Thanks to its environmental conservation policy and the allocation of dozens of natural parks and protected areas within its small territory, Costa Rica is a true paradise for all nature and adventure lovers.
In addition, its location between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, together with its small size, make it possible to enjoy many of the wonders of this country without having to travel long distances.
Costa Rica is a country dedicated to tourism and very safe for foreign visitors.
If you are a Spanish speaker and do not speak a second language, this is a perfect option to get to know another country, beautiful and very different from yours (as long as you are not Costa Rican!), without the barrier of not being able to speak English. Prices are neither high nor low.
In reality, we did not notice any difference with respect to those in Spain (in 2009).
When to go
Costa Rica's climate is tropical, with pleasant temperatures throughout the year (21º-27ºC on average), except in the mountainous systems where the temperature is somewhat lower.
It has a dry season, from December to April, and a rainy season or "green season" from May to November. If you want to move around the country with your own vehicle or by public transport, I would recommend avoiding the rainy season, as some roads may be closed due to heavy rainfall.
There are certain areas, such as the Tortuguero Natural Park, where rainfall is common throughout the year. In any case, whatever time of the year you go, be prepared with good waterproof footwear, such as hiking boots, and a strong anti-mosquito lotion to protect you from insects.
You may also want to take into account Costa Rica's natural calendar. For example, on the Caribbean coast, leatherback turtle nesting runs from March to June, while green turtle nesting runs from July to October. On the Pacific coast, however, leatherback nesting occurs from November to mid-February.
We went to Costa Rica in December 2009, in the dry season, and the weather was perfect. It rained a few days, but not enough to not enjoy the experience.
It is possible that some of the accommodations or services mentioned below have changed ownership or simply disappeared. Therefore, it will be better for you to check, through the links I leave on this page, for new prices, more recent travelers' opinions, etc.
In any case, the route we followed and the natural parks we visited are still there, more beautiful every day if possible. We are looking forward to returning.
How to get around
In general, you can get around almost all of Costa Rica by car, even better if it is a 4×4. This is how we did most of the trip, and I found it to be a very good option.
I recommend that, in addition to being a 4×4, you rent it with full insurance. Many roads are not asphalted and, in rainy seasons, you can get your car half stranded in a puddle of mud and water. Having a good service covered by insurance will save you unexpected expenses during the trip.
 We rented a Daihatsu Terios 4×4 for 15 days with full insurance with Wild Rider in San Jose. The car, small but of perfect dimensions for two people, was in good condition and the information and services received were great. In almost all companies they block an amount of money (in our case, $900) as a deposit on your credit card until you return the vehicle.
Our route
San Jose
Arriving in San Jose on a direct flight from Madrid, we bought the cab fare ($26/2 persons) to our hotel in San Jose at an official ticket office at the airport itself. The cab was actually a van in which we traveled with four other tourists. We were the last to arrive at our destination, an hour and a half, a thousand honks and the occasional near-miss, later. The traffic in San Jose was really crazy.
We had booked one night at the hotel Villa Tournón for 47 euros. The room was clean, although there was quite a bit of noise coming from the street and the food was very expensive. Breakfast was acceptable and they did us the favor of storing much of our luggage for two days in their storage room while we visited Tortuguero.
Tortuguero
Tortuguero is a natural park on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica that can only be accessed by boat or plane. Therefore, we decided to see this area first and rent the ATV after this first visit. For this we booked a two-night/3-day tour with Laguna Lodge Resort, which includes guide, tours through the park, lodging and meals throughout the trip.
The van picked us up early in the morning at the hotel. The guide, Yuri, told us about the country's environmental policy, the "pura vida" battle cry and Costa Rican coffee, among other things. He also took us to see the banana plantations and the harvesting and packing facilities. They gave us breakfast on the way (gallo-pinto, mmm... how delicious!).
At noon we arrive at the pier, where we take a boat to the Laguna Lodge hotel. The boat ride lasts an hour and a half and crosses the spectacular canals of the Tortuguero park, which wind their way through the jungle.
The hotel is great. We were given a beautiful wooden cabin with its own bathroom and a couple of rocking chairs on the front porch. It has a perfect pool in the middle of the jungle garden, a frog breeding area and the food in the restaurant (included in the tour price) was very good. Highly recommended.
That afternoon, after lunch, we were taken to visit the town of Tortuguero (by boat, always with the same group and guide). On the way back, however, we walked along the Caribbean beach. The sky was gray and rainy, and the sea quite rough, as you can see in the photos, but the temperature was summery, and the atmosphere quite humid. The turtle season had already passed, so we did not manage to see any nesting or hatching.
That night, after a good downpour, we went on a guided night hike in search of toads and frogs, with some success.
On the second day we took two boat trips, one before breakfast and one after, through different types of canals. During these trips we saw hundreds of birds, such as white, black, gray, green and blue herons, the occasional kingfisher, piano ducks, etc. In addition, we spotted several groups of howler monkeys, families of spider monkeys, iguanas, very photogenic basilisks and... 3 caimans! All in one morning. It was simply spectacular.
After lunch, after a dip in the pool, we met up again with our guide for a walk through the botanical garden. Yuri gave us all kinds of information about the flora and fauna of the place. The truth is that we were very lucky with our guide, he was a very nice person. Just keep the mosquito lotion handy, the clothes will not be enough to keep them away at sunset.
On the third and last day, after breakfast, we made our way back through the canals to San José. Despite the rain, almost constant during our visit to Tortuguero, we loved this park. And the tour, the guide and the services offered by the Laguna Lodge hotel were of high quality, in my opinion.
