Day 8 (August 1, 2024):

Where did the week go? 😞  It has been a wonderful week, filled with lots of amazing sights. And we feel blessed to have been able to explore as much of Costa Rica as we have.  Still, though, a couple more days would have gone over so well.

We were up at 6AM, were one of the first guests to arrive after breakfast opened at 6:30, then we did a final beach walk. I also squeezed in one last swim (had the entire pool complex to myself).  At 9AM, we pulled out of the hotel parking lot and dropped the rental car at 11.  

Customs and security were a breeze, despite being in the middle of the daily “USA rush hour” (daily flights to Atlanta, Houston, New York and Miami are all clustered to depart around the same time).  We got some lunch at the “Liberia VIP Lounge” and took off on time at 1:20PM.  

We got a good deal on a last minute upgrade to business class, which made the 5.5 hour flight to Toronto very pleasant.  Arrival was on time at 8:45M (Toronto is two hours ahead of Costa Rica).  Customs was a quick breeze, but Pearson’s Terminal 3 was an utter zoo.  A half hour delay was posted for our WestJet connection to Calgary, where we are visiting Drumheller, Banff and attending the wedding of the daughter of friends.  We have a planned arrival at 1AM, hence I will sign off.

We hope you have enjoyed this tour of Costa Rica.  If you haven’t been there, it would be well worth adding to your travel bucket list.


The 6AM view of the beach from our patio. 

A quiet breakfast - a benefit of getting there 6:30AM!


I know, I know, more pool and beach pictures, beyond all the ones I posted yesterday.  It’s just so darn beautiful, we couldn’t resist adding a few more to wrap things up:



The hotel has an infinity pool. Here it is, looking towards the ocean (above) and back towards the hotel (below).




Farewell, J.W. Marriott Guanacaste!

A couple of scenes from the beautiful scenery between Taramindo and Santa Cruz.  Above: goats. Below: cows. 

The dreaded “Reductor” (speed bump) highway sign. They tend to creep up on you, and they are all over the place. You’re going along at 80km/h and bam - one creeps up. You really need to take them at 10-15 km/h, or else you risk major tire damage. 

This was our overall route for the seven days, starting at the red dot and going clockwise. 

A goodly moment presented itself at the airport. 

The WestJet Boeing 737-800 back to Toronto. 

Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia (northwest part or Costa Rica) is the country’s second largest international airport. Fairly small and like a rectangular box, it is a very busy spot!

One last view of Costa Rica’s lush countryside. 

View of Nicaragua.

Our business class meal enroute to Toronto was really great!




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