Day Trip to Parrita and Esterillos
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| On Esterillos Beach |
Getting to know the surrounding towns of Jaco Beach can lead to fun filled
days of exploring the coastline of the Pacific side of Costa Rica. It is
a wonderful way to enjoy a relaxing day on a beach less traveled then Jaco's
main track (and still be back in time for the night life Jaco has to
offer). But wanderer be wear, even though the atmosphere of the more
exclusive beaches might draw you to dine, the presentation might not make up
for the lack of flavor.
Esterillos, Costa Rica offers a beach less traveled by the fiesta seeking
Jaco Weekend Warriors, backpackers brought in droves by Lonely Planet, and
surfers in search of stellar waves. In a quest to find fine dining, I came
across a resort type hotel called ALMA DEL PACIFICO. Alma del Pacifico
is located by the Pacific on Playa Esterillos Este, between Jaco Beach &
Quepos, offering beachfront views from its villas and dining area. Alma del
Pacifico, also, boast its playful architecture & art, hospitality, and many
resort type amenities. The atmosphere and
presentation draws you into dine and expect the cuisine of a five star
restaurant. Expect, however, all the
flare and none of the flavor. Your taste buds will be left un-tantalized and
your palate unsatisfied. Even the simplest order displayed the underdeveloped
talents of the chef. Pizza on loaf bread
textured pan, soggy salad with uninteresting dressing, and nachos saturated in
vegetable oil – all plates returned to the kitchen with leftovers aboard.
You may even find yourself seeking brownies from a local shop outside the
RTV SyC in Parrita. If you are looking for an up-close and personal view of
Bureaucracy at its finest, this may be the place to stop. Sporting a newer
well-maintained vehicle might not help you in passing this absurdly regimented test;
however, a slide of the hand may do it for you. It is true what they say, the
third time is a charm – after two unsuccessful tests accompanied by dips,
bumps, and bruises (all to the undercarriage of my car). I managed to obtain my
sticker of approval and drive away with coffee spilt all over my car (the ride mimicked
that of a track up a volcano on an ATV).
All and all, I am still searching for a beach and a lunch that can make me
more excited than the bumps at RTV SyC.