Alajuela
The van dropped us off again at the Villa Tournón hotel, where we had arranged to meet the Wild Rider salesman. We picked up our bags and went with him to the agency, in Paseo Colón. Everything went according to plan, the car was in perfect condition, although it was not new, and the guy gave us a lot of maps and valuable information.
Our intention was not to spend a second more in San Jose, which had a hellish traffic, so, leaving the agency, we headed for Alajuela, a much quieter town just outside the capital. Here the real adventure began, as we had nothing else booked and the only thing we had to guide us through the country were the maps provided with the SUV and the Lonely Planet guide of Costa Rica.
We looked for accommodations at Hotel 1915, but it was full. We had better luck with our second choice, the Pacande B&B, and it was a great success ($50/couple/night). The facilities at this inn are very good and the delicious breakfast is taken in a lovely indoor garden.
In my opinion, the best thing is the owner's treatment, very attentive and willing to offer valuable advice for your trip. We liked him so much that we booked a room for our last day in the country before our flight. Following his advice, that night we had dinner at the Jalapeños Central restaurant, very tasty and inexpensive.
Arenal Volcano
The next day, we headed to the Arenal Volcano through the foggy fields near Ciudad Quesada.
When we approached Arenal, seeing it appear in the sky was magical. In 2009, the volcano was active. We saw smoke coming out of its crater during our stay in the area, but no eruptions. At times, the cone was completely covered by clouds; at others, we were luckier and could see it almost clear. However, since the end of 2010 no more explosions have been sighted. It seems that since then, the volcano has entered a resting phase, and only occasional outbursts of gases can be observed.
We stayed at Las Cabinitas del Castillo Dorado, which, as we have been told, has changed owners and has been renamed Hotel El Castillo.
In any case, we loved this accommodation. The facilities are very simple and unpretentious, not particularly new or renovated, but its location is priceless. Each cabin has a large window facing the volcano that occupies almost the entire wall, so you can enjoy breathtaking views from your own bed.
That afternoon we took the opportunity to visit the fortune waterfall, beautiful, although you better be prepared to go up and down 300 steep steps.
And, to end the day, we visited the Tabacón thermal baths. It is a four-star spa hotel. Although we did not stay there, we were able to buy two-day passes for $45/person at the entrance of the hot springs. I assure you, it was well worth it.
Inside the establishment, in the middle of the jungle and in the open air, there are a multitude of pools of various sizes, some artificial, others natural. They are superimposed one on top of the other, following the descent, through small waterfalls, of a spring that comes burning out of the earth.
Depending on the pool, the water could be so hot that you couldn't stand more than two minutes in it. In other cases, the temperature was warmer. There was room for all tastes and desires, without crowds. And all this, surrounded by vegetation and aerial roots forming drawings in the air. I must say that, "Tabacón, Tabacón, Tabacón!" became our synonym for "Pura Vida", and, even today, I still smile every time I say it.
The next day, instead of entering the Arenal Volcano National Park, we decided to visit the Observatory (you can see its location on the map at the bottom of this page) and make the climb to Cerro Chato, a dead volcano that houses a lake inside its crater (where you can swim).
To make the route, somewhat demanding, about 4 hours in total, you can follow the indications that you will find as you go through a beautiful, but dense jungle. Be sure to bring enough water for the climb up this volcano.
We also visited the waterfalls inside the park. Along the way we saw a multitude of wildlife: coatis, howler monkeys, frogs, toucans, butterflies and huge caterpillars, hummingbirds and, as the jewel in the crown, an ocelot! This is a jaguar-like feline but much smaller. It was an adult female that had been raised in the natural park in the wild thanks to the care of the rangers.
According to what we were told, she had left the park some time ago; however, she had just returned with a pair of cubs, probably seeking the protection offered by the park and its caretakers. She even allowed herself to be petted (at this point we took a bit of a gamble, I have to admit, since they are wild animals!) It was a great luck to cross his path, one of those experiences that remains engraved in the memory.
We ended the day with a well-deserved rest at the Tabacón hot springs. It started to rain quite heavily, which allowed us to experience a pleasant temperature contrast having our bodies submerged in hot water while the rain cooled our faces. A perfect treatment to relax before going to sleep.
Monte Verde
Our next objective was to see the Monte Verde forest as the monkeys of the country see it, jumping from tree to tree. So we headed to Santa Elena following the road around the beautiful Arenal Lagoon. On the way we stopped for a delicious breakfast at the German Bakery.
We stayed at the B&B Mariposa, nice and quiet wooden cabins surrounded by nature. Of note is the great breakfast on site, which includes gallopinto, fruits, eggs and freshly made homemade pancakes.
In Costa Rica, it is a tradition for the cleaners to make figures with the clean towels they leave on the bed and decorate their works of art with flowers. It is customary to leave them a tip for these details. And in this B&B, I assure you that they more than earned the tip, what dedication! It was a pleasure to enter the room after them.
In Santa Elena we decided our adventure for the next day: canopy (or zip line) + hanging bridges with the company Selvatura. We made the reservation at the Santa Elena hostel, where they were really nice to us.
The next day, the Selvatura van picked us up at 7:30 am and took us to the cloud forest. There they provide you with harnesses, helmets, brake gloves and... to slide from tree to tree!
It was hilarious and beautiful, as well as suitable for all audiences. It is not difficult at all and you always feel safe, they are very professional. The ride across the suspension bridges was very beautiful, but you could hardly see any animals, due to the noise made by the zip lines.
That night we went on a night excursion through the Children's Eternal Rainforest. We didn't see too many animals, except for two tarantulas... I, not being much of an arachnid lover, didn't enjoy it very much. However, the guide offered interesting information and the money from the entrance fee goes to the conservation of the park. It was not the highlight of the trip.
