The Ultimate Costa Rica 2 Week Itinerary

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Volcanoes and sizzling spring rivers. Misty cloud forests. Howler monkeys swinging by way of the treetops. White sand seashores. Costa Rica is a tropical, eco-friendly paradise, full of colourful wildlife and plush forest canopies simply ready to be explored on ziplines and hanging bridges and vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. 

Over the various journeys we’ve taken and the weeks we’ve spent backpacking by way of this lovely nation, we’ve realized a couple of issues.  Like that you just want REALLY good bug repellant (I swear by this mixed with this). Or that there are a LOT of things nobody tells you about Costa Rica. 

And at last, we’ve mixed all of our experiences into one epic route that visits all of our favourite locations: the final word Costa Rica two week itinerary! You’ll be visiting visiting three nationwide parks; mountain climbing in cloud forests, rainforests and jungles; snorkeling and swimming in crystalline waters; traversing the tree cover on ziplines and hanging bridges; exploring volcanoes, canyons, sizzling springs and rivers; and befriending sloths, monkeys, macaws, toucans, and extra. And for those who’re something like us, you’ll in all probability be reserving your subsequent journey to Costa Rica as quickly as you come dwelling once more.

Able to dive in? Pura Vida!

Psst: Try a few of our different posts earlier than your journey:

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Costa Rica 2 Week Itinerary Abstract

The route you’ll be taking up this Costa Rica itinerary is San José > La Fortuna > Monteverde > Manuel Antonio > Corcovado > San José

Right here’s the route damaged out by days:

• Day 1, San Jose to La Fortuna
• Day 2 & 3, La Fortuna
• Day 4, Journey to Monteverde 
• Day 5 & 6, Monteverde
• Day 7, Journey from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
• Day 8 & 9, Manuel Antonio
• Day 10, Manuel Antonio to Drake Bay
• Day 11 & 12, Drake Bay
• Day 13 & 14, Drake Bay to San Jose and fly dwelling

Notes and Options

• In case your arrival flight lands within the night, it is advisable lose a day someplace – or fly again from Drake Bay and take a night flight dwelling.
• If you wish to add further time to one of many locations within the itinerary, you may go to Manuel Antonio for only one full day relatively than two, particularly for those who get an early begin within the morning.
• You’ll notice we don’t have you ever spending a lot time in San Jose. We’ve now been to Costa Rica a number of occasions and the town simply isn’t essentially the most thrilling half concerning the journey.

Costa Rica Itinerary: Issues to Know

• This itinerary combines a number of journeys we’ve taken through the years. You’ll be visiting La Fortuna (together with Arenal Volcano Nationwide Park), Monteverde, Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park, Corcovado Nationwide Park, and San José. Sure, y’all: that’s THREE of Costa Rica’s gorgeous nationwide parks in ONE epic itinerary.
• This Costa Rica itinerary focuses on the Pacific facet of the nation – there are not any Caribbean-side locations. That stated, you can be visiting two phenomenal snorkeling/swimming locations with heat, clear blue water!
• You do NOT must hire a automotive. Buses and van shuttles join all around the nation for a low worth, though they’ve very particular schedules or run occasionally. Many of the shuttles on this itinerary are bookable on-line upfront by way of Bookaway or different on-line tour operators, and lots of will embody direct lodge pickup and drop-off. In contrast to many locations, the worth to e-book on-line upfront would be the similar as the worth you’d pay in individual to e-book final minute, so we strongly suggest reserving your entire transit upfront! We’ve included particulars about the best way to get to every cease all through the itinerary.
• It’s useful to talk Spanish, however English talking is frequent. You received’t have a lot issue speaking within the places on this itinerary – the tourism business is powerful and most tour guides, lodge workers, and bus drivers will converse some English. That stated, studying some Spanish is at all times useful – to not point out well mannered!

For extra issues to know, head to our information to things nobody tells you about Costa Rica. We even have a Costa Rica packing list that can assist you pack to your journey!

Two Weeks in Costa Rica

Visiting Costa Rica makes you need to get a “pura vida” tattoo and a lifetime provide of salsa lizano – it’s a troublesome place to depart.

Which is why I’ve been again 4 occasions! The primary time I visited Costa Rica with my household, I used to be simply 8 years outdated and in absolute awe. I’d by no means imagined a spot like this might actually exist – it was a literal paradise, full of journey and toucans and monkeys and orchids. I bear in mind galloping on horseback alongside the seashore, kayaking by way of rapids on a river, chewing sticks of recent sugarcane, befriending a child squirrel monkey, and plucking a candy starfruit from a tree. Our household journey was full of wildlife and journey, which cemented a lot of what would later turn out to be my most popular journey type. 

And on the 4 subsequent journeys to Costa Rica I’ve taken through the years, my awe has by no means gone away: Costa Rica is really some of the lovely locations on earth. 

As an grownup, I do know that Costa Rica’s pure magnificence is fastidiously maintained, due to complete and conscientious sustainability insurance policies: Costa Rica is likely one of the world leaders in ethical and sustainable tourism. So whereas it isn’t as low-cost of a vacation spot to go to as most of its Central American neighbors, for me, that further value is value it as a result of I do know that my presence as a vacationer shouldn’t be negatively impacting native communities or wildlife!

With out additional ado, let’s bounce into the Costa Rica 2 week itinerary.

Day 1: San José to La Fortuna

I’m gonna be trustworthy right here: San José is the least thrilling a part of this Costa Rica itinerary. After we go to Costa Rica, we just about bounce as quickly as we hit the tarmac – though to be truthful, we are likely to want smaller cities and extra rustic locations to massive cities as a rule. 

If you happen to like massive cities greater than we do, we suggest exploring San Jose on the finish of your journey, whenever you’ll have a while to kill earlier than your flight.

So, the primary day of your itinerary is definitely a journey day: you’ll arrive in San Jose after which instantly hop on a bus or shuttle and head to La Fortuna!

Verify into Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort, positioned only a few miles exterior of the city heart. With a number of hot-spring-fed swimming pools and a shocking mirador searching to Arenal Volcano, this surprisingly budget-friendly resort is an absolute dream and the right place to base your self for the subsequent 2 days of journey in La Fortuna.

Arrival

• How you can Get to San Jose: There are two airports you may fly into: Liberia and San Jose. We suggest San Jose. If you happen to can, attempt to arrive within the morning: most flights from the West Coast are red-eyes, which means you’ll be sleeping on the aircraft (our lengthy haul flights packing listing will assist with that). The sooner you arrive, the sooner you will get to La Fortuna, and also you would possibly be capable to squeeze in a day/night exercise in your first day!
• The place to Keep in San Jose: Significantly, don’t spend the evening in San Jose. Adventures in La Fortuna are ready for you! But when your flight arrives late and it is advisable spend the evening in San Jose earlier than flying out, we suggest reserving one in all these budget-friendly apartments in downtown San Jose.

