Friday, February 8, 2008
Day 8 Jaco: Massage, Music & a Spectacular Sunset
The staff and guests at Canciones del Mar were abuzz with excitement this morning. A beachside wedding was planned for sunset, and preparations were being made to ensure the ceremony was an unforgettable experience. It looked to be an intimate gathering, with around 50 friends and family. Linen-covered tables adorned with flowers accented an already tropical backdrop.After a tasty buffet breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, I nipped out for stroll on the busy streets. The weekend had arrived, and with it came hundreds of Ticos from the city. Ready for some sun and fun, they set up tents and hammocks along the beach while salsa and reggae
blared from nearby houses. Everyone was gearing up for the big reggaeton concert that evening, and shops played Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina song over and over, in anticipation of the singer’s performance.I treated myself to an invigorating deep-tissue massage at one of Jaco’s day spas, where my therapist spent a good hour kneading every bit of tension from my shoulders. The spa menu included treatments like ginger-lime body scrubs and lemongrass wraps, with delicious natural ingredients that probably tasted as good as they smelled.
Rayna had been craving a good hamburger all week, and we finally found it at Jaco Taco of all
places. This Tex-Mex restaurant hosts DJ parties, ladies’ nights and happy hour with two-for-one drinks, and is a popular tourist hangout.We returned to Canciones del Mar, where owner Peter showed us the hotel’s brand new roof-top terrace, complete with Jacuzzi and ocean view. Slated to open the first week of February, the terrace will serve Spanish tapas, or savory appetizers, along with a nice selection of wines – the perfect accompaniment to a Jaco sunset.
By 5 p.m., the outlying road to Jaco was packed with cars overflowing from the concert’s parking area. While the music didn’t appeal to either of us, a part of me wanted to go, to people watch if nothing else. We decided instead to watch our final Jaco sunset from the Greek-inspired amphitheater at Villa Caletas, a luxury hilltop hotel 15 minutes outside of town.Looming high above the Pacific Ocean, the amphitheater had a 180-degree panorama of Jaco, Herradura and Punta Leona. Racing past reception, we arrived just before twilight. New Age music drifted from the speakers as guests relaxed
with cocktails and cappuccinos, watching the sky take on different colors.Waiters ran up and down the steep amphitheater steps, refilling glasses while artfully dodging small children. Between the Zen music, Greek architecture and flowing cocktails, the whole experience seemed dreamlike.
After a low-key dinner in town, we headed back to the comfort of Canciones del Mar, where the wedding party was just winding down. A few speeches and Lionel Richie ballads later, and the celebration was over, or at least was moving somewhere else.
Jaco, with its rapid development and huge influx of tourists, has gotten a reputation as nothing more than a party town. In our week of adventure tours and explorations, it was clear that Jaco is just like any other destination – exactly what you make of it.
Stay out each night until dawn and you will always remember it as a “spring break” destination. Spend your days making sandcastles with your kids and you will walk away thinking of Jaco as a family-friendly spot. For me, the Jaco experience meant creature comforts, fabulous food, great surf and tons of adventure opportunities.
Contact Info:
Las Canciones del Mar
Email: info@cancionesdelmar.com
Telephone: 506-643-3273
www.cancionesdelmar.com
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Day 7 Jaco: Playa Hermosa’s Beach Breaks and a Canopy Tour
Rayna’s 5:30 a.m. alarm roused me from a deep sleep, so I decided to make the best of the early wake-up call with a few sunrise photographs of Playa Bejuco. The morning air was damp and cool as I wandered out to the empty beach. I watched one adventurous surfer tackle the waves, and plunked down in the deep, night-chilled sand to soak up the warm sunlight.After breakfast we drove north towards Playa
Hermosa to check out one of the biggest beach breaks (after Dominical) on the country’s Pacific Coast.Just five kilometers south of Jaco, Playa Hermosa is a favorite spot among surfers, with seven distinct surf points along its ten-kilometer shore. The area is much less developed than neighboring Jaco, and attracts experienced surfers from around the world with its consistent waves and annual international surf contest.
Playa Hermosa, as its name implies, is a place of undeniable beauty – its broad grey-sand beach contrasted by pounding white surf. A handful of surfers were out riding some respectable waves, which grow much larger during the rainy season.
