Me Time in Costa Rica
During March 2023, I had an almost once-in-a-lifetime chance to feel 20 again. I had just quit my job and had the free time and mindset to travel to Costa Rica with a friend.
Back in 1998, Yael, Michal, and I, along with four more friends, served together as artillery instructors in IDF. We spent 21 months living, eating, crying, laughing, and sleeping together. We have kept our friendship over the years, experiencing parties, broken hearts, weddings, childbirths, divorces, funerals, and all life events together.
In 2019, Yael and her family decided to follow their dreams, moved to Playa Avellanas in Costa Rica, and opened a hotel. After more than 3 years of not seeing each other, Michal and I decided to come and visit. We only had ten days and a lot to catch up with Yael, so we had to plan our time wisely.
Our Home — Playa Avellanas
Naturally, we stayed at Soul Shine Costa Rica, Yael's hotel. With a swimming pool, seven sweet and spacious bungalows, a shop and a restaurant serving brunch seven days a week, it was sometimes a bit hard to motivate ourselves to take the ten-minute walk to the beach. However, we managed, and it was worth it.
Playa Avellanas is a surfers beach 20 minutes south of Tamarindo. The clear water and wide beach are inviting and one can spend an entire day there, either on the beach itself or at Lola's, drinking cocktails, having a great meal or taking a yoga or surf class.
During our days in Playa Avellanas, we took day trips to Tamarindo and other beaches in the area. We stopped in beautiful locations and enjoyed some great meals at the local restaurants. Pura Vida at its best!
Food & Drinks — Playa Avellanas & Tamarindo
- Soulshine, Playa Avellanas — The best place for breakfast/brunch. Great coffee and amazing food. Yael is the best host ever and is always happy to share insights and recommendations about the area
- Lola's, Playa Avellanas — Fantastic beachfront restaurant where you can sit and enjoy the sun, great food, and drinks. From morning coffee to sunset cocktails, Lola's is your place
- Breaking Bread, Tamarindo — Great bakery, coffee, breakfast and lunch
- La Luna, Playa Pelada — Definitely one of the best sunset locations. Nothing is as fun as drinking great piña coladas, eating guacamole, and watching the beautiful sunset with good friends
- Masala, Brasilito — Amazing Indian food, 30 minutes from Tamarindo
- Mycelium, Playa Negra — Chef restaurant by Chef Kamu. The food is both beautiful and tasty, and so are the cocktails
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Monteverde, known as "the green mountain," and the charming town of Santa Elena nearby, was a great getaway to enjoy different views and nature at its best. Just a 3-4 hour drive from Playa Avellanas, we arrived at this paradise of wildlife and cloud forests.
Santa Elena is a small and touristic town near all the attractions of Monteverde. We stayed at Miztli Lodge & Adventure, a sweet and cozy hotel, halfway between the center of town and the parks on the mountaintop. The hotel offers a breakfast of your choice on its terrace with an outstanding view.
During our time in Monteverde, we enjoyed some of what the area has to offer: We took a night tour that allowed us to witness the magic of the forest after dark, observing nocturnal creatures and experiencing the serene ambiance of the nighttime wilderness. We hiked through one of many beautiful trails in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, experiencing the misty atmosphere and diverse range of flora and fauna. However, the undeniable peak of fun and adrenaline levels was during the zip-line tour at Selvatura Park, where we soared through the treetops in 13 different zip-lines.
Food & Drinks — Santa Elena & Monteverde
- The Open Kitchen — Great for lunch and dinner, offering Mediterranean dishes along with local and worldwide plates
- Tree House Restaurant — A restaurant and bar built around a huge tree. Live bands and a great atmosphere
- Taco Taco — Mexican food and Margaritas, great for lunch or dinner
- Cafe Colibri — Located in the Colibri birds feeding center. Have coffee, visit the souvenir shop and watch the beautiful birds
Ten days are not even close to being enough for Costa Rica; it was a very small taste of everything this beautiful country has to offer. Costa Rica is a combination of nature, super nice people, and pura vida vibes. I was there with the best partners in crime, and I will definitely come back for more.