For lunch in Santa Elena I recommend the restaurant De Lucia and Stella's Bakery, with a very varied bird population in its back garden, each one more beautiful than the next.
Manuel Antonio Park
The next day, on our way to Manuel Antonio, we stopped on the Tarcoles River to observe from the bridge the huge crocodiles that populate the area. There were dozens of them, sunbathing on the banks of the river. They seemed to be posing.
You can park just before, in an area reserved for this purpose (you can see it on the map at the end of this post), and walk towards the bridge to see them. The crocodiles themselves pose no danger, unless you decide to jump (I don't recommend it!). But we had been warned that thefts of possessions inside the cars parked there are frequent.
As we were advised, we parked and went, one at a time, towards the river, while the other stayed inside the car the whole time. This way we enjoyed the views without any unwanted mishaps.
In Manuel Antonio we stayed at the inexpensive Vista Serena hostel, which enjoys breathtaking sunsets. Just be prepared to flee from the army of mosquitoes that rise when the sun goes down.
It is a rather noisy hostel, frequented by young people who want to party at night. So, if you value silence during the night, I do not recommend it. We stayed only two nights, instead of three, for this reason. If you want to enjoy the sunset you can also go to Ronny's Place.
Manuel Antonio Park can be reached by car. There is a parking lot at the door at a good price for the whole day. And if it is full, a little before the entrance you will find many others, more on the beach, which are also well priced (I have marked some on the map at the end of this entry).
Along the road that leads to the park you may find people who stop you and tell you that you must park there, on the edge of the road, arguing that there are no parking spaces beyond. Don't believe them, they will rip you off a few dollars too many. Continue to the park gate, and if you don't find a spot there, back slowly back up to the beach.
We visited Manuel Antonio Park for two days, and it was worth it. The first afternoon we did it on our own, and saw for ourselves howler and capuchin monkeys, a fawn and raccoons, among others.
Manuel Antonio beach is spectacular, a true natural paradise, with warm, clean and crystal clear water. You just have to watch out for capuchin monkeys and raccoons to steal something from your bag when you go into the water, they are professional thieves, but they are very funny, that's for sure.
The second day we hired a guide at the park gate, who led us along the same path we had followed and revealed many more of the park's secrets. He had a trained eye and a large binoculars that you could zoom your camera lens in to take pictures (this was one of our initiation trips, we didn't have that much zoom yet!).
So, on this excursion we saw crabs, grasshoppers, lizards, a tinsel snake, woodpeckers, more monkeys, raccoons and three-toed and two-toed sloths! All thanks to the binoculars and the guide's eyesight.
Then we wandered off on our own to less traveled beaches in the park. Not as nice as the main one, although we saw iguanas and another (green) snake along the way.
The main beach, Manuel Antonio, again put the finishing touch to a wonderful day, what a beauty!
Rafting in Turrialba
After two nights in Manuel Antonio, a place I have to go back to, we headed to Turrialba, to go rafting on the river of the same name. We passed by the Talamanca mountain range on the Interamerican highway... watch out for the kamikaze trucks!
Turrialba is not a pleasant or appetizing town, in my opinion. The hotels are much more expensive and/or of lower quality than the ones we had found during the rest of the trip.
We decided to stay a couple of nights at the Wagelia Hotel, a bit more expensive but less 'noisy' than others we considered in the same city. At the same hotel we booked the rafting for the next day with the company Ticos River.
The excursion included transportation to and from the river by van and a very good lunch in the middle of the trip. I had never been rafting before, so I was a bit apprehensive about this activity.
But it was super fun and not dangerous at all.
As soon as we got on the raft, the guide, Giovani, made us jump into the water one at a time to practice how to rescue a companion, and not panic if you fell in later. The truth is that this did not happen, it was the only time we bathed in the river during the trip.
By the way, wear shoes that dry easily afterwards, because you are going into the water with them! Also, during the descent, the water from the rapids splashes you (to put it mildly) all the time. You end up really soaked, although very happy!
Besides being fun, the trip is beautiful. One of the most beautiful rafting in the world, according to the company. And I will not be the one to deny them. However, this is the only reason to visit Turrialba. If you are not going to do rafting, I don't recommend you to come here.
To eat, I can only recommend you where not to eat: Bar La Garza. They gave us bad meat or fish (I couldn't say what it was).
Cahuita and Manzanillo: the Caribbean of Costa Rica
After two days in Turrialba, we headed for Cahuita and Manzanillo, where we would spend five nights.
The first two were at the Playa Chiquita Lodge hotel, which is quite nice and reasonably priced ($50/night/2 people). It has a private beach, but, at least when we were there, it was not very inviting. The sea in the area had a lot of shallow rock and reef, and the sand was full of bits of cutting coral. We didn't like it very much.
The second day we found the so-called Cabinas Punta Uva, next to a much nicer beach, with fine sand and a wide strip of sea that is easier and safer to swim in, without so many rocks. The accommodation is very nice, immersed in nature, and the manager who ran it at the time, Lola, was great with us. If you come to this area, I recommend staying in these cabins ($45/night/2 people).
One day we visited the Cahuita Natural Park, a great success. As soon as we arrived, at the gate, we saw a female basilisk burying her eggs in the sand on the beach. Then, during the tour of the park, we came across several sloths quite active in the low branches of the trees, many howler monkeys, squirrels and coatis. The best beach in the park is Playa Blanca, beautiful and unspoiled, perfect for swimming.
The rest of the days were spent relaxing on the beaches in the area, especially the one in front of the Punta Uva Cabinas, and snorkeling in Manzanillo. The snorkeling in the southern part of the beach (I have marked it on the map at the end of this post) is spectacular. You can rent snorkeling equipment at a small store near Maxi's.
