Hoffmans Invade Costa Rica! Pura Vida sampled by all!

The Hoffman Family was here for a visit! And quite a visit it was!

The first wave of the clan flew into the San Jose airport on the 13th. Eric, Darcy, Marty and Linda checked into a hotel on the outskirts of Ciudad Colon, while Jerrett and Leah decided to brave a night at our house. We all got some rest before Barry, Beth, Claire, Morgan, and Chloe flew in early the next morning. Once they landed, we all met up for a nice breakfast at the hotel. A “quick” stop in Ciudad Colon to do some banking and we were on our way to the beach!

The bus was loaded with the help of our faithful chauffer, Don Roger, who would be staying with us the entire week at Isla Palo Seco. We took the long, scenic route to the Pacific, passing through Puriscal and near La Cangreja National Park. It was a beautiful drive, but at some point after two hours of seeing fleeting glimpses of the ocean and eating a late lunch, Claire lost her sense of excitement and said, “We are not really going to the beach, are we Aunt Amy? Where are we really going?”

But, alas, we were going to the beach, though it would be a couple more hours before we were really there! We got to the town of Parrita and were stopped in our tracks by the wait to cross the bridge over the River Parrita. The bridge is an old train trestle that was built 70 years ago. Even though the train is long gone and the bridge was converted to handle cars, it has remained only a single lane. The increasing development in the area has forced the government to replace the bridges over the next ten years or so. The problem is, it remains one lane. They work on the bridge for half and hour, shutting it completely down in both directions. They then open the bridge up to one direction of traffic for up to 1/2 hour. They close it down again, then open it to the opposite direction. We were stuck waiting for our turn to cross the bridge for about 1.5 hours, the perfect amount of time to get the groceries we needed!

Now we were at the beach just in time for sunset, and pleased to find clean cabins, beautiful landscaping, refreshing pools, and an outdoor kitchen! Linda and Marty had rented the entire facility for us so we were able to take over. It was great.

The first day we took advantage of our nice digs and swam, walked on the beach, and generally caught up on everyone’s news. On day two we got up very early to make the trek to Manuel Antonio, the most visited park in Costa Rica. Even with all the other people on the trails, we had a great time looking at monkeys, toucans, raccoons, and swimming in the giant bathtub, also known as the Pacific Ocean. Some of us (Amy, David, Marty, Beth, and Don Roger) were able to take a hike to an overlook, which the brochure assured us was easily traveled and well maintained. It was neither, and by the time we got back to our day camp we were pooped out and dehydrated! But, along the way we had a good view of a sloth, some neat birds, and an albino paca/agouti.

Day three was much the same as day one except in the evening Marty, Linda, David and I went on a birding trek between the mangrove and a shrimp farm. We saw some really fun birds, and didn’t even get too bit up by bugs in the process.

The fourth day we went to a place called Rainmaker, which was amazing. Our guide, Luis, was very knowledgeable and patient with such a big group of people. He showed us two (poisonous) snakes along the way, and taught us a lot about the biology and botany of the park. The highlights of the hike were its enormous suspension bridges and its refreshing swimming hole. At least three of us in the party were petrified to cross the bridges, but we did it! And, boy! Was it worth it. If the others were scared, they sure didn’t show it! The kids all crossed without any problems (the babies being carried in backpacks on their parents’ backs) and didn’t seem to be shaking like a leaf like Amy was at the end of the long bridges. The swimming hole was a much needed cool down towards the end of the hike. It was just what we needed for the last little push to get back to the base and eat our delicious typical Costa Rican food of rice, tortilla, beans, picadillo, and fresh juice.

Guess what we did day five! We swam! We rested! We took a bike ride! Pura Vida!

Day six we went on a mangrove tour. One great thing about having such a big group is, you always get a “private” tour! The boat was just the Hoffman Family, the Captain, and the Guide. The captain parked the boat in the mangrove and next thing we knew we were surrounded by monkeys. Monkeys ON the boat, monkeys IN the boat, monkeys ON our heads…it was crazy! It was so much fun to hear and see everyone’s reaction to having the monkeys so close you could touch them. After letting a monkey lick banana off her hand Claire declared, "I have monkey slobber on my hand!" Too cute. Also on the mangrove tour we saw a swimming iguana, a silky anteater, and a boa. It was a really fun trip / tour, and much different than other mangrove tours we had been on.

