The best decisions I’ve made have been the ones that felt the riskiest. The choices that brought me the most discomfort and heart racing anxiety have been the ones that honesty molded me into actually becoming who I want to be. That’s how I feel about a lot of what I decided to do since last year (2021) around April up to now, especially solo traveling.
Solo travel for a long time felt very theoretical to me. It felt out of reach, extremely taboo, dangerous, expensive, and outrageous, especially the Dominican-Puerto Rican community. It’s so interesting to me how fear and anxiety persist in our lives as learned behaviors. Abstaining from living because of the fear of death is a lifestyle that I refuse. During this trip from start to finish, everything went right because I had faith and trusted myself + the universe.
I promise you that you don’t know peace until you’re driving through a foreign country, feeling beautiful and self sufficient, blasting Solange and thinking to yourself “wow, I really did that.”
On December 20th, I saw a Tik Tok of a young woman traveling through Limón, Costa Rica, the Caribbean side of the island. I booked a flight within 2 hours of watching it.
I didn’t want to overthink myself into postponing the idea with strategy, excessive planning, and the need for perfection. Just trust yourself and go for it. Dive into my year of travel, self investment, taking risks, and leaning into discomfort. I booked the flight, then booked the stay, then started planning things to do. If you have an U.S passport, it’s really that easy, and you should be grateful because some of us don’t have one and it’s incredibly difficult to travel spontaneously without one. That’s a different conversation for a different day, though.
Arguably, booking the flight so impulsively was my first “mistake” that ended up not being entirely a mistake, but instead an ESSENTIAL learning opportunity. If there’s anything solo travel teaches you, it’s a mindset shift. First thing to note when traveling to a new country: what airport are you flying into and what’s the distance from the airport to the stay. I accidentally booked the flight to the wrong airport. Still, (long story short) the day of my flight, there was a huge storm in NY, my flight got canceled, I was sad and defeated the entire day. But, I ended up finding a better flight to the correct airport. Trust the universe and trust your problem solving skills.
Traveling to Costa Rica: You can fly into San Jose Airport, which is fine if you’re going to Jaco, Quepos, Uvita area (other very popular destinations in CR), but I was headed to Playa Grande/Tamarindo/Las Catalinas, which is closer to Liberia Airport. Explore Google Maps and see which destination suits you best. I normally research a place on Pinterest before choosing because that’s where I find all my itineraries/things to do.
Solo Travel To Do List
- Picking a place: ask yourself what you want to do. Beach town? Hiking? Cultural immersion? There are a lot of places that give you all of that and some places that only give you some of that. Some popular destinations that I think are good for solo travel: Mexico City, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, St Lucia, Tulum, Canary Islands (because they all give you a blend of beach/nature/culture)
- While researching, look through google maps and pin places of interest so that you always have saved addresses (also save where you are staying as a “label” so that you never get lost)
- If you can, book transport through your stay. I’ve taken public transport from Cancun- Tulum vs. booking private transport for Costa Rica through my Airbnb and I promise you the later was the easier option. Public transport was definitely cheaper (go for it if you don’t mind a small hassle depending on location), but it was too much for me lugging suitcases alone and feeling tired from traveling.
- Don’t overpack each day of your trip with things to do. I ambitiously put together a Costa Rica itinerary, and although I completed it with no regrets, I was exhausted by the end of each day and didn’t have as much time as I wanted to read, document, and write.
- Yes, do the “must sees”, but also think outside of the box. Solo travel is meant to be self immersive and self learning, which you can’t always do completely if you only follow what’s already been done and what you know to be comfortable. For example, I almost booked an adventure tour to zip line because I thought how could I not in Costa Rica. But I didn’t want to…so why would I drop $150 on something I don’t want because it’s what’s expected to do here… no. Instead, I visited a developing town which was 2000% better for me.
- Don’t be afraid to invest in local markets and businesses (I booked my car rental through a local vs. Expedia)
- Again, trust your problem solving skills. Anxiety is inevitable, but trust that you’ll come up with a solution if something goes wrong.
- Know the currency. Know of the dome what 1/5/10/20/50/100 USD (roughly) will be in your new currency. Or write it down in your notes to keep on hand.
