Costa Rica!!!!

[southport05]

What can I say. There is nothing that can match an epic journey with good friends to far off, exotic lands in pursuit of things that are beautiful!! The five amigos departed Boston under threat of snow (what a surprise), but made it out just in time. We arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica at 1PM local time and were greeted with a humid 87 degrees. Wow! What a nice change from this winter's New England weather. Our driver provide us with a couple of six packs of local Imperial beer (I'm not a big beer drinker, but it was good), and off we went towards our destination, LOS SUENOS!!!! Now I had both read, and been told by a couple of people, that the road from San Jose to Los Suenos was long, narrow, winding, somewhat treacherous, and beautiful. Well, in the last 12 months, the long, narrow, winding, and treacherous (for the most part) has been eradicated. They built a new highway through the mountains, which has cut down the drive from 2-2.5hrs to about 1.5hrs. It is still beautiful though. About 20mins from our destination, our driver asks if we want to stop at the bridge and see the crocodiles? Huh?! Holy crap! Hell yes!!! Having only seen crocs in captivity, to see them in the wild was incredible!! Onward to Los Suenos. Walked into our condo. Gorgeous! Overlooking the golf course, with views of the Pacific and the marina. Took it easy the first night, as we were fishing the next day.

7:30AM we hopped on the "Super Fly", a 42' Maverick convertible with a day boat setup. On the way out the captain and mates told us that fishing had been a little slow lately. After the third sail, one of the mates asked me if I wanted to swim with one of the sails. Thought he was kidding, but he wasn't. So I jumped at the chance! What a thrill! Couldn't believe I was in the water holding the sail, and then helped him swim away. It was awesome!!!! A little later, the whole group jumped in with one. Tally for the day, 8 for 10 on sails!!! We all agreed that we were okay with their slow days! It was a FANTASTIC day!!!! The mates worked hard, kept us laughing, and fed us great food.

The next few days we did a bunch of local stuff, including a "zip line" through the jungle. That was incredible!! Highly recommend it to anyone who goes to Costa Rica!

The last day of fishing was interesting. We were on the "Spanish Fly", another 42' Maverick convertible. We had just begun to troll when we experienced a "minor" engine problem. A sensor on one of the Cats. It took the capt about an hour or two to jury rig a fix, one that he told me hoped would get us through the day and back to port on both engines. We picked up a mahi-mahi while on the troll on one engine. Back on two motors, we ended up going 4 for 4 on sails, and the capt let us stay out a little longer due to the earlier engine problem. About 10min into the trip back to port, we heard a load bang (similar to hitting a wave wrong). Immediately we slowed down. Whatever the fix was, it had just un-fixed itself. Rather than having us aboard for a long slow ride back to port, they called for another boat in their fleet to come grab us. So we did an interesting stern to stern transfer of five guys and their gear. But it was all good, as the charter on the other boat was a couple of charter capts from, of all places, MHC, NC!!! Talk about a great group to ride in with!!! Took our mahi fillets to a restaurant at the marina and had them cook it up for us in a couple of different fashions. That, combined with some Coronas and a sunset over the marina, made for the perfect ending to the day!!

The journey home was long and arduous. Much time was spent in lines at customs, security, baggage, etc. But all well worth it for one hell of a trip with my amigos!!!! If you have not gone to Costa Rica, I highly recommend it!

[Tenacious]

Great report and pics to boot! Thanks for the time and effort in bringing us your world!!!

[scratchinbottom]

Great pics!!! sounds like you guys had an awesome trip. That must of been capt Dave on the miss behavin' great guy and great captain. Did you guys leave the resort and hit up any bars? perhaps the beetle bar?

[southport05]

Never heard of it.

[rabcoman]

Great report and pics

[gottaflylee]

Hope thet Capt George took good care of ya...

[bigfishhooker]

Great pics!!! Last time in Costa Rica at Los Suenos, I had a mate tell me about the Beetle bar. Jokingly I said I'm sure my wife would love to see that place.

Mate looked at me serious as can be and in that latin american english voice...says "Yo man, you don't take sand to the beach".

Wisest words I've heard in a while.

[wanted]

nice pictures, i hope to someday get out there, just back from mexico caught 33 not quit as big as that but a great time...what a great time you had...

[Robja]

nice pictures, i hope to someday get out there, just back from mexico caught 33 not quit as big as that but a great time...what a great time you had...

Where are the pictures??????

[ebbtideandy]

Great Pictures. Love Costa Rica and Los Suenos. Was there in December and can't wait to get back.