A natural beverage
There Are few BeTTer ways
to
describe Costa Rica than simply calling it by name. Dubbed “rich coast”
in Spanish, the country boasts more
than a thousand kilometres of shoreline on its Pacific side, plus another
200 bordering the Caribbean Sea. It’s a
coast that affords many one-of-a-kind
aquatic experiences when you’re kayaking, scuba diving, surfing—or just
island hopping aboard a water taxi.
That’s what I’m doing, anyway:
Waiting to cross the Gulf of Nicoya
from Jaco to the resort town of
Montezuma. I’m cautioned by locals
that the ride can be both bumpy and
wet. But I’m also promised there’s a
very good chance of spotting dolphins
along the way. I wade into the water to
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fAll 2016
cAA SASKATCHEWAN
climb aboard the boat, tightly buckling
my orange life jacket in anticipation
of a rough ride. To my surprise, the
waves are calm as we cruise toward
the bohemian town on the Nicoya
Peninsula.
Most of my fellow passengers gather
under our boat’s canopy, seeking
relief from the
sweltering Central
American sun.
Suddenly, the
captain shouts
in Spanish and
slows the vessel.
As if on cue,
several dolphins
gracefully leap out
of the water. They
proceed to swim alongside the boat
for a few minutes before disappearing
beneath the blue surface.
Once in Montezuma I rush to check
into my hotel. I have pressing needs—
namely, finding some local cuisine and
a beverage to help me cool down in the
dry season’s prickly 30 C heat. I find the
ideal spot beneath a plastic umbrella
on the leafy lawn of a beach restaurant.
I order casado, a typical Costa Rican
dish that marries rice, black beans,
plantains and, in this case, chicken.
Locals usually drizzle theirs with
Salsa Lizano, a slightly sweet, peppery
condiment found on virtually every
table in Costa
Rica. I wash
everything down
with the country’s
most popular
brew, the red-and
yellow-labelled
Imperial lager.
Belly full, it’s
time for more
active pursuits.
First up: the three-tiered Montezuma
Waterfalls. The falls are a short 20minute hike from town, on a trail
running from the main road into
a river valley lined with Guanacaste
trees. In the dry season it’s easy to hop
along the riverbed rocks, a natural
path to the falls. Along the way I’m
the captain shouts in
spanish and slows the
vessel. as if on cue, several
dolphins gracefully leap
out of the water
bEACH: ASHlyN gEorgE; CoCoNuT: KoEN MEErSHoEK/SToCKSy uNiTEd
Sublime surfing on the Pacific coast