Costa Rica Archives

Jun 21, 2025

Group Vacations & Family Gatherings at the RipJack Villas

Tucked away in the serene paradise of Playa Grande, Costa Rica, RipJack Inn offers more than just a tropical getaway—it’s a place where connections deepen, minds reset, and memories are made. Our four private villas provide an ideal setting for group vacations, family reunions, private celebrations, and corporate retreats looking to escape the ordinary.

Each of our four villas includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms, offering comfort and privacy for large groups or families. With modern amenities, tasteful decor, and natural surroundings, our villas provide the perfect balance of coziness and tranquility. Whether you’re planning a week-long yoga retreat or a weekend family gathering, your group will feel right at home. Each villa can sleep up to six people. The villas are completely enclosed and private and have a shared pool for everyone to enjoy.

What really sets the Villas apart is that they are operated by Boutique Surf Hotel RipJack Inn. This means that you have all the privacy of a vacation rental with all the services of a hotel.

Just a short walk from the villas is Playa Grande’s stunning beach—perfect for surfing, sunset strolls, or simply soaking up the pura vida lifestyle. And when it’s time for adventure, we can connect your group with local tours, surf lessons, nature hikes, or boat trips through nearby estuaries.

Let us help you plan your next group vacation, whether you’re leading a retreat, gathering your family, or planning a corporate escape, our team is here to help you create a seamless and unforgettable experience.

Ready to plan your next group vacation? Contact us today to learn more about booking all four villas at RipJack Inn.a

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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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Jan 8, 2021

Playa Grande – One of the world’s best beaches

Looking for a quiet, off the beaten path travel destination for your next vacation? Welcome to Playa Grande, Costa Rica. Hands down one of the most beautiful beaches you will ever visit. At low tide there are miles of white sand beach to explore and warm gentle water to swim in. At high tide there is some of the most consistent surf in all of Costa Rica, and did we mention how warm the water is? The sunsets are so magical that you won’t be able to stay away and why would you? Grab a happy hour drink in the restaurant and walk 30 seconds down a magical sandy path and pick your spot to watch the sun slowly sink into the water and the sky come alive with color. And that’s just the beach! Book Now!

Earthing on the beach

Earthing is basically the practice of making a skin to earth connection. The best way to do this is by going barefoot. According to Yogapedia, “with this connection to the Earth, the body takes in free electrons, which are believed to serve as antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that block oxidation of other molecules, preventing the development of free radicals, which harm the body.”

The benefits of this skin to earth connection have been studied and it has been reported that earthing can help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, reduce toxins in the body, promote healing, reduce stress, increase energy, relieve muscle tension and headaches, improve sleep, and normalize the body’s biological rhythms.

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Dec 30, 2019

Fruit Feature: Pitahaya

Pitahaya is a strange but beautiful fruit that is actually part of the cactus family. The first time you encounter this hot pink (and sometimes yellow) fruit, you’ll probably think to yourself, “what the heck is that, and how in the world do you eat that?” This nutrient-dense fruit packs a long list of health benefits, as well as being quite delicious! In this short and sweet fruit feature, you’ll learn where to find it, how to eat it, and why you should enjoy some pitahaya whenever you come across it (that is if you like it, which you will)!

Other names for pitahaya

Dragon fruit
Costa Rican night-blooming cactus
Lady of the Night
Honolulu Queen
Moonflower
Strawberry pear

Where is pitahaya from?

Ancient Chinese legend claims that “dragon fruit was created thousands of years ago by a dragon in battle who blew a burst of fire containing the fruit.” But historians believe it originated in Central America. Pitahaya is widely available in Costa Rica and throughout Central America. It is commercially grown in Hawaii, Florida, California, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Israel. It is commonly found at farmer’s markets in Costa Rica, as well as on smoothie and smoothie bowl menus around the country.

How do you eat it?

