Travel to Tamarindo and You Might Just Find Yourself

by Lorryn Murray (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find Costa Rica

We expect a lot when we travel, comfy beds, cold AC, incredible food and beverages to unwind with and of course the most pleasant of staff at our accommodations. We tend to look for places that offer the ease of airport transfers and maybe a lot of extras or buzz words like 'all-inclusive', 'family friendly' or 'romantic getaway'. Those of us who are more active want the resorts or hotels that have everything at our fingertips (snorkeling? you got it!...Fishing? Marina this way..) Those of us who want to relax with food and drink all day may want quiet places with pool and beach service (May I bring you another mojito miss? Why yes you can!). Now, have you ever thought about all the things you never expected to find while on vacation? Maybe it was that unexpected tiny restaurant or the off the beaten path excursion that locals steered you towards. Sure, we can always count on what we expect, the reviews and insights of other travelers make that easy, so let’s take a moment to focus on the unexpected. While traveling to Tamarindo, Costa Rica, my husband and I had expectations of a fantastic nine day vacation that landed my 35th birthday right in the middle of the trip. The expectations grew as we planned, packed and became ready leave for our trip from New Jersey to Tamarindo. We knew we picked a stunning, adults only boutique hotel named Jardin del Eden and we knew we didn’t have to worry about airport transfers (hotel picked us up at Liberia Airport) or a car rental as the town of Tamarindo is very walkable. We expected a rainy day or two as we went in November, the tail end of the rainy season. Upon arrival, we expected the welcome drink, but the first unexpected experience of many was the incredible open-air lobby with 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean. The pictures simply did not do their website any favors as it was truly breathtaking. Our room was clean and simple with a large balcony overlooking the well-manicured grounds and again that gorgeous view. We found out later that view also hosted the most magical sunset I have ever seen. Naturally, the grounds were vibrant and lush with wildlife everywhere. The sounds of nature changed with the time of day becoming more beautiful with each hour. The hotel had a private beach front area with a bar where early morning yoga took place and a wide variety of drinks were being mixed by mid-morning. Heaven is what you can expect. It is hard to think of Costa Rica and not smile. While I have visited other countries, the welcoming nature of the locals was something I never expected. This was not limited to the hotel staff. Everywhere we went, smiling faces and laughter were all around. People are genuinely happy and it shows. They live by a saying, ‘pura vida’ meaning a simple life or pure life and you will hear it frequently. The locals do not stress about the things most tourists do and they choose to live a simple and relaxed life (something those of us from New Jersey could take a long lesson in!). Happiness everywhere and it was unexpectedly contagious. While traveling to this quaint beach town, I never expected to find such a feeling of grace and ease. The ability to travel to such an awesome destination was far more than I can ever find the words to describe. Those nine days of absolute heaven were not found in the hotel, during the excursions or on the beach, but in the people. Their smiles and well wishes truly made you feel as though you were a welcomed guest. I never expected to find a sense of well-being and true soul nourishment. I never expected to find myself on a perfect beach, in a little town, on the coast of Costa Rica.