Relaxing at Tango Mar Beach Resort in Costa Rica
Rethinking the Final Stop
When we first planned this trip, the final stop was supposed to be Bosque del Apache. We had been there before, right in peak migration season, and it offers a completely different kind of bird photography. Massive flocks, coordinated flyouts, and that early morning light that makes everything feel cinematic.
But somewhere around the middle of Costa Rica, we started to question the plan.
The idea of getting up at 5 a.m. again, after everything we had just done, didn’t sound nearly as appealing. That, combined with feedback from other travelers that the migration hadn’t been as strong recently, pushed us to reconsider.
Our criteria became simple. We wanted somewhere warm, not ridiculously expensive, with a direct flight from Quito and an easy connection back to the US, since our flight home would leave from Los Angeles.
We settled on Costa Rica, and booked three nights at Tango Mar Beach Resort on the Nicoya peninsula.
Back to Costa Rica
We flew from Quito to San José, and, true to form, the luggage situation added a bit of drama.
About an hour before departure, I was paged and sent down into the depths of the airport again.
At this point it almost felt routine. This time it was Andy’s bag that got pulled aside, and after waiting in line, a police officer went through it. The inspection itself was fairly casual, but it still added an extra layer of unpredictability to the process.
When we landed at San José International, we walked over to the domestic terminal and checked in with Costa Rica Green Airways.
The system is refreshingly simple. The planes hold around fifteen people, and the first fifteen to check in get on the next flight. No assigned seats, no complex boarding process. Just show up, check in, and go.
We were handed wooden boarding passes, which felt very on brand.
A Classic Costa Rica Flight
We ended up in the front row, directly behind the pilot.
After the safety briefing, he finished with a “pura vida” and a shaka hand gesture, and let us know there was a cooler with beer in the back of the plane. This somehow captured the entire vibe of Costa Rica in a single moment.
The flight itself was beautiful, with views over the Gulf of Nicoya, and before long we were descending toward the coast.
Tango Mar Beach Resort
From the small airstrip, it was about a fifteen-minute drive to Tango Mar Beachfront Boutique Hotel & Villas.
Our room was a standalone tiki-style suite, set just back from the beach. We booked this trip a week in advance and this was the only room type available. The waterfront rooms are more hotel-style, with multiple stories. The tiki huts are stand-alone units and were much quieter.
The tiki room are also closer to the restaurant, which had a lovely view and really good food.
After weeks of constant movement, early mornings, and tightly packed itineraries, the goal here was simple.
Do nothing.
We spent our days by the pool and walking along the beach.
The wildlife didn’t completely disappear either. We watched as squadron of pelicans glid low over the water and flocks of macaws moved along the coastline. But it was relaxing to just watch and not worry about getting the shot.
The Final Reset
The three days passed quickly. For the first time in weeks, there were no alarms, no schedules, and no pressure to be anywhere at a specific time. Just a chance to slow down and let everything sink in.
We’re Andy and Jennifer—two former corporate executives who chose long ago to prioritise experiences over stuff while pursuing our passions for travel and photography. From the Arctic to Antarctica, and most places in between, we’ve captured the world through our lenses and love sharing those stories. Our careers gave us the means, but our purpose is inspiring others to explore and helping people create images they’re proud of.