Departure

• How you can Get to La Fortuna: A bus or shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna takes about 3 hours. There are many choices accessible on Bookaway – choose a time that works along with your arriving flight.
• The place to Keep in La Fortuna: Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort has a number of on-site sizzling spring-fed swimming pools and a shocking view of Arenal Volcano.

Day 2 & 3: La Fortuna

Pure sizzling springs, forest canopies full of wildlife, energetic volcanoes, and gushing rivers and waterfalls: welcome to La Fortuna, aka Arenal. Surrounded by a lush jungle, and positioned on the base of two volcanoes – Arenal Volcano, which continues to be energetic, and Chato Volcano, which is dormant – this little city is the gateway to the Arenal Volcano Nationwide Park and is called Costa Rica’s finest journey city! 

An journey city is actually a spot the place you are able to do a bunch of journey journey actions, like white water rafting, ziplining and cover excursions, canyoning, horseback driving, and extra – and La Fortuna (and Arenal, which is what number of guests seek advice from the overall space) has all of it. Along with exploring the jungles and canopies, due to the thermal exercise coming from the volcano, the realm can be filled with thermal sizzling springs – and one sizzling spring river.

If you happen to got here to Costa Rica searching for journey and wildlife (and, in fact, you probably did, proper?), you’ll be off to an incredible begin right here.

We suggest spending 2 full days in La Fortuna. The way in which we usually construction our days in journey cities is with one adrenaline-rush, high-intensity exercise and one much less exhausting, extra stress-free exercise every day – say, canopying within the morning and a calming river safari within the afternoon. So, it’s best to be capable to choose 2-4 actions to fill your days in La Fortuna. 

Under are the most effective issues to do in La Fortuna:

You wouldn’t suppose mountain climbing is a high-octane journey exercise, would you? Properly, we disagree: this 6-hour tour additionally consists of 3 of La Fortuna’s finest points of interest in a single actually epic day. You’ll hike by way of the jungle, scramble up lava rocks on a volcano, cross hanging bridges throughout forest canopies, go swimming on the gorgeous La Fortuna waterfall, and finish your day with a cocktail in a pure sizzling spring (which is by the way the one factor you’ll really feel like doing after a full day filled with journey). 

The tour consists of transportation, lunch, a bilingual information who will each be sure that you reside and likewise assist level out wildlife within the jungle, and the aforementioned cocktail-in-the-hot-springs scenario. If you happen to’re up for the problem, that is THE tour to do throughout your journey! Notice that it’ll take up one full day of your keep.

Canyoning combines a bunch of various actions into one thrilling journey. Primarily, it entails going right into a canyon after which getting again out of it, by way of a mix of mountain climbing, rappelling, cliff diving, mountaineering, and just about anything you may consider – it’s thrilling, and Jeremy completely loves it. 

He recommends this half day tour, on which you’ll journey a 4×4 into the forest, rappel down waterfalls, rock climb up a hidden rain forest canyon, and zip line throughout the canyon! Plus, the tour consists of lunch and transportation. 

This Balsa River white water rafting tour covers class II and III rapids – straightforward to intermediate for those who get pleasure from white water rafting, superior for those who’re afraid of something greater than completely nonetheless water, like me.

Your guides will choose you up out of your  lodging and drive about 45 minutes exterior of city to a non-public put-in of the Balsa River, adjoining to non-public restrooms and altering rooms.

You’ll study the fundamentals of white water rafting, gear up, and hop in for six miles of rolling rapids! Throughout lulls, your information will level out wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and toucans within the lush greenery alongside the river.

After your tour, you’ll eat a refreshing lunch subsequent to an exquisite waterfall and swimming gap – be at liberty to hop in and luxuriate in!

One factor to notice: I’m fairly positive I bought an ear an infection from this river, so I’d extremely suggest sporting ear plugs – as long as you’re nonetheless capable of hear the information’s directions, in fact.

River safaris are good scaredy cats like me who simply need to be on a river with out all the terrifying bits. You’ll float down the river for about 2 hours with a wildlife information, who will assist spot toucans, sloths, caymans, kingfishers, and extra. 

Your information will navigate the river utilizing poles or paddles, so you may sit again and loosen up and take heed to the sounds of calling birds and buzzing bugs jungle round you and the water gliding previous you. 

And, er, howler monkeys: we glided proper beneath a pack of them! They sound like Godzilla and are legitimately nerve-wracking – they received’t like, harm you, however they may completely fling poo at you and make actually loud noises, which is sufficient for my anxiousness to behave up.  This half day tour consists of snacks and occasional at a neighborhood farm!

There are tons of sizzling springs to soak in round La Fortuna, starting from rustic to luxurious. A lot of them are positioned at motels or resorts, so you may really e-book lodging that comes with sizzling spring entry – or simply purchase a day cross. 

Tabacón River Hot Springs is fabulous however dear, round $100 for a day cross that features lunch or dinner – a splurge, however a worthy splurge. However there’s additionally a free public entrance to the Tabacón River, positioned throughout from Tabacon Resort: search for a small car parking zone filled with locals strolling all the way down to the river! 

Baldi Hot Springs is sort of a sizzling spring waterpark and appears superior, however trying on the views we had been a bit postpone … it appears a bit … er, sketch? Not tremendous clear? Not completely secure? Perhaps we had been simply being too cautious? 

Anyway, this information to hot springs in La Fortuna will assist you determine the place to go!

There are a LOT extra issues to do in La Fortuna, however we’ve reduce out a number of actions that you just’ll be doing afterward within the itinerary, together with Hanging Bridges and ziplining, which you’ll be doing in a cloud forest in Monteverde; and horseback driving, which you’ll be doing by way of the jungle and on the seashore in Corcovado. 

We did say this was the final word Costa Rica two week itinerary, didn’t we??

After an action-packed two days, you’ll head up into the clouds – er, cloud forest, that’s – to Monteverde!

Day 4: La Fortuna to Monteverde

Immediately is a journey day: you’ll be departing La Fortuna and heading up into the mountains to close by Monteverde. However regardless that these locations seem shut on a map, there’s a large volcano, an enormous lake, and a Nationwide Park separating them!

 An Interbus direct shuttle takes about 4 hours and departs solely as soon as per day, arriving in Monteverde at midday. The shuttle will choose you up and drop you off at your lodging.

However there’s one other transit choice which entails taking a ship throughout Lake Arenal relatively than driving round it. It cuts a couple of half hour off your complete transit time, plus you get a pleasant stress-free ferry boat journey to interrupt up the lengthy automotive journey! 

The fee is comparable for both choice, so it actually simply comes down to non-public choice. You’ll e-book your complete van-boat-van/taxi-boat-taxi transport service with a single firm. This taxi-boat-taxi transit service picks you up and drops you off at your lodging.