You will swim among thousands of blue, red, yellow, pilot, angel, spotted, moonfish, manta rays, lobsters... And all the colors of corals you can imagine. Wonderful.
For lunch, I highly recommend you try the Caribbean chicken with coconut sauce and the red snapper at Maxi's restaurant, which is wonderful! The food is also very good at Selvin's, a stone's throw from the Punta Uva cabins; and the Amimodo restaurant.
If you want to celebrate a special occasion with a romantic dinner in an exclusive atmosphere, you can visit the restaurant of the Shawandha Lodge, a little more expensive, but charming.
Last day in Alajuela and the Gardens of La Paz Waterfall
Much to our regret, after five nights in this little piece of the Caribbean, we headed back to Alajuela. That last night we stayed again at the B&B Pacande, and this time we left the car in their private parking lot.
The next morning, before going to the airport, we went to visit the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This private park inspired us with mixed feelings. It was the moment in our lives when we decided never to visit any kind of zoo again. There were monkeys, toucans, sloths, and even tigers, locked in cages, sad, dull. To see this, just after having observed most of them in the wild... was very disappointing.
The emotion you feel when you see a free animal is a thousand times better and more exciting than when you see them in a cage, where they can barely move, run, hide, chase, hunt, interact...
There is nothing natural about it, and you can see it in the attitude of the animals, which is no longer curious, fierce, graceful or flighty. They are depressed.
However, inside the gardens we also experienced some of the most special moments of the trip. They have an area with hanging sugar troughs where hundreds and hundreds of hummingbirds flutter freely, each one more beautiful than the next.
They even provide you with flower-shaped water troughs so you can give them a drink yourself. And it works! A picture is worth a thousand words... it was great.
Some would stare into your eyes, to make sure they could trust you. Others nervously went back and forth around your hands, with fleeting movements. We loved this part.
And from here, to the airport, where Wild Rider's manager picked up the car at the appointed time. A beautiful trip to remember, which engendered in me the passion for nature travel.
Our next trip
Costa Rica is a wonderful country for an animal and nature lover; a safe place for the visitor, easy to get around and where both Spanish and English are spoken.
Specifically, they told us about the wonders of the Osa Peninsula, where the Corcovado Natural Park is located; a place that we did not have time to visit, but that will be our number one stop on a future trip. Think about it, if I am so sure I will return, are you going to miss it?
Travel insurance
Although Costa Rica is a very safe country for tourists, an accident can happen to anyone:
- Perhaps a food might be bad for you, or you might discover an allergy you didn't know about.
- You could spike a fever or catch a virus that forces you to stay in bed for a week.
- You may slip and hurt yourself while trekking or climbing stairs.
- There is also the possibility that they may simply lose your bag at the airport.
You don't want a silly thing like that, that could happen in your own home, to spoil your wonderful trip; the one you had put so much illusion in and have been planning all this time, don't you?
In general, when you leave your country, it is always a good idea to have an insurance policy to cover medical expenses or other unforeseen events in case something unexpected happens.
My advice:
Take out travel insurance with IATI
I always travel with them. But you may ask, why IATI and not another company?
- They offer several insurance options: Basic, Standard, Star, Backpacker and Family. Their comparative tables will help you study all the offers and decide which one best suits your trip (type of country, activities to do, etc.).
- IATI pays directly the medical or rescue expenses. You will not need to advance any amount at the time, nor claim the refund later from the company.
- They have very competitive prices. Specifically, my car tour in Costa Rica cost less than 60€ per person. In my opinion, to travel safe and sound for that price for almost three weeks is a bargain! What do you think?
- Need another reason? Well, here it is: a 5% discount on any policy you take out if you do it from this link. link.
May I give you some advice?
Don't gamble, travel insured, enjoy your adventure and... come back wanting more!
Still no flights to Costa Rica?
I like to start my search in Trabber because the price it shows you is final (including credit card and other fees). Of course, I always check eDreams and Momondo offers as well.
You never know who will have the best deals😉.
When to buy your flights
In the case of international flights it is worth doing a search in the 4 search engines above 6-8 months in advance.
Videos
Here you can see some of the most special moments we experienced with the flora and fauna of Costa Rica:
- An ocelot at Arenal Volcano.
- Sloths in Cahuita.
- Monkeys in Manuel Antonio.
- Hummingbirds in the gardens of La Cataratara La Paz
- Tortuguero canals.
Enjoy!
If you have any doubts or questions, or need any other details that I haven't mentioned in this article, don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I'll be happy to help you in any way I can. And don't forget... pura vida!
The Costa Rica PDF guide
Do you want to have this route through Costa Rica in PDF?
Subscribe to the newsletter, download it for free and consult it whenever you want:
Useful Links
- Other hotel offers in Costa Rica.
- Flights to Costa Rica: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
- 5% discount when you take out your adventure travel insurance with IATI.
Good Celi, First of all thank you for your post and congratulate you for it. It is great. This summer we are going to Costa Rica for 17 days and my plan is as follows:
Day - Madrid - San Jose
Day 2 - Tortuguero
Day 3 - Tortuguero
Day 4 - Tortuguero - San Jose
Day 5 - Arenal
Day 6 - Arenal
Day 7 - Monteverde
Day 8 - Monteverde
Day 9 - Monteverde
Day 10 - Manuel Antonio
Day 11 - Manuel Antonio
Day 12 - Manuel Antonio
Day 13 - Manuel Antonio - Uvita
Day 14 - Manuel Antonio - Uvita
Day 15 - Corcovado
Day 16 - Corcovado
Day 17 - San Jose - Madrid
Our idea is to go on our own and after Tortuguero rent a car and drive around the country. If you notice I have left out Puerto Viejo and Lemón because I have read that it is a bit hard to drive. What do you think about the route, any recommendations, where is it better to rent a car?
