 2019 with my daughter and her friend to celebrate her 21st birthday. A few things have changed:
- Monly's is no longer located on the main street but a few blocks away in a larger space. We ate there and had a great meal, well worth the visit
- The best mojitos we had were at Nemas
- "Lazy Mon" changed their name to "Stamfords", which apparently they were before
- "Sol del Caribe" appears to be out of business- closed the entire time we were there
"Blue Conga Hotel" is still a great value
 |
| Sunset on Starfish Beach, Panamá |
If your search for tips on traveling to Costa Rica/Panamá led you to
this point, YOU’VE LANDED ON THE RIGHT BLOG! I put together this page to better help you get the most out of your trip to these exciting destinations. Over the past few
years I’ve penned a few blogs focusing mainly on travel info for those
going to major sporting events, such as the Olympics and World Cup, with an emphasis
on logistics: getting to the cities, accommodations, dining/nightlife
and what to do while there. Spending as little as possible while maximizing your experience is my game. So
let’s get at it!!
I’ve organized this blog into sections to better help you
follow it, then take you along as I travel from San Jose to the Caribbean
seaside town of Puerto Viejo. I then cross over the border and venture on to
the tropical islands of Bocas del Toro, Panamá.
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| Monly's, Puerto Viejo, CR |
Planning Your Trip
When
preparing your trip you should keep in mind a couple of things: mainly
peak/offpeak seasons and weather, which go hand in hand. The dry season runs
December through April, which is when most people travel to CR and prices tend
to be higher and accommodations more difficult to secure. If you travel during
the rainy season there’s a possibility that roads can be washed out and thus impassable
but on the upside prices will be lower and availability of rooms and travel
options more plentiful. Trip Advisor is a good place to get unbiased reviews of
hotels/restaurants/things to do. As far as travel documents, all you need is a
passport if you are an American citizen. And don’t forget to contact your
credit/debit card company to let them know where you are traveling and the dates you will be away.
Weather
 |
| Punta Uva Beach, CR |
As I alluded to above, there are basically 2 seasons: wet
and dry! Temperature-wise, it is moderate with highs rarely above 90 and lows barely
below 70 throughout most of Costa Rica. Thus, it’s wise to bring along a
light-weight, water-resistant jacket. I
found people in San Jose wear long pants and shorts, whereas in the coastal
cities shorts are fine anywhere. Casual is king, so don’t pack anything fancy.
I wore shorts and flip-flops all the time on this trip and never took out
my sneakers, which I would have worn if we had gone biking, but we didn’t. It’s
also good to bring a small water-resistant backpack with you for day trips and
hanging on the beach. Pack light as you may be on the move (we went from trains,
subways and taxis in NY, to vans, buses, water taxis, and downright schlepping
it in CR and Panama). We also saved $30 each way by packing all our luggage in
carry-on bags we brought on the plane (check out my YouTube video for more
tips on low budget travel!)
Flight Info
 |
| Landing in San José |
I usually use "Google Flights" for booking flights anywhere. I
would however avoid Spirit Airlines unless you don’t mind sitting in rigid
bus-style seats that don’t recline. We flew Delta this time and were able to
bring our carry-on bags onboard with no charges ($400 RT from LaGuardia). Flights from the Northeast US depart
early but you arrive in San Jose around noon (San Jose is 1-2 hours behind EDT,
depending on the time of year you travel), so you should have no problem
getting to your final destination in CR the same day.
Transportation within Costa Rica
 |
| Our Gecko Trail Driver |
Currently Sansa is the main airline operating within CR, as
Nature Air went out of business the middle of 2018 following a fatal air crash
New Year’s Eve 2017. There are a few smaller airlines just getting off the
ground (pun intended), though none offers service to the destinations we
traveled to (Puerto Viejo and Bocas del Toro).
I’ve traveled by bus a few times within CR and had no problems but for
the most part I prefer van service offered by Gecko Trail CR.