- For safety: Share your itinerary and your location with 2-3 friends who can check on it throughout the day. I told my friends that if my location doesn’t match my itinerary for more than an hour or two, check in with me.
DAY ONE: NYC – Costa Rica
I landed in Liberia and drove straight to Tamarindo from the airport to pick up my car rental on an empty stomach and no sleep from being up for 24 hours post flight cancelation + flight change 🙃
Notes on rental cars in Costa Rica: They are expensive with the cost per day + insurance. During holiday season, they are especially in demand. Booking through a local cut a huge cost.
During my research, I stumbled upon a Youtube video where a travel vlogger was reviewing a local car rental company and the owner made a point to agree with the outrageous surge in rental car prices, which I appreciated. I looked through 100+ reviews on Facebook and they all were legit, so I booked with him. Risky? Maybe. But he didn’t require a deposit or money up front so I trusted it even more. Just a message via FB or on Whatsapp and his business works in partnership with the rental companies (Avis, Enterprise, etc) When I got to the car rental spot, I expected to receive the sedan that I booked (which I’m used to driving) but they gave me a crossover instead. At first, I was SHOOK, but like I said, trust yourself and trust the universe. I whipped the soccer mom van through Costa Rica with grace.
Before I talk in depth about my stay, I want to note that staying here set the absolute tone for my solo trip. THE STAY MATTERS. Even though you’re out most of the day, you want to feel at peace, safe, and happy at night when you’re winding down and going to sleep.
Villas Kalei is a private boutique hotel with 4 of these villas on the property, a pool with lounge chairs, and community kitchen. When I saw this stay on Airbnb, I knew immediately it would be the perfect place for me as a solo traveler. The owners (an amazing, kind hearted Puerto Rican couple) were also living on the property. Plus, there were other people on the property staying in the other villas and it has a gated entry. I felt safe 100% of the time no doubt. The bathroom was gorgeous, the lighting was so soothing, and the energy here was exactly what I needed when I landed.
After finally dropping off my suitcase and showering, I got dressed and drove the 20 minutes to Tamarindo for dinner and a walk on the beach.
Day Two: Tamarindo & Playa Grande
I started the day with morning yoga, which I booked through Airbnb. They have a bunch of “experiences”, especially for Tamarindo, which is a popular destination for expats, someone who lives outside their native country. Morning yoga on the beach was everything I knew it would be: relaxing, grounding, and fostering feelings of gratitude. After yoga, I changed into my bikini at one of the beach restaurants, and had breakfast at Waffle Monkey. I’m not a huge waffle person, but it was pretty good.
After breakfast, I tanned on the beach for a few hours. Read, drank lots of coconut water, and checked in with some friends. I spent a lot of time reconnecting, which for some may not make sense. A lot of people travel for disconnection from where they’re from, but sometimes in the city, I feel so overwhelmed and can’t always find the mental capacity to reach out to people that I miss. I felt so full of peace and so tension free that I had so much room for love and sharing. I spoke to people from the city the entire time, and it was so refreshing to have the space to actually connect. I hope that makes sense.
After tanning, I went back to my Airbnb and jumped into the pool. I met a couple who was staying there and we talked for a while about life, relocating, faith, and the love of travel. This set the perfect tone for a walk on the beach at Playa Grande, which was arguably better than Tamarindo beach. That was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. I sat there for hours and barely even thought, to be honest. Just focused on the feeling of happiness, gratitude, and love, and how those feeling sat in my body. Then dinner at Pots & Bowls.
Day Three: Las Catalinas
I almost didn’t make it to Las Catalinas because I was nervous about the drive. Now, I can’t imagine never having gone. This was most gorgeous town I have ever had the pleasure of walking through and laying my eyes on. Must visit for this side of the island. Bring a tripod, take pictures, take your time, and feel transported. I’m compelled to say that this was my favorite, but there was just so much beauty on this trip.
In the morning, I left Playa Grande and stopped at Nita Coffee for some breakfast. There were so many cute cafes and coffee shops, but this one was on the way to Las Catalinas, so the most convenient. The drive from my Airbnb to Nita Coffee was about 15 minutes (all of the road conditions were very good besides a few normal potholes), and the drive from Nita Coffee to Las Catalinas was 20 minutes. Half of the drive to Las Catalinas was calm, but when I got closer, the roads got very hilly and pothole ridden. Was it impossible? No. Just drive with caution.
