beachfront hotel Archives

Sep 12, 2024

Independence Day in Costa Rica

Independence Day in Costa Rica: A Celebration of Freedom and Tradition

Costa Rica’s Independence Day, celebrated on September 15, is a significant event that unites the country in a display of national pride, history, and culture. It commemorates the day in 1821 when Costa Rica, along with other Central American nations, gained independence from Spanish rule. For Costa Ricans, this day is a reflection of their dedication to peace, democracy, and their rich cultural heritage.

The Lantern Parade

On the eve of Independence Day, the country’s children participate in a lantern parade. The lanterns, known as “faroles,” symbolize the light of freedom. These lanterns are handmade, often resembling traditional Costa Rican houses or national symbols, and are proudly carried through the streets. Each school organizes a parade every year. Make sure and keep your eyes peeled on Saturday, the 14^th for the local Playa Grande Parade. The parade will happen as soon as the sunsets to allow the lanterns to illuminate.

The Local Dishes

Costa Rica’s Independence Day is not only about national pride but also an opportunity to indulge in the country’s culinary delights. Traditional dishes such as gallo pinto (a rice and beans dish), tamal (a corn-based meal wrapped in plantain leaves), and chifrijo (a mixture of rice, beans, pork, and avocado) are enjoyed by families as they gather to celebrate.

Costa Rica’s Independence Day is more than just a holiday; it’s a celebration of the country’s identity as a peaceful, democratic nation. Make sure and join us in the restaurant at RipJack Inn on Sunday the 15^th of September to enjoy the best Chifrijo in town!

Pura Vida!

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Jan 23, 2021

Five Reasons Why the RipJack Inn is an Incredible Wedding Venue

Are you dreaming of a destination wedding in Costa Rica? While there are certainly a lot of different places and venues to choose from, the RipJack Inn might just be your perfect wedding venue. This charming beachfront boutique hotel has become a popular wedding destination over the past few years, and we think we have a strong case as to why! We LOVE love! And, would love to help you plan and put on the wedding you’ve long been dreaming about with the one you love the most.

Here are five reasons why the RipJack Inn is an incredible wedding venue, and why you should consider getting married here.

Location

The RipJack Inn is located directly across from the beach in the beautiful town of Playa Grande. The only time the beach is actually busy is when the tide is mid to high, and when there is swell in the water, which is ideal for surfing. But even the surf crowd is contained to just a few areas along the very expansive stretch of sand and sea. Unlike Tamarindo, which is busy all the time and everywhere, a beach wedding in Playa Grande can be very private.

Ambiance

The RipJack Inn can be rented entirely out for your wedding. Between the restaurant and bar, and the downstairs pool and patio area, we can help you orchestrate the best celebration of your life! If you want an intimate setting for your cocktail hour, dinner, and party, the RipJack is really a special place to host it all. The ambiance here is warm and welcoming and inspiring of a grand celebration.

Convenience

After your ceremony in the sand and by the sea, you and your wedding guests can easily walk back to the RipJack Inn, which saves a lot of hassle and money on transportation. The RipJack Inn also has twenty-one rooms to accommodate your guests. If you have an exceptionally large group, there are plenty of vacation rentals within walking distance of the RipJack Inn, as well.

Support

We’ve hosted a lot of weddings at the RipJack Inn! With such extensive experience, you can rest assured that everything will come together as planned, and your special day will far supersede your expectations. When there is a wedding at the RipJack Inn, the entire RipJack Inn staff comes together to make sure all angles are covered so that you can just enjoy every second of your magical day and night.

Talent As far as wedding planners, florists, DJ’s, and photographers, there is a lot of talent in and around Playa Grande. While you are welcomed to do your own research, we can certainly share with you our top recommendations and put you in contact with the additional people you will likely need to make the wedding of your dreams a reality.

Pricing & Sample Menus

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Nov 4, 2019

The RipJack Inn in Playa Grande is a Hotel For…

The RipJack Inn is a beachfront hotel on Costa Rica’s famous Gold Coast in Guanacaste. It is a family-owned and operated establishment that has long appealed to many different walks of life from all corners of the globe. Playa Grande has a special way of grabbing and holding onto people. Many who visit Playa Grande, often return many more times and sometimes even decide to relocate here somewhere along the way. The RipJack Inn is a sort of epicenter where locals and visitors alike find that home-away-from-home atmosphere.