For this last
trip, we paid the charter price as there were 4 of us and this was
cheaper
than the shared van in our case and much more convenient. I’ve used the
shared
service in the past and it is a little less convenient as you may need
to wait
for other travelers’ flights to arrive before you leave the airport and
it
might also take a little longer to arrive at your destination as fellow
travelers may need to be left off at their destinations before you. If
you need a taxi within San José or for excursions, Vladmir is reliable.
Here's his email.
 |
| Hotel Mango, San José |
Hotel Accommodations
I use Booking.com whenever I travel, including to CR. With
Booking.com I can usually cancel and/or change my reservations with no penalty.
You can also access helpful reviews from fellow travelers on their site.
Language
Fortunately I am fluent enough to get by with Spanish, but
for the most part, you can make do with little or no knowledge of Spanish. It
is, however, useful to know a few basic words, if for nothing else as a
courtesy to the people you engage with.
Currency
For this trip, my greenbacks were accepted almost everywhere.
I didn’t exchange money or use the ATM when I arrived at San José Airport
(There is an ATM on departure level but the withdraw limit is US$100). Many
places in CR accept US Dollars and may give you change in Colones (the exchange
rate in Dec. '18 was about 600Colones=US$1). I waited until I got to Puerto
Viejo and used the ATM there, though the line could get long as there aren’t
many ATMs around. In Panamá you can use US Dollars anywhere; the official
currency is the Balboa but it is equal to the dollar, which has been legal
tender since 1904.
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| Red Frog Beach, Panamá |
Safety Concerns
Despite a serious crime occurring while we were in CR where
a 37y.o. US citizen was murdered at an AirBNB in San José, CR for the most part is
relatively safe; in fact, it’s one of the safest countries in all Latin
America. Common sense precautions are usually all you need. Many hotels and
hostels have a safe, but I always bring a lock to secure my luggage just in
case. I prefer to leave my passport locked up at the hotel and carry a hard
copy while out, with a picture on my phone as well.
Travel Insurance
Do you really need travel insurance? The answer is
undoubtedly YES. Unexpected travel costs and interruptions can add up quickly
and your current insurance plans may not cover you. For as little as $5/day for
a 10 day trip to CR, you can get comprehensive coverage for sickness/medical
expenses, cancellation of flights, lost luggage, etc. AIG is a world leader in
this field.
 |
| Sunset Puerto Viejo |
This was
my 4th trip to CR and second visit to Puerto Viejo. My girlfriend is traveling
with me, along with 2 of our friends, Dennis and Mary, who visited PV last year
and started planning for this trip as soon as they got back. None of us had
been to Panamá, and from PV this is an exciting and relatively easy hop, skip
and ocean jump to the island of Colón.
 |
| San José Duty Free |
Let's Get Rolling!!
 |
| Hitting the Road |
As I
mentioned, we got a chartered van so our driver was basically our chauffeur. On
the way out of town, we stopped at a convenience store to pick up some
beverages. I made a Cuba Libre for myself and the party got under way!!
 |
| Dennis couldn't wait any longer |
The trip to
the Caribbean coast is long and rough, most of it being a 2 lane road and
heavily congested, to the point that we came to a complete standstill many
times. The good news is that it looks like the road is being expanded in many
places, so hopefully the future is brighter. To get to PV it could take
anywhere from 5-7 hours, but the van was air conditioned and had wi-fi, and the
driver will stop when you’d like him to.
 |
| Lotus Garden Hotel, PV |
We arrived
in PV around 8PM and sat outside with the hotel manager, Jordan, an ex-pat
who’s resided in PV for the past 15 years and runs the Lotus Garden, which has
been around for a few years and is also, by the way, up for sale (if you’re
interested I can provide more details!!)
