8 Reasons Why Travel (Especially to Costa Rica) is Good for Your Health

benefits of traveling to Casa de Los Monos

Destination Costa Rica: Step into the myriad benefits of traveling. (Pictured: Casa de Los Monos

Everyone looks forward to travel, right? We crave a break from our everyday almost as much as the opportunity for new adventures and choose-your-own relaxation. But, did you know? There are many tangible benefits of traveling, especially to Costa Rica, where the sun is so often shining and new experiences await around every corner.

Discover some of the many scientifically proven (and personally verified!) reasons why travel can be good for the body, mind, and soul:

Reason #1: You’ll Get Outdoors & Get Active

tamarindo zip line

“Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” – Hans Christian Andersen

There’s just something about an outdoor activity; it’s just different from its indoor cousin. It’s something we feel, something we know – like that there’s no real comparison between putting foot to pavement and foot to treadmill: One, we do because we need or want the exercise; the other, we do because we love how it feels.

One of the greatest benefits of traveling, at least to Costa Rica, is the latter: You’ll love spending your time outdoors. You’ll surf in the sea and hike in the rainforest. You’ll white-water raft down river rapids and swim in the Pacific. You’ll spend your sunsets on a sailboat and your evenings grilling by an ocean-view pool.

And all those things – well, you’ll love them just as much as your body loves doing them. Because getting outdoors, especially when traveling, has been found to really, truly keep you healthier, even in your retirement. In fact, the study found that regular travel can significantly impact your overall health. For example, women who travel twice a year (or more) had a statistically significant lower risk of heart attack, while men who vacationed at least annually had a reduced risk of death and especially of a heart attack.

So, go on – travel. Do it for your health!

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Level Up Your Vacation: Top 7 Day Trips from Tamarindo

Costa Rica red-eyed tree frog

Red-eyed tree frogs – the world’s cutest amphibian? And one of the frogs you could spot, on these 7 day trips from Tamarindo!

Tamarindo is a destination unto itself, famed for its powdery beaches and raucous surf, rolling hills and splendid sunsets.

That doesn’t mean you’ll never want to adventure past the town’s limits, though. (After all, Tamarindo proper occupies less than a square mile!) So, for all those times you crave stretching your legs, for all those moments you can’t experience with your toes in the sand, for all the must-sees and must-dos that lie just beyond our borders, we offer…

7 Incredible, Memorable & Worth-Your-Consideration Day Trips from Tamarindo:

Sloths & Frogs

two-toed sloth in Costa Rica

Can you really say you don’t want to see this face, up close and personal? Can you? Can you?? We thought not.

If you’ve ever dreamed of a close encounter with a smiling sloth or a colorful frog – and, let’s be honest? what nature lover hasn’t, really? – then we’ve designed this adventure just for you.

One of our most popular day trips from Tamarindo, this unique experience takes you hiking 90 minutes into lush landscapes and tropical forests. On this special half-day, you’ll not only take a dip in waterfall pool, but will enjoy close encounters with sloths and spottings of toucans, butterflies, and frogs in their natural habitats.

Round out the day with a typical meal at a sodita, or homestyle diner, for a typical lunch and a true taste of Costa Rican tradition.

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Costa Rica Destination Vaxication? 4 Reasons to Start Planning Now

Pacific Soul catamaran rental Costa Rica

Shake off your confinement, plan your Costa Rica destination vaxication, and reunite in paradise!

If 2020 was the year of staycations, then 2021 and 2022 are poised to be the years of vaxications: your first big post-COVID vacation, designed to shake off your confinement and become one of the most memorable trips of your life. It’s okay to go big. We’ve been waiting a long time for this!

It’s a growing trend (and one of the dictionary’s newest words): By the time you get your first vaccination, you already know when the second one will be. And you also know that, 14-21 days after that second shot, you’ll be go for travel. And so, you start eagerly planning and researching. You check your work schedule and vacation time. And then, you lay your plans for your vaxication (officially, a combination of vaccine and vacation).

vax·i·ca·tion \ˌvak-sə-ˈkā-shən\ noun: the first (and much-awaited) trip planned for when you’ll be fully vaccinated.