Thank you.
Hi Javier. Thank you very much for your comment 🙂
Your route looks great. I recommend renting a car in San Jose, on your way back from Tortuguero.
About the route, you know, I would take one day away from Manuel Antonio or Manuel Antonio-Uvita and put it to Corcovado. In any case, as you go by car you can change plans on the fly (we did it on a couple of occasions) 😉.
Best regards and happy travels!
And leaving Limon and Puerto Viejo is ok if you know other areas like Corcovado or Uvita, isn't it? How complex is to know the part of Corcovado? I have read that it is difficult to access and get there.
You are welcome, Javier.
I am of the opinion that you can't see everything and well. If you leave Puerto Viejo and Limon because you are enjoying another area, fine, nothing happens. I liked that Caribbean coast, but I was left wanting to see Corcovado, so I guess it will be the other way around for you 🙂
I know it's harder to get around Corcovado, but since I haven't been there yet, I can't help you much more, sorry!
A hug and happy travels. Or better yet, pure life 😉.
Thanks Celi, but after reading this I don't think we will go to Corcovado. I know it is very worthwhile but it is difficult to access and you must lose a lot of time in the displacements. In the end I have decided for this route, what do you think?
Day 22 - Madrid - San Jose
Day 23 - Tortuguero
Day 24 - Tortuguero
Day 25 - Tortuguero - Limon
Day 26 - Puerto Viejo
Day 27 - old port
Day 28 - Old Port
Day 29 - Puerto Viejo-SIQUIRRES- Fortuna Arenal
Day 30 - Arenal
Day 1 - Arenal-rio Celeste - Monteverde
Day 2 - Monteverde
Day 3 - Monteverde
Day 4 - Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
Day 5 - Manuel Antonio
Day 6 - Manuel Antonio
Day 7 - Uvita
Day 8 - Uvita - San José - Madrid
Wonderful. You're going to enjoy it very much, I'm sure 🙂
A hug and ¡pura vida!
Hi Celi: very good story, I ask you the pdf with the route you did. Thank you very much!
Sol
Hello, Sol
Thank you very much for your comment. I'll write you a private email 🙂
Hi Celi,
I enjoyed reading about your trip to Costa Rica.My partner and I travel on the 10th to Costa Rica, 11 days.We will arrive in the afternoon so we will sleep in San Jose and the day begins the adventure of going Sierpe by car, to go by boat to Drake, to visit the P.N. Corcovado, we will spend a few days. We will spend a few days in Corcovado, then continue to Manuel Antonio, then Monteverde and close with the Arenal Volcano and sleep in Alajuela before returning home, in these places we will spend the nights and on the route we will stop to see Marino Ballena etc.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Sorry Celi, I saw the link to the PDF...that's great...I'll take ideas from your recommendations.
Hi Chris! No problem. I'm glad you already have the PDF. I'm sure your itinerary can inspire other readers, so thank you so much for sharing it!
Have a great trip (I'm sure you will). A hug and ¡pura vida! 🙂
I think you have told it so well that I want to go more than ever.
I would like to receive the information in pdf.
Best regards.
Hi Javier, thanks for your comment. I'm really looking forward to going back to Costa Rica too. The PDF is about to be ready. If all goes well, next week I will post the access in this post and send it by email and my subscribers. Best regards.
I want the PDF!
Hi Maria, thanks for your comment! I'm working on it (almost there). Stay tuned to the blog or sign up for the newsletter so I can send it to you directly. Best regards.
Hi, very interesting!
I am going to travel this year and would like to have the pdf.
Thank you
Thanks for your comment, Iria! I will try to make it available in time. Best regards.
Hi Celi!!! k xulo the trip ... this July I want to go to Costa Rica I would like you to send me the pdf porfii thanks and Pure life!!!!
Hi Adela, thank you very much for your comment.
I hope to have the PDF ready this month. As soon as I have it, you will be able to get it through the site. A hug and ¡pura vida!
I would like to travel to Costa Rica and I want your PDF. Thanks
Thanks for your comment, Veronica! I hope to have it ready in a few weeks, stay tuned to the blog or sign up for the newsletter if you want to be notified in person when it's available. best regards!
This summer we are going to Costa Rica and I would love to have your PDF to prepare everything!!!!
Hi Cris! Great, I hope to have it ready for February-March. Besides posting it on the web, I'll let newsletter subscribers know so they can download it if they are interested. So, if you don't want to miss it, you can sign up now and I'll let you know. Greetings and ¡pura vida! 🙂 .
I am preparing a trip to Costa Rica and
I want the PDF!
Thank you very much in advance
Hi Jesus! Thank you for your comment and... cooking ear 😉.
Happy trip to Costa Rica!
I would like to get to know Costa Rica better since I have already been there as a volunteer. If you know anything about volunteering it would be perfect. And if not, if you have any information about traveling as a volunteer I would appreciate it.
Marta Vidal
Hi Marta! Thank you very much for your comment. Discovering the culture, fauna and flora of Costa Rica and falling in love with the country and its people while doing your bit for its people seems to me a great way to travel. How wonderful! It's an honor to have readers like you, hats off!
But I can't help you, as I have no experience in that regard. If you have previously volunteered in Costa Rica, you already know more about it than I do. However, my recommendation is that you think about what field you want to volunteer in (social, ecological, conservation, education... ) and look for a trustworthy association, with good references, where you feel comfortable.
And when you find it, tell me about it! You could be inspiration that other readers have been waiting for, myself included.
Good luck with your adventure. Thank you so much, on behalf of all of us, for your volunteerism past, present and future. And... pure life! A hug.
Hi Celi! great post, thank you very much!