To enjoy the fruit in its raw and untouched form, all you have to do is slice it open longways and scoop it out with a spoon. You can eat the teeny tiny seeds that are abundant in the pink, white, or purple flesh. This exotic fruit is juicy and has a mildly sweet taste.

Pitahaya is especially enjoyable in a smoothie or smoothie bowl. It is so good this way that pitahaya bowls have gained international popularity. Pitahaya blends really well with and is complemented by papaya, coconut, bananas, and blueberries.

What are the health benefits of eating pitahaya?

• Pitahaya is an excellent source of potassium, which is essential for cellular, electrical, and nerve function in the body. Potassium is also a vital supporter of heart and kidney health.

• It is loaded with vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that also helps your body absorb iron, fight off free radicals, produce collagen, and promote healthy and radiant skin.

• The high fiber and antioxidants in pitahaya also help to reduce plaque build-up in your arteries, which is essential for blood circulation and heart health.

• Dragon fruit contains hydroxycinnamates, which has been linked to warding off cancer.

• The seeds in the flesh are rich in omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids, which are really good for your heart.

• Overall, dragon fruit is fantastic for your heart, skin, bones, kidneys, and immune system.

So, whether you are in Costa Rica or you see it somewhere else, make sure you treat yourself to a pitahaya whenever you get a chance!

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Oct 6, 2019

Thank You for a Great Season at the RipJack Inn, Playa Grande

October is a month of rest, rejuvenation, and reflection in Playa Grande. It is historically our rainiest month and the time of the year when many local businesses are closed. As Costa Rica has continued to grow as a tourist destination, October is now considered one of the only true “low season” months. However, despite what is commonly believed, it is not uncommon to have some really beautiful days of sunshine and surf in October.

Since this is the only month of the year that the RipJack Inn is closed for a week (October 16-22), we find it to be the perfect time of the year to offer our most enormous gratitude for another fantastic season. We feel blessed that for eleven months of the year, we get to do what we love surrounded by the most incredible guests and staff. We feel honored that the RipJack Inn has been chosen for multiple weddings this year, as well as returning and new yoga retreats.

Our hearts are bursting with gratitude for the phenomenal reviews we received, the positive comments made on our bi-monthly blogs, and the support we’ve continually been given from our local community. This season we’ve had so many inspiring musicians share their talent, influencers and photographers help us expand our international reach, and a great deal of birthday and impromptu parties. As we recharge in anticipation of the new season, we just want you to know that we are eternally grateful for all of you!

We look forward to all of our returning and new friends!

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Sep 6, 2019

Six Reasons the RipJack Inn is a Perfect Place to Host Your Next Yoga Retreat

Costa Rica is a country with an extraordinary spirit. The energy that exudes from the forests, the mountains, the volcanoes, the beaches, the ocean, the rivers, the fauna, and the people is vibrant, enlivening, grounding, and contagious. It is no wonder Costa Rica has long been a highly sought-after destination for yoga retreats. For this reason and many more, the RipJack Inn in Playa Grande is an amazing venue to host your next yoga retreat.

As a yoga instructor looking to bring a group down to Costa Rica, there are key characteristics that you are likely looking for in a retreat venue. The RipJack Inn has quite a lot to offer you!

Location

The RipJack Inn is harmoniously positioned just a hop, skip, and jump away from the beach. One of the main beach access paths is directly across the narrow street in front of the RipJack Inn restaurant. This is about as close as you can get to the beach without renting one of the few private beachfront houses in Playa Grande. The RipJack Inn is also walking distance to several restaurants, a surf shop, and a small store.

Accommodation Options

There are multiple accommodation options available for different budgets and group sizes. Rooms range from cozy single rooms to spacious suites. There are twenty-one rooms and all of them can accommodate more than one person.

Two Pools

What’s better than one pool? Two! Both pools receive direct sunlight so you can rest assured that a dip post-yoga or beach walk will be just the right inviting temperature. Also, because there are two pools, there is always plenty of space in each.

