Why should Costa Rica be on your travel list?

Costa Rica is a place very close to our hearts and one of our favourite regions is Guanacaste located on the Northern Pacific Coast. This part of Costa Rica is famous for its diverse landscapes and a variety of activities, making it a popular destination for relaxation and adventure lovers alike. Share your travelling vlogs and get the chance to draw more attention to your account. Buy instagram likes and increase your social media visibility.

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Keep in mind that information found in this article may have been impacted by travel restrictions and other closures. Double check opening hours, tour providers and hotel status before you go. And don’t leave your home without travel insurance!

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While Guanacaste is popular with tourists there are still spots that provide that off-the-beaten-track feel and Playa Avellanas is one of them. Located just 30 minutes south of the tourist hot spot town of Tamarindo, Playa Avellanas is a hidden tropical paradise. It boasts stretches of pristine secluded beaches, incredible waves, and a small friendly laid back community of locals and expats.

Over the last few years, we have spent many months in this part of Costa Rica. In 2015, we chose to get married here and since then we’ve been back numerous times, enjoying the beautiful beaches and a simple laid back Pura Vida lifestyle.

It was for this reason that when an opportunity presented itself and an old hotel came on the market, we didn’t think twice and we put down an offer!

The hidden tropical paradise of Playa Avellanas was definitely a destination we wanted to show off to others! It was the perfect place for our new hotel.

Hotel Renovation

We purchased the hotel property in December 2017 and shared our vision for the hotel with friends and followers shortly after. It was an old run down hotel that needed some serious work, so we spent 8 months in 2018 doing renovations to bring our vision for this property to life. 

We documented our progress in a series of videos, which to this day serves as a great reminder of how far the hotel has come.

  • Episode 1: Our New Project
  • Episode 2: Where it all Began
  • Episode 3: Go Big or Go Home
  • Episode 4: One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure
  • Episode 5: Buying and Building Local

The renovation took a lot longer than we anticipated, but we finally opened our doors in October 2018 and welcomed our first guests at the hotel shortly after.

Behind The Scenes At The NEW Drift Away Eco Lodge

The Neighbourhood: Playa Avellanas, Guanacaste

Drift Away Eco Lodge is tucked away between two of Costa Rica’s best surfing beaches: Playa Avellanas and Playa Negra.

There is also a secluded quiet beach 200m away from the lodge, called Playa Lagartillo. It’s perfect for swimming, great for hanging out and it is so quiet that it often feels like a private beach.

Thanks to the fact that there aren’t many tourists on this beach, it’s still used as a nesting ground for turtles. We’ve been lucky enough to see turtles hatching right on the beach!

There is no real town centre in the area, but for us, that’s exactly the appeal. It’s a quiet neighborhood, it’s not touristy, it’s not a party area, it’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of Tamarindo.

Activities In Playa Avellanas

There is a number of great restaurants within 2-3km (1.5-1.85 miles) radius from the lodge, serving some fantastic seafood, local dishes, and fusion Costa Rican fare. There are also 2 yoga studios, offering daily yoga lessons and a number of longer retreats that you can join.

There are also lots of other activities in the area:

  • Surfing – suitable for both beginners and experienced surfers
  • SUP or Kayaking – in an estuary nearby, or right on the ocean
  • Horseback Riding – choose from a sunset ride along the beach or an adventure on horseback through the lush vegetation.
  • Zip-lining – choose from a number of canopy tours within 1-2 hours away from the lodge
  • Hiking – Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Diria National Park, and a number of other parks offer excellent day trip hiking opportunities.and so much more! 

The Grounds At The Drift Away Eco Lodge

While there is lots to do outside of the Drift Away Eco Lodge, many of our guests absolutely love spending time at the lodge itself.

The Pool

The most impressive feature at the hotel is definitely the pool. We invested a lot into making sure it was a place where our guests would love spending their days and it looks like our efforts have paid off.

Aside from the pool, there are a number of other common areas to enjoy at the Drift Away Eco Lodge.

Breakfast Bar

Guests can enjoy a selection of breakfast options at the beautiful open-air Breakfast Bar every morning between 7am-9am. After breakfast, guests use the space to catch up on some work, or just hang out. This space is available to use throughout the day and into the evening.

Breakfast Bar at Drift Away Eco Lodge

Games Lounge

The games lounge is attached to the breakfast bar and is equipped with a pool table and a ping pong table available to use throughout the day. It’s a popular hangout spot in the evenings.

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