Highlights of the Day
Our final day in Costa Rica began with the hotel’s free Iguana Tour. While waiting, we explored the scenic hotel grounds, capturing its beauty. At 10 AM, our guide, Bryan, drove us around the golf course, stopping to point out iguanas and share fascinating insights. He mentioned that while iguana eggs were once consumed in Costa Rica, it is now illegal. The tour ended at Playa Herradura, where we watched energetic monkeys leaping through trees. A beachside walk back led us through a stunning tree tunnel. The day ended with delicious local cuisine at Hacienda Belen inside the hotel, a refreshing swim, and an impromptu Latin dance by the pool—bringing our Costa Rica adventure to a perfect close. A final note: Costa Rican roads vary, with city streets requiring assertive driving and mountain roads full of potholes, making tour buses a stress-free alternative.
Logistics
Accommodation: LOS SUENOS MARRIOTT OCEAN & GOLF RESORT
Transportation: Rental Car
The hotel offers a free Iguana Tour, and we chose the 10 AM session. While waiting for the tour to begin, we took the opportunity to capture the beauty of the hotel’s stunning grounds, immersing ourselves in its serene ambiance and picturesque surroundings.
At 10am, a group of tourists rode on a golf cart, leisurely driven by our guide, Bryan, as we toured the golf course. Whenever he spotted an iguana, Bryan would stop the cart, patiently explain the species and how to distinguish males from females, and give us time to take plenty of photos.
Per Bryan, in Costa Rica, people do eat iguana eggs. They either eat iguanas and their eggs directly or dig up iguana nests to collect the eggs. However, these practices are legally prohibited, so local restaurants do not serve iguana meat or eggs.
For the last stop of the tour, Bryan took us to the harbor to see monkeys. He mentioned that dozens of monkeys live there, completely unafraid of tourists, busily jumping through the trees with incredible energy.
After the tour, we decided to walk back along the beach instead of taking the golf cart. We revisited the shopping center near the beach and took more photos.
We then walk toward the hotel. It was hot. But we stumbled upon a long tunnel formed by trees. This unique tree tunnel provided shade, keeping us cool and comfortable, making it a delightful surprise along our walk.
Back at the hotel, we tried some local specialties for lunch. The low-calorie ceviche was refreshing and delicious, while the fish tacos had a crispy exterior and tender inside, leaving a lasting impression. In the afternoon, we relaxed in the perfectly warm swimming pool, enjoying a lazy, carefree time. Suddenly, lively Latin music started playing, and two hotel staff members enthusiastically began dancing by the pool. Young guests quickly joined in, and the spectators clapped along, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
In the afternoon, we relaxed in the perfectly warm swimming pool, enjoying a lazy, carefree time. Suddenly, lively Latin music started playing, and two hotel staff members enthusiastically began dancing by the pool. Young guests quickly joined in, and the spectators clapped along, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
At that moment, our week-long Costa Rica journey came to a perfect end.
A quick note on Costa Rica’s traffic conditions: city roads are in decent shape but have very few traffic lights, meaning driving relies on aggressive maneuvering, especially at intersections where one must be decisive yet cautious. Mountain roads, on the other hand, are much rougher, with uneven terrain and countless potholes, particularly near Monteverde. Some of my friends opted not to drive and instead booked local tour buses—while this meant less flexibility, it was certainly a more convenient and stress-free option.
If you’d like to learn more about the itinerary, please click the button below to download a free copy of the customizable itinerary.
