Up, up and away, in Quepos, Costa Rica!

I have had my luggage weighed many times, but it was certainly the first time I had been asked to hop up on a scale in front of an airport full of people! Welcome to Quepos, Costa Rica and Sansa Airlines. We has spent a fabulous week in Quepos, near the world famous Manuel Antonio National Park. Our trip down from the capital city San Jose, had been a pleasant cab ride arranged by the Tulemar Resort, but it had been a three hour journey winding through the mountains and plantations of Costa Rica. For the way home, we had planned something different - a 25 minute flight aboard a 12 seat Cessna Grand Caravan.  The airport in Quepos is open to the airstrip, and after having submitted to the embarrassment of being weighed, we settled in to watch the planes. Sansa requires passengers to check in only 30 minutes before departure, so we had little time to wait. In fact, only moments later the plane pulled up in front of the main doors. That's when we got our first really good look. In theory, 12 seats sounds adventurous - on the ground I'm thinking this looks like an amusement park ride, one where I might very well puke. But there wasn't much time for second thoughts - a smartly uniformed man had climbed out of the plane and now appeared to be beckoning. I had to look over my shoulder to make sure he was beckoning me. Yes, this was in

fact the pilot and he was indeed summoning my group of 3, and the other 7 brave souls.

You might note, 3 plus 7 is only 10 and you would be right. The 11th and 12th seats are reserved for the captain and co-pilot.  Getting in and settled was a bit of a challenge, but once seated and buckled in, we were ready for take-off. That would have a good time for liquid refreshments, but the reality was the aisle was about 8 inches in diameter and there was neither a safety spiel nor a flight attendant to deliver it. Joking aside, Sansa has an excellent safety record. Up, up and away - a smooth take-off had us high above the Quepos Marina, home  to catamarans and segways. My tailbone twinged a little at the memory of its forty-five year old self splayed on the curb, under a segway, but that my friends, is another story.

Minutes later, we were cruising high above Tulemar, their octagonal roofs visible among the trees. It was a last chance to say good bye to their beautiful, private beach, sleepy sloths and apple throwing monkeys. Tulemar lies about half way between Quepos and the Manuel Antonio National Park. We enjoyed a day hiking at the park. My advice is skip the over-priced guides and head to the beach. There, we were treated to the sight of backpack snooping coatis, howling howler monkeys and a troup of capuchins with attitude. Tulemar has all that and more, without ever leaving their grounds. But then, what fun would that be?

A very few minutes later, just enough time for your stomach to do a few somersaults, we were circling above San Jose.

Landing at the Sansa airport, you are literally steps from the Juan Santa Maria International airport. We grabbed our luggage, greeted fellow tourists who had journeyed five hours by bus from the Quepos area, and sailed in to the airport for our connecting flight home. Did I mention our flight cost less than our taxi fare to Quepos? Sansa also offers discounts for children and seniors. All in all, well worth the weigh-in. I may however lay off the snacks before our next trip!