This weekend, about 12 of us went to Tamarindo Beach at the North Pacific coast. It was a 5 hour scenic bus drive through the mountains of Costa Rica. It was our first time visiting somewhere outside San Jose and it was exhilarating!

We arrived around 8 at night, and stayed in a beautiful hotel, “El Rey.” The next day, we went across the street to the beach bright and early. The view was amazing; clear water and mountains in the distance. Many Ticos (name for Costa Ricans) walked along the beach selling things such as jewelry, pots, and coconut juice which was extremely fresh and replenishing. Surf lessons, horseback riding, and boat tours were also available. Along the beach, there are restaurants, hotels, and massage therapy.

My friend Olivia and I met 2 Ticos who showed us around the beach. They showed us a swamp where a crocodile resides! We also slack-lined which is almost like tight-rope walking. There was an island about a mile away, and we swam to it. It was a little scary but exhilarating! As we were halfway to the island, there were huge waves as well as rocks; if the waves had bad timing, we would crash into the rocks. It was definitely a thrilling experience and workout but I’m glad we did it because the island was gorgeous!

Later, our group watched the sunset at the beach and took many pictures. I definitely did not want to come back to the city since Tamarindo was so gorgeous. The experience was amazing especially because I made Tico friends, practiced my Spanish with them, and learned new slang like “mae” (dude) and “ahuuo” (wow). The people in Tamarindo are some of the most worry-free and happy people I’ve ever seen. Everyone acts like they are family even if they don’t know each other. I will definitely have to return to Tamarindo before I leave Costa Rica! Luckily, this coming weekend we are going to another beach, Puerto Viejo. I’m so excited to explore more of Costa Rica!

Pura Vida,

Laura