Location: San José
Day 1 - 13 Mar 2022
Park Inn by Radisson San Jose, Costa Rica
Content: • Great Hotel for the first night in San José • The hotel offers a pick-up from the airport (30$) • We had dinner at the hotel restaurant which was nice because we didn‘t had to „leave the house“ 😉 and could go straight to bed after the long flight • The breakfast buffet (!) was great: fresh fruit, eggs, cake, bacon, toast, rice, marmelade, coffee, tea, juice Things we didn't pack but would have liked to have with us: • Binoculars • All world adapter with USB ports • Packing cubes
Location: San José
Day 2 - 14 Mar 2022
Mercado Central de San José
Content: • Perfect morning at mercado central • Best way to get in touch with locals • We had coffee and mango smoothies
Location: Barrio Corazón De Jesus
Day 2 - 14 Mar 2022
Adobe Rent a Car
Content: • Car pick-up was easy and fast • Very friendly people • We recommend to hire a 4WD
Location: San Carlos
Day 2 - 14 Mar 2022
Casa Luna Hotel & Spa
Content: • The hotel is just amazing ✨ • We had the the Junior Suite with a vulcano view and our very own balcony • We could spot a lot of tucanes, colibris and other birds • The pool area is very beautiful and the jacuzzi is very hot and relaxing • Really beautiful lush scenery around the hotel - they have a short but nice house trail • Nice breakfast and dinner options • Close to La Fortuna Waterfalls
Location: La Fortuna
Day 2 - 14 Mar 2022
El Chante Verde
Content: • Short walk from Casa Luna • Very yummy food, the falafel is very good • Beautiful interior
Location: La Fortuna
Day 3 - 15 Mar 2022
La Fortuna Waterfalls
Content: • Short drive from Casa Luna Hotel • It is really worth the money (18$ pP) • Swimming in the waterfalls was so refreshing and so much fun • We saw monkeys • You should come early to avoid the crowds and (get your instagrammable picture 😉)
Rain Forest
Content: • We had a nice coffee break at Rain Forest Café • It is close to the street but you have a very nice view of the vulcano
Arenal 1968
Content: • Very nice hike around the vulcano • Worth the money ( ~ 17 $ pp) • Takes about 2 hours • You get to see the vulcano, the lake and even lava channels • At the end of the trail is a Café where you can enjoy a cold drink
Soda la Hormiga
Content: • A must-visit in La Fortuna • Very authentic, cheap and yummy Casados (typical food in Costa Rica)
Frutas Y Verduras Hnos Lazo
Content: • Beautiful fruit shop in La Fortuna • You can get fresh smoothies for a little price if you want a healthy desert
Location: Monteverde
Day 4 - 16 Mar 2022
Calathea Lodge Monteverde
Content: • Very nice room and friendly people • Yummy breakfast • Nice Terrace with a beautiful view • Good location
Gusticos Monteverde
Content: • Very central Café in Santa Elena • Yummy mango smoothie
Ficus La Raiz
Content: • This is a very impressive Ficus Tree which is located on private property (500 colones pp)
Choco Café Restaurant and Coffee Shop
Content: • Nice late afternoon coffee break • It is located on the way to watch the sunsets
Mirador Valle Escondido Preserve
Content: • Very beautiful spot to watch the sunset • Nice atmosphere • You can even have a picknick on the grass • There are a few parking spots next to the street
Soda La Cocinita de Lety
Content: • Very authentic soda • Dont forget your jacket it gets cold in the evening 😉
Location: Monteverde
Day 5 - 17 Mar 2022
Selvatura Adventure Park
Content: • We did the Ziplining and the hanging bridges • We booked it via Viator and everything went well • Staff from Selvatura is very nice and fun • We saw a Quetzal
Café Monteverde Coffee Shop
Content: • The coffee was very nice • You can also do a coffee tour, unfortunately we did not have enough time
Mirador Django
Content: • This is a very nice (free) activity • You have a beautiful view • We had the whole place for ourselves
Catarata Los Murciélagos / Monteverde Waterfall
Content: • The waterfall is quite small but beautiful • The walk to the waterfall is also very nice • The waterfall is located on private property so you have to pay 6$ pP • We spent just 45 mins there so it is quite a short activity
Location: Santa Elena
Day 5 - 17 Mar 2022
Taco Taco Taqueria
Content: • Very nice restaurant with excellent food • We had cheese quesadillas & avocado burrito
Location: Manuel Antonio
Day 6 - 18 Mar 2022
Hotel Villas Nicolas
Content: • Amazing hotel • We had the Deluxe Room with our own balcony and ocean view- it was so beautiful • We saw aras, tucanes and monkeys from our balcony • Lots of Restaurants & Cafés are in walking distance • Pool area is also very nice and clean • Very friendly people working at the hotel
Location: Quepos
Day 6 - 18 Mar 2022
Emilio's Cafe
Content: • The lunch (greek salad and pita) was very good and the view was incredible • You even see the whale tail from the nationalpark • We saw lots of aras 🦜