And with that in mind, we invite you to set your sights on a Costa Rica destination for your re-entrance to the world of travel. Here are 4 reasons why you should start planning now:

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Costa Rica Beach House Rentals vs. Hotels: The Benefits of Renting a Home During Covid

Casa de Luz pool overlooks the beach

Costa Rica beach house rentals or hotels? Well, if you’re looking for a luxury experience with a side of privacy, space, and amenities, then the former! (Pictured: Casa de Luz’s sparkling pool overlooks the beach – and offers a perfect spot to enjoy the breathtaking sunset!)

When it comes to travel, planning is part of the fun, isn’t it? Especially the initial window-shopping bit, when you’re flipping through photos and making wish lists, dreaming big dreams and planning on a least a few of them.

But somewhere along the planning way, you always come to a crossroads – that moment you have to make a decision, to commit to this not that. And one of the biggest decisions, after choosing where you’re going, is the choice of where to stay.

And when your where is Costa Rica, your where-to-stay boils down to a vacation home or hotel. And that’s usually right about the time that indecision sets in. You want, even need to make the right choice. Your vacation depends on it.

That’s how it feels, of course. But, take a breath. And another. Because Costa Rica is a spectacular place, filled with natural wonders and outdoor adventures. You’re going to have a great time! We’re sure of it.

Now, back to that decision: If you’re still researching where to stay, especially if you’re going to travel to Costa Rica during COVID, then you’re probably wondering whether you should go for a hotel room or for one of the many Costa Rica beach house rentals. Admittedly, we’re biased but our vote is for the latter. But we have reasons, compelling ones.

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Plan Your 2021/2022 Dream Wedding in Costa Rica

Costa Rica wedding photographer drone photography-min

Plan to get married in Costa Rica? The beauty is in the details, like finding the perfect wedding photographer and capturing some truly once-in-a-lifetime imagery.

Planning your wedding is one of the most singular times of life: magical and full of hope, exciting and rife with joy. Give into it. Let it all wash over you. Bask in the anticipation of planning a perfect start to forever. Because forever will be here soon. Until then, we’ll help you plan every detail to get married in Costa Rica.

Specifically, to plan with very little stress and a lot of the good stuff – all that hope and wonder and picture-perfect everything. That’s why we’re here. While we’ve already written extensively on getting married in Costa Rica, we thought an update was due.

After all, it’s been a wild (let’s go with that) last year or so. One that probably has you wondering whether anything has changed, or evolved, or then updated in any way that will be relevant to your wedding. Hour guide to getting married in Costa Rica, 2021/2022 edition, will help. And wherever it doesn’t please get in touch.

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Costa Rica Private Villa & Travel FAQ: 2021 Version

Costa Rica private villa & travel FAQ 2021

Questions? We have answers! And for anything you don’t find in our updated Costa Rica private villa & Tamarindo travel FAQ, just get in touch! We’re always happy to help.

So, you’re thinking about traveling to Costa Rica this year? We’ll bet you have questions. Luckily, we also have answers.

We won’t cover the standard FAQ fare – where is Tamarindo? (northwestern Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste) or do Costa Ricans speak English? (not as their first language, but English is widely spoken) – but rather, we’ll touch on all those things that can and do frequently change – especially after the 2020 we all had.

Jump to:

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Last-Minute Vacation? Here’s Why You’ll Love Our Tamarindo, Costa Rica Private Villa Rentals

Last-minute Costa Rica private villa rentals

There’s nothing quite like a last-minute getaway to relieve stress and satiate your travel bug. Tamarindo – and our Costa Rica private villa rentals – are the perfect choice for your next escape.

In times past, there were two basic vacationer types: The pre-planning kind who reserved travel days, booked accommodations, and even researched activities months or years in advance; and the seat-of-the-pants type, who snagged a great deal on flights and left everything else (or thereabouts) until after landing.