The beach is also part of a wildlife refuge that protects nesting Olive Ridley sea turtles. Between the months of July and December, females come ashore to lay their eggs and begin the life cycle anew.Driving north towards Jaco from Hermosa, an incredible vista gapes from the Costanera Highway. While taking a few photos of the rocky coastline, I was joined by two pairs of noisy scarlet macaws screeching overhead. In Jaco, I stopped at Bubba’s Taco Stand for a simple but tasty lunch. You can’t beat perfectly grilled and seasoned wahoo, especially when it’s fresh off the boat.
Just after lunch, Rayna and I drove a few minutes outside of town to the Waterfalls Canopy Tour. No matter how many of these adrenaline-fueled tours I do, I still manage to get a little nervous when gearing up. We hiked up a trail through transitional rainforest to glimpse a waterfall before preparing ourselves for the first zip-line cable. Our guides kept the mood light with jokes as I clipped in for my first rush above the treetops.The Waterfall Canopy Tour had seven zip-line
cables, a Tarzan Swing, and a 90-foot rappel at the very end. Thankfully, the Tarzan Swing was short and sweet and didn’t involve any sort of bungee cord, or our guides would have been carrying Rayna down a tree. As we zoomed from platform to platform, even the most terrified guests began to relax and have fun. Our screams and laughter no doubt chased off any wildlife, but both toucans and scarlet macaws screamed back at us during the tour. There was even a three-story tree house, which allowed a bird’s eye view of the surrounding forest.
For the final rappel, our guides belayed us, first slowly then in freefall from a platform some 90 feet above ground. Hearts pounding, we thanked our guides at Waterfall Canopy Tour for our afternoon adventure.
For our final two nights in Jaco, we stayed at the hotel Canciones del Mar, a lovely boutique hotel located right on the beach. Flourishing gardens dominate the hotel grounds, which are beautifully-landscaped with a pool and plenty of deck space for sunbathing.
Our cheerful room was equipped with a kitchen, A/C, safe and cable TV, and the entire hotel had free wireless internet.
The hotel also features two-bedroom condos and a honeymoon suite, which offer extra space and privacy. But the real draw of Canciones del Mar, which translates as “songs of the sea", is its prime location, just a few feet from the ocean.
Contact Info:Las Canciones del Mar
Email: info@cancionesdelmar.com
Telephone: 506-643-3273
www.cancionesdelmar.com
Waterfall Canopy Tour
Email: waterfallscanopy@racsa.co.cr
Telephone: 506-643-3322
www.waterfallscanopy.com
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Day 6: A Relaxing Day at Playa Bejuco
We slept in a bit and savored a late poolside breakfast at Hotel Mar de Luz. A constant breeze kept temperatures mild and comfortable, even on this warm summer day. I browsed some of Jaco’s unusual gift shops and mentally redecorated my house, wishing I had an unlimited income. Handmade silver jewelry, original clothing, funky Asian-style lamps, and rustic home décor pieces were sold at reasonable prices. On the outskirts of town, a few furniture galleries specializing in items from Indonesia, Thailand and Guatemala were doing a brisk business. They mostly catered to Jaco’s resident population of ex-pats, a blend of Dutch, Canadians, Italians, Germans and Americans. This melting pot of cultures and languages has had a big impact on Jaco, and is obvious in the town’s eclectic mix of restaurants, hotels and shops.
English is the language of choice on the streets, and many visitors can spend an entire holiday in Jaco without ever speaking a word of Spanish. For some travelers, this may be a deterrent, but to many it reaffirms Jaco’s reputation as an easy vacation destination.
That afternoon we decided to explore the wide, deserted beaches of Playa Bejuco. Located 31 kilometers south of Jaco on the way to Quepos, Bejuco is a place to relax and unwind. Forget about shopping, internet cafes, or nightlife of any kind. Bejuco’s claim to fame is raw, untouched beauty where travelers can walk miles of beach without so much as seeing another person.
Strong riptides keep swimmers at bay, but Bejuco’s surf is well-known in the local community. There are plenty of beach breaks, but fewer surfers than in nearby Playa Hermosa.We arrived just before sunset, in time to take in a spirited game of soccer on the beach before watching a seemingly oversized sun melt into the horizon.
We stayed at Hotel Playa Bejuco, a new hotel and restaurant located a block from the ocean. Our rooms were both rustic and luxurious, with crisp linens, A/C, fridge, and cable, and large orthopedic mattresses on raised platforms. Twenty spacious rooms are centered around a large
and small pool that look towards the ocean. I loved the dark wood accents in our suite, and my back appreciated the firm but comfortable mattress. Hotel Playa Bejuco, like its sister hotel Mar de Luz in Jaco, is family-oriented. The restaurant serves all meals, including a filling breakfast with fabulous homemade bread, which is included in the room rate.
