Location: Alajuela
Day 1 - 10 Dec 2021
Jumbo Car Rent-a-Car
Content: We opted for a rental car to be flexible and free during the trip. The agency of our rental is called Jumbo Car. An agency that I highly recommend and whose prices were the least expensive compared to the ones of other rental companies. The service was top, a shuttle came to pick us up at the airport to bring us to the agency. Once there, everything went very quickly. The car we got was brand new.
Alajuela City Hotel & Guest House
Content: This is a very nice little hotel, not very expensive with a good breakfast, located in the center. We chose this city as our first stop, because of its proximity to the airport. As you can imagine, after a long flight and a 7-hour jet lag, you just want to rest without having to drive for hours.
La Hendija Sabrosa
Content: Very good typical restaurant and not expensive. We coudn't start our trip better with the typical dish, which is the Casado.
Location: La Fortuna
Day 2 - 11 Dec 2021
La Fortuna
Content: This region is famous for the Arenal Volcano National Park, Lake Arenal and the rain forest. La Fortuna is the town at the base of Arenal volcano, and Arenal is the area around the volcano. You can easily spend two days in Arenal because the activities in the area are endless. The city of La Fortuna is usually the starting point to visit the national park of the Arenal volcano, the park of Mistico, the waterfall of La Fortuna,…
Selina
Content: We stayed 2 nights at the Hotel Selina la Fortuna, located right in the center of town. This hotel offers several activities such as yoga classes, cooking classes, Spanish classes, salsa classes, … I especially recommend it for solo travelers, because every night the hotel offers meetings moments around a campfire.
Location: La Fortuna de San Carlos
Day 2 - 11 Dec 2021
La Fortuna Waterfall
Content: The Fortuna waterfall is a must-see in Costa Rica. With a height of 75 meters in a bright blue pool, this waterfall is a perfect postcard of the Costa Rican jungle. The hike to La Fortuna waterfall is done by descending 500 steps. Before descending the steps, there is an observation platform offering a breathtaking view of the waterfall. Don’t miss this spot to take beautiful pictures. | You can’t swim in front of the waterfall, but down to the left there is a water spot where you can swim. The entrance fee is $18, which I think is not cheap to see a waterfall. However, I think it is still worth seeing despite its excessive price. There is a free parking in front of the entrance.
Location: La Fortuna
Day 2 - 11 Dec 2021
Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges
Content: One of my favorite park during this trip. This park offers a trail through hanging bridges surrounded by a huge rainforest. Out of a total of 16 bridges, 6 are hanging bridges. The main trail of Mistico is a loop, and is about 3.2 km long. Along the trail, there are many information panels. These help you understand a little about the plants, wildlife and life cycles of the forest. They are especially useful if you do not have a guide, what was our case. This place is exceptional. The feeling of walking on suspension bridges through the rainforest is incredible. I highly recommend visiting this park. The entrance fee is $26. There is free parking at the entrance.
Pollo Fortuneño
Content: In the evening we walked around in La Fortuna and had dinner at Pollo Fortunea. Excellent address for lovers of barbecue and chicken, located in the heart of La Fortuna. We enjoyed our dinner.
Location: Fortuna
Day 3 - 12 Dec 2021
Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails
Content: In the morning we went for a hike on the Arenal 1968 trail. This park is named after the eruption of the Arenal volcano in 1968, one of the most important and crucial events in Costa Rican history. The eruption destroyed three towns and killed several people, but it also changed the topography of the area. The forest on the western side of the volcano disappeared as the lava took over. If you are just looking for a nice view on the volcano, go to the Mirador. To get there, you have to walk about 1 km. Once there, this spot offers a beautiful view and there is also a bar overlooking the volcano. For the hike, there are 2 different trails. 1. Lava flow 1968 Trail: This hike is ±2,5 km through a tropical forest that leads to the lava flows. 2. Forest 1968 Trail: This trail is an extension of the first trail of ±2 km. From the first trail, you can continue on this one that goes around the lake, ‘Los Patos‘. See pictures below on the lake. | The entrance fee is $15. The parking is free. At the end of the trail, whether it’s the first or the second one, you’ll come across the Mirador El Silencio, as already described above. For me, this is one of the best views of the Arenal volcano. You can sit down at the cafeteria after your hike and enjoying the view overlooking the volcano, which we obviously did.
Location: La Fortuna
Day 3 - 12 Dec 2021
La Fortuna
Content: After the hike we enjoyed some free time in the city of La Fortuna. I fell in love with this small town. I felt extremely comfortable there as soon as I arrived. The town is full of bars, souvenir stores and tour stands. Even in the evening, I did not feel insecure. I recommend you to stay there when you are in the area!
Chocolate Fusión
Content: A nice address is Chocolate Fusion, situated near the park of La Fortuna. It's a kind of café with many assortments of chocolate, but also hot and cold drinks, like fresh fruit juices. The Papaya one was delicious. Not to be missed!
Location: Guatuso
Day 4 - 13 Dec 2021
Rio Celeste y Los Teñideros
Content: The next day we drove from La Fortuna to our next destination, which is the area of Rio Celeste. The drive was around 2 hours. The legend says that “when God finished painting the sky blue, he washed his brushes in the Rio Celeste“. You would see the water is blue when the weather is good. If it rained, the water will not have the same color unfortunately, It will turn more into a brown color. The Rio Celeste is located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. The trails can be very muddy if it has rained a lot in the area, as most of the trails are dirt. There are no difficulties with this trail. There are no intense climbs or switchbacks. However, there are about 150 very steep steps to reach the waterfall. In addition, there are many large rocks and tree roots that you have to walk on because it is a natural path. As far as the length of the hike is concerned, the Rio Celeste hike is 6 km long. The hike through this park lasted about 2.5 hours, and was particularly pleasant and unreal. It is a place not to be missed during your trip to Costa Rica. | The entrance fee is $12. If you are traveling by car, parking in Tenorio National Park costs $2. The last visitors are allowed to enter the park before 2 pm, so it is recommended to arrive early.
Location: Bijagua de Upala
Day 4 - 13 Dec 2021
Finca La Amistad Cacao Lodge
Content: We spent the night at Finca la Amistad Cacao lodge. This lodge is located at the foot of the Tenorio Volcano National Park, home to the magical Rio Celeste. It is one of the largest and most sustainable cocoa farms in Costa Rica. The rooms are nestled in the middle of nature on the cocoa farm. The breakfast is excellent and local. We were able to discover the life of a cocoa farm and also taste the local cuisine, make our own chocolate and even had a guided tour of the farm going through all the steps of chocolate making. It was very interesting and without a doubt one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica.
Location: Monteverde
Day 5 - 14 Dec 2021
Monteverde
Content: Monteverde is an area of mountains and greenery that is also known for its thrills such as zip-lining. Other must-do’s in the area are a hike in the Santa Elena or Monteverde reserves. We didn’t do it, so I couldn’t say more, but here you can get more information. You can easily spend two days in Monteverde, if you plan to visit the Santa Elena or Monteverde reserves.
Location: Santa Elena
Day 5 - 14 Dec 2021
Monteverde Country Lodge
Content: We stayed one night at the Monteverde Country Lodge. This hotel is located not far from the center of Santa Elena. The staff was very nice. | If you plan to visit the reserve of Santa Elena or the one of Monteverde, I advise spending 2 nights there. What was cool, too, is that we could enjoy the spa of one of their partner hotel. It was a nice moment and, on top of that, we had an amazing sunset.
Location: Monteverde
Day 5 - 14 Dec 2021
Gusticos Monteverde
Content: In the evening we went to Gusticos. A Typical fast food with excellent service, cheap and authentic local food. We loved it!
Location: Monteverde
Day 6 - 15 Dec 2021
100% Aventura
Content: As already said before, Monteverde is a region of mountains and greenery which is also famous for its thrills! That’s why we went there to do zip-lining. Many agencies offer excursions. We opted for the one of 100% adventura, recommended by our hotel. This agency offer a trail with stronger sensations compared for example to the agencies of Selvatura or Skyadventure which are rather softer and more for families. I loved the activity! I did the longest zip line in Costa Rica, which is 1590 m long, and while lying down in Superman mode (see last picture). The strong sensations were well present. 🤙 | Count about €50 for this type of activity.
Raulito's Pollo Asado
Content: After the thrills of the ziplining and before heading to the Pacific Coast, we had a quick lunch at Raulitos. This is a local rotisserie, where they serve fresh and tasty roasted chicken every day, with homemade corn tortillas, beans, rice and homemade chimichurri… It was really cheap and delicious!
Location: Santa Teresa
Day 6 - 15 Dec 2021
Santa Teresa
Content: After a few busy days in La Fortuna & Monteverde, it was time to enjoy and relax at a beautiful beach destination, which is Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is a great destination because of its relaxed atmosphere, incredible beaches and entertainment venues. Read more below about what to do in Santa Teresa & Montezuma.
Location: Santa Teresa
Day 7 - 16 Dec 2021
Santa Teresa
Content: When in Santa Teresa, explore the beaches of Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen or Hermosa. Playa Carmen is the city’s main beach and this is where there is usually the most to do. A little north of Playa Carmen is Playa Santa Teresa. This area was recently built and has its own section of restaurants, hotels and stores. Playa Hermosa is located about 10-15 minutes north of the main strip of Santa Teresa.
Hotel Luz de Luna
Content: We stayed 3 nights at the Luz de Luna hotel, which is run by a really nice Belgian guy. The location of the hotel makes it an excellent value for money. It is located slightly behind the main road, which means, we were less disturbed by this main road. Our room was quite large and all in wood with a nice terrace and hammock overlooking a nice garden. We loved waking up with the sound of the nature, like the ones of birds, monkeys, squirrels… I can only recommend this hotel.
Location: Katana restaurant
Day 7 - 16 Dec 2021
Katana Asian Cuisine
Content: If you’re tired of eating local, this is the place to go. It’s Asian food at its best! I had one of my best Pad Thai’s as well as some great Bao’s.
Location: Montezuma
Day 8 - 17 Dec 2021
Montezuma
Content: Montezuma is about 40 minutes drive from Santa Teresa. This is a great day trip that I highly recommend. Montezuma is a quiet beach town with a bohemian vibe on the Nicoya Peninsula. It’s a favorite for backpackers, yogis, surfers and people looking for an inspiring and peaceful getaway. Montezuma beach is also a great spot to spend the afternoon. We were alone on the beach the whole morning, surrounded by palm trees. It was an incredible moