Leaving Osa by boat taxi was again a delight.
Boarding direct from the beach, as with all trips from Drakes Bay, pretty much guarantees wet feet as you wade out into the waves. We were seen off by Steven "all right!!!". The skill of negotiating the boats return from the sea to the estuary waterways, where waves smash the unwary boat into the non tidal waters, is extraordinary, pretty much riding across and then with the wave.
With 30 gringos aboard this is quite a feat! We were sad to go, but 4 days of tours boats and walking through jungle had left us thirsty for cocktails, infinity pools and down time.
The pacific coast in CR is Beach, jungle, coast road, jungle, mountains. We have planned our next two stops on the coast. Firstly Ojechal, a foodie ex pat area about an hour from Sierpe. Then only a little further up the coast to Uvita, home of Oxygen Villas, reknown luxury resort.
We retrieved the dodgy hire car from Sierpe and headed straight for Ojechal where we had a great breakfast at a French bakery with the most delicious chocolate croissant !
Lunch at the unlikely Ballena Bistro, which is lovely despite being simply a pretty, hippy, (Little Chef) road side truck stop! If only Little Chef were like this.
For the next 2 nights we stayed at El Castillo. Few tourists, post covid, we had pool, staff, and the prettiest finca style hotel for personal use! The hotel is panoramic, with cocktails, infinity pool, stunning views out to Canó Island and back down to Osa. Unfeasibly pretty place.
Having known this was ex pat area we shouldn't have been as unpleasantly surprised as we were to find supper in local bar Bamboo Room was ribs and wings and John e Cash on the Mike! My trip advisor review was therefore perhaps a little harsh:
the days flashed as they always do when you stop and decompress, very enjoyable location, can see why so many retired northern Americans come to CR to make their pensions stretch.
the beach at Ojechal looks incredible but a wise old lady fishing for crabs warned us the creek was full of hungry Crocodile - we didn't venture in! Highly recommend El Castillo https://www.elcastillocr.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiAvaGRBhBlEiwAiY-yMH0u2GqxO1HO7cKfOZl0ee-y_xeh7PkjuJ9BEiQl
Next day we decamped just a few miles up the coast to O2 Villas - our pile of crap hire car - not 4x4 - struggled so much on the attempted hill climb we had to abandon her and take a taxi up the hill. Note to all - get a 4x4 for Costa Rica! https://oxygenjunglevillas.com/
Immediately after the 5 senses massage which involves massage, aloe wrapping in leaves, slapping with hot towels, and washing off in waterfall , you must agree I'm looking decades younger! Well, certainly several hundred dollars lighter! (thanks to Nat and Fred - no idea how much it cost but worth every cent)
Incredible place, we only stayed one night cos CR is big and so much to do but could have stayed much longer, but it's probably best left for honeymooners rather than us having pool races , not at all sure how that went down!!!
off to Montezuma ! More to come lucky reader .....
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