The next day, sadly, we had to say goodbye to Eric, Darcy, Jerrett, and Leah. Don Roger drove them back to the airport while we stayed behind and played in the pool. Beth and Barry were able to get away by themselves for a sunset bike ride, while the rest of us relaxed and looked after the little ones.

The last full day Barry, David and I hired a local man to take us fishing in the mangroves. It was very hot and we got skunked! But, it was a very interesting trip anyway. We learned about how they fish in that area and we learned a lot from the guide who, once he learned that David and I speak Spanish, did not stop talking once! That evening we went for a sunset walk on the beach and headed to a bar and grill for dinner. It was good food, the bugs were terrible! Beth and I got horribly bit up, while the little buggers seemed to leave everyone else alone, for the most part.

The next day we all piled into the bus for the last time. Roger made a few stops for us along the way to let people buy coffee, and to try to see Scarlet Macaws and Crocodiles. Oddly enough, while everyone else was in the supermarket buying coffee Roger, David and I saw two macaws flying over the parking lot. For a while we thought everyone else was going to be skunked, but we finally spied two more macaws flying over just before we reached the bridge over the River Tarcoles.

The last night, Dave and I brought two pizzas over to the hotel and we ate on the patio while we said our goodbyes. The rest of the family flew out early the next morning. It was a fantastic visit, and it was so special to be able to spend time with the family here in Costa Rica. Thank you, Marty and Linda, for your generosity and your drive to bring us all together and create more wonderful memories!

Con mucho amor y montones de abrazos.

Amy and David

On to the pictures! (These come from various Hoffman photographers, credits are not provided...sorry)



The First Wave of Hoffmans arrive at Juan Santamaria International, let the luggage be loaded!

Don Roger's Coaster Bus (1996, 4200 cc, 6 cylinder, 5 speed manual, w/transmission retarder)

Amy enjoying some food at a fine Chicharronera en route to the beach.

Morgan (L) and Chloe (R) along for the ride.

A vista en route.

Eric, Marty...surveying the surroundings of the Chicharronera

Along for the ride...

Claire checking out Zompopas (leaf cutter ants)

It's hot at Manuel Antonio, just ask the NH Hoffmans...or this White-faced Capuchin

Claire...a budding naturalist, strikes a pose with a tree.

Serious Iguana (da, da, daaaaaaa!!!)

Don Roger Murillo Sanchez, bus driver, baby holder, bird spotter, Agouti hunter, and honorary Hoffman...relaxing @ Manuel Antonio

Dave entering Rainmaker

THE bridge at Rainmaker

Frog in the forest of Rainmaker

Cool flower in Rainmaker

David and Amy @ Rainmaker

Marty and Linda @ Rainmaker

Leah and Jerrett (and Eric) @ Rainmaker

NH Hoffmans (Eric, Leah, Darcy, Jerrett) @ Rainmaker

Ahhh...finally the swimming hole @ Rainmaker (even Leah made it in!)

Claire crosses THE Bridge @ Rainmaker

More time at the swimming hole @ Rainmaker

HOFFMAN POWER!!! @ Rainmaker

"It's a ____ Marty." "Linda, it's a ____." Mom and Dad strike a typical pose.

Darcy and Chloe on the Mangrove/monkey tour (pre monkey)

Oh! Monkeys! Jerrett...

Linda...not sure she like this.

Marty strikes a pose.



The following are all around Isla Palo Seco...

Moonrise

Hoffmani Americanus sunning themselves.

Grandpa Marty being silly.

Being cool at the pool.

Wasp nest...yikes.

Boat and the estuary behind the cabins.

David reading some highbrow Disney stuff to Claire

Ahh....the beach.

Cabinas La Tranqulidad...quite tranquil indeed.

Leah @ Las Cabinas

Claire, burning off some energy.

Happy 1st b-day to Morgan and Chloe! Mmmmm cake.

Hey, at least he caught a fish.

Not the fish Barry caught...but it was tasty.

David and Barry biking down the beach!

Barry (L) and David (R) checking out the mouth of the estuary.

Crab on Barry's arm in the estuary.

Our fishing guide and one who enjoys the tranquility of Isla Palo Seco (although he never really did shut up) catching some bait.

Sand ripples.

Claire loves her big cousin Jerrett.

Cool butterfly @ Las Cabinas

Colorado Hoffmans enjoying one last sunset on Isla Palo Seco.

Amy's legs upon our return home...just a few bites...ouch.