Still the Best Sunset in the World

Every time I go to Costa Rica I have dinner at Villa Caletas and watch the best sunset in the world. They have an amphitheater in the bar area where most people come to watch the sunset but I prefer to watch from a table before dinner.

Crocs Casino and Resort Jaco, Costa Rica

Another new place I checked out in Jaco was Crocs Casino Resort.  Crocs is located on the beach in Jaco and at the far northern end of the beach. They bill themselves as a Las Vegas style casino. Although it is not close to the glitter of Las Vegas it is the best casino I have been to in Costa Rica. They have a large gaming floor with Vegas style games such as blackjack, poker and slots.

The resort is beautiful and sits on the beachfront. The swimming pool area is huge with lots for the kids to do. Restaurants are great with a great selection of menu items. The wine selection was good but I had brought my own wine and paid the corkage fee. They also have a high rise hotel that from I heard from the guests I talked to was very nice. The resort is kid friendly and nice enough for a romantic get-away.

My only complaint is that it is hard to find. I asked around and was told it was on the far end of the beach. But which end? There are street signs in town but it is so far north that you wouldn't expect it to be there. There are signs on the buildings but I recommended lighted signs to make them stand out. Maybe there is an ordinance against that.

I am thinking of next trip staying there.

The Pizza Shop, Jaco Costa Rica

Every time I come back to Jaco there is always something new to check out. On this trip I was turned onto a small open air pizza shop in the middle of town on the main street. The Pizza Shop is owned by a young man from the states, Kevin, who moved to Jaco recently. Where I was staying I met a group from Canada that had been there and wanted to go back so I tagged along.

Now the Pizza Shop advertises New York Style pizza which I also had and enjoyed. They also have a special only on Thursday. On Thursday he smokes a prime rib roast all day. There is limited quantities so get there early. You get a slab of prime rib with a baked potato and salad for $12. If you have never had a smoked prime I would recommend trying it. You can't beat the price.

Pops' Travel Guide, Jaco Tranopy

I have done the Tranopy in Jaco three times now and it never gets old. For those of you that don't know what the Tranopy is, it is a play on words. In Costa Rica, zip-lines are called Canopy Tours. This particular one uses a tram to get to the top of the mountain. The combination of tram and canopy gives you tranopy.

The Tranopy is about a fifteen minute drive from the center of Jaco on the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. What I like about this tour is the attention they give to safety. There are two cables on every line and at least two guides with every group. One guide will get you connected and the other is at the other end to help brake you. You don't have to worry about braking yourself. Everyone goes through a safety class before you go up the mountain.

The Tranopy Tour consists of ten zip-lines. After a relaxing ride on the tram up the rain forest mountain you ride each of the ten zip-lines down to the bottom. They start out fairly short and easy and in the middle there are a couple that are as long as three football fields. The ride down also has incredible views of Jaco and the Pacific Ocean. Along the way you will be able to notice a difference in climate. The bottom being dry and warmer and all of a sudden, like going through a door, you get hit with a cooler wetter feel with waterfalls view-able from the tram.

Give it about 2.5 hours for the entire tour. At the bottom they also have a reptile zoo that they will take you to. There you can see some of the wildlife from the area. Before and after they have a nice covered area to relax, get something to eat or drink. We had a nice cold beer that sure felt good.

Cost is about $75. For more information here is their site.

Tranopy