I walked around the town, admired the beauty, took pictures, and then had lunch at Sentido Norte. That experience was defining for my trip. I felt absolutely luxurious and dreamy, and it wasn’t outrageously priced either. I would give anything to go back. Next time I go to Costa Rica, I would spend an entire day here relative to the 2-3 hours and likely maybe stay at the hotel that this restaurant is on.
After Las Catalinas, I sadly drove back to Playa Grande to shower and get ready for dinner and another walk on the beach. At the beach, I made some friends, had some drinks, laughed, and watched another sunset. I knew I would be driving to La Fortuna the next day (4 hours away) so I took my time taking in the beach and the water.
Day Four: Driving to La Fortuna
I was really nervous about this drive. For no reason. Costa Rica has great highways and all the gas stations are serviced. I was 300000% proud of myself though for trusting myself and going for it. When I arrived to La Fortuna, that’s when it hit me that I planned a fire trip for myself. I spent 3 days beach side to do nothing but relax then drive hours to stay in a Volcano town for adventures. Fire. I left Playa Grande relatively late so I got to La Fortuna late, so all I got to do was get ready, do a little photoshoot, and go out to eat a BOMB dinner, which I was 100% content with. Dinner location: La Vid Steak House.
Day Five: A Full Day in La Fortuna
Day 5 is when I realized that although I loved the itinerary I built, I did myself dirty. I only gave myself ONE full day to enjoy La Fortuna because my flight + a 2 hour drive to San Jose Airport was the next day. Arguably my second mistake. La Fortuna was the bulk of my “adventure time” because I intentionally did nothing but relax, socialize, and eat at Playa Grande. Day 5, I had a PACKED itinerary and this was the busiest day of my entire trip.
I started my morning off with some journaling on my Airbnb’s balcony while watching the sun rise. My stay in La Fortuna was PERFECT. Beautiful views of the volcano, great location, and genuine down to earth hospitality.
After morning journaling + meditation, I went to Arábigos Coffee House for coffee and breakfast. This open space coffee shop started my day on such a happy note. After some eggs and toast, I took a walk through Parque de La Fortuna for the views. Absolutely stunning park. Then, I drove to my first stop: hike at the Mistico Hanging Bridges. This felt more like a walk through a forest than a hike, and the views from the bridges are wicked. You’re definitely walking through metal wires in the sky, so if you’re scared of heights then beware. I went early around 9AM and the park was moderately busy so I definitely got to take my time. A full 2 hours of walking, nature, disconnecting, and spotting monkeys.
By 11AM I was done with the hanging bridges and decided to squeeze in another park before my coffee tour at 3pm. Arenal Volcano National Park was also a walk through forest, but this one felt a little scarier. I was definitely hella anxious because I kept thinking a snake was going to jump from the trees and I was gonna be done for. HOWEVER, no snakes, no spiders, nothing. Just trees and volcanic rocks.
By lunch time (2pm) I had time to visit another coffee shop and charge my phone… but I left my phone charger at my Airbnb. ALWAYS keep your charger on you or a portable charger. Because my phone was dying, I didn’t record much of the coffee tour because I needed to conserve battery for GPS, but this was in my favor because I really got to EXPERIENCE it. I think we have this interesting urge to capture EVERY moment, but what I’ve learned is that it’s better to pick and choose because odds are all you need is that one picture and one video to be able to look back and let your memory do the rest. The coffee tour I did was Northfields Coffee Tour and I saw a mama and baby hummingbird while I was there too! It was a coffee/cacao tour and worth the visit.
By the time the coffee tour was done, I was done. Exhausted and now sad that I only gave myself one day in La Fortuna. I would be driving to San Jose the next day and even considered extending the trip a day. I wanted time to do another hike, go to the hot springs, eat more food, do an “extreme adventure”, and maybe go to a river. However, I simply promised myself that I would be back and reminded myself that it’s okay and even preferred to visit somewhere more than once.
See you soon, Costa Rica.