Journey Tip: No matter which choice you select, there are some curvy roads on this route, and the final half of the journey is on bumpy roads winding up into the mountains. We suggest taking a non-drowsy Dramamine to assist keep away from nausea!

When you arrive, verify into Camino Verde B&B. The small, budget-friendly lodge provides lovely views from its outside deck: when the morning and night fog clears, you may see all the way in which to the Pacific Coast, the ocean and islands on one facet, and Monteverde city on the opposite! The b&b is positioned a brief stroll into city (down a brief hill and up a brief hill). 

One factor we liked about this lodge was the incredible service: everybody was tremendous pleasant and accommodating, and once we checked in, the entrance desk clerk sat us down and booked us all the excursions we needed to take action our itinerary was all organized for us.

Plus, a scrumptious and filling breakfast is included every day with a number of choices like gallo pinto, scrumptious pancakes, and fruit. We’d positively keep right here once more!

• How you can Get to Monteverde: There are two choices: an Interbus direct shuttle will take about 4 hours to drive round Lake Arenal, and a taxi-boat-taxi transit service will take about 3.5 hours with a ferry journey throughout the lake. 
• The place to Keep in Monteverde: We suggest Camino Verde B&B, positioned a really brief stroll from city. The small, budget-friendly lodge provides lovely views from its outside deck and a scrumptious breakfast is included along with your keep.

Day 5 & 6: Monteverde

Welcome to the mountains of Costa Rica! Monteverde is a high-elevation city positioned straight on the Continental Divide amongst a dense cloud forest. The climate is far cooler than the remainder of the nation – you’ll positively need to pack some hotter layers and a rain jacket for this portion of the journey.

However taking a break from the heat of the low-elevation tropics is properly value it to discover a very totally different ecosystem in Monteverde. Throughout the extremely biodiverse cloud forests orchids, ferns, and bromeliads climb up towering avocado and strangler fig bushes as monkeys, sloths, hummingbirds, Quetzal birds and butterflies flit among the many treetops. 

Plus, due to the dense forest cover, Monteverde is dwelling to a few of the longest zip strains and hanging bridges within the nation! 

I’m going to out myself as a large Lord of the Rings nerd right here, however the easiest way I can describe the cloud forests of Monteverde is that it is sort of a real-life Lothlorien: image huge hole bushes hiding pure ladders, boughs laden with flowers and vegetation, and hanging bridges criss-crossing by way of a misty cover … it’s otherworldly, y’all. And if that doesn’t make you need to go, you positively want to look at LotR once more!

One of the best issues to do in Monteverde – very like the remainder of Costa Rica – contain wildlife and outside journey. Right here’s what we suggest throughout your two days in Monteverde:

I’ll be trustworthy: orchids had by no means me earlier than this journey. However the Monteverde Orchid Backyard modified my thoughts. The small backyard is packed with a really mind-blowing number of orchids that I didn’t notice existed. 

We looked for teeny tiny orchids with magnifying glasses – together with the smallest orchid on this planet, which is concerning the dimension of a freckle. We discovered orchids formed like hearts and orchids that appear like alien squids. Do you know that vanilla is an orchid?! I didn’t. Orchids are dope, y’all! 

I like to recommend making this a calming afternoon cease in your first half-day in Monteverde, after you arrive and verify into your lodging. Positioned a really brief stroll away is the most effective Tico (conventional Costa Rican) restaurant on the town, Sabor Tico – head right here for lunch or dinner!

Costa Rica invented ziplining, and whereas you are able to do it nearly anyplace within the nation, it’s actually particular contained in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. From a shocking one-mile lengthy superman swing over the tree cover – the longest and highest zipline route in all of Latin America – to a spine-tingling Tarzan swing, that is positively not your fundamental zipline course. 

The route is likely one of the longest in Costa Rica and winds by way of the tree cover throughout hanging bridges. (Notice that there’s a 250lb weight restrict on the Tarzan swing. Which *ahem* means Jeremy skipped it – however nonetheless had a good time.) 

Notice that there are two important locations to go ziplining in Monteverde, Aventura Park and Selvatura Park – we suggest Aventura.

Confession: we’re obsessed with sloths, however we often solely get to see their little fuzzy butts hanging out of bushes by way of binoculars. On the Sloth Sanctuary, you may see them up shut! 

Importantly, breeding sloths is against the law in Costa Rica, and also you completely can not contact or work together with the sloths – so, splendidly, that is an moral animal expertise. 

The Sloth Sanctuary at Selvatura Park is just one of two working in Costa Rica, and takes care of sloths that had been rescued as infants and can’t be launched again into the wild due to their dependence on people. (That is totally different from a rescue heart, which takes in injured sloths and nurses them again to well being earlier than releasing them again into the wild.) 

We extremely suggest this expertise for sloth lovers like us!

Along with the sloth sanctuary (and adjoining butterfly garden), the park additionally options hanging bridges and ziplines by way of the Monteverde Cloud Forest tree cover. 

We extremely suggest taking a self-guided stroll by way of the cover. You’ll be traversing a very simple to comply with stone path. The route has a couple of small hills, however shouldn’t be difficult. Take it sluggish for those who’re a slower hiker (like us) – it ought to take round 1.5-2 hours for those who’re not in a rush. Apparently some individuals do it in 1 hour, although I don’t understand how.  

Alongside the way in which, you’ll cross hanging bridges of various lengths spanning the treetops. For a non-adventure lover like me, the hanging bridges had been scary at first. Attempt to stroll slowly and within the very center to keep away from swinging the bridge, and maintain onto the edges. I additionally waited to begin every bridge till the ppl forward of me had been completed. However by the previous couple of bridges I used to be used to it and it wasn’t so scary anymore!

Carry a pair of binoculars and hold a watch out for monkeys taking part in within the bushes! In our case, we didn’t even want our binoculars: on the longest bridge, a gaggle of howler monkeys popped up into the cover throughout us, munching on leaves like 2 toes away from us within the bridge, completely unbothered. So freaking cool!! We may have stayed there watching them eternally. 

A ticket to Selvatura Park consists of transportation from native motels – your lodging ought to be capable to prepare it for you, or you may e-book straight on-line on the Selvatura Website. 

• Journey Tip: We made the error of heading to Selvatura on the afternoon shuttle at 2pm. However the final bus again into city is at 4:30pm. So round 4pm we had been nonetheless on hanging bridge #5 of 8 having a second with some monkeys within the treetops once we realized we had been operating late. We RAN and made the bus, however we didn’t get to completely respect half of it! Give your self ample time particularly in case you are a sluggish hiker like we’re, and go away earlier within the day.