We slept in until 9AM. Dennis and Mary already had breakfast at the hotel. Pat and I decided to head out and get something to eat along the way (I later discovered a new fruit, Manzana de Agua, or Water Apple, which was delicious).
 |
| Cocles Beach, PV |
Day 2, Jaguar Rescue Center/Punta Uva Beach
On my first trip to PV four years ago I didn’t visit the Jaguar Rescue Center and deeply regretted it afterwards. Our initial plan was to bike there (bike rentals run about US$7/day) but Pat was apprehensive about riding on the narrow roads with no shoulders, so together with Mary and Dennis, we flagged a taxi and then arranged for them to pick us up a few hours later at the center. NOTE: scheduled tours are offered twice a day: 9:30am and 11:30am, so plan accordingly. However, tours are divided up into small, manageable groups. The Center is not a zoo, but a rehabilitation center for exotic animals with the goal of returning them to their natural habitats, and by touring the center, the US$20 admission fee contributes to this goal. The tour is educational and enlightening. It’s a must-do and you’ll be glad you did it.
There were a few non-scripted moments when a wild pig attacked a caretaker who was holding a baby monkey, so anything could happen.
 |
| Punta Uva Beach, CR |
Our taxi promptly picked us up and brought us to “Punta Uva” Beach. This is
one of the nicest beaches along the Caribbean coast of CR and we basically had
it all to ourselves. Aside from a small covered stand selling handmade jewelry
and beer/soda, there was very little infrastructure. The ocean itself was calm
and warm, and the scenery spectacular. Punta Uva is the beach of your dreams,
but this one is real. It was clean, it was scenic and it was unspoiled. You can
rent a kayak if you like and paddle around the shore or head down the river
which flows to the ocean. If you decide to bike here, which is a good idea due
to the beach being so secluded, it will take you about 45 mins.
 |
| Kayak at Punta Uva |
Getting
back to town was a little tricky: we walked about 10 mins to the main road and
waited for a taxi/bus/tuk-tuk. One vehicle did pass by and picked up other
people, so after I talked to the driver, he called a friend who came to pick us
up (warning us NOT to take another ride while his friend was on his way). We
were dropped off at the “Sol del Caribe”, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner (fresh
Red Snapper, Curry Chicken, etc). The hosts were very friendly and came over to
our table to chat with us.
After, we walked back into town and enjoyed 2x1 Happy
Hour at the “Lazy Mon”, a bar/restaurant/hostel/hangout featuring yummy tropical
drinks, offbeat music and genial wait staff. And if the urge hits you, the water
is a stone’s throw, or drunken stroll away, so you can cool off whenever you’d
like.
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| Lunch "Sol del Caribe" |
Day 3, Get-away Day. Next Stop Panamá!
 |
| Breakfast at Gustibus |
We could
have roughed it and taken a bus to the border, crossed over, caught a ride to
the port city of Almirante and hopped on a water taxi, but we opted to stay
with Gecko Trail and travel worry-free. We picked up coffee and croissants next door
at the delightful Gustibus Bakery, then walked back to our hotel where our van
punctually arrived at 8am. There was a Dutch Couple riding with us and we all
enjoyed the hour trip to the border. At the border, a young man came up to us
and helped with crossing. I originally thought he was with Gecko, but it turned
out he wasn’t. He led us through each station until we got on the bus across the border to bring
us to Almirante. I tipped him a few bucks and actually appreciated his help. A
few tips about crossing the border:
-
- You
will need to pay a US$8 exit fee on the CR side at a small stand
- - Next
you will need to get your exit stamp at a separate post across the street
-
- You’ll
then walk a narrow bridge over a river to Panama- about 200 meters
-
- Next
stop, Immigration, Panama style
- - Finally,
fill out paper work at a final station
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| Pat crossing into Panamá |
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| Water Taxi to the Island |
When
we arrived at Bocas, our hotel was a mere 20 meter walk from where we docked.
We stayed at the Hotel Limbo, which I booked in advance and paid when we
arrived. The price was right at US$61/night, breakfast included.