Two Yoga Studios

The main yoga shala is a detached, thatched-roof, wood-floor, glass-enclosed, and air-conditioned space. This beautiful shala is a wonderful place to practice. It is conveniently located in the middle of the hotel, so getting to class only takes a few steps from any of the rooms. The second yoga space is located on the top floor of the poolside suites building. This vast space is ideal for large groups. Both shalas have plenty of mats and props available and can be exclusively booked for your group.

On-Site Restaurant and Bar

The Upstairs restaurant is tucked into the treetops. This open-air restaurant and bar can hold a sizable yoga retreat group as well as other hotel guests and locals without feeling crowded. Our menu is deliciously diverse and has items to accommodate any dietary restriction. There are also plenty of super healthy options, and most of our plates are crafted with locally sourced ingredients.

Experienced Hosts

Our staff has helped orchestrate dozens of yoga retreats and are highly experienced hosts. We can help you completely customize your yoga retreat and work with you ahead of time to plan your class times, tours, surf lessons, additional activities, meals, massages, and transportation for your group. If your dream is to host a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, we can easily help you make that a reality!

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Aug 26, 2019

8 Useful Apps to Download for Your Trip to Costa Rica

Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica? There’s an app for that! Well, actually, there are a lot of apps that are useful to have downloaded before your trip to Costa Rica. If your cell phone provider doesn’t offer a reasonable international plan, you can easily buy a SIM card and purchase data to use on your unlocked cell phone when you arrive in Costa Rica. While we strongly recommend embracing a bit of a digital detox while you are here, having access to the internet when you are out of Wi-Fi range can be very helpful in numerous scenarios.

Navigation App

Driving around Costa Rica can definitely be a bit of an adjustment if you have never driven here. There are no addresses in the traditional sense of numbers and street names; directions are instead given using landmarks and meters. To make getting from one place to another a bit more easy-breezy, you should use a navigation app. Both Google Maps and Waze work great in Costa Rica.

Translation App

While many Costa Ricans, especially those working in the tourism industry speak English, there might be instances when communicating in Spanish is the only viable option. If you don’t speak Spanish, you can utilize a translation app to help you bridge the language gap. Google Translate is an easy-to-use and relatively effective translation tool when you are stuck in a bind.

Surf Report App

The consistent and diverse surf scene is what draws thousands of visitors a year to the duel coastlines of Costa Rica. Knowing the tide, swell, and wind report is helpful if you are planning on scoring some surf on your trip. Magic Seaweed is the best surf report app to use while you are here. There are 65 surf breaks in Costa Rica on Magic Seaweed.

Communication App

WhatsApp is a widely-used communication app in Costa Rica. This is a great app to use if you need to communicate while you are here with tour operators, private drivers, Airbnb hosts, and new friends.

Currency Exchange App

The exchange rate is constantly changing. At one point, the exchange rate stayed around 500 colones to USD 1, which made it very easy to work out conversions in your head. Lately, that hasn’t been the case though. EX Currency app makes converting dollars to colones and vice versa a no-brainer.

Weather App

If you search for the weather report in Costa Rica, you will likely come across a forecast with a high chance of rain and thunderstorms, regardless of the time of the year. Don’t worry, though, it doesn’t rain, thunder, and lightning all day and every day here, even during the rainy reason. While finding a reliable weather forecast is tricky and might not even really exists, the app Windy is as close as you are likely going to get.

Birding App

Did you know that there are over 900 species of birds in Costa Rica? That’s more than in all of North America! The Costa Rica Birds app is a fantastic digital birding field guide. The free version of this app has 360 of the most commonly encountered bird species in Costa Rica. You will find range maps, recorded vocalizations, photos, and descriptions. You can also keep track of the birds you’ve seen and include personal notes using this handy app.

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Aug 17, 2019

Myth vs Reality: What Rainy Season in Playa Grande is Really Like

The majority of visitors who come to Playa Grande and the surrounding areas tend to come between December and April. These months are well-known for their cloudless sunny days and dry winds. It rarely rains during this time of the year and nearly every day is a picture-perfect beach day. While these are the most sought-after months to come to Costa Rica, you should not overlook the rainy season.