• Discover a Cloud Forest on foot

It’s one factor to expertise a cloud forest from a dangling bridge or zipline within the treetops, however it’s fairly one other to stroll by way of it on the very base of the forest. To totally respect the cloud forests, we suggest taking the time to do each.

There are a number of cloud forests and reserves you may go to in Monteverde, and it’s arduous to choose only one to go to – however time is proscribed. There’s the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (which you’ll be ziplining by way of at Aventura Park), the 2 hottest choices.

You may even do a guided night hike in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest – evening is the time when wildlife is most energetic, so that is a tremendous alternative to see a very totally different facet of the forest!

After which there’s the Curicancha Reserve, a a lot smaller attraction that enables fewer individuals to go to every day. We are likely to keep away from crowds and other people – they scare off the wildlife! But in addition sure we’re form of misanthropic like that – so we selected to go to Curicancha. We booked a guided tour by way of our lodge with Monteverde Experts, and our naturalist information made the forest come alive as he defined the natural world, the historical past, and identified wildlife.

One factor we liked concerning the Curicancha Reserve is how accessible it’s: the strolling paths are good and vast, though rocky (they’re at present working to enhance oath accessibility for wheelchairs.) There are loos and benches all through, and you may even hire 4x4s so that you don’t should stroll. The strolling itself goes slowly as you’re incessantly stopping to have a look at wildlife, and there are a couple of small hills, however the route may be very doable at a delicate tempo even for non-hikers. Simply make sure you gown for rain and dust!

• Take pleasure in native meals & espresso

We’ve got a couple of options for the place to eat and drink in Monteverde:

• Tree House Restaurant & Cafe: This restaurant constructed into a large ficus tree is freaking attractive. Take into account that you don’t go right here for the meals, you go for the ambiance. However nothing is kind of like eating in a tree surrounded by art work whereas birds name and play within the branches overhead. Y’all: it’s very Lothlorien! We extremely suggest making this a cease throughout your journey.
• Cafe Monteverde is a incredible specialty espresso store on the town serving Costa Rican brews in a wide range of preparation strategies. You can too pattern a number of totally different roasts and purchase a bag to deliver dwelling with you! This space is a espresso area, and for those who like, you may even e-book a coffee farm tour by way of the store.
• Sabor Tico: Positioned up on a hill near the Orchid Backyard, this was the most effective Costa Rican meal we ate throughout our keep in Monteverde. The parts are big, the view is gorgeous, and the meals is scrumptious. It’s a little bit of a schlep on foot, although – 10 minutes or so, however with a few brief hills – so we suggest consuming right here whenever you go to the Orchid Backyard so that you solely should make the journey as soon as.

Day 7: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

Immediately you’ll be leaving very first thing within the morning to move about 4 hours from Monteverde to your subsequent vacation spot, Manuel Antonio, dwelling of Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park.

You’ve two choices. The best means is to book an Interbus shuttle leaving at 8am. The shuttle will choose you up and drop you off proper at your lodging.

The cheaper however barely extra difficult choice is to take 2 buses. First you’ll board an early morning bus from the bus station in Santa Elena to Punta Arenas. From there, you’ll take a bus to Quepos, the biggest city adjoining to Manuel Antonio. From there you’ll must hail a taxi to get you to your lodging (there might be loads close by, and Quepos is barely about quarter-hour from Manuel Antonio). You will discover the bus schedules and costs on Rome2Rio.

For what it’s value, we’ve discovered that the general public buses in Costa Rica are each snug and dependable, and the bus stations are straightforward to navigate with clear signage and plenty of useful attendants, so don’t fear – even for those who aren’t conversant in taking public transit in Costa Rica, you’ll be simply advantageous!

While you arrive in Quepos, verify into your lodging. We’ve stayed on the cheap however lovely Hostel Plinio twice now – every time in a non-public ensuite room, although their dorms are additionally incredible! The hostel is located up a hill with ocean views from a lot of the rooms, an on-site restaurant and pool, and an open-air lounge the place breakfast is served. It’s a incredible hostel! 

That stated, it’s a bit removed from the principle motive you’re within the space, Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park. Public buses heading to the park run each quarter-hour proper previous the hostel till 7:30 PM, so it’s straightforward to hop on one and take a reasonably brief, cheap journey to the park.

If you happen to’d want to be nearer to the park and the seashore and don’t thoughts paying extra, Hotel Manuel Antonio is a superb choose, strolling distance to the doorway of the Nationwide Park and throughout the road from the seashore!

• How you can Get to Manuel Antonio: You may book an Interbus shuttle with lodge choose up and drop-off, or take a public bus. First you’ll board an early morning bus from the bus station in Santa Elena to Punta Arenas. From there, you’ll take a bus to Quepos, then take a taxi to your lodging. You will discover the bus schedules and costs on Rome2Rio. 
• The place to Keep in Quepos: We love Hostel Plinio, an exquisite, cheap hostel a brief bus journey from the Nationwide Park. In its place, Hotel Manuel Antonio is strolling distance to the doorway of the Nationwide Park and throughout the road from the seashore.

Day 8 & 9, Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s smallest, however some of the well-liked – and for good motive. With lovely seashores, well-maintained trails operating by way of the forest and mangroves, and plentiful wildlife, the park is likely one of the finest locations on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. You’re extremely more likely to see Capuchin, Howler, and Squirrel Monkeys, plus sloths, iguanas, agoutis, and tons of birds!

You’ll arrive in Manuel Antonio with a lot of the day left to loosen up or hit the seashore. One of the best seashores on this space, in fact, are inside the Nationwide Park – however that’s a complete day exercise.  Two, in truth!  

Right here’s what you’ll be doing in Manuel Antonio:

On the half day of your arrival, head to Playa Espadilla Norte, the seashore exterior of the park within the city of Manuel Antonio. You’ll discover distributors on the seashore providing chair and umbrella leases, surf classes, and even meals supply. The water is superbly heat and swimmable, and also you’ll see surfers having fun with the waves, too. Throughout from the seashore, there are many small outlets to browse for trinkets and snacks. Chill out and luxuriate in!

Alternatively, you may head to the rather more secluded (and subsequently a lot emptier) Playa Biesanz. Search for a jungle path that begins by the facet of the street near Resort Parador. You’ll head by way of a small opening in a fence and down a steep hill with unfastened pebbles for about 10 minutes. When you arrive, the seashore might be all yours – properly, yours and a buzzing jungle full of monkeys, sloths, lizards, and birds, in fact.

To entry the park entrance, you’ll must stroll from the street up a rocky filth path and over a bridge. It can really feel kind of such as you’re going the flawed means however there are indicators directing you to the general public park entrance!

On the entrance, you’ll pay the doorway payment (check the site for the present price) and have the choice of reserving a guided tour. It prices 10,000 colones per individual, and truthfully, for those who actually need to spot animals, that is your finest likelihood! It’s very arduous to identify critters and not using a information, and the park guides have fixed experiences about the place all of the wildlife is hanging out all through the day. That stated, in case your aim is simply to go mountain climbing and swimming, then the tour isn’t value it.