Today, our post-2020 world has produced a third type – a type that bridges the gap between the pre-planners and the seat-of-their-pantsers, often pulling each into its thrilling orbit: These are the last-minute vacationers, who embrace the greater flexibility, lower stress, and excellent deals afforded by last-minute plans.

The question is – where will you go? Ask us, and we think Tamarindo and our Costa Rica private villa rentals are the perfect choice. Here’s why:

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An Extended Family Vacation in Costa Rica: Stay, Play & Learn!

take an extended family vacation in Costa Rica

The family that plays together, enjoys 2021 together! This year, consider taking an extended family vacation in Costa Rica – complete with sun, sand, and virtual work/school!

Hey, parents – quick question: Are your school-age kids still schooling from home?

If you’re nodding your head (while possibly shuddering), you’re not alone: Much of the world is in the same boat. Not quite homeschool and definitely not your standard education, COVID-age virtual schooling is both an understandable safety measure and an almost-guarantee of cabin fever. Whether your kids are 6 or 16, we stand in solidarity.

We also have an idea.

Costa Rica has long been an outdoor playground for kids and their families. From surfing and rainforest hikes to paddle-boarding and waterfall-rappelling, this is the kind of place that’s naturally outward bound. No effort required.

And so, when The Wall Street Journal recently discussed a wild homeschooling alternative in Costa Rica… parents around the world perked up. But wait: That program is only for teens. Teens who are mature enough to travel without their parents – and the parents who are comfortable enough to send them alone.

What about the rest of us? Well, that’s where our idea comes in…

Virtual Schooling + Extended Family Vacation in Costa Rica

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Is Costa Rica a Safe Destination to Visit During COVID?

Tamarindo sunset tours - stand-up paddle boarding

Costa Rica is a paradise of natural wonders – of outdoor activities to enjoy beneath the sun, out in the breeze, and amidst your bubble of nearest and dearest. Or all alone. Whatever and however you please.

We’ve said it before (and we’ll probably say it again): The decision to travel right now is a personal one. No one can make it for you.

What we can do, however, is share some information (and a few personal experiences and anecdotes) on what Costa Rica travel is like right now. Is it safe? What kind of restrictions are in place? What about the airport – what’s flying like, right now? And on and on.

And, if you do decide to travel, we can also help put your mind at ease with a selection of Costa Rica private villas and beach houses where you can keep your distance and have your vacation, too.

But first:

Costa Rica and COVID-19: What to Expect on Your Vacation

The first impression you’ll have is that Costa Rica feels safe.

And, within today’s global framework, Costa Rica is safe: Costa Rica has received the Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council. This stamp certifies a destination as safe for travel, per 16 health and hygiene protocols.

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It’s [Almost] a New Year – Time to Travel to Costa Rica in 2021

safe travel to Costa Rica and Tamarindo

Travel to Costa Rica affords privacy, luxury, and plenty of outdoor activity – bathed in sunshine and kissed by ocean breeze. Give yourself something to look forward to in 2021!

Have you ever been quite so excited – hopeful, even – about turning the calendar page to a new year? Because, while 2020 has been challenging the world around, vaccine roll-outs are now underway and 2021 shows promise of better times to come. We have our fingers and toes crossed!

Here in Tamarindo, we’re happy to report that life has mostly returned to normal. Or, our new normal, at least: COVID protocols are comfortably in place: We’re masked, transparent barriers are erected at grocery stores, and disinfection is standard everywhere. And, at Stay in Tamarindo, we’ve prepared our vacation home for safe, sanitized travel. (Read more about our COVID-safe protocols.)

Here, you have the freedom to simply be with family and friends. Travel to Costa Rica and you can play on the beach, swim in the ocean, and soak in the sun. You can hike into solitary dry forest, explore backroads via ATV, and snorkel with only the fish as company. You can get outside. You can enjoy your vacation. You can be content – joyful, even!

Because, we’ve all missed those feelings of anticipation, of pure delight, of elation. Now is the time to feel them again, as you begin planning a trip to Costa Rica.

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