Going wild in the land of the big cats
Costa Rica’s rich rainforests and stunning sands steal the heart of Terry Mynott
I’m always keen to get off the beaten track on holiday if I can. I’ve been to the Himalayas and toured some of the lesser known areas of the United States on a motorbike. I also flew to Mexico a couple of years ago on the Thomson Dream liner aircraft. It was an extraordinary experience, so when the holiday firm announced the Dreamliner would also fly direct to Costa Rica, I was the first person at the departure gate.
Both the wildlife and the rainforest in Mexico were remarkable – but I was assured that in Costa Rica they reach a whole different level.
When you come in to land at Liberia airport, about 130 miles from the capital San José, all you can see is the most verdant, beautiful landscape. Costa Rica may be a small country, with a population of about five million, but you soon realise you’ve arrived in a naturalist’s paradise.
About a quarter of the country is protected jungle, full of marvellous wildlife such as spider monkeys and quetzal birds. I’m naturally restless, but I was a little more relaxed than usual when I arrived in Costa Rica because I had just finished writing a big television project.
This meant that my first instinct, once I had checked into my hotel, Dreams Las Mareas, was to head straight to the room and sprawl out on the bed.
I’d packed some books with the intention of getting stuck into them, but within half an hour of settling down I was up again and walking around looking for an ants’ nest or investigating interesting parts of the beach. As I say, I’m naturally restless.
The hotel was in an amazing location on El Jobo beach in the Guanacaste region in the north, near the Guatemalan border. It was about three miles from the main road, so it was a little green world on its own. I’d felt excited driving up to it and as we rounded the corner, there it was located on a stunning private beach.
In Costa Rica, the people are very serious about caring for the environment. For example, on the road to the hotel you can see where they’ve had to divert its path to take it around a protected tree.
After checking out the hotel grounds, I decided to take an excursion to Sensoria – Land Of The Senses – which is part nature park, part water park near Rincón de la Vieja, the area’s largest active volcano.
It is a place of extraordinary flora and fauna with dense rainforest where tapirs and jaguars can be seen. There are also warm thermal springs which emerge from crevices in the jungle, wild orchids and waterfalls – all set to the sounds of howler monkeys and cicadas.
It is a fabulous place and I was in my element. Costa Rica has immediately shot to the top of my list of favourite holiday destinations. It’s not just a fantastic country with all its wildlife, but the people are incredibly nice too.
It’s perhaps the place I’ve been least bothered by people trying to sell me something. When I said I didn’t want anything, they usually replied: ‘That’s okay – are you having a nice time?’ And would be happy just to talk, offering advice or suggestions.
A trip to Costa Rica is more than just a holiday, it’s a chance to discover a country where the people seem genuinely happy and peaceful. To me it’s paradise.