We are going with two small children in October (2 and 4 years old), we already booked the car at Wild Rider. We would like your opinion on which of the places you visited are suitable or not for kids?
Thank you!
kisses
Lucia
Hi Lucia. Thank you very much for your comment, glad to share my opinion.
The truth is that most of the destinations I visited are suitable for families with children. The natural parks of Cahuita and Manuel Antonio, for example, besides being very easy to walk around and have beautiful beaches to play and swim, are perfect for the little ones to admire animals in freedom and learn to respect nature. Monkeys and raccoons, for example, are fun and easy to see. But be careful with personal belongings! They have very long hands. 🙂
The canopy at MonteVerde might be too much for such young children. And, if you go to Arenal Volcano with them, above all, don't do the excursion I did to Cerro Chato; choose an easier one, for your sake.
Tortuguero I think is suitable, unless they are afraid of small boats. The excursions are not very long, 1 hour maximum, as I remember. But you had to keep more or less silent while the boat went through the meanders to try to spot birds, reptiles and the occasional howler monkey. We didn't meet any small children, and I know perfectly well that it is difficult to predict when they will scream too much or cry... However, I don't think you should miss it because of that. Imagine being lucky enough to see a nest of little green turtles hatch... what a beautiful experience for your children!
The rafting in Turrialba I would skip it if I were you. You won't be able to do it with them, especially the 2 year old.
I hope I have been helpful. If you need anything else, just ask.
Best regards, have a great trip and ¡pura vida!
Hi Celi!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, it sounds wonderful!
I'm putting together my itinerary for the country and I wanted to ask what you would recommend as a must-see. I'm going for 15 days, alone. I would like to prioritize the beaches but also see some of the volcanoes, so I thought I would start by renting a car and drive through Poas and Arenal at first and then go to Liberia to go down the coast on the Pacific side. Then cross by ferry to Puntarenas and go to the caribbean side of Limon to Cahuitas. Is it crazy for the few days I have? I am not on a tight budget and I would not want to spend more than U$D1000, is it feasible?
Thank you very much!
Hi Clara!
Thank you for your comment. The truth is that you are right, the experience was wonderful. And I'm sure yours will be too. The tour you describe seems well adjusted to the days you have, I think it is fine. I have not been to the Nicoya Peninsula, so I can not comment on that area. Besides, we always prioritize wildlife watching, while we find the beaches along the way. The only thing you might be skipping, which matches your tastes and my experience, is the beach at Manuel Antonio Park. But, I repeat, you may have already seen similar beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula, so it may not be worth going all the way down there, especially since you would be short of time in that case.
You are right, your budget is very tight. But if you get a good price on the rental car and sleep in very cheap accommodations, I think it would be feasible. Of course, I would not include flights in the $1000. Flights included does start to seem too limited to me.
I hope you have a great trip, that you discover the beaches of your dreams in Costa Rica and that you manage to stay within your budget. If you have any more questions, you know where I am 🙂 Ah! And... pura vida!
Thank you Celi for your help in organizing the trip.
We are going from the end of November until after the December long weekend, it seems to be a good time.
Before reading your indications I had already booked at the Lodge for Tortuguero, I am delighted to see in advance that it has been a good choice.
We are going to do almost the same route but in reverse, that is, we go from San Jose to Tortuguero from there we return to San Jose, take the car at the airport and go to Manuel Antonio and from there to Monteverde from where we will go to Arenal to finish the trip in a resort in Guanacaste to rest a few days after the beating we are going to get and finally return home from the airport in Liberia.
We have rented the car strictly for the days we visit Manuel Antonio, Monteverde and Arenal, we return it at the Liberia airport before going to the resort because they pick us up at the airport and take us the day we leave free of charge. In case any of your readers can help them, at the moment I am going to pay for the rental of a toyota Rav 4×4 299 euros including the return in a different place which is about 47.1 euros, less than in Spain where they normally charge 120 euros.
Now I am investigating the road routes to choose the best, I have read that not all roads are good, so it would help me a lot if you tell me how you chose them and if the system worked well. Greetings and thank you very much for your advice.
Hi Mercedes. Thank you very much for your comment and for providing so much information for the rest of the blog readers. You got a very good price on the car rental, especially dropping it off at a different airport. What company did you book it with, and for how many days?
Regarding the roads to choose, the best thing to do is to use a paper map. Ask at the car rental agency, maybe they will provide you with one, as they did with us. Try to drive, as much as possible, on paved roads. This will be clear on a paper map, while the google maps navigator is likely to guide you on dirt roads that may be in bad condition. In spite of that, you are very likely to find potholes, landslides and all kinds of flaws on main roads. The Interamerican Highway itself was quite affected in some sections when we visited it. So, just in case, drive carefully.
Another trick is to ask the rental company when you arrive. Tell them your itinerary and ask for advice on which roads to choose. They themselves handle the most recent information you can find.
December is a perfect time to visit Costa Rica, so, even if you don't need it, it only remains for me to wish you happy travels and pura vida! 🙂 🙂
Best regards.
The rental is for 6 days and I did it with rentalcars, although I have changed several times of vehicle spending less money and improving, to my understanding the type of car, you just have to enter from time to time and check if you find something cheaper, I still do not think it will be my last change.
What you tell me about the roads I already had an intuition from what I'm reading. I have even found a page of the Costa Rican authorities where they tell you if there is any problem in their road network(http://www.conavi.go.cr) but what I can't find is to know, with any accuracy, how long it takes to travel between the different areas because, if you consult the Michelin guide, it gives you a time that does not correspond at all with what the hotels or the guides of the excursions give you when you ask them. Well, I will continue with my research and I will let you know when I get back. Thank you very much again.