In Jaco, the nighttime thrills are just getting started around 10 p.m., but here in Bejuco, it’s the hour to wind down. If you want to relax and refresh your body and mind, this is the place to come.
Contact Info:
Hotel Playa Bejuco
Telephone: 506-778-8181
or 506-778-8195
www.hotelplayabejuco.com
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Day 5 Jaco: The Pacific Rainforest from a Gondola
When I first saw the brochure for the “Tranopy Tour”, I couldn’t help but picture the latest craze to hit Jaco – a canopy tour run completely by transvestites. After 9 p.m., a different side of Jaco emerges, and Rayna and I had observed a fair number of these lovelies, which had apparently made a lasting impression on me. The Tranopy Tour was in fact a combination aerial tram and canopy tour offered by Rainforest Aerial Trams Costa Rica, which has a sister tram tour at the Braulio Carillo National Park. This afternoon we would embark on another of their combo-tours, which included a nature walk through heliconia gardens and a serpentarium, followed by a 40-minute gondola ride high above the treetops.
Situated in a park of over 200 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, each gondola at the Pacific Rainforest Aerial Tram affords guests sweeping views of the Central Pacific while slowly climbing above the canopy layer. The park is located ten-minutes
from Jaco, and many tours include roundtrip transportation to this popular attraction.Rayna and I arrived just as the larger groups were winding down their tours, and the guides made sure to stagger each departure to help avoid large clusters of tourists. After watching a short video on the history of the park, we joined our naturalist guide Walter for a leisurely walk through the heliconia gallery.
Hummingbirds zoomed by as we got a closer look at several species of bromeliad, and learned about the healing properties of cardamom, black pepper and begonia. We sampled lemongrass, mint and cinnamon leaves while ambling along the lush trails of the medicinal herb garden.
The serpentarium housed both venomous and non-venomous snakes endemic to Costa Rica, including the highly aggressive jumping pit viper and slightly less threatening boa constrictor. We also saw one of the world’s most venomous snakes, the fer-de-lance, a common species in Costa Rica, known locally as the terciopelo.
We boarded an open-air gondola for the 1.5
kilometer trip above towering ficus and fruit trees. Our guide looked for trogons, spider and white-faced monkeys and spotted a great potoo in the distance, an owl-like bird related to frogmouths and nightjars. While Rayna and Walter hurriedly passed the binoculars back and forth to spot this oddly-named creature, I thought they were putting me on. I had no idea a great potoo even existed or could incite such enthusiasm.That evening we moved to the centrally-located Hotel Mar de Luz in downtown Jaco. Run by amiable Dutch owner Victor, who strives to offer a great value for the dollar, the hotel is warm and inviting with 29 comfortable suites, each with a kitchenette.
Mar de Luz attracts an international crowd of families and young couples. The hotel grounds have two large pools, a full-service spa and reading area. We were impressed with the friendly staff that treated us with genuine hospitality.
The hotel is just two blocks from the ocean and walking distance from shops and restaurants. Jaco, like many developed beach towns has its share of troubles, but the staff at Mar de Luz make every effort to keep the grounds family-friendly (i.e. no drugs or prostitution).
Rayna and I appreciated the free Wi-fi available in the hotel’s restaurant and got some work in before setting off for another culinary adventure.A wide array of exceptional restaurants can be found in Jaco, and tonight we enjoyed the South East Asian fare of Pacific Bistro. We ended our day with a feast for the senses: Indonesian goreng noodles and Thai jumbo shrimp scampi. Jaco does have its benefits.
Contact Info:
Hotel Mar de Luz
Email: mardeluz@racsa.co.cr
Telephone: 506-643-3259
www.mardeluz.com
Pacific Rainforest Aerial Tram
Email: info.cr@rfat.com
Telephone: 506-257-5961
www.rfat.com
Monday, February 4, 2008
Day 4 Jaco: A Jungle Crocodile Safari on the Tarcoles River
Celebrated for its population of more than 2000 American crocodiles, the Tarcoles River forms the northern border of Carara National Park. Also known as the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, it is one of Costa Rica’s largest rivers, and is an important watershed for much of the Central Valley. This unique ecosystem is rich in avifauna, with more than 120 bird species living within its mangrove estuaries. The Tarcoles boasts one of the planet’s biggest populations of American Crocodiles, with an average of 25 crocs per square kilometer.
