The bungalows at Hotel Luna Llena in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Dedicated readers will remember the SNAFU with a real estate agent in Puerto Vallarta that left us without a place to live for the first two months of this year. We adjusted, but were left holding two plane tickets, which Alaska Airlines graciously agreed to let us use in any way we liked—as long as we flew Alaska.
We sat on our balcony one night and examined the Alaska Air route map that appears above. There were plenty of options, but we were planning to travel in wintertime and we wanted sunshine. And maybe a bit of sand. And water. Lots of water. Saltwater, ideally. Warm saltwater.
That led us to the two tiny dots farthest south on the map, both in Costa Rica. One was close to the water, in a city named Liberia. We reserved two tickets, departing Portland January 6, 2016…
…which is just over a week from today.
The Tamarindo beach
Liberia is close to the water, not on the water, so we looked around and chose a waterside town named Tamarindo, on the Pacific. We’ll stay in a bungalow at Hotel Luna Llena (pictured at the top of this post), and will remain there for most of the month, arriving back home January 27th. Twenty days of sunshine and sand in the dead of winter! As I write this, snow is falling outside our windows in Portland and there hasn’t been a dry day here for a month—a record.
Thus, another adventure. More to follow.
The Expat Almanac 
You should love Costa Rica. I think it is pretty close to the prettiest place I have been (next to Kansas, of course). Let me know how you like it. If you are anywhere near the Osa Peninsula, you should check out Luna Lodge up there. We stayed there for three days and I loved it.
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Looking forward to it! Also, what could be prettier than Kansas?
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Take me with you!
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Don’t be so eager. We almost chose Key West. Think you could put up with us for a month?
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If you catch a whiff of Cohiba cigar fumes it could be Shipwreck is not far away.
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Either Shipwreck or Fidel. (Or just maybe, the ghost of Che.)
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It could also be Rick.
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sounds nothing short of perfect to me……enjoy…and no hot water bottles to deal with…
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I don’t know if I want to say thanks for the reminder. It really WAS a year ago when we were sleeping with hot water bottles in Martizay. Not exactly a fond memory, but I’m impressed you remember. I had tuned it out.
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We all remember those hot water bottles, Tom, and those damned goats, and the fact that nothing was open! The whole experience sounded like a pure nightmare to me but I was impressed, as always, by your cheerful endurance. You and Louise are both brilliant travel writers and you have many fans, among whom I count myself. I wish you both a very happy new year. I will look forward to your postings from Costa Rico.
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I am flattered, Patty. Thanks for the support. We really have no idea what to expect in Costa Rica, but we’re pretty sure it won’t be hot water bottles.
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So exciting Tom! Curt and I were in Tamarindo about 30 years ago. It looked nothing like this then! Curt is jealous. Do you have a spare section of floor? 😜
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Small world! Next time you’re in Portland, let’s get together and compare notes.
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Maybe not so small after all! When Cutt and I were there (even 3 decades ago) we learned that there was a large and deeply engrained Oregon contingency in Costa Rica! I wonder what you will find now?
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Does that mean that the mystery about the giant stone balls of Costa Rica is about to be revealed? 8-D
Happy New Year!
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Louise and Tom, I remember that SNAFU well! Your upcoming trip sounds like the perfect escape to sun and sand. We loved the time we spent in Costa Rica and would return in a heartbeat. Happy New Year and have a wonderful time. 🙂 ~Terri
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