Walk with me. Tranquil beaches of Costa Rica

In the rainy season in Costa Rica, walks to the beach happen in between the daily downpours that make this tropical rainforest the lush and beauteous place it is.

There are regularly trees falling down in this country. They grow, they fall down. They grow, they fall down. It is extremely natural and organic feeling if a little alarming at times. One hears almost on a daily basis the sounds of cracking splitting and falling tree limbs.

Before even reaching the beach today I see a newly fallen one. If this had fallen in the opposite direction it would have landed squarely on a small house where a local family live with their young children.

You need to be alert and preferably fit to survive in the jungle but I think that holds true for most places I have lived in the world 🤔

It is nice to know there are still big fish to be caught right from the beach here. Needless to say there are less fish than 50 years ago but there are fish to feed the local community and that is a good thing.

The local residents group - a mix of Ticos and expats have been planting new coconut trees at the edge of the beach. Over a hundred young trees can be seen up and down the beach here. It is good work.

The coconuts provide food and water to the community as a whole. Surfers find them invaluable right on the beach - coconut water is delicious and nutritious and is like liquid food. When surfers find good waves all they want to do all day is surf so to be able to run onto the sand, drink a coconut and eat some coconut flesh is enough to restore energy for hours more in the surf.

Because of the constant falling trees the driftwood on the beach is extensive to say the least! Nicely though it is illegal to remove it. Of course a few choice pieces will disappear to local gardens but the law exists to protect the ecosystem as it is and that it obviously does as you can see. Not only the beach, but often the waters inevitably have trees floating around. These can be treacherous and surfers must always be super aware of this possibility, particularly in the rainy season ( which is approx June to December)
These are not beaches for swimming - there are strong currents which can be tricky even for surfers sometimes.

It is a wonderland for anyone who likes driftwood art. The diversity of shapes and colours in the wood is quite breath-taking.

I run into my friend RASTA Ruiz - also my surf coach who has come down to check the waves after the rain storm. RASTA was born on this beach and has the most beautiful PURA VIDA approach to life as I have encountered in anyone.

By 6pm it is dark here. All the year round. People gather to enjoy the sunset here. It is a nice custom.

Thanks for joining me today on my walk to these beautiful beaches. I hope you felt just a little of the wild magic that exists here.

PURA VIDA