The rooms were
comfortable and clean, with air conditioning. Our room did not have a safe, but
Dennis and Mary’s did. They also had hot water, though our room was spotty with
this. But overall, I think this hotel is worth it if you desire convenience and
location. There is a decent restaurant a couple of doors down (El Pirata, which
offers a US$5 executive lunch), and you can easily catch a water taxi to other
islands and towns from here. There is also bus service right down the street to
Starfish Beach.
 |
| El Limbo Hotel |
 |
| Sunset on Starfish Beach |
There are
accommodations on the neighboring islands if your long for tranquility and
seclusion, but for our first foray to Bocas, El Limbo was ideal.
We had a nice lunch at El Pirata
(which doubles
as a night club after hours), then decided to get out and explore. We
chose Starfish Beach and after getting directions from the
hotel,
headed to the main plaza to catch the bus. Unfortunately, the next bus
had broken
down and was running real late (we should have taken a taxi but I
thought we
could save a few bucks with the bus). It took quite a while to get there and it was almost dark, so we just walked around, then took the
last bus
back. The bus costs US$2.50 and takes
between ½ hr to one hr to get to Star Fish Beach, depending on the time of day.
The taxi is $15 for up to 4 ppl. |
| El Pirata for food, drink and nightlife |
As for
Bocas, it was bigger and more bustling than I imagined, but had a typical Latin
flavor to it and most of the businesses seemed to cater to locals- there are
plenty of supermarkets and small restaurants, along with street stands selling
food. There is also a lot of night life and I imagine the place is really
hopping during the peak season and holidays.
Our hotel had
a restaurant but it was temporarily closed; however we were able to buy food and
beverages at supermarkets and enjoy them on the back deck overlooking the
Caribbean, which was wonderful. They even supplied us with wine glasses!
Day 4, Bastimentos Island and Red Frog Beach
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| Water Taxi driver Máximo |
We
had breakfast downstairs at the hotel, then discussed plans for the day. I had
wanted to visit Red Frog Beach on Bastimentos Island and everyone was up for it.
We asked at the info. center in front of the hotel where we could get the water
taxi there and was pointed to a place a couple doors down from El Pirata. We
went in and talked to a boat owner named Maximo. The price was US$7 per person each way, but we agreed to a price of
US$56 total for all of us, where Maximo would take us to Red Frog Beach,
then pick us up at 3pm and bring us to the town of Bastimentos, farther down
the island, for lunch, then pick us up a couple hours later for the ride home.
 |
| Path to Paradise |
So
off we went!! It took about 20 minutes to arrive, but we weren’t there yet. You need to pay another $5 to cross over
private land to get to the beach. The path is well-groomed and we
encountered a crocodile in the swamp on the way over! This all added to the
thrill of the journey and when we arrived, we knew we had reached a special
place.
Your first impression is that you are really detached from the rest of
the world. Your 9-5 job could not be more distant as a sense of escape takes
over. We surveyed the area, then decided to mosey over to the bar/restaurant
next door where we paid $5/person to
rent a beach chair (which included much needed umbrellas and tables). We bought
cold beers and sodas to mix with the rum we brought. I also walked a little
farther down the beach and found an old man who sold fresh coconuts for US$1
each, which are also a perfect match for my good friend Captain Morgan. This place had a decent menu including red snapper,
but we had already decided to eat elsewhere.
My
next move was very regretable: I decided to take on the waves and enjoy my
favorite water sport: body surfing. As you can see from the picture, the waves
got the best of me, lunging me through the air and slamming my head on the ocean
floor.
I ended up with a swollen eye and sore back, but it could have been much
worse. The alcohol probably numbed the pain, but the shiner would last a few
more days. I later walked down the beach with Pat to the end, where the ocean
was much calmer and there was a nice overlook we went to and snapped some
postcard photos. We then headed back up the beach where we met Mary and Dennis,
then walked to the dock to meet Maximo. He took us to Bastimentos village where
we ate at a restaurant situated on a dock over the water.
