With a heavy heart, I left the islands of Bocas del Toro and got into the small boat that would bring me back to the harbour of the small coastal village of Almirante. Although the way to my next stop was not far, I left my hostel early in the morning. I had to take several public buses, a border crossing in front of me and wanted to make sure to arrive before darkness.
After a short walk, I got to the bus terminal of Almirante and took one of the buses to Changuinola and from there one to the border crossing Sixaola. Even though everybody told me to take a private shuttle and that it would take me at least several hours to get to the border, I arrived there in less than two hours. I lined up to get my exit stamp from Panama and had to pay an, for my taste completely overdrawn, excursion fee. I crossed the border without further problems, swiftly got the entry stamp for Costa Rica and took the bus to Puerto Viejo - my first stopover in Costa Rica!
Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo is a small town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and just a few hours’ drive from the border of Panama. This formerly remote fishing village has grown rapidly in recent years and is now, at least among surfers and backpackers, one of the most popular travel destinations in Costa Rica.
I stayed at a small hostel near the beach and let the days pass without doing much. I enjoyed the sea and the sun and explored the surrounding beaches.
San José
Many travelers had advised me against visiting Costa Rica's capital, but the city was right on my path and I still did not know where I wanted to go next. So I jumped into one of the buses to San José and arrived there about 4 hours later. I had booked a dorm bed in a small hostel near the center of the city in advance and after getting lost several times on my way there, I managed to find the right direction.
I only spent very little time in San Jose and I never felt insecure and had no problems with crime. But the city simply could not convince me: too many people, dirty, loud and not even the main square had much to offer architecturally or otherwise.
Trinidad de Dota (Parque Nacional Los Quetzales)
I have already dedicated a complete post to this part of my journey through Costa Rica. For those who are into bird watching and like to see some photos of the famous Quetzal, I recommend reading my blog: Chasing the famous Resplendet Quetzal.
Playa del Coco
My last stop should be the beach Playa del Coco on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. After a long bus ride from San José, I arrived in the town Coco in the early evening. I had already read a lot about its beautiful beach, but when I left the bus station and headed towards my hostel, I realized that Coco was not really the sleepy little village, as I had thought. A Hard Rock Cafe, Papa John's Pizza, Subway and other American fast food chains dominated the main street. I was already planning to leave the next day in the morning, but as soon as I had left the main road, the hustle and bustle became less and less. Fortunately my first impression was not confirmed and the rest of the village and the beach turned out to be anything but touristy. The beach was almost always deserted and the atmosphere perfect for relaxing.
The sunsets and a lonely walk along the beach are a must - just beautiful!
If you liked this blog, I recommend you read the first three chapters of my trip through Central America:
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