Costa Rica is a beautiful place filled with lovely people and the best views. I visited Costa Rica over winter break this past year; it was a once in a lifetime kind of trip. This article will be a highlight reel from my vacation and hopefully, at the end of this, you can book your tickets to this magical place. 

We flew out of the Delta airport in Minneapolis on Christmas day. We landed in Liberia, Costa Rica where we were met with sunny skies and a wonderful temperature of 75 degrees. This was only the beginning. 

We had about a 2-hour drive to our Air B&B located in Guanacaste. This place was beautiful. It was right in the middle of the local neighborhood yet it was secluded with a pool and guest house apart from the main house. I highly recommend Air B&B for your none all-inclusive vacations. You have your space and treat it like home for however long you stay. 

Once settled into our home for the week, we had an amazing first meal at the Beach Front bar and were greeted with a beautiful sunset. The sunsets in Costa Rica are nothing short of magical. 

Days 2 & 3 consisted of driving along the coast taking in the amazing scenery and lots of hikes. My favorite hike we did was the La Leona Waterfall Hike. It was short, simple, and breathtaking. It has many areas to take pictures, swim and relax. With many swimming places, it’s perfect for the whole family. 

Another must-do in Costa Rica is surfing. We drove to Tamarindo beach which was about an hour south of Guanacaste which was where we were staying. I am sure there are many other places to surf but the lessons we booked were fun and easy. The instructors were kind and patient, leaving you wanting more time surfing the water.

Although the scenery is amazing, the eats in Costa Rica were beyond exceptional. For a coffee and breakfast spot, I highly recommend Nina’s Coffee with fresh bakery items and a variety of drinks. 

For lunch and dinner menus, I highly recommend Hemingways and Lola’s. Hemingways is beachside and provides an array of menu items. They are well-known for their wood-fired pizzas which lived up to the hype.

Lola’s Restaurant located in Guanacaste is a must-do. This place has beachfront seating, boogie board rentals, surf lessons, and a top-tier restaurant.  

I hope this article convinces you to book your flight to beautiful Costa Rica!