We all ordered
seafood and washed it down with cold Balboa beer, named after the conquistador
and a little on the heavy side, which I prefer. We were going to walk around
town after we ate but Maximo arrived early so we boarded his boat and skimmed
over the water back to our hotel. At the hotel we enjoyed a drink on the
deck as people dined and enjoyed the music and good vibes all around us. El
Pirata was packed and the music was loud, but fortunately our room was on the
quiet side of the hotel (Mary and Dennis were not so lucky). We retired to our
room early.
Day 5, Starfish Beach, Take 2
To be honest, the breakfast at our hotel was mediocre at best. Mary is a dietician and enjoys good food while Pat is very particular about what she consumes.
I
enjoy fresh tropical fruits, and though breakfast at the hotel included
pineapple and watermelon, I was expecting a little more. The processed packaged
cheese product kind of turned us off as well, so we looked around for a decent
buffet but couldn’t find anything worthwhile.
We ended up buying some
yogurt and a few other products at the supermarket and went back to the hotel,
where we asked our waiter for fruits and coffee. Dennis and I also had eggs and
toast. We all decided to return to Starfish Beach, which turned out to be a
very wise choice. We caught a bus at 10am at the plaza (the bus name is Boca del Drago and passes every 1/2 hour, latin time).
You
stay on the bus until the end of the line, then walk quite a ways if you
want to get to Starfish Beach, but don’t be tempted to stop when you first get
there. Keep going even farther (at the first few beach stands you will pay $5
to rent a beach chair, but the more you walk, the better it gets as chairs are
free and the crowds are smaller, the water nicer!!). I can’t overestimate
how wonderful this place is! The waters are calm as they lie between the island
and the mainland. Starfish are actually meandering at your feet (DON’T TOUCH
THEM!! THERE ARE ACTUALLY GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS PATROLLING THE BEACH TO PROTECT
THE STARFISH).
We
ended up at the absolute last hut on the beach, where we enjoyed fresh red
snapper, the best we had the entire trip! Pat’s fish was the largest and the
price with all the fixings was US$20. Dennis and I enjoyed ours just as much,
though we paid US$15 for a smaller portion. Mary devoured scrumptious shrimp
tacos. Pat worked closely with the bartender on our drinks to ensure they were
potent, so the Pineapples with Pina Coladas concoctions came drenched in rum
(for only $3 each!!).
We washed it all down with more rum drinks, then somehow
found our bearings and headed back to the bus stop. A
bus was waiting for us, but what’s the rush?? We sat at a quiet restaurant and
had one last beer, overlooking the sunset and taking in this beautiful
piece of heaven, one last time. The bus ride back to town was pretty quick as
there weren’t many people on board and the driver was obviously channeling his favorite
Formula One driver. Back in town, we looked for fresh empanadas to munch on but
couldn’t find any as it was a Sunday night and there weren’t many street
vendors out.
So we went back to the hotel and watched the boats go by one last
time on the back deck, then went up to our rooms around 9PM, having taken in
another fulfilling and adventurous day.
 | |
| Red Frog Beach |
 |
| Dennis living the life |
 |
| Miscalculated wave strength |
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| Restaurant in Bastimentos |
Day 5, Starfish Beach, Take 2
To be honest, the breakfast at our hotel was mediocre at best. Mary is a dietician and enjoys good food while Pat is very particular about what she consumes.
 |
| Breakfast at El Limbo |
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| Boca del Drago arrival |
 |
| Postcard Beaches |
 |
| Pat's first look at starfish |
 |
| Heading back to Bocas |
Day 6, Return to Puerto Viejo
Lotus Garden: Mary and Dennis stayed here last year and had a good experience, so thought it would be wise to return. The manager is from the US and keeps the property well maintained, though the rooms definitely need a facelift.