Today we were joining King Tours for a Jungle Crocodile Safari to observe these prehistoric
reptiles that can measure more than 12 feet from snout to tail. Our two-hour safari began in the marshy delta of the Tarcoles River, where our guide presented us each with a brochure identifying 56 bird species commonly seen in the area. We quietly motored downriver, the Tarcoles thick with mangrove trees and waterfowl wading in the shallows.A snowy egret bobbed along the river bank, attracting fish with its yellow feet, and green kingfishers skimmed the water’s surface in search of a meal. The region is home to six species of heron, including the great blue, little blue, tri-colored, boat-billed and yellow crowned species. We saw each of these spectacular birds in addition to the elegant tiger heron, which regularly feasts on juvenile crocodiles.
Our boat captain knew many of the older crocodiles, which wallowed along the muddy shores. We watched as he did the exact
opposite of what our instincts told us to do, wading into the river, smacking a piece of raw chicken against the water’s surface.Within 30 seconds a 12-foot long ancient male sporting a broken jaw glided up for a morning snack. He swallowed the chicken in one neat gulp before disappearing beneath the murk. Our group was assured that only the older and/or injured crocodiles are fed so as not to disturb the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
I thought back to the “No Swimming” signs posted near our departure point, and wondered who, other than our meat-toting captain, would be crazy enough to go for a dip in these croc-infested waters.
That afternoon we had the pleasure of staying at Apar-Hotel Vista Pacifico, a boutique hotel with panoramic views of Jaco and the surrounding countryside. Rayna and I were greeted by welcoming Canadian proprietors Jan and Greg and their playful Weimaraner Mika, and shown to our split-level suite complete with kitchenette and private patio.The charming rooms, several of which are handicapped-accessible, are set around a pool and BBQ area, which guests are free to use.
Jan and Greg are more than happy to recommend local restaurants and help book tours. We chatted about the upcoming reggaeton
concert featuring Daddy Yankee that would be held in the fields below their hotel. A crowd of more than 25,000 was anticipated for this Jaco mega-event, and we wondered if it would bring complete chaos. Tucked on a hillside on the outskirts of Jaco, Vista Pacifico offers the serenity of a mountain-top hideaway, but is just minutes away from the restaurants and nightlife that attract so many travelers to Jaco. After settling into our comfortable suite, we cooled off in the pool before heading out for dinner at Tsunami Sushi in town. We filled up on tempura shrimp and spicy tuna rolls washed down with warm sake – my firewater of choic
e.We returned to Vista Pacifico, where a cool mountain breeze had picked up. I opened up all the windows and joined Rayna for a chilled-out evening of popcorn and a movie.
Contact Info:
AparHotel Vista Pacifico
Email: janandgreg@vistapacifico.com
Telephone: 506-643-3261
www.vistapacifico.com
King Tours
Email: trips@kingtours.com
Telephone: 506-643-2441 or Toll Free: 1- 800-213-7091
www.kingtours.com
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Day 3 Jaco: A Horseback Ride to Hidden Waterfalls and a Natural Mud Bath
Jaco may be popular for its consistent surf and miles of grey-sand beach, but its lush mountain backdrops peppered with secluded waterfalls are ideal for a leisurely horseback ride. While there is no shortage of tour operators promoting such excursions in the area, as an avid rider and proud horse owner, I made sure to do my research and choose a reputable outfit that properly cares for its animals.With nine healthy and happy steeds, Discovery Horseback Tours, owned by British-born Chris and Andrea Wady, came highly recommended. Rayna and I met Andrea for the waterfall tour at
their ranch in Playa Hermosa, a fifteen-minute drive south of Jaco. I was pleased to learn that Discovery limits their tours to no more than six people to ensure a safe and personalized experience. Today, our group included a nice couple from Colorado who were novice horse people, or “vacation riders”. Horses were matched to riders according to ability, and we each took turns mounting our lovely Criollos, a hardy mixed-breed with Spanish and Peruvian bloodlines, common in Costa Rica. Before setting off, Andrea took time to explain the basics of maneuvering, making sure that we all felt comfortable and were not too harsh with the reins. After riding English for several months, it was a nice change to ride western-style, on deep McClellan saddles that afforded comfort and stability.
