Nov 30, 2019

9 Must-Have Items in Your Bag for a Playa Grande Beach Day

A favorite way to spend the day in Playa Grande for both locals and visitors alike is to have a Playa Grande beach day. With nearly four miles of golden sand beach, there is ample space to claim your own spot and post up for the day by the sea. In preparation for your beach day, you’ll want to make sure that you pack the following essentials. Aside from the list below, you might also want to consider packing a little picnic complete with a couple of beers, a cold-pressed juice, or some fresh coconut water. As we begin December, we begin the dry season in Costa Rica, which marks the start of perfect beach weather.  

How to Pack: 9 Items You Must Have in Your Bag for a Playa Grande Beach Day

Natural Mineral Sunscreen

While the dry season (December through April) is noted for consistent cloudless blue skies, the sun is intense. This is not the time or the place to go sans sunscreen in hopes of getting a tan! You could cover your body in the thickest and highest SPF sunscreen and would still find yourself kissed by the sun at the end of the day. It is also important to remember that what you put on your skin will end up in the ocean too. So, make sure that you only use sunscreen that contains the active ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium oxide; anything else is toxic to the coral reefs, the marine environment, and your body. 

SIMPLE Apotheca and New Body Costa Rica are two local brands that are making 100% environmentally friendly and effective sunscreen products.

Natural Insect Repellent

Around sunrise and sunset, the no-see-ums can be brutal on the beach, and mosquitos are common year-round and all-around Costa Rica. To avoid having to cut your beach time short, pack some natural insect repellent, and you will have no issues with biting bugs. 

Microfiber Towel

A microfiber towel is not only light and easy to pack, but it dries quickly and doesn’t hold onto the sand when you shake it out. This is a must-have item for any beach vacation. 

Reusable and Insulated Water Bottle

Aside from the obvious avoidance of single-use plastics, an insulated reusable water bottle is a must-have for the tropics. Nothing is satisfying about drinking hot sunbaked water on a hot day at the beach. An insulated water bottle will keep your water nice and chilly for the entirety of your beach day. My personal favorite is the Yeti 36-ounce Rambler Bottle. Regardless of how hot it is outside, my icy water stays icy until the very last drop!  

Local Fruit

There are few things more refreshing after swimming in the salty ocean than slices of watermelon, pineapple, mangoes, papaya, or oranges, or perhaps some pitaya or mamón chinos. Costa Rica is rich in native tropical fruit! 

Small Bills 

You definitely don’t want to bring anything valuable down to the beach, especially if you plan on swimming or leaving your belongings unattended. However, you might want to bring a few smalls bills in case you want a couple of tacos later in the day from Taco Star or head up to the RipJack Inn for happy hour. 

Latest Edition of The Howler Magazine

The Howler Magazine is a free monthly lifestyle, travel, and adventure magazine that is available all around town, including at the RipJack Inn, Pots and Bowls, Frijoles Locos, and the Wilmart. This English-written magazine includes articles and stories about Costa Rican culture, history, attractions, local happenings, surf, wildlife, tours, restaurants, business and investment information, and current events. This informative, inspiring, and beautifully designed magazine offers great reading material for your Playa Grande beach day.

Bag for Collecting Trash During Your Playa Grande Beach Day

If you see any trash on the beach, please pick it up. Keeping our beaches and our ocean clean is a collective effort. While Playa Grande is actually a really clean beach, sometimes, and especially after big swells or storms, plastic and other debris end up on our shoreline. You can repurpose a plastic grocery bag or any other bag you’re able to reuse to collect any little pieces of trash you find around your beach spot. 

Change of Clothes or Beach Cover-Up 

Following the magnificent sunset, you might want to go straight from the beach to the RipJack Inn for post-sunset drinks or dinner. If you bring a change of clothes or a cover-up, you can easily transition from the beach to happy hour and dinner! 

Of course, you’ll want to bring sunglasses and maybe a hat and a sun shirt, as well for your Playa Grande beach day. You can also rent a beach chair from the RipJack Inn reception if you want to update your beach set-up!

Nov 17, 2019

Forest Bathing in Costa Rica and Why It’s Amazing for Your Health

National Geographic listed Costa Rica as one of the best countries to practice the Japanese art of forest bathing. In the 1980s, the term shinrin-yoku (shinrin means forest and yoku means bath) was coined in Japan and has since grown into a scientifically-back physiological and psychological eco-practice. The idea that spending time in nature is good for your health is far from new. However, in an era where an estimated 93% of Americans spend the majority of their day indoors, according to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency, this ecotherapy has become more necessary than ever. Fortunately, if you are in Costa Rica, access to this highly beneficial practice can be as simple as just stepping outdoors! 

What is forest bathing?

Forest bathing, also called forest therapy, is a practice that involves spending time amongst the trees in a mindful and relaxed manner. It is a practice, similar to yoga and meditation, in that it is completely personal. Some prefer to stroll through the forest, while others prefer to sit amongst the trees. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy forest bathing; in fact, even practicing yoga or meditation in the forest is considered a form of forest therapy. The most crucial part is that you make the conscious decision to be present and to pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and even tastes of the forest; this is where the healing happens. 

Why is forest bathing beneficial to your mental and physical health?

Forest therapy has been linked to:

Reduced stress

Reduced blood pressure

Boosted immune system function

Enhanced mood

Elevated energy level

Increased ability to focus

Strengthened ability to communicate with nature

Accelerated recovery from illness or surgery

Stronger connection to the self 

Creativity

Happiness

Clearer mind

Overall sense of wellness 

Where are the best places to take a forest bath near Playa Grande? 

Playa Grande is within a day-trip distance from several national parks and forests, including the Santa Rosa National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Palo Verde National Park, and Barra Honda National Park. Here you will find a combination of tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, and lush mangrove forests. However, you don’t necessarily need to seek out a national park to reap the benefits of forest bathing. Trees and beautiful green spaces are abundant all around and in Playa Grande. The idea is mainly to break free of walled in spaces and the constraints of technology and spend some time with our healing and rejuvenating Mother Earth. 

If you are interested in a guided forest therapy tour, Sensoria, a private rainforest reserve near Rincon de la Vieja, offers this unique opportunity to visitors. Their trail is even certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.

While it is simple to surround yourself with trees and nature while in Costa Rica, don’t forget to seek out these arbol moments in your everyday life. Forest therapy, like nearly any other type of therapy, is best when repeated more than once.