Vacay Visitations, part 2: Travels and Adventures in CR

Thus ensued our Vacay Travels and Adventures, Dec 28-Jan 2:

Wednesday, Dec 28: Woke up 6am. Last min logistics and prep.

• Pirata taxista friend picked us up at 7am and took us to SJ, where we arrived just in time to take a bus to Liberia ($12 for the both of our tickets).

On the Pulmitan bus from SJ to Liberia.

• We arrived in Liberia at noon, and upon looking to purchase bus transport ahead of time for our trip over the border, we discovered that guide book information (cross-referenced in various editions and different sources) does not hold true around the holidays. No such luck for purchasing tickets. We’d just plan to chicken bus it to and over and from the border up to our destination in Nicaragua (plan tentatively just to improvise and go with what came up at the time instead of busing through a service, which is easier over the border).
• We were convinced by a pirata taxista to let him take us to Brasilito for $40... Plus a requested tip once we got here. Cool. $2. Even though this is a pricier option I have never redeemed before, we did well in arriving in Brasilito earlier than expected, in order to find hospedaje (lodging) for the night.
• When we arrived, after a long, hot journey, empty stomachs, and our packs weighing heavily on our backs, we quickly realized that there was no room at any inn. The typical no-reservation policy means that all places are on a first-come, first-served basis. We checked at least half a dozen places until we found a cancellation at Hotel Brasilito on the beachfront. Perfect. $56/night for two nights. Not bad for being in an optimal location and a nice establishment in the lower-priced town, so close to nice, pristine white beaches so close nearby!

The keychains to the key for the hotel rooms

were big "galletas" or wooden chunks.

A small road and the sand were all that separated us
at our hotel from the surf of the Pacific Ocean.

• We fell asleep around 7:30 that night after a relaxing walk on the beaches at sunset, exhausted from our long day of travels and in part due to the heat!

On the beach in the Pacific at last, at Playa Brasilito

Walking on the beach at sunset.

Watching the sun go down behind the hills
around the cove at Playa Brasilito.

Birds at the beach at sunset.

Thursday, Dec 29: Woke up around 7 and enjoyed a calm desayuno típico (typical breakfast) of gallo pinto at the soda next door, while the sleepy beach town was still calm quiet, the waves breaking on the beach just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

• We headed out to be one of the first at the beach, around 8:30am and spent until around 2pm. Snacking, playing cards, reading, playing in the surf at the touristy Playa Conchal (white sand/shells make this beach prime beachgoer/tourist territory!)

Playa Conchal (white sand and fine shells further up the beach).

Relaxing on Playa Conchal before too many people got there, around 9am.

• After resting in the afternoon, we had a nice dinner and enjoyed another walk at sunset on the beach, then crashing early after a hot beach day, and in preparation for what would be a long day of travels during the following day.