Monthly Archives: February 2015

Adventure, Relaxation, Travel, Vacation

Baldi… Talk about relaxing!!!!

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Next stop? Baldi Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.

 

Baldi's front entrance
Baldi’s front entrance

After a day spent walking through the jungle, and sliding on miles of cable, its only natural to want a little relaxation, right?

Baldi's spa
The Spa at Baldi

The truth is, I wasn’t sore, no aching muscles, no blisters, no sore feet, no problems at all. But, I had heard about this wonderful place called Baldi, right close to the Arenal volcano, that had natural hot springs, magnificent food, and luxurious appointments throughout. I wasn’t sure when I would be through there, but I knew I wanted to go, so I didn’t buy any tickets or make any reservations. It didn’t matter, When I showed up the desk clerk was helpful, the entire staff was incredibly friendly, and everything was far more lavish than I had ever imagined.

The springs get their heat and minerals from the Arenal volcano, which is a sight to see by itself. The higher you get in the resort, ( I’m talking elevation here folks….), the warmer the pools get.  Pools, as in plural, as in twenty-five of them. Incredible…

Each one has its own charm, and most have their own sort of water feature.

One of the hot springs waterfalls
One of the hot springs waterfalls

Waterfalls, a steam cave, (I could have stayed there all night), giant natural rock obelisks that were just….. right. The country on the whole is a giant nature conservatory, and Baldi might be the perfect poster child for it. Everything is built around what was there first.

Baldi's water slide
Baldi’s water slides

Its also a perfect place for a family trip. There are kids pools, water slides, a complete kids area, and security is very good so you don’t have to worry about staying and watching your children. There are also trails to hike, water toboggans, and you can book just about anything from Baldi.

For the “legal” travelers, there is also three wet bars, (yes, order while in the pool), two dry bars, and all the amenities you’d expect in a 5 star resort.

If you are traveling through Costa Rica, and need a “me” day, or want to spend an entire vacation there, Baldi is a place you should consider. You can buy a day pass, or stay in the hotel, and if you stay there, more pools are available.

All in all, I recommend this place highly for anybody that wants a place to “wind down” after a long day, or a long life. I know I felt like a wet noodle after my time there……

p.s. They aren’t really big on allowing cameras in, probably because not very many people like their picture taken in their swimsuits. All the photos here are stock photos they let me use…….

Next, Caribbean tarpon….

Adventure

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

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The next step on my seat-of-the-pants tour of Costa Rica was Nicoya.

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Beautiful jungle, teeming with all manner of wildlife, including myself and a group of medical students from Minnesota, on some sort of exchange program. Don’t ask me, I have no idea how they ended up at the same place I did, but they were ready to have some fun….

I had booked this trip online, with no experience or advance information, and hoped that I had found the best zip-line operation I could. I wasn’t disappointed! There are 25 zip-lines, traveling nearly 2 miles in the air, and eleven of the cables went over waterfalls.

The zip line tour was an all in one operation. Adventure Park Hotel Vista Golfo, includes the hotel,  restaurant, and zip line tour all run by the same folks. I arrived about 5 pm, and my room was waiting for me, the restaurant was open, and the sodas and beer cold. It was actually the first time I’ve seen a glass Coca-Cola bottle in a very long time.The menu in the restaurant was varied, with everything from barbecued steak to typical Costa Rican fare. I decided to try the arroz com camarones, rice and shrimp, to see if it was as good here as back in San Jose. It was…..P1020479 (2)

 

Everything was run right to the second, from dinner, to breakfast, to loading the bus to get to the  zip lines, to our return time. I shouldn’t have been surprised, as the kind and efficient folks running this establishment are Germans. The whole place ran like a fine Black Forest Cuckoo clock. And the cuckoo’s? That was us, the collection of folks wanting to slide around the forest on cables, with our gloved hand being our only brake. Here’s a sample….

That was about a quarter mile…. fun, Huh???

All in all, it was a great time. Fun, safe, good food,  and great people. And, yes, there were lizards in the shower…….

Next stop, Baldi Hot Springs, near Mount Arenal, the local volcano.

 

Welcome to Yondering

The quieter side of Tamarindo……

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Follow the road through Tamarindo, and you’ll find the small beachside community at Playa Langosta.

Playa Langosta, in the Winter…..

It’s another exotic location with excellent surfing conditions, and even better amenities. The sprawling sandy beach at Playa Langosta is much quieter than its neighbor, and is one of the best places in this area to just kick back and relax. There are many great short and long term rentals in this area, and if you bring your family and are looking for an all-inclusive resort and spa, the Barcelo Langosta Beach is a fantastic place to stay. Playa Langosta is usually less crowded than Tamarindo and its right next to Marino Las Baulas National Park

Marino Las Baulas National Park

Leatherback Turtle coming out of ocean
One of the areas Endangered Leatherback turtles coming ashore to nest.

In an effort to save the leatherback turtles that nest along the shores of Playa Grande, Marino Las Baulas National Park was created in 1990. With mangrove wetlands along the coast, beautiful forests and incredible white-sand beaches, Marino Las Baulas is home to a wide collection of flora and fauna.

Strangely, the original purpose of the Marino Las Baulas is to protect a species that doesn’t even live here. Every year, leatherback turtles, the largest turtle in the world, find their way home to the beaches in this area to lay their eggs from October to May. Some of these turtles can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, but due to their long life span, and late maturity, they are an endangered species. During the laying season  the beaches are closed from dusk till dawn, but you can book a tour guide that can take you to the beaches to see them.  Bird watching is also very popular there, as there are over 150 species of birds here.

Next time? Zip lines in Nicoya….