more Costa Rica

I promise you we did more in Costa Rica than hang out at this beach and at that pool and eat and drink. The days felt wonderfully long, even though sunset was around 6 pm. And by day five it became a nice balance of discovering new among the already familiar. That beach could never get old, neither could the lifestyle that accompanies.

P.S. Happy 2013!

more Jacó

1. from the balcony

2. late afternoon sun | pina colada @ Los Amigos (now Public House)

3. approaching downtown from our street

4. blackened tuna sashimi @ Caliches Wishbone

5. the surf from afar

6. goods for sale

7. native flora | mountain view

8. Vista Las Palmas (the condo)

9. spicy pulled chicken nachos @ Caliches Wishbone

10. sunset

11. Rock Ice Cerveza on a beach walk

Soda Jaco Rustico

It was the best kind of discovery, the instinctual whim. Wandering down a side street less than a block from the beach we stopped at Jaco Rustico, a traditional soda that radiates with authenticity. It was well presented and clean but it felt worn in and deeply rooted. It felt real.

They serve the epitome of home cooked Costa Rican food. Choose what you want cafeteria style from options that change daily, the staff will serve you from behind a glass counter. Gallo Pinto or sometimes it is the rice and beans prepared separately, plus fried plantains, sweet and hot, almost caramelized, are a must. One day we get an expertly fried sea bass with crispy skin encasing mild, flaky flesh. Another afternoon provides roasted pork marinated in local flavors. There are fresh vegetables: tender carrots and green beans laced with strips of salty ham. A vibrant scoop of beet and potato salad. Another day, glorious tiny shelled mac-n-cheese!
If the Taco Bar was inexpensive, meals at this local soda were literally a steal. It cost $4 for a casado (translates loosely to a heaping plate of food) and $1 for a fresh Guanabana juice. Guanabana is my favorite!! Sometimes forgoing the research and discovering hidden gems like this laid back fresh-off-a-morning-surf-session locals spot is what it's all about. Jaco Rustico easily provided some of my favorite meals of the trip. 

Taco Bar | Jaco

In Jacó, Costa Rica our friends were excited to take us to the Taco Bar. Designed to feel like a jungle hut with lush green palms and rope swing seats, it apparently does not fly under the radar as evidenced by the tour bus that pulled up right behind us. However, there were definitely some local families filling the swings too. Fish tacos are their specialty, choose from snapper, dorado (mahi mahi) or tuna in addition to the traditional options of shrimp, chicken or beef. Prepared to order with the seasoning blends of your choice - choose spicy or mild and then pick from cilantro or shaved coconut, for example. Then, go to town at the unlimited toppings and salad bar! The pico de gallo, pesto rotini and fingerling potato salads were very fresh and flavorful. There is an array of rice, beans, local salsas, hot sauces, sautéed onions and whole jalapenos to name what feels like a few. Their fruit smoothies and and frozen lemongrass drinks are top notch. I had a refreshing and not-too-sweet papaya banana smoothie. You get a lot of food for not a lot of money, which is typical of anywhere we ate in Jacó. I was impressed.

TacoBar

Jaco Walk Shopping Center

Provincia de Puntarenas 

Jacó, 61101, Costa Rica

Playa Jacó

Nestled deep in tropical Centro America, bordered by Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South lies the exquisite country of Costa Rica, which meaningfully translates to "Rich Coast". The unofficial national slogan Pura Vida or Pure Life embodies the nature of its gorgeous landscape and kind-hearted people to a tee. A funky little Pacific surf town with a wide stretching volcanic black sand beach called Jacó (pronounced haco, rhymes with taco) is where we spent most of our days: outsmarting the waves, exploring the shores and hunting down the shaved ice cart. 

The ocean defies expectations - swells are fierce yet the temperature is incredibly warm; swimming (and our water sport of choice: boogie boarding) is an adrenaline rush and a comfort at the same time. Flanked by intense lime green palm trees and beachfront bars, dotted with rocks and driftwood; daily beach walks lend treasures abound, while venturing to the outer edges leads to hiking through strong current inlets and around fascinating volcanic rock formations. Colorful iguanas and lizards also make an appearance at the beach!

The main strip of downtown Jacó located just a block off the beach is a mecca of kitschy tourist huts meets laid back surf shops. Fantastic restaurants and plenty of tour-guide agencies are here at your disposal. Downtown at night makes no apologies (prostitution is legal, someone might offer to sell you drugs), yes, Jacó has a well deserved reputation as a party town. Don't mistake that for lack of charm, as common sense will dictate, that type of scene isn't hard to avoid despite its presence. Oh and speaking of nighttime, the sunsets are incredible. 

The food in Jacó was always delicious and incredibly inexpensive. From the eclectic must-visit TacoBar, to authentic lunches at Soda Jaco Rustico, to dinners at Tsunami Sushi and Mono Verde, every type of restaurant stands to impress. We even had a traditional Thanksgiving feast at Lemon Zest. Fish is abundant and fresh caught - from Corvina (Sea Bass) and Dorado (Mahi Mahi) to Atun (Tuna), you will find ceviche offered on almost every menu, along with hearty grilled or fried entrée portions. The country offers a wealth of tropical fruits - impeccably ripe and juicy mangoes, pineapple and bananas were the best I've had. Starfruit is also common, mostly as a drink garnish! Guacamole was prepared with large, ripe aguacate (avocado) at our condo on a regular basis, usually consumed alongside an Imperial, the official beer of Costa Rica. 

As to be expected, lots more on the adventures and restaurants to come!