Hi Mercedes,
A thousand thanks for sharing the car rental data. I'm sure many readers will appreciate it, myself included! 🙂 Regarding the hours and distances, if I were you, I would count on the longest duration you have found. That way, if it later turns out to be shorter, all you'll do is bring yourself joy and enjoy the destination longer that day. An easy trick is to get up early and start the drive as early as possible. That way, if it takes longer than it should, you won't get caught at night. I'd love to hear how your trip went when you get back - I'm sure you'll come back wanting more! Again, thanks for your comments, hugs and pura vida!
Hi, your post has been a great help for my next 10 day trip to Costa Rica. We are only two people, the rental prices are affordable, but we don't know how much more we are going to spend on gas since our budget is pretty tight. Our itinerary is Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Arenal Volcano, Monte Verde, Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo and Poas Volcano, returning to San Jose. Is it too tight or what would you recommend. I hope you can help us a little, thank you very much!
Hi Ana Cristina, what a great trip you are organizing! In my opinion, that's too many destinations for only 10 days. So, if you don't want to refuse any of them, maybe the best is to rent a car to save time. That way you won't have to adjust to bus schedules. But of course, I don't know how tight your budget is. It seems that right now (07/29/17) gas is 1$ American/19 pesos MXN/0.9€, just to give you an idea.
My recommendations are these:
- Puerto Viejo is the farthest destination of them all (although it is beautiful, of course). You will have seen other beautiful beaches in Jaco and Manuel Antonio. You will also have visited natural parks in Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero, etc... I would eliminate Puerto Viejo from your trip. You will save time and gas money.
-It is best to go to Tortuguero without a car, with the shuttle service included in one of the hotels, such as the one I used: Laguna Lodge. They pick you up and drop you back in San Jose. So I recommend leaving this destination for the beginning or end of the route. This way, you will reduce the number of days and, therefore, the price of the car rental.
-This is not so necessary, but, if you want to spend 2 days in each place (approximately), you need to eliminate one more, apart from Puerto Viejo. For example, you could choose only one of the two volcanoes to visit, Poas or Arenal. If you really like volcanoes, I might eliminate Monte Verde instead of one of them. And if you are more into wildlife, then eliminate Jaco (the only beach you would be visiting in this case would be Manuel Antonio, keep that in mind).
Of course, these are my recommendations, very much aligned with my personal tastes and my way of traveling (rather slow, as you may have noticed). So, if you are able to visit all the places you name in 10 days, go for it! I'm sure you will love all of them, but surely, the time you spend in them will not be enough.
I hope I have been helpful. Don't hesitate to write me again if you need more information.
Have a great trip in Costa Rica and... pura vida! 🙂
Hi, I just wanted to congratulate you because you are helping me a lot to plan my 15 day trip to Costa Rica this August, I've written down several accommodations and sites :),
The only thing that takes me a little head is the car rental because as it is rainy season I see imprenscindible rent a 4×4 with comprehensive insurance and prices are sky high, I just sent an email to the company you recommend to give me a budget :).
Greetings!
Hi Vicente, thank you very much for your comment! I love that the blog is helping you to organize your own adventure. You really make me happy. Regarding the car, I agree with you, you are making the right decision. In the rainy season, a 4×4 with comprehensive insurance is essential. Hopefully the agency I hired will give you a quote according to your needs! If you can, let me know what you get back. I'm sure many readers will find it helpful to have a more up-to-date 15-day quote than mine. Thanks again, happy travels and pura vida! 🙂 🙂
Good afternoon, thank you very much for the contributions in your blog that serves as a guide for upcoming travelers,
We are planning the trip on our own with a duration of 15 days, 1 night in San Jose, 2 nights in Tortuguera, 2 nights in Arenal Volcano, 2 nights in Monteverde, 5 nights in Manuel Antonio and 3 nights in Osa Peninsula.
I would like to know if you think there are too many nights in Manuel antonio and what we can see or distribute in another area of interest.
Thank you very much
Hi Cristina, you're welcome! Thanks to you for your comment.
Your trip sounds great, very complete, I would not complicate it by adding a new area.
The only thing I would modify would be to reduce one or two nights from Manuel Antonio and move them to the Osa Peninsula. Manuel Antonio park is well enjoyed in two or three days, whereas, as I understand it, the Osa peninsula is more extensive.
However, one of the most beautiful beaches we saw in Costa Rica was Manuel Antonio. White sand, clean, turquoise and warm water. Perfect for spending hours in the water or resting in the shade of its trees. So, if you feel like spending a day or two at the beach, it's okay to spend a little more in that area.
Bottom line:
- If you feel like throwing yourself on Manuel Antonio beach for up to 3 full days, your plan is perfect as is.
- If one or two full days on the beach is enough for you, 4 nights in Manuel Antonio and 4 nights on the Osa Peninsula should be enough.
- If you are not so eager for the beach, 3 nights in Manuel Antonio (2 days visiting the park) and 5 on the Osa Peninsula might be more appropriate. The Osa Peninsula is much larger in extension, so you will have enough time to visit the whole peninsula and discover its secrets.
Whatever you decide, you'll have a great time. Happy travels, and pura vida! Best regards.
Hi Celi!
What a great post. Thank you so much. I'm going with my family in the summer and it has inspired me a lot to make the itinerary.
I have a doubt.... you left Corcovado to visit. In the guidebooks I'm reading they put it as one of the "must see"... did you leave it for some reason? did they advise you to substitute it for any of the parks you visited?
Thank you very much!
Hi Marta! I love that the post has inspired you, thank you so much for letting me know!
We left Corcovado because... we didn't have time! But I assure you that it's not just the guidebooks. All Costa Ricans recommended us, actively and passively, to go to the Corcovado National Park, in the Osa Peninsula. As you say, it is really a must. So don't miss it.