We followed a backcountry trail, riding side by side so we could talk to each other, while Andrea pointed out flora and fauna endemic to the area. The road was lined on either side
with an eco-friendly living fence that marked boundaries and kept livestock in their rightful place.We dismounted in the cool shade of the dry tropical forest and let our horses rest while we walked a bit farther to a cascading natural spring. Standing behind towels and trees, we changed into our bathing suits for a soothing waterfall massage.
Andrea grabbed a handful of mineral-rich mud beneath the falls. Touting its healing properties as a sort of natural spa treatment, she encouraged us to cover our bodies in the clay-colored goo. Without hesitation the four of us were suddenly kids again, rubbing mud on every inch of exposed skin and hair. We interrupted our frenzy with a small fruit snack of fresh pineapple, watermelon and papaya and then resumed our mud baths with gusto.
As much as we tried to wash it all off, Rayna and I discovered remnants of our organic spa treatment later that day. But we had to admit that our skin and hair were soft and glowing. Our waterfall ride was the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure and fun, and we all appreciated the health and contentment of Chris and Andrea’s horses.
I learned that several were local rescues which had arrived in sorry mental and physical shape. But after months of love and recuperation, they had grown strong and learned to trust again. We thanked our enthusiastic host, and promised to return for Discovery Horseback Tours’ mountain ride, a longer journey that caters to seasoned riders.
That afternoon, we explored the deserted beaches of Esterillos, just a few kilometers south of Playa Hermosa. Divided into Esterillos Este, Centro and Oeste, each offers long stretches of palm-fringed coastline and right and left beach breaks with some reasonably long rides.
Swimmers tended to stick closer to the northern end of Esterillos Oeste, where a calm tidal pool offered shelter from the area’s dangerous riptides. In each village there were a few scattered hotels, cafes and vacation rentals, but the area had largely escaped the mass development that is so prevalent in Jaco.A bit later we drove into town for some window shopping and dinner before returning to Doce Lunas. It was our last evening at this peaceful retreat and we looked forward to re-visiting all of our favorite amenities.
Contact Info:
Doce Lunas Hotel and Spa
Email: info@docelunas.com
Telephone: 506-643-2211
www.docelunas.com
Discovery Horseback Tours
Email: info@horseridecostarica.com
Telephone: 506-838-7550
www.horseridecostarica.com
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Day 2 Jaco: A Hike Through Carara National Park
Fully caffeinated by 6:30 a.m., we were raring to go on our morning hike through Carara National Park. With a local population of nearly 450 birds, the park is one of the country’s top areas to view the scarlet macaw. We were joining two other travelers on our excursion with King Tours, a full-service operator in Jaco that also specializes in deep-sea fishing.As our naturalist guide Roy explained, Carara is unique in that it hosts both the wet rainforest of the southern Pacific and the dry tropical forest of the northwest. Located in this transition zone, Carara has flora and fauna that you might see in both the Osa Peninsula and Guanacaste Province. Anteaters, agoutis, sloths, wild pigs and white-faced monkeys inhabit the varying ecosystems of Carara.
We hiked the easy four-kilometer Laguna Meandrica trail, a relatively wide path that follows the Tarcoles River and ends near a small lagoon and marshland area. Boat-billed and blue herons, jacana, aningha and several juvenile crocodiles occupied the lagoon’s swampy bank. The cicadas hummed by the thousands, providing a deafening soundtrack to our jungle hike. We walked beneath towering kapok and ficus trees, dodging iridescent webs made by the golden orb spider.
Although we could hear the macaws’ loud squawks as they flew overhead, we had yet to see one up close. Our guide suggested we drive back to Carara’s ranger station and try our luck on a different trail. Scarlet macaws nest in natural tree cavities during the dry season (December through April), and Roy knew which trees they frequented.Sure enough, a large female revealed her scarlet head in the opening of a cozy tree hole as she incubated her clutch of eggs. I had only seen these magnificent birds in captivity and was amazed at their size and vibrant colors, living prisms in the jungle.
We returned to our hotel in time for a refreshing dip in the pool, a nice retreat from the blazing noon sun. Doce Lunas offers free in-room Wi-Fi, a definite plus for the business traveler or for those who just
want to stay in touch. Our laptops never far from our sides, we managed to get a few hours work in before joining other guests at the hotel bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, which always taste better at the beach.Brian, one of the owners of Doce Lunas, invited us to join him for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Eclipse. He raved about their new chef, whose talents we were about to relish. Over a fabulous appetizer of seared tuna followed by tender pork medallions served with an aromatic mushroom mole, we chatted about Brian’s 28-year journey in Costa Rica and recent involvement with the local community.
