Always Eating

This year, I haven’t been very well and was in hospital for quite a long time.  I wasn’t sure what my recovery would look like but knew it would be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining.  Fast forward six months to Christmas where I found myself in Costa Rica on a bit of a whim with one of my nearest and dearest friends.  I’ve never thought about visiting this country, had done no research, and had no expectations on where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do.  So, of course, this ended up being one of my absolute favourite trips and La Fortuna was a place I fell head over heels for. Here are some highlights from this green and luscious volcanic town.

To do:

Arenal Night Walk: You can’t come to Costa Rica without looking for some wildlife and a hike up Mount Arenal as night falls, with a torch in hand, and adventure in the air, is an unmissable experience.  We were able to spot anteaters, owl butterflies, eyelash pit vipers, glass frogs and red eye tree frogs amongst other insects and reptiles, and every single discovery put a smile on our faces. It’s a perfect evening activity before a late dinner and is worth every penny. 29,000 colónes/ £44 per person and can include pick up/ drop off at your hotel.

Don Juan Coffee and Chocolate Tour: A great morning was had exploring how coffee and cacao is grown, harvested, and cultivated.  Our guide was extremely kind and knowledgeable: explaining the difference between robusta and arabica beans, pointing out different flora and fauna, helping us create our own chocolate bar and showing us how to brew the perfect cup of coffee.  The gift shop is an experience in itself and has a great selection of coffee and chocolate to bring home.  As we were travelling with hand luggage, we had to be careful with weight and sizes but were still able to find something that fitted our restrictive bag space! 23,000 colónes / £35 per person for the tour, not including souvenirs.

To Eat:

Chocolate Fusion: A recommendation from our Mount Arenal guide, this little coffee shop located on the town square, was a perfect place to rest after a long volcanic morning hike.  Chocolate Fusion has counters upon counters of homemade cakes, pastries and chocolates as well as an extensive menu of hot and cold drinks.  As soon as I spotted the multi layered pastry and dulce de leche delight that is a Torta Chilena, I had to give it a try, and it did not disappoint.  That, plus an espresso with condensed milk really did feel like a well-deserved treat. 5,200 colónes/ £8 for a coffee and cake.

Snapper’s House: Down a few side roads away from the town centre, this restaurant wouldn’t look out of place on the seafront.  Nautical vibes and a menu full of seafood, I could almost hear the ocean. I ordered the Arroz Puerto Viejo where the rice was the star of the show.  Cooked in coconut milk and speckled with caramelised sweet plantain, it was soft, sweet and tropical.  Served with mixed seafood in a tomato, calypso sauce. This and a glass of deliciously fruity Sangria came to 12,500 colónes/ £18 which didn’t break the bank.

To Buy:

Supermarket Snacks: Pro is a Costa Rican brand that sell a variety of well-priced, sweet and savoury snacks, which we stocked up on every time we had a long bus journey around the country (which happened a lot!).  My particular favourites included Lemon and Salt flavoured plantain chips and Nacho Chilli Cheese corn crisps. 

Hot Sauce: Lizano is another Costa Rican brand that sells a mixture of spicy salsas and sauces.  I had to wait until I got through security at the airport before buying my tabasco (because of aforementioned hand luggage restrictions) which wasn’t the most economical of choices as the mark up was ridiculous, but the full range is available in supermarkets and convenience stores across the country.