The hotel is close to the
action, which is convenient for going out and not having to take long hikes to
and fro, but this has a down side in that, if your room is close to the road,
it can be very loud (we heard traffic every morning at 6AM right outside our
window). If you can get a room in the back, which seems to be the more expensive ones, you wouldn’t have this problem. The gardens are very beautiful and
attract all kinds of local wildlife, but this also has a downside in that the
pool gets used more by critters than human. The breakfast looked
good, but wasn’t included in the price.
So I think depending on what you are
looking for (price/location/comfort/cleanliness), this hotel may be a good
choice or may be something you pass on. In any event, it is up for sale, so if
you’d like to move to paradise on a permanent basis, this might be your ticket.
I can provide you with more info if you’re interested.
After
breakfast at the hotel we boarded our water taxi (Torres Taxi) at noon and
headed back. The lady at the reception for the water taxi had to confirm that
there would be someone waiting for us at Almirante as she didn’t have
confirmation (she didn’t speak much English so my Spanish came in handy again).
Once everything was worked out, we hopped in and off we went. The trip back
seemed a little quicker and we gained an hour with the time change to CR time.
The same kid who assisted us into Panamá met us again for helping us into CR. I
probably didn’t need his help but I trusted him now and tipped him a few more
bucks, which he appreciated.
We arrived back at Lotus Garden the middle of the
afternoon (this worked out very well, as we had left a lot of our baggage at
Lotus while we traveled to Panamá; otherwise we would have had to bring
everything to Panamá, then back to CR, which included all our heavy clothing
for the trip down here, along with dirty laundry, etc.). We changed and hit the
boulevard. Mary suggested we have dinner at Monly’s, and she was right on
target. This place, located across from Lazy Mon, had an incredible array of
appetizers and seafood (the owner presented the menu and told us the restaurant
has its own fishing boat, so the seafood is freshly caught).
We had an
appetizer of King Fish and I got revenge with a shark burrito. But the best part were
the drinks! Every bar and restaurant in PV has 2x1 Happy Hour, but the drinks
here were beyond description. I had one Mojito (full of fresh mint) and one Guaro
Sour (the national drink of Costa Rica, made from sugar cane, which reminded me
a lot of Cachaça in Brasil). After 2 drinks I was feeling pretty good to say
the least. Our next, and last stop for the night, was Lazy Mon, where we found
Claudia from Barcelona, who we had met earlier in PV and who works at BananaAzul, the nicest resort in PV located on the outskirts of town.
We had more
drinks (Happy Hour of course), then strolled back to our hotel one last time,
where we had a good night’s sleep after a full day.
 |
| Last peak at El Limbo |
 |
| Pat with eye on our bag |
 |
| Seafood at Monly's |
 |
| Sunset from Lazy Mon |
Day 7, Off to San José
We started
our day at the bakery Gustibus next door and loaded up on carbs. Gecko picked us up
promptly at 8AM and we were on our way. Once we got past the commercial port city of Puerto Limón traffic
wasn’t too bad. We stopped for lunch at a decent place along the way and was
making good time. However, when we got within ½ hour of our hotel the van broke down.
We
ended up waiting about an hour for another van to pick us up, so we got in a
little late. We finally arrived at the Mango Hotel, right across from the end
of the airport. I was hoping to take a dip in the pool but it was getting
chilly and windy. So we hung out for a while and waited for the restaurant to
open, where we enjoyed a free cocktail, then salads and Italian food.
 |
| Our van let us down! |
 |
| San José Airport |
Most
flights
back to the US leave early in the morning, so you’ll need to spend the
night in
SJ the day before your flight. The Mango Hotel is super convenient and
has free
shuttle service (you would pay US$25 for a taxi if you stay in town). We
left early in the morning but our time at the hotel was pleasurable. In the past
you had to pay a departure fee at the airport but this has been done away with.