The RipJack Inn in Playa Grande, Costa Rica is a hotel for…

Friends

Families

Lovers

Yogis

Surfers

Sun Worshippers

Beach Walkers

Saltwater Seekers

Animal Aficionados

Adventurers

It is also a place for those seeking rest, rejuvenation, wellness, inspiration, clarity, and fun.

Is the RipJack Inn for you?

We’d like to think so!

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Jun 22, 2019

The RipJack Inn: More than just a hotel

The RipJack Inn is more than just a hotel, it is a home for the first time and the returning visitor to Playa Grande. Dave, Annie, Luli, and the entire staff at the RipJack Inn are all one big loving family. That warm family feeling is extended to everyone who sets foot here, whether in the hotel, the restaurant, the bar, or the yoga shalas. Even Playa Grande locals frequent the RipJack Inn for a post-surf breakfast, sunset cocktails, and weekly live music.

Perfectly positioned right across the street from one of the main beach access paths, the RipJack Inn is the epicenter of the coastal neighborhood of Playa Grande. It is a place where everyone knows or quickly learns your name. It a place where you know you can always go and feel like you belong there.

It is this friendly and welcoming energy that attracts surfers, yogis, families, couples, friends, and solo travelers from around the globe. It is also for this reason that many people who stay at the RipJack Inn once, often come back again. There is nothing quite like feeling like you are home and part of a community when you are thousands of miles away from your actual home.

In recent years, the RipJack Inn has also become a popular destination for yoga, surf, and fitness retreats; student group trips and weddings. Between two yoga shalas, two pools, a restaurant, a bar, and immediate access to the beach and surf, the location doesn’t get much better than this in Playa Grande. There is also a diverse selection of rooms, suites, and bungalows to choose from.

Wedding parties have rented out the entire RipJack Inn to host one of the most romantic moments of any couple’s life. Ceremonies are usually conducted on the beach around sunset, dinner is served upstairs, and the party carries on into the night around the pool. Of course, you can customize your day however you see fit. Your guests will likely be delighted that they get to celebrate your love in one of the most magical places in Northern Guanacaste. You’ll feel like you are getting married at a beloved family member’s home.

There is nothing impersonal about staying at and spending time at the RipJack Inn. You might arrive as a guest, but you will surely leave as a member of the RipJack Inn family.

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Apr 14, 2019

Fruit Feature: Papaya, the Miracle Worker of the Tropics

Papaya is the ultimate tropical fruit! Papaya flourishes throughout Central America, the Caribbean, Florida, and India. This widely available fruit grows year-around in the tropics. You will find papaya at every fruit stand and food market throughout Costa Rica, as well as being a common ingredient for smoothies and juices. While papaya is a tasty fruit, it is also one that possesses an incredible amount of vitamins and nutrients. This powerhouse fruit offers an impressive array of health benefits to anyone who regularly consumes it.

Plus, find out how papaya leaves are used to treat a common mosquito-transmitted illness.

playa-grande-costa-rica-beachfront-hotel-surf — Papaya plantation in Costa Rica

Papaya contains…

Zeaxanthin: an antioxidant that has been proven to help eyes filter blue light (light from your computer, phone, and television screens) and ward off macular degeneration.

Beta-carotene: an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of cancer.

Vitamin K: improves calcium absorption and reduces calcium elimination in the body.

Papain: an enzyme that aids in digestion and helps reduce inflammation in the body.

Chymopapain: an enzyme that reduces inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation has been linked to nearly every chronic disease.

Potassium: reduces the risk of developing heart disease. A diet that is high in potassium and low in sodium is essential for heart health.

Choline: a nutrient that supports sleep, memory, and muscle movement. It also supports the structure of cellular membranes.

Vitamin A and C: promotes healthy skin and hair.

Papaya is also chalked full of B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that is also found in tomatoes.

cures-for-dengue-fever — Nature’s medicine

Papaya fights dengue!

Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted illness that affects millions of people every year throughout the tropics. There are several different strands of dengue, but some can lead to hospitalization and the need for a blood transfusion. One of the most dangerous aspects of this viral infection is that it causes your blood platelets to drop significantly, and in some severe cases this can lead to internal bleeding.

Papaya leaf extract or juice has been proven to help prevent platelets from dropping to dangerously low levels and even prevent platelet destruction all together when infected with dengue.

This natural treatment has also been known to help reduce the other symptoms that are associated with dengue, such as high fever, severe headache, and debilitating body aches.

https://youtu.be/l4qaKEHXVj4

While papaya is available in North America and other regions where it is not locally grown, make sure you enjoy some fresh papaya from the source the next time you are in Costa Rica.

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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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