Apart from searching for wildlife, there are two important actions in Manuel Antonio: mountain climbing and swimming on the seashore!

Attending to the seashore in Manuel Antonio takes about half-hour down a large, principally flat path – the principle path within the park. Sure sections of the path additionally dovetail to boardwalks by way of the mangroves, which personally I discover to be much less crowded and extra scenic. (The boardwalks are a part of the El Perezoso path, and run parallel to the principle path.)

Simply up the hill from the seashore, you’ll a restaurant, altering rooms, loos, and lockers to retailer your stuff. These are the one services, so don’t head all the way in which down the hill to the seashore till you’re actually prepared!

The seashore is gorgeous, scenic, and heat. That stated, do watch out for excessive tides and swells.

The opposite important exercise in Manuel Antonio is mountain climbing. The park is filled with trails, most of that are brief (although not essentially straightforward). Right here’s a fast information:

• La Catarata Path: Positioned near the park entrance, this medium depth .6 mile lengthy path results in a small waterfall (therefore the identify: catarata means waterfall in Spanish). Maintain a watch out for frogs alongside the way in which!
• El Perezoso Path: These are the boardwalks that run parallel to the park’s important path. Because the identify suggests, hold a watch out overhead for sloths!
• Punta Catedral Path: This mile-long path results in some of the iconic elements and scenic of the park, a excessive peak that divides the seashore exterior the city and the park’s seashore. Though the hike is comparatively brief, it’s steep – deliver loads of water and be ready to climb! You’ll discover the trailhead on the finish of the seashore
• Playa Gemelas Path: This brief, straightforward path from the principle seashore will take you to a second seashore, Playa Gemelas. It additionally connects to the opposite trails and to the western portion of the park. Throughout low tide, you may see a view of Punta Catedral on this path.
• Mirador Path: This mile-long path results in a scenic lookout of Punta Serrucho, a rocky landmark. Heads up, this path is difficult!
• Congo Path: This brief path connects Playa Gemelas and the Mirador Path and it may be used as a substitute return route.

One, yet one more factor: there are gonna be monkeys, and so they’re gonna need your stuff. I’d discourage you from bringing in any snacks or meals – the primary time we visited Manuel Antonio, we watched a monkey snatch a backpack off of somebody’s shoulder, run up a tree with it, and proceed to dig out all of her snacks! 

The park has since enforced stricter laws about meals. There’s a small restaurant close to the seashore that sells sandwiches, drinks, ice cream, pastries, and souvenirs – and whether or not you deliver your individual meals or not, that is the one place that’s secure so that you can eat it. It’s best to NEVER, EVER feed a wild animal – even inadvertently!

When it comes to what to deliver with you, you’ll need a day bag filled with mountain climbing sneakers/sandals, a swimsuit, a towel, sunscreen, a rain jacket and travel umbrella, and bug repellant. Put on garments which might be snug to hike in and dry shortly – we’ve bought particular options in our Costa Rica Packing List.

Apart from the nationwide park, there are a number of different issues to do in Manuel Antonio:

Costa Rica’s wildlife residents are most energetic at evening, and the jungle is a completely totally different place after the solar goes down! This tour will lead you thru a close-by rainforest the place the extinct harlequin frog reappeared and was rediscovered, an thrilling scientific discovery.

Throughout your journey you might even see bats, Jesus Christ lizards, arachnids, owls, tons and plenty of frogs, snakes and all kinds of fascinating bugs. You’ll be supplied with the whole lot it is advisable navigate safely and see wildlife with out disturbing them.

The evening stroll consists of lodge pickup and drop-off in addition to a meal, and takes about 2-2.5-hours. 

If you happen to’re up for locating the critters that fill the rainforest whenever you’re not trying, make sure you put on close-toed sneakers (in order to not get bitten by something). If the thought of bugs and spiders offers you the heebie-jeebies, perhaps simply skip it!

Kids Saving The Rainforest runs the one authorized rescue heart that rehabilitates wounded, sick and deserted rainforest animals on the Pacific Coast. The non-profit, positioned about quarter-hour exterior of Quepos, protects and rehabilitates wildlife, conducts scientific analysis, and supplies outreach and training about conservation and moral tourism. 

The middle rescues greater than 100 animals annually, focusing totally on rehabilitating and releasing wild animals again into their habitats every time attainable.

For animals that can not be launched again into the wild, the middle has an onsite wildlife sanctuary which guests can tour. You’ll see 5 varieties of monkeys, together with Spider Monkeys, White Confronted Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, Tamarins, & Marmoset; Coatis; Two-toed sloths; Nocturnal Kinkajous (if they’re awake); and Parrots!

Notice that you just’ll must e-mail to make a reservation upfront to your tour – more information here.

Head out on the ocean for two.5 hour kayaking and snorkeling journey! On and off your kayak, you’ll see marine birds and their nesting grounds, parrot fish, starfish, angelfish and presumably a couple of sea turtles.  The tour will offer you snorkeling gear, so simply deliver a towel. 

I extremely suggest sporting swim leggings and a rash guard so that you don’t want to fret about sunscreen besides in your palms, face, and toes – plus, it’s the right outfit for leaping and and out of the water!

The tour consists of pickup and drop off out of your lodge and a scrumptious meal!

Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park encompasses some mangroves, however simply 10 minutes away is Damas Island, an unlimited protected mangrove forest with unbelievable biodiversity. Throughout your stress-free journey in a 12-person lined boat, you’ll wind by way of lush inexperienced vegetation as you information helps spot white-faced monkeys, anteaters, boa constrictors, iguanas, birds, and colourful mangrove crabs!

The tour consists of pickup and drop-off and a meal. I extremely suggest placing on loads of bug repellent for this tour, and bringing your individual pair of binoculars, since you by no means know when a critter would possibly disappear earlier than you’ve had an opportunity to look by way of your information’s!

Day 10: Manuel Antonio to Drake Bay

Manuel Antonio and its neighboring city, Quepos, is simply up the Pacific coast out of your subsequent vacation spot, however you may’t drive all the way in which there. Your subsequent vacation spot is, er, a bit distant. Like, on a tiny bay, on a tiny peninsula, proper subsequent to an enormous nationwide park which you can solely entry by boat. Yup: it’s superior!

From Quepos, you’ll take a shuttle to the boat dock in Sierpe. On the Sierpe boat dock, you’ll board a ferry that can take you down a river to Drake Bay and drop you off on to the dock of your subsequent lodging.