Getting through the airport is quick and easy and there were people at the
kiosk to help us check in. TIP: The duty free at the gates is also very good!!
I bought Havana Club Rum and Malibu to bring back (I’m not sure if it’s legal to bring back anything manufactured in Cuba
but I got through no problem so I guess I’m officially a rum runner).
Hotel Reviews
We
stayed at 2 hotels in Costa Rica and one in Panamá. I always look for places that are
centrally located, safe, clean and if possible, breakfast included. Cost, of
course, is paramount factor for me. So here’s a little rundown:
Lotus Garden: Mary and Dennis stayed here last year and had a good experience, so thought it would be wise to return. The manager is from the US and keeps the property well maintained, though the rooms definitely need a facelift.
Blue CongaI stayed here a few years ago with my daughter to celebrate her 16th birthday and this place is a gem.
 |
| Breakfast Blue Conga |
El Limbo
provided us with the basics we sought: price, location and convenience. At
$61/night for a double room, I figured we couldn’t go wrong and we didn’t. Knowing
ahead of time that we would be spending a lot of time exploring the cluster of
islands and beaches surrounding Bocas, we really just needed a low-cost, safe place, and El
Limbo is located adjacent to Torres Taxi, which brought us from Almirante, as
well as other water taxis next door.
However, the city of Bocas is small
enough that you can easily walk to any hotel/bar/restaurant, and even the local
airport. Just make sure you get a room here on the opposite side of El Pirata, which
can get pretty loud, especially on weekends.
 |
| El Limbo deck view |
We
stayed here the night before our flight home. Being located adjacent to the
airport and not downtown saved us $25 on taxi fares alone (they offer a free
shuttle service to the airport, which we took advantage of). The pool looked
refreshing but we got in to town too late to take a dip. The restaurant was
nice, offering Italian fare and a free happy hour drink.
The place was in a
safe location, clean, and the owner was friendly, so our basic needs were met.
I’ll use them again on my next trip.
 |
| Chilling in SJ on last night |
It’s always
nice to have a familiar face waiting for you when you arrive at a foreign
airport, and whenever I’ve needed a ride in SJ I’ve contacted Vladimir. He’s prompt
and courteous and will be waiting for you at the airport exit in San José upon
your arrival. You can contact him at 506-8877-5967 (which is also his WhatsApp
contact number).
What do you need to bring along?
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as a backpack as well as wheels for easy transport. Everything I brought with
me easily fit inside. The Samsonite brand assures me I made a wise
purchase. This bag will pay you back many times over!!
Here is a YouTube version of our trip:
Click here for Flikr pictures of my trip!
It was obviously
logical to pack light, as we were bouncing around from subways to taxis, vans
to water taxis, and just old-fashioned schlepping it. We also saved $30 each
way on our plane flight by carrying our bags onboard. I take
packing very seriously and put together a neat little youtube video which is
loaded with tips for packing for overseas travel. Check it out here. Below are some of the essentials, all available on Amazon:
Low price of only $11.49!
This bag is perfect for daily outings: lightweight and water resistant, it folds up neatly into a small pouch, though it's big enough to store items such as your rain jacket, water bottles, etc.
Just $13.00!
There's a good chance it'll rain at some point on your trip. You will need to be prepared unless you enjoy getting drenched. The jacket featured here is exactly what you need: light weight (7oz.), 100% waterproof with a hood, and it restuffs into the pocket.
This
travel bag was truly the best purchase I've made for my travels, and priced
much lower than you'd find on Samsonite's website! As we all know,
traveling by plane has become more complicated, with added charges for
checked baggage. I was able to carry this bag into the plane cabin. It has straps to use
as a backpack as well as wheels for easy transport. Everything I brought with
me easily fit inside. The Samsonite brand assures me I made a wise
purchase. This bag will pay you back many times over!!Here is a YouTube version of our trip:
Click here for Flikr pictures of my trip!
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