Finally Free: Guanacaste
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
What’s the craziest decision you’ve ever made?
When I went to Teaching House in New York to study to become an English teacher, I was with a group of people who also wanted to travel and work abroad. One guy wanted to work in China, another in Thailand, and maybe the most interesting destination was Sudan. When they asked where I wanted to go, I gave them one answer.
“Everywhere”
Why did I choose Costa Rica first? Honestly, it was like throwing darts at a map. I had no idea where to go and I didn’t know much about the world. It was just a recommendation from my teacher. The map can be very intimidating when you’re deciding where to travel, especially when you want to go “everywhere.”
It wasn’t an easy decision. I had never traveled by myself on an airplane before, and the idea of moving outside The USA was so extreme that it was a little scary. But in June of 2016, I realized that I wasn’t getting any younger, and if I wanted to go to every country in the world, I had to start my journey somewhere.
Today, in 2020, I’m convinced that I picked the best country possible.
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
In July, I arrived without a job or concrete plan. However, I had a contact in the small city of Liberia. She was the owner of a school and we agreed that I could look at it before officially taking a job. She generously picked me up from the airport, and on the way to the city, it almost felt like Florida. The air was warm and humid, tropical trees lined the streets, and it felt like there was wild jungle all around us. Then, as we pulled into Liberia, it was chaos. See, I arrived on a national holiday and the whole city was out partying in the street. Streets were blocked with lines of dancing horses carrying drunk cowboys. It was a struggle just to get to my hotel.
“Welcome to Costa Rica”
Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
Soon after I took the job, I agreed to stay with a host family until I could find an apartment. It was a great opportunity to meet the locals, see the city, and practice my Spanish. They were a really nice and respectful group of people. The first day, they invited me out for a day to show me around and get something to eat.
First, we drove around the streets of Liberia. I’m sorry to say but Liberia isn’t a very photogenic city. It’s very rustic, most buildings are white, and there really isn’t a lot going on.
Llanos de Cortez, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
The next place we went absolutely blew me away. As the car drove down the highway, I thought we were going to a town or something similar. Suddenly, the car turned down a dirt road and continued until it reached a parking lot. “We’re here!” After we got out of the car, we started walking into the forest and I could hear sounds of rushing water coming from below. We eventually came to some stairs and started the descent with the sound of the water getting louder. Suddenly, an immense waterfall came into view. It was absolutely mesmerizing! The name was “Llanos de Cortez” and it was a serene, calming place for families to go and relax with food, spend time together, and go swimming.
The final destination they took me to was a little town called “Playas del Coco” or just “Coco.” This was more like a local resort town with a beach, casino, and lots of restaurants. We ate at the local Subway and enjoyed the rest of the evening together before going back to Liberia.
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
During the next few weeks, I would learn so much more about Guanacaste. To this day, I believe that the most beautiful beaches in the world are there. There is a law in Costa Rica that says that businesses, including hotels, can’t build within a certain distance of the water. This creates a very natural, pure, and relaxing atmosphere. The best part is that most of the beaches in Guanacaste are often empty, so it’s easy to relax and take in every bit of nature.
Next to Playas del Coco is one of my favorite beaches, Playa Hermosa. Just a 30-minute ride away from Liberia by bus, this beach perfectly captures the serenity of Guanacaste.
It made me proud to call Guanacaste my home for the next year and a half.
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2016