Truthfully, the schlep is all a part of the journey of attending to the vacation spot: the boat journey takes about an hour and travels by way of lovely mangroves alongside the Sierpe River, earlier than crossing over the mouth of the river connecting to the Pacific Ocean after which heading to a different, a lot smaller, river. The primary time I visited, the ferry boat was tiny – actually like, a tiny little boat with room sufficient for a cooler filled with Fanta, the boat captain, our baggage, and my household of 4. However extra vacationers go to the realm now, and at present the ferry is a big, snug boat with ample seating, loads of area for baggage, and a canopy to guard you from the solar.

Although it might sound a bit difficult, don’t fear – you don’t want to rearrange any of this by yourself: your lodging can set all of it up and e-book it for you! 

For the ultimate cease in your journey, you’ll be staying on the Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge, a sustainable eco-lodge on the mouth of the River Agujitas simply exterior Corcovado Nationwide Park. 

The entire rooms and the open-air lodge function sweeping views of Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula. The lodge is a 1 minute stroll away from a small seashore, and also you’ll be capable to e-book all the excursions and actions you need straight from the lodge whenever you arrive.

Notice that this cease on the itinerary is unquestionably the costliest, however truthfully? It’s an extremely worthy splurge. The lodge is like an all-inclusive resort, besides rustic and eco-friendly and sustainable. Your entire meals are included in the price of your room – breakfast, lunch, appetizers, and dinner – and have recent, regionally sourced substances, like no matter recent fish was caught by native fisherman that morning and natural greens picked from the lodge’s close by farm. Meals are served within the gorgeous, open-air nice room and are truthfully one of many highlights of every day.

There’s additionally no must e-book any excursions upfront: your lodging will assist you plan your itinerary and e-book the whole lot for you when you arrive.

That stated, there are cheaper locations to remain in Drake Bay (take a look here), and all the lodging within the space will provide roughly the identical tour choices. Simply don’t look forward to finding any massive motels close by: the whole lot right here is small, rustic, and deep within the rainforest. If you happen to e-book an lodging that doesn’t provide assist prepare transportation, you may contact Transportes Alvarez to rearrange a shuttle.

• How you can Get to Drake Bay: From Quepos, you’ll take a shuttle to Sierpe. Then, you’ll board a ferry that can take you down a river to Drake Bay and drop you off on to the dock of the lodging at your subsequent cease. It’s best to be capable to e-book the whole lot by way of your lodging, but when not, contact Transportes Alvarez to rearrange your shuttle.
• The place to Keep in Drake Bay: Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge is an unbelievable, sustainable eco-lodge within the rainforest overlooking the ocean – mainly, paradise! It’s a splurge, however belief us once we say that it’s a spotlight of this itinerary and properly value it. Your meals are all included.

Day 11 & 12, Drake Bay/Corcovado

It could be arduous to consider after the adventures you’ve been having for the final two weeks, however we really saved the most effective for final. We needed to: if we put this vacation spot earlier within the itinerary, all over the place else would have felt like a downer. 

Corcovado Nationwide Park – dwelling to the biggest rainforest in Central America – and the tiny city of Drake Bay are, palms down, our favourite locations to go to in Costa Rica. The crystalline waters of the ocean are full of colourful coral reefs and marine life, bordered by jungle stretching all the way in which to the seashore. And subsequent to this gorgeous and distant Nationwide Park are a tiny handful of eco-lodges and resorts and the teeny tiny little city of Agujitas. It’s not the best place to get to, however it’s properly definitely worth the journey!

Personally, that is the place the place I first fell in love in Costa Rica (and with journey on the whole) on two unbelievable household holidays, a long time in the past. My dad and mom booked this superior eco-lodge within the jungle, strolling distance from the seashore. We rode horses on the sands of Corcovado Nationwide Park, snorkeled in good heat, clear blue water, and woke as much as monkeys, scarlet macaws and toucans and laughing hawks calling and taking part in exterior the home windows of our bungalow every day. Every evening we watched the solar set from the open air lodge over dinner, and drifted off to sleep lulled by the scent of ylang ylang bushes and the sound of buzzing cicadas. It was heaven.

It was such an exquisite and memorable journey for our household that my sister returned on her honeymoon … and at last, after years of telling Jeremy about this unbelievable place, we determined to make it our first journey after COVID. Why did we wait so lengthy? As a result of it’s form of a splurge, and we’re like… hostel individuals, not resort individuals. However after 2 years of being caught at dwelling, we had been able to ball. I used to be terrified that I’d constructed it up in my head, that we’d arrive and it wouldn’t be something like I remembered it.

However. Y’all. It was precisely as magical as I remembered it being! This unbelievable little place, on the foot of a river opening as much as the ocean – accessible solely by boat – is a dream. Actually: it’s the place I think about in my head once I’m attempting to go to sleep, listening to rain and jungle noises on a Spotify playlist I made for this actual objective. (Enjoyable truth: in 2020, my Spotify most performed listing was actually all simply rain/jungle noises. It was a tough yr, okay??!)

And to not make it bizarre, however let’s simply say that I lastly sat down to put in writing this publish 8.5 months after our journey… and a pair of weeks earlier than welcoming a tiny new member to our household. You do the mathematics. And sure, we absolutely intend to deliver our little one right here and level at numerous issues and inform them it’s the place they had been conceived. As a result of what’s the level of getting a baby if to not embarrass and presumably traumatize them??

Anyway. My private historical past with this place apart, you HAVE to go. I do know, it’s arduous to get to. I do know, it’s pricier than the remainder of the locations on this itinerary. However don’t skip it! Belief us – you’ll thank me later. (Otherwise you’ll come again right here and go away me a strongly worded remark telling me about your expertise, one or the opposite. However I actually suppose you’ll have a tremendous time!)

Right here’s what we suggest doing throughout your keep in Drake Bay. (Notice that a lot of the excursions might be shared with a number of native resorts/motels, and the whole lot might be booked on arrival at your lodging.)

• Snorkeling or Scuba Diving

The clear waters of Caño Island Organic Marine Reserve are an unbelievable place for each scuba diving and snorkeling. You’ll see wholesome coral reefs, colleges of vibrant tropical fish, turtles, reef sharks, and rays.

I’m a snorkeler and Jeremy is a licensed PADI scuba diver, so we break up up for this exercise – and we had been each deeply glad with our separate experiences!

Your lodging will present all of the gear you want and e-book and prepare your boat tour.

• Go on a wildlife hike in Corcovado Nationwide Park

Corcovado Nationwide Park is the crown jewel of this area, and a visit into the rainforest is a spotlight of any journey to the Osa Peninsula! Hikes start and finish at San Pedrillo, Corcovado Nationwide Park’s northernmost ranger station – however first, it’s a must to get there by boat. The journey is about 25 minutes, and also you’ll need to put on sandals and quick-drying pants: there might be a moist touchdown (and it’s a little bit little bit of a nail biter – however don’t fear, your boat captain does this actually on daily basis). 