This past January, Doce Lunas hosted a rock concert featuring members of Phish and the Grateful Dead with proceeds benefiting the neighboring school for environmental education.An attendee I met later that week described the event as a mini-Woodstock with patchouli in the air and more hippies than you could count – an all-night celebration of good music and interesting people.
Had we known, our trip to Jaco would have been re-scheduled to include the festivities, but fortunately, there are more concerts to come.
Contact Info:
Doce Lunas Hotel and Spa
Email: info@docelunas.com
Telephone: 506-643-2211
www.docelunas.com
King Tours
Email: trips@kingtours.com
Telephone: 506- 643-2441, Toll Free: 1- 800-213-7091
www.kingtours.com
Friday, February 1, 2008
Day 1: Destination Jaco
It was another glorious sunny day, typical of summer in Costa Rica, when we departed for Jaco beach. Just 117 kilometers southwest of San Jose, it is easy to see why this Central Pacific beach town is popular with Ticos and travelers alike – accessibility. In addition to great surfing, Jaco is notorious for its lively party scene and adventure sports, including everything from parasailing and sport fishing to horseback rides along secluded mountain trails. I was traveling with my co-worker, Rayna, who would be photographing our tours and joining me on culinary adventures as we re-acquainted ourselves with Jaco. In the last decade, the town has experienced a huge surge in development, and it continues to attract a young and boisterous crowd with its rousing nightlife. On the weekends,
Jaco is overflowing with people, as Ticos pour in from the city and camp along the beach.My hometown of Atenas is on the western edge of the Central Valley, less than an hour and a half drive from Jaco. We caravanned along scenic mountain roads, passing the village of San Mateo, and stopped briefly at one of the fruit stands in Orotina where ripe mangos, melons and pineapple could be had for less than $1.
I followed the well-marked Costanera Highway and turned off at Herradura Bay, just a few kilometers north of Jaco. We wanted to check out the world-class marina at Los Sueños, a premier resort community that boasts a private beach club, 18-hole golf course, luxury hotel, and a marina filled with some very swanky boats.
The gleaming charter boats, all certified by the Costa Rican Ministry of Tourism, ply the seas for big game fish, including mahi mahi, billfish, marlin and tuna. Anglers from across the globe come to try their luck while on vacation, and many go home with tall tales of 200-lb sailfish and monster yellow-fin tuna. Every year, Los Sueños hosts a billfish tournament with a purse of up to $250,000 – quite possibly enough incentive for me to risk my shaky sea legs on the unpredictable Pacific seas.
We pushed onwards to Jaco, which by day looked like any developed beach town in Costa Rica. Restaurants, shops and hotels line the main street that parallels the ocean, and tourists mingled about in bathing suits and flip flops, soaking up the waning sun. Our home for the next three evenings was Doce Lunas Hotel and Spa, a relatively new hotel just minutes from downtown Jaco.
Set on five acres of nicely-landscaped grounds with a private yoga salon and spa, Doce Lunas is a peaceful alternative to the din of Jaco, but close enough to enjoy its amenities without the hassle of a long drive.Our large suites were well-appointed with coffee makers, a fridge, A/C, and cable TV, and had filtered water that you could drink straight from the tap, a rarity in Jaco. We were greeted by a family of well-loved cats that lounged about the hotel property, seemingly aware of their good fortune.
But what I liked most was the hotel’s inviting freeform pool and mini-waterfall. I quickly unpacked and uncorked a bottle of wine; it was time for Rayna and me to celebrate our arrival in Jaco. After a glass or two each, our bellies were rumbling so we set out for dinner at Caliche’s Wishbone, a popular Jaco restaurant. We savored
their shrimp phad thai and rice bowl with seared tuna, and I made sure to save some fish for my new feline friends. While strolling the streets later, I had one of those embarrassing flip flop blowouts, where feet and body appear no longer connected. Luckily, other than Rayna, no one seemed to notice my flailing arms and awkward movements, just a girl without a shoe. After buying a replacement pair, we returned to our cool and inviting rooms at Doce Lunas.
Contact Info:
Doce Lunas Hotel and Spa
Email: info@docelunas.com
Telephone: 506-643-2211
www.docelunas.com