When we knew of its existence, it was already too late. We had made the route plan in our head and did not want to sacrifice any stop. I don't regret it, because I loved everything I saw and we had a great time. But I wrote down the Osa Peninsula as stop number 1, indispensable, for our next trip to Costa Rica, because... we will be back! (I hope soon...) 🙂 🙂
If you guys have time, visit the Corcovado. You'll hit it for sure. And then, if you feel like it, tell me about it! I'd love to know what you thought of it.
Best regards, happy travels and... pura vida!
Hi, very nice post. I am looking to organize a trip with a friend and rent a car. It certainly seems the best option to move around Costa Rica and visit beaches and jungles, right? Isn't it dangerous? And for parking you always leave it in a parking lot? Thanks in advance !!!! I can't wait to go and even more after reading this post! Greetings
Hi Jany! Thank you so much for your comment, I'm so glad you found the post inspiring!
Getting around Costa Rica by car is completely safe. The only problem could be floods during the rainy season. In these cases, some roads are cut off and you have to take alternative routes. But in dry season, there is nothing to fear. Anyway, I recommend you to rent a 4×4 with full insurance. That way, you will have peace of mind.
To park it, we used the parking lots of the lodgings, public parking lots next to the natural parks, restaurants, etc.. Many of them were not guarded or closed. Nothing ever happened. Of course, it is always better to take the precaution of not leaving anything in sight inside the vehicle, nor anything of value hidden. Better to be cautious. The only place I know of where it is possible for them to try to steal inside the car, even if there is nothing in sight, is on the Tárcoles River, as I discuss in the post.
One of the pillars of the Costa Rican economy is tourism, thanks to the care and conservation of its natural wealth. Therefore, the treatment they give to visitors is exemplary. You have nothing to fear if you take the same precautions you would have in your own city. Best regards, happy travels to Costa Rica and... Pura Vida!
Hello, first of all congratulate you for the post. I wanted to ask you with what company you went to the park of tortuguero? Did you take the publicity at the hotel in San Jose?
Thanks and best regards.
We are leaving on January 5th.
Hi Laura, thank you very much for your comment. It is a pleasure to hear (or read) that you like what I write on the blog.
We went to Tortuguero with a complete package contracted directly with the Laguna Lodge hotel. I found them by researching on the web, before arriving in Costa Rica, not in San Jose.
When you book with this resort, the price you pay includes, in addition to lodging, transportation from San Jose (round trip, hotel or airport), full meals and boat tours of Tortuguero National Park during the days you are there. If you book through Booking.com, after making your reservation you must contact the accommodation to provide your hotel and/or flight schedule information. Please note that you will be picked up early in the morning for the outbound flight, so it will probably be better to spend the night in San Jose. The return is in the afternoon. In any case, you can write and talk to them first, before making the reservation, to be sure of schedules, conditions and what the price includes. Here is their website: http://www.lagunatortuguero.com/
We had a very good experience with them, so I recommend them. The food was good (but that is very personal, I love Costa Rican food, for example), the hotel is beautiful, embedded in the park, and Tortuguero... simply unbeatable. The treatment by our guide was exceptional. He gave us all kinds of tours, on foot and by boat, making an effort in each of them so that we could see all the animal species that populate the area. My only recommendation, don't let the intermittent rains get you down. If it were not for them, the place would not be as beautiful as it is. Put on the complimentary cape they provide, and enjoy! I hope I have helped you. If you still have questions, feel free to contact me again. Best regards.
Amazing post. Thank you for publishing it...I look forward to more....
Greetings
Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it. Regards.
Hi, what a cool trip.
Do you think that if I take the car in tortugueros (lodge service) I could deliver it at the end of the trip at the airport?
Hi, Ismael! Thank you very much for your comment. Although not directly in Tortuguero (since you can only go there by boat), it is possible to hire the car to pick it up in Siquirres, Guapiles or even at the pier itself. I am not sure if the company I rented the 4×4 from offers this service, but I have found another company that does allow you to do what you want: http://www.poasrentacar.com/.
The only problem is that the rental prices increase substantially when you choose another point of return of the vehicle, especially if one of them is the Tortuguero National Park (which, as I understand it, must be delivered at the pier). You will have to be the one to evaluate if the price increase compensates you for not returning to San Jose and picking up the car there. I hope I have been helpful. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need anything else. Best regards. I wish you a fantastic trip and ¡pura vida! 😉.
Hello I'm going to Costa Rica and I will do a very patecida route! Can you send me the route in map that you did? Is that I can see it on the page I do not know why.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Dorian! Of course, I send you the google maps link via email. Greetings and have a nice trip!
Hi Celi good morning! do you have an estimate of how many kms you traveled in total?more than anything to make reservations in an orderly manner and not miss anything! we are going for at least 17 days...Thanks!
Hi Matias, of course I can give you an estimate of the km we drove with the rental car.
In total it was about 1100 km, distributed as follows:
- 20 km from San Jose to Alajuela to spend the first night.
- 140 km from Alajuela to Arenal Volcano.
- 110 km from Arenal Volcano to Monteverde.
- 190 km from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio.
- 235 km from Manuel Antonio to Turrialba.
- 170 km from Turrialba to Punta Uva/Manzanillo.
- 235 km from Punta Uva to Alajuela again.
I have not counted the trip from San Jose to Tortuguero, as we were taken in the minibus included in the accommodation service, but round trip to where you take the boat, it is approximately another 240 km additional.
I hope this information helps you to organize your trip, I am so envious! I am so looking forward to going back to Costa Rica....
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I will be happy to provide you with information.
A hug, happy travels and ¡pura vida!