Your naturalist information could have binoculars and can level out wildlife alongside the way in which. On our final hike in Corcovado we noticed white-faced, spider and howler monkeys, an lovely white-lipped peccary mother and child pair, scarlet macaws, and a coati.

The hike isn’t difficult by way of distance and is kind of flat, however it’s sizzling, humid, muddy and sweaty – deliver loads of water, put on breathable clothes, and slather on bug repellant prefer it’s your job. Halfway by way of your hike, you’ll go to a swimming lagoon on the base of a small waterfall to take a brief swim (so make sure you put on or deliver a swimsuit!)

• Journey Tip: Put on breathable, quick-drying garments and a swimsuit, and convey each sandals and durable mountain climbing sneakers with good grip. Trekking poles are useful on muddy days, although we did with out and had been advantageous. Plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug repellent are a should as properly. And pack a light-weight rain jacket and travel umbrella simply in case – it’s known as the rainforest for a motive!

One among my favourite actions in Costa Rica is horseback driving, due to their very small, closer-to-the-ground-than-usual Palomino horses, that are MUCH much less scary to journey than tall thoroughbreds (or Clydesdales, which we rode precisely one time – it felt like driving a T-Rex).

And it’s nice that the horses are small and mild, as a result of horseback driving on this space is unquestionably extra on the adventurous facet. 

You’ll journey your horse straight by way of a river, on winding paths by way of the rainforest, and throughout the seashore – and your horse will nearly actually break right into a trot or canter on the seashore. (For what it’s value, Palominos are the ONLY horse I’ve ever felt snug cantering on!)

The tour supplied by Aguila de Osa ends at a waterfall and a seashore the place you may swim and loosen up earlier than driving again!

• Kayaking on the Agujitas River

Borrow a kayak out of your lodging and take a self-guided kayak tour at excessive tide! You may head upriver deeper into the rainforest, or go away the river and head down the coast to discover sandy seashores.

Though it is a fairly relaxed exercise, don’t get too complacent: the river can get a little bit uneven in elements and is dwelling to very small, reportedly innocent crocodiles that nonetheless scared the dwelling daylights out of us – particularly once we hit a few tough patches of water. (It seems that Jeremy and I are BOTH scaredy cats with regards to tiny crocodiles.)

Additionally, I wouldn’t swim within the river – and take care to not get your ears moist, both. Each my dad and I contracted gnarly ear infections (a few a long time aside) as a direct results of our ears coming into contact with river water in Costa Rica. If you happen to’re susceptible to ear infections like we’re, you would possibly need to put on a pair of earplugs simply to be secure.

Truthfully, for those who’re able to not flipping your kayak, you’ll be advantageous… however perhaps don’t do that as your very first kayaking journey ever. Let’s name this an intermediate kayaking expertise.

• Take an evening wildlife tour

Do you know that Costa Rica’s wildlife residents are most energetic at evening? You won’t see a lot exercise throughout the day, however you’re just about assured to see critters at evening!

​​Our tour was led by a neighborhood scientist, the Bug Woman. And though we didn’t journey far (a lot of the tour is simply on paths across the resort) we noticed a couple of snoozing sloths, a number of tree frogs, sleeping birds, moths, opossums, owls, and a bunch of fascinating bugs and arachnids! 

Sure – I stated arachnids. On this tour, you’ll positively want to have the ability to respect that spiders are bros – or at the least that they’re lovely and various creatures! Essentially the most memorable arachnid buddies we noticed on our evening hike had been trapdoor spiders, which dwell in tiny little hobbit holes. Our information gently opened a superbly hidden spherical door, and a little bit spider arm got here out and SLAMMED it shut. I’m guessing he had in all probability learn the Hobbit and knew to not let a gaggle of strangers in, lest he find yourself on an extended journey with the destiny of the world resting on his tiny spider shoulders. What number of LotR references in a single weblog publish is simply too many? 

Anyway: for those who’re up for locating the critters that fill the rainforest whenever you’re not trying, make sure you put on close-toed sneakers (in order to not get bitten by something). And if this part gave you the heebie-jeebies, perhaps simply skip this one!

San Josecito is palms down essentially the most lovely seashore on the Osa Peninsula: image a sandy cove with splendidly swimmable water, ringed with palm bushes filled with scarlet macaws. Many excursions cease right here at one level, however you may also hike, horseback journey, or take a ship to get right here.

If you happen to select the two.5 hour hike, you’ll discover the trailhead on the hanging bridge throughout the Rio Agujitas close to the mouth of the river. This guide will assist you recognize what to anticipate. Gown appropriately and put on water/mountain climbing sandals, as a result of there’s a water crossing at one level – we extremely suggest a pair of Tevas for each women and men.

If you happen to’d like to go to San Josecito by horseback or boat, simply ask your lodging: they’ll know who to name and what to rearrange to get the whole lot arrange for you, and inform you what it’s going to value.

• Actually simply loosen up, have a look at the view and take heed to the rain

Staying in an exquisite eco-resort is a large a part of why the journey to this a part of Costa Rica is so value it, so take full benefit! 

All of the rooms on the  Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge have an out of doors patio with gorgeous ocean views. Some have rocking chairs, others have hammocks. 

We extremely suggest spending a day out on the patio, listening to the sounds of the tropical rainforest and simply stress-free. Bonus factors if you are able to do it throughout a heavy rain. Annnd I simply turned on my Spotify playlist once more…

There are additionally a couple of different actions you are able to do throughout your keep, together with zip lining, chicken watching, visiting the native city, and mountain climbing to the seashore. Ask your lodging for different choices for those who’re !

Day 13 & 14: Return to San Jose and Fly House

Leaving Drake Bay is a little more difficult than the way in which you arrived, since at this level you’ve traveled fairly a methods from San Jose! 

The best, quickest, and most enjoyable option to get again is by taking a teeny tiny little aircraft (positively an journey in and of itself) from both Drake Bay or Palmar Sur. (Notice that for those who fly out of Palmar Sur, you’ll must repeat the boat journey again from Drake Bay to Sierpe – the airport is about quarter-hour exterior of Sierpe.) 

You may e-book your flight by way of Sansa Airlines or Aerobell. If you happen to time issues excellent and your flight house is after 4PM or so, you may go away straight from San Jose when you arrive on the airport! (That additionally means you may have an additional day for those who’d like so as to add time someplace on this itinerary.)

That stated: flying can be the costliest choice.

A less expensive choice is to take a shuttle again to San Jose. You’ll first hop again on the boat to Sierpe, then you definitely’ll be taking the Costanera (Coast Highway) all the way in which again up the Pacific Coast earlier than turning inland to San Jose. The drive takes about 4.5 hours. If you happen to’re reserving this feature, ask your lodging for help or reserve a shuttle on-line on Bookaway.