Downsides of the high season:

1. More people

2. More expensive (flights and accommodations)

3. Hotter day time temperatures

4. Colder water

5. Very windy (especially in January and February)

Myth 1: It rains all the time

The first rain usually happens around the end of April and the green season typically spans until the end of October. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the rainy season is totally rainy! It is not uncommon for days or weeks to go by where there is little to no rainfall between May and November. Sometimes big storms roll through though, which are actually quite spectacular to watch and also provide an excellent excuse to take a nap or read a book.

But, for the most part, during this time of the year, it doesn’t rain all day and every day; especially in Guanacaste, which is the driest province in Costa Rica.

The months of May, June, July, and August are actually my favorite months to be in Costa Rica!

Myth 2: Driving requires a 4×4 vehicle

The roads in and around Playa Grande are good, even during the rainy season. Other remote areas of Costa Rica might require a 4×4 car and can be quite treacherous to navigate during a very rainy bout; but, you don’t have to worry about that in this zone!

Myth 3: Everything is closed

Pretty much everything is open during the rainy season. Some businesses, especially in smaller towns, might close for September and October, but from May to August, you can expect everything that is open during the high season to be ready for your business during the green season. Restaurants, tours, attractions, hotels, and beaches are often less busy during these months compared to the peak season months.

Myth 4: Activities are limited

Unless you are the Wicked Witch of the West, you aren’t going to melt in the rain! The only time activities and tours are delayed or canceled is when there is lightning, which surprisingly doesn’t happen as often as you might think.

Activities like surfing, paddle boarding, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, zip-lining, horseback riding, hiking, white water rafting, mountain biking, and yoga all continue to take place rain or shine. As long as you bring a lightweight rain jacket, a dry bag, shoes with good traction, and a winning attitude, a little rain won’t put a damper on your fun!

Myth 5: It’s not as pretty

In my personal opinion, the green season is the most beautiful season in Costa Rica. It is during this time of the year that you will witness every imaginable shade of green. Life really abounds during the rainy season. Plus, the rainy season is also the rainbow season, and the sunsets are utterly breathtaking.

Don’t let the misconception that the rainy season in Costa Rica is nothing but rain because that is far from reality.

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Jul 24, 2019

Don’t Hestitate, Meditate! 17 Reasons to Start Today

The practice of meditation is one that has been used for thousands of years by mankind. In fact, there have been archaeological findings that suggest the hunter-gathers and early shamans were the first to practice a form of meditation. Thousands of years ago, it was the Buddha who inspired others who sit in mindful awareness. There are so many different forms of meditation though that it is hard to pinpoint where and who exactly discovered this highly beneficial practice.

But, that’s really beside the point! Meditation has gained significant popularity in modern times among a diverse population of practitioners. As more studies are being conducted and more scientific evidence is proving how powerful meditation is, more people are beginning to incorporate meditation into their daily lives.

The beauty of meditation is that you can meditation for as long or as little as you would like, you can do it anywhere, and you can even do it while on the move. Your meditation practice can be as unique as you are. Developing your own practice might seem a bit daunting if you have never meditated before, but fortunately there is a wealth of classes, apps, videos, podcasts, and recordings to help you find your mindful mind.

The options for where and how you meditate are truly endless. You might be most comfortable sitting, laying down, walking, or flowing through a yoga practice. You might prefer to meditate in a group setting or alone, inside or outside, by guidance, or just by letting yourself be your own guide. The benefits are nonetheless substantial!

Meditation has been scientifically proven to:

Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression

Enhance Self-Awareness

Promote better sleep at night and more energy during the day

Boost memory, concentration, and creativity

Improve tolerance, compassion, and kindness

Support a healthy heart and immune system

Bring a sense of peace, calmness, and balance into your daily life