Espadilla Beach
Content: • You can walk from the hotel to the beach (20 min) • You can enjoy fresh coconut and enjoy the Beautiful beach • The waves are so great, it‘s so much fun • We even saw tucanes • Sunsets are always beautiful @ Espadilla Beach
El Wagon
Content: • Walking distance from our hotel • Yummi Pizza • Nice atmosphere
Location: Quepos
Day 7 - 19 Mar 2022
Quepos Farmer’s Market
Content: • A must-visit for everyone with a kitchen because you can get fresh fruit ans veggies • We didnt have a kitchen but it was an authentic experience for us because all the locals go there (and there are also some market stalls with souvenirs and foodtrucks) • Small market in Quepos with opening hours Fri 3pm–11pm, Sat 6am–noon (times can change better have a check before you go)
Biesanz Beach
Content: • Parking situation is a little bit tricky so we recommend to go earlier 4$) • You have to walk a 5 min walk where you can see a lot of beautiful trees and monkeys • Its a beautiful bay with no waves and an amazing lush scenery in the background • There are only a few shadow spots but you can rent beach umbrellas
Emilio's Cafe
Content: • We did it again 😉 • This place is just too beautiful • The smoothies are also very delicious
Espadilla Beach
Content: • We did it again 😉 • This time we went by car (15$ for parking, beach umbrella and two beach loungers for the rest of the day) • Amazing sunsets
Location: Manuel Antonio
Day 7 - 19 Mar 2022
El Avion Restaurant
Content: • Very special restaurant with an airplane inside • Walking distance from our hotel • The food was good and the portion was sooo big • We had fried rice with veggies & fried rice with chicken
Location: Quepos
Day 8 - 20 Mar 2022
Nationalpark Manuel Antonio
Content: • The national park is very beautiful (a bit crowded) • BUT in our opinion the crowd spreads out along the many paths • You can do lots of hikes, swim, see wildlife and just enjoy the nature • You are not allowed to bring food but there is a Café in the national park • We almost did every trail (except the waterfall) • Make sure to bring at least 2L of water per person
Baguette
Content: • Sweet little spot for a coffeebreak with a view • We had cappuccino and iced latte (both very good!)
Location: Manuel Antonio
Day 8 - 20 Mar 2022
Hotel Villas Nicolas
Content: • After all the hikes we just spent the afternoon in the pool at our hotel • Here you can even see aras, tucanes and monkeys
Location: Quepos
Day 8 - 20 Mar 2022
Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar
Content: • One of my favorite restaurant so far • Amazing falafel with a refill station with a lot of veggies • Free water station • Pineapple and mango smoothie were so delicious • Very nice atmosphere • We came around 7pm and had to wait a little bit so maybe it’s better to make a reservation or come earlier/later
Location: Manuel Antonio
Day 9 - 21 Mar 2022
Hotel Villas Nicolas
Content: • We had a slow morning at Hotel Villas Nicolas and enjoyed our balcony for one last time • We started our drive to Drake Bay around 11 am
Location: Drake
Day 9 - 21 Mar 2022
Hotel Gitana Corcovado y Tour operador
Content: • We had the deluxe room at Casa Gitana • The rooms are simple but totally fine - they even had aircondition • The garden and the little restaurant are very amazing • There was the best coffee • Every morning you could see a lot of aras in the trees • Edith & Jonathan (owner of the hostel) are very nice and also book tours for you • We booked a diving tour to Caño Island and a tour to Corcovado Nationalpark
Hotel Gitana Corcovado y Tour operador
Content: • There is a beach in walking distance (3 mins) where we watched the sunset every evening • You can also take a drink from the restaurant to the beach and enjoy the view • We had dinner at our hostel which was very nice
Location: Unknown
Day 10 - 22 Mar 2022
Drake Divers
Content: • Our day started very early • Jonathan from our hostel dropped us off at the diving center • We picked our equipment and walked to the beach to get on the boat
Location: Unknown
Day 10 - 22 Mar 2022
Isla del Caño
Content: • We were 10 people on the boat + 4 people from the crew • They separated the group into 2 • The dive instructor were very competent and friendly • The boat drive takes about 45 mins but we did a lot of stops to watch whales (🥺) and turtles • We did 2 dives and saw a lot of amazing marine life: turtles, sharks, devil rays, colorful fish (and a lot more) • In between the dives we went to Cano Island where you can enjoy the beach or walk up to a view point (just 5 mins) • After the dive they will bring you to a restaurant (very simple but we were so hungry after the dives that we were just happy to have some food) • If you love to dive / snorkel it is very worth it!
Location: Drake
Day 10 - 22 Mar 2022
Hotel Gitana Corcovado y Tour operador
Content: • Jonathan picked us up from the dive center • After the dives we just enjoyed the garden of our hostel, read books, played chess and took it very slow • In the evening we had a beer at the beach and watched the sunset
Location: Unknown
Day 11 - 23 Mar 2022
Nationalpark Corcovado
Content: • We were picked up by a boat • We had a beautiful view of the coast • Our guide Sandro was very friendly, funny and had a lot of knowledge • We saw a lot of animals: tapir, coatis, aras, monkeys, crocodiles, etc. • The guide also had a professional lense so you always had a very good view • After the hike through the national park we had lunch in Drake Bay (food and restaurant very simple but totally fine because we bet hungry (you are not allowed to bring food to the park)
Location: Drake
Day 11 - 23 Mar 2022
Hotel Gitana Corcovado y Tour operador
Content: • We spent the afternoon at our hostel And had coffee, read books, played chess, did a walk at the beach and played with the little puppy • We had dinner at the restaurant which was very delicious
Location: Uvita
Day 12 - 24 Mar 2022
Hotel Uvita Paradise
Content: • Very beautiful and clean hotel • No breakfast included but there was a supermarket and a cute Café in walking distance
Chirincoco café
Content: • We loved the Café - very special vibe • You can sit outside and enjoy your coffee (and food) & the tropical garden
Location: Unknown
Day 12 - 24 Mar 2022
Parque Nacional Marino Ballena
Content: • Uvita Beach is so amazing: you can relax, have fun in the waves, watch surfers, spot aras and other wildlife in the lush scenery and enjoy beautiful sunsets every evening
Location: Uvita
Day 12 - 24 Mar 2022
Carlito's Restaurant
Content: • Nice atmosphere • Good mexican food and excellent magaritas
Location: Uvita
Day 13 - 25 Mar 2022
Que Tuanis Café
Content: • Walking distance from our hotel • Lots of breakfast options, very delicious
Location: Pérez Zeledón
Day 13 - 25 Mar 2022
Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park
Content: • The waterfall is very beautiful and worth the money (and the hike 😅) • It costs around 24 $ for 2 persons + parking • You have to walk for 4 km which was very intense in the heat • We recommend to wear proper shoes • You can refresh and take an outdoor shower under the waterfall which was very amazing
Location: Unknown
Day 13 - 25 Mar 2022
Restaurante el Coco
Content: • We just had lunch in Dominical but there are a lot of Cafés and little shops to stroll around
Location: Unknown
Day 13 - 25 Mar 2022
Uvita Beach
Content: • We did it again 😉 • Uvita Beach is so amazing: you can relax, have fun in the waves, watch surfers, spot aras and other wildlife in the lush scenery and enjoy beautiful sunsets every evening
Location: San Gerardo de Dota
Day 14 - 26 Mar 2022
Trogon Lodge
Content: • Amazing place with a beautiful garden • Our house even had a jacuzzi • Chocolate pizza was next level • Short (1 1/2 h) but beautiful trail around the property to a waterfall • We also took it very slow in the afternoon, read a book and enjoyed the view directly from our bed • It gets colder over there so we recommend to bring warm clothes (for the nights)
Location: Río Segundo
Day 15 - 27 Mar 2022
Adobe rent a car Aeropuerto
Content: • Very fast return • Free shuttle bus to the airport
Location: Alajuela
Day 15 - 27 Mar 2022
Internationaler Flughafen Juan Santamaria
Content: • Lets Go Home 🥲 • The airport is really small so it was less stress for us