The most affordable choice is to take a public bus. You’ll first must take the ferry again to Sierpe, then a taxi to the bus station, the place you’ll board a bus to Quepos. From there, you’ll board a bus again to San Jose. You should utilize Rome2Rio to determine the precise route. It’s positively extra difficult, however for those who can pull it off, you’ll save a bunch of money. 

Nevertheless, your important problem is timing: buses from Sierpe to Quepos go away at 7:30 AM, however the boat from Drake Bay to Sierpe leaves at 7:15 AM, so that you received’t make it – which means you’ll want to remain in a single day in Sierpe. And at that time, it’s in all probability value it to only e-book the dang shuttle. (We do that math each time we go to Costa Rica, and we at all times find yourself taking the shuttles!)

As a result of it takes fairly a while to get from Drake Bay to San Jose on the shuttle, we ended up needing to remain the evening in San Jose. If you happen to’re wanting to discover the town, e-book your self a later flight or take into account including an additional day – however we truthfully don’t suggest it.

We needed to spend as little time as attainable in San Jose, so we booked a cheap place near the airport and an early morning flight. Sadly, the place we booked had some kind of reserving concern and turned us away on the door. We ended up having to stroll a number of blocks on foot with all of our baggage to a different close by lodge to see if that they had room for us. And there was completely nothing round to do or see within the space, so we simply sat in our low-cost lodge for the remainder of the day feeling unhappy about our journey ending. It was not the easiest way to finish a visit!

Finally, it will have been higher for us to remain in an space with extra motels and extra issues to do close by, even when it meant waking up earlier to take a taxi to the airport within the morning (our least favourite factor ever – we’re serial oversleepers). 

Our freakish dangerous luck in all probability received’t occur to you (we’re journey catastrophe magnets, it’s scientific truth) however nonetheless, we suggest staying in a extra walkable a part of city so that you at the least get some exploration in in your final evening and may say a correct goodbye to Costa Rica! We suggest reserving one in all these budget-friendly apartments in downtown San Jose proper on Central avenue. It’s conveniently positioned inside strolling distance of a number of of the town’s finest museums, together with the Jade Museum, the Costa Rica Nationwide Museum, and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. In case you have time earlier than your flight, choose one to discover!

• How you can Get to San Jose: The best, quickest, and most enjoyable option to get again is by taking a teeny tiny little aircraft from both Drake Bay or Palmar Sur. You may e-book your flight by way of Sansa Airlines or Aerobell. If you happen to time issues excellent, you may go away straight from San Jose when you arrive on the airport! A less expensive choice is to take a 4.5 hour shuttle again to San Jose; you may reserve a shuttle on-line on Bookaway or ask your accomodation to assist make preparations.
• The place to Keep in San Jose: If it is advisable spend the evening in San Jose earlier than flying out, we suggest reserving one in all these budget-friendly apartments in downtown San Jose.

Necessities to Pack for Costa Rica

• Bug Repellant: We take a two-pronged method to avoiding bug bites: Insect Repellant Lotion and handled clothes. Earlier than your journey, spray all the garments you’ll be bringing with Permethrin Spray, a bug repellent which adheres solely to materials, leaves no odor or residue on garments, and doesn’t hurt human pores and skin. Throughout your journey, slather your entire unclothed pores and skin in lightweight Picaridin lotion. It’s extremely efficient, the protection of the lotion is MUCH higher than spray-on bug repellant (to not point out much less dangerous for the setting) and it doesn’t go away a gross oily residue in your pores and skin. Between these two repellants, we hardly ever get bitten!
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen: You might want to put on reef-safe sunscreen each time you go into the ocean. Reef-safe sunscreen is designed to biodegrade and never hurt marine life. Regular sunscreen bleaches coral and ensures humanity’s swift demise from local weather change. So please, for the love of society’s inevitable collapse, put on reef-safe sunscreen for those who’re going into the ocean! Notice that though reef-safe sunscreen is at all times mineral, not all mineral sunscreens are reef-safe. Sunscreen should use “non-nano zinc oxide” particles to be reef secure(more details here). That is my favorite reef-safe sunscreen, and I exploit this lightweight sunscreen on my face. Higher but, deliver a rash guard so that you want much less sunscreen total!
• Swim Leggings: This itinerary entails numerous hikes and horseback rides to the seashore, which implies it is advisable be sporting one thing that may dry shortly. Personally, my pores and skin chafes simply enthusiastic about sporting a moist swimsuit, so my go-to choose is swim leggings, that are mainly like leggings produced from swimsuit materials! They’re fast drying and very snug to put on whereas moist (sure, you may really hike in them even once they’re soaking moist). Plus, they supply wonderful solar safety, so that you don’t want to fret about sunscreen even whenever you’re butt-up on a snorkeling tour. For extra data, head to the total evaluate of my favourite pair of sustainable swim leggings!
• Binoculars: Each tour information in Costa Rica could have a pair of binoculars or a large telescope. However then it’s a must to share it between everybody else on the tour, and critters don’t like to face round ready for full viewers appreciation. So, stick some travel-friendly binoculars into your day-bag!
• Travel Towel: You’ll need to deliver a full-sized, quick-drying travel towel. Towels aren’t usually supplied on excursions, and also you’ll be going to plenty of seashores!
• Teva Sandals (his & hers): Not solely are these rugged sandals snug and rugged sufficient to stroll and hike for miles comfortably, however additionally they double as water shoes. They keep strapped tightly to your toes within the water and are good for journey sports activities like canyoning or rafting. Plus, they’re light-weight, sturdy, and legitimately cute!
• Rain Gear: From rainforests to cloud forests, you need to be ready for it to rain at any second! At all times hold an Extremely-Gentle Rain Jackets (His & Hers) and a teeny tiny light-weight Travel Umbrella in your day bag, simply in case.
• Day Bag: Jeremy and I every carry a day bag on journeys. This cute backpack is ideal for some snacks, a few jackets, a travel umbrella, cameras, telephones, and no matter we want for the day. It additionally doubles as our lockable carry-on valuables bag whereas on transit, which is essential for security (by no means let your passport, digital camera, or laptop computer out of your sight on journey days)! For extra energetic days, we pack up a Camelbak Hydration Pack that matches 70oz of water along with all our gear. It’s good for hikes or exploring on sizzling days whenever you’ll want to remain further hydrated!

We’ve bought a ton extra packing ideas and particular options in our Costa Rica packing list!

We’ve additionally created a FREE Printable Packing Record with the whole lot it is advisable plan your journey to Costa Rica. We’ll additionally ship you ideas that can assist you put together to your journey! Simply enroll under.

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Able to pack your luggage and take off for 2 weeks in Costa Rica? Do you may have any questions on our Costa Rica 2 week itinerary? Drop us a remark under!

Psst: Try a few of our different posts earlier than your journey: