Hidden Oasis
Our concierge informed us upon arrival that there was a small hidden beach just two minutes down the road and ten minutes along a trail. On our last two days in Quepos, we decided to enjoy some local food and explore the hidden beach.
Walking out of our resort, the humidity slammed into my face, fogging my glasses instantly. Wiping the vapor off my lenses, I realized the heat and humidity didn’t seem to bother me like it does back home. The travel placebo effect, I thought—a concoction of excitement and anticipation that swims through my veins and enlivens my soul, each dose masking the uncomfortable. Nothing could stop me—an illusion of invincibility, a natural medicine that has never let me down.
Once outside the resort, our first path to the beach—a steep, single-lane decline—invited us with lush foliage and exotic plants on a trail to adventure.
The entrance to the jungle leading to Biesanz Beach was easy to spot, marked by a small wooden sign labeled “Beach Access.” An opening in the jungle, encompassed by trees with rays of sunlight illuminating our muddy path ahead, welcomed us in. As we entered, the rainforest came to life with every step. Our short ten-minute walk quickly became a hike, and I was living for the adventure. We climbed over large tree roots that created an uneven path, dodged low branches, and stepped carefully around unsteady rocks. Last night’s rain had made the way more treacherous, and soon our feet were caked in mud—my tailbone slightly sore from a not-so-graceful fall.
Moments later, we passed a local man chopping fresh coconuts and stepped into a hidden oasis. The cloudy skies didn’t detract from the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Instead, a breeze of serenity gently brushed through my hair, and for a moment, I thought of my family, wishing they could experience this beauty with me.
With only a few other families on the beach, we had numerous spots to choose from. I picked one with a perfect view of a wooden sailboat near a distant island. While I placed our towels down and set up our beach gear, Chris went to buy fresh coconuts and cocktails. Soon we were sitting in our perfect spot on a perfect day—our toes buried in sand, watching hermit crabs scurry across the beach and waves crash into the cliffside. The warmth of the sun kissed our skin as we sipped our drinks and let our anxieties wash away with each push and pull of the Pacific.
For the next few hours, we alternated between swimming and exploring the nooks and crannies of our small oasis. We found tiny crabs among the boulders, watched Harpy Eagles soar above us and perch upon the tops of cliffs and trees in majestically terrifying beauty. We met a couple from South Carolina and took turns snapping photos for each other. Once our coconuts were empty, our local coconut connoisseur offered to cut them open, handing us slivers of fresh coconut to snack on.
It was simple—a day where the outside world felt nonexistent, as my toes sank deeper into the sand and the salt water enveloped my body in a soothing embrace. I didn’t want to leave, but as the tide began to rise and the sun started its descent, we packed up and began our hike back to our temporary abode.
