March 2019

Mar 31, 2019

How to Stay in the Know in Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Get the inside scoop about what’s happening in and around Playa Grande by utilizing these amazing free online and in-print local resources.

The Howler Magazine

The Howler Magazine was established in 1996 and became Guanacaste’s first English language magazine. It has long served as a source of entertainment, information, and inspiration for both visitors and locals alike. This free monthly magazine is a great resource and can be picked up at the Wilmart, the RipJack Inn reception, Pots and Bowls, Las Tortugas Hotel, the Automercado, and many other local establishments in and around Playa Grande.

Playa Grande, Costa Rica — Local knowledge

The Swell Dealer

The Swell Dealer is a free publication and website where you can find out about what’s happening in Playa Grande, Tamarindo, Langosta, Brasilto, Surfside, and Potrero. This is one of the best sources for finding out about locals events, fundraisers, live music, parties, happy hours, fitness classes, and all sorts of different specials and discounts. You can find The Swell Dealer at the Automercado and other supermarkets, as well as an online and continuously updated social calendar.

costa-rica-guanacaste-playa-grande — Local deals and events

RipJack Inn Bulletin Board

At the entrance of the RipJack Inn bar and restaurant to the right, you will find a bulletin board with flyers and information about yoga classes, live music, and other local happenings.

La Comunidad Playa Grande Facebook Page

This Facebook page is a useful resource if you are staying in Playa Grande long-term or full-time. You will find emergency phone numbers and information about what is happening in Playa Grande.

beachfront-hotel-surf-playa-grande-guanacaste-costa-rica — Know before you go

RipJack Inn Blog

Twice a month we share an article related to surfing, yoga, wellness, nutrition, events, local advice, recommendations, and tips.

RipJack Inn Instagram

Stay up-to-date on the day-to-day at the RipJack Inn and Playa Grande. @ripjackinncr

Grande Real Estate Blog

The Grande Real Estate blog offers local insight into life in Playa Grande. You will also find helpful information about education, relocation, activities, wildlife and adventure tours, surrounding beaches, surfing, and local culture.

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Mar 17, 2019

Four Free Activities to Do Around Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Coco Chanel once said, “the best things in life are free.” The second part of that quote is, “the second best things are very, very expensive,” but that’s beside the point we are going to make here!

You’ve made it Costa Rica, you’ve paid for your plane ticket, your transportation, and your accommodations. You will pay for your tours, meals, souvenirs, happy hour cocktails, and likely several other things. While vacations aren’t necessarily cheap, you can save a few bucks by enjoying some of the free activities a place has to offer.

While you are staying in Playa Grande, take advantage of the following four activities that won’t cost you a penny if you don’t want it to.

Take a stroll and a swim

Playa Grande is literally a big beach! A walk from the RipJack Inn beach path to the most southern end of the beach before the estuary takes around forty minutes. If you walk the other way and continue past the rock and ontop Playa Ventanas the distance is only slightly less. When the tide is low, the sand is firmly packed in and ideal for long strolls along the sea. It is not uncommon to walk and see no one else.

This peaceful and wholesome activity is entirely free!

Enjoy some live music

Every Wednesday there is live music for free upstairs at the RipJack Inn. Every Friday there is free music at the Wilmart. Occasionally, on Saturdays, there is free music at Las Olas Beach Club, as well as on Sundays at Pots and Bowls. For being such a small town, there are actually ample opportunities to enjoy some free live music.

RipJack Inn, Costa Rica — Enjoy the show

Check out the night markets

Night markets are a relatively new thing in the area. They have quickly gained popularity and are free to attend. Of course, if you decide to buy something while you are there, then they aren’t completely free. On Monday there is a night market in Flamingo, on Wednesday there is one in Playa Grande at Las Olas Beach Club, and on Thursdays, there is one in Tamarindo. You will find live music, local artisans selling their wares, and food vendors. This is something fun for the entire family.

Watch the sunset

You absolutely cannot spend time in Playa Grande and not take advantage of one of nature’s most spectacular daily shows. Watching the sunset is a free activity that both locals and visitors embrace while spending time in this beautiful part of the world. Every evening is different, and often it is right after the sun sets that the sky really comes to life. It is a good ritual while you are in Costa Rica to end the daylight hours on the beach.

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Mar 3, 2019

A Few Reasons Why Playa Grande, Costa Rica Should Be Your Next Vacation Destination

Do you have itchy feet? Are you currently watching the snow flurries fall while daydreaming about piña coladas and palm trees? Do you need some sunshine kisses on your skin and a warm salt water hug? If you are on the fence about where you would like to spend your next chunk of leisure time, you should consider Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

Here are a few reasons that might persuade you to book a trip to this quaint little town by the sea.

Space

Unlike the more developed towns that surround Playa Grande where nearly every conceivable space is occupied by a hotel, home, hostel, or shop of some sort, you will find much more open space here. Playa Grande has just the right amount of stuff. There are a few restaurants, two surf shops, a couple of hotels, and little clusters of homes.

There is far more green space in Playa Grande than there are humanmade structures. For this reason, Playa Grande is also home to a diverse population of wildlife. Playa Grande is part of the Las Baulas National Marine Park, so aside from a few houses at the northern end of the beach, there is no development on the beach. You can walk for miles in both directions and see few if anyone else on the beach.

Playa Grande vacation destination — Morning choir / Photo courtesy of Jenn Parker

Serenity

Playa Grande is a very peaceful place. It is a town that attracts yogis, surfers, families, nature-lovers, and serenity-seekers. Around sunrise and sunset, you can hear a symphony of howler monkeys, parrots, blackbirds, and magpie jays mixed in with the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline. The town goes quiet once the sun goes down. It is here that you can let the sounds of nature lull you into a state of calm and contentment.

Stretch, Sweat, and Surf

Playa Grande isn’t a party town, and because there isn’t much of a late nightlife scene here, many people who spend time here choose to take advantage of the daytime hours. If you want to practice yoga, take some fitness classes, and or catch some waves, Playa Grande is the place for you. The RipJack Inn has two yoga shalas and is located directly in front of a beach path that ends at the central surf zone. There is also a new fitness studio in town that offers a variety of classes and open-gym hours.

Costa Rica vacation destinations — Come to Playa Grande to play

No-Stress

Playa Grande is a convenient home base to set out on a fantastic variety of day trips. However, if this vacation is more about just kicking back and relaxing, you don’t need to leave Playa Grande. Everything that you might need and want is available right in town. Playa Grande is the perfect place to settle into and enjoy all that this charming beach town has to offer.

We look forward to seeing you on your next vacation!

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