Have you visited the Nicoya Peninsuala of Costa Rica on a baby boomer adventure? This is one of the destinations that Alan and I have yet to experience. In today’s guest post, Dahlia of Costa Rican Vacations gives us five reasons to put it on our boomer travel list.
Costa Rica is a favorite for travelers the world over. It has something for everyone; but the reasonably unknown and unspoiled beauty of the Nicoya Peninsula, especially its southern tip on the Pacific coast, is an untapped piece of heaven for baby boomer travelers.
Here are my top five reasons for adding it to your hit list of adventurous places to vacation:
- The beaches are your own. No more worries about other boomer sun worshipers getting too close for comfort on a packed and sweaty beach. From Mal Pais up to Manzanillo, you’ll discover huge, people-less beaches that feel as if they belong to you, alone. In a recent Trip Advisor travelers poll, these beaches were recognized as the best in Central and South America.There are also rock pools between Manzanillo and Playa Hermosa between mid and low tide. Not only are these tide pools breathtaking to see, there are a whole host of little fish to share the experience with, making for stunning pictures for those baby boomer photographers out there. And, it doesn’t cost a penny.
- The Yoga at Pranamar. Hidden among the lush vegetation of the coastal jungle is the newly opened yoga retreat and beachfront villas of Pranamar. With breathtaking Balinese design and precise attention to detail, baby boomers will find a serene and peaceful place to practice yoga. Pranamar offers workshops with both highly regarded international yoga teachers as well as their own resident teacher. Classes take place in a yoga shala looking out onto the Pacific. Oh, and I did I mention the delicious restaurant? Yum.
- The adrenalin zip line canopy tour at Mal Pais. Moving on to something a little more high impact, the Mal Pais canopy tour is not for the faint-hearted. It takes approximately 2 hours and costs between $40 and $60 depending on whether you book yourself straight onto the tour and travel down in your own transportation or whether you are being taxied and returned. Make sure to ask one of the guides to video some footage of you actually traveling down the line, no flip-flops please. Oh, and ladies, don’t wear a short skirt.
- The Freedom to explore by ATV. I had never even heard of an ATV or quad until we arrived here last year and was therefore way too frightened to get on one. Then my mother-in-law arrived to visit us. When she saw the quad, she went straight to the hire center and then you couldn’t see her for dust! She had the best time that she has had in ages, felt as free as a bird and young at 21 again. I thoroughly recommend it.
- Nothing like coming home to a stunning house on the beach—from $120 a night. The coastline is dotted with gorgeous homes to spoil baby boomers on their visit to the Costa Rican jungle. Hire a private chef to cook a meal that is served on your veranda, enjoy massages by candlelight or simply sip a rum and coke while watching the sunset over the horizon. What’s that noise, you ask? Howler monkeys in the trees.
There are many more reasons to visit the Nicoya Peninsula—the quality of the restaurants, surfing lessons, horse riding, nature walks, artisan organic farmers markets on Saturday’s, etc., etc. Did you know that an increasing number of baby boomers are making this area their choice for a holiday home? But for now, I hope that I have given you a taste for the Nicoya Peninsula. Come and enjoy it for yourselves. Pura Vida.
Disclosure: This is not a paid or sponsored post. Dahlia offered solid information about visiting Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula that we thought our baby boomer readers would enjoy.
Have you visited the Nicoya Peninsula? Join the conversation at the My Itchy Travel Feet page on Facebook or send us an email to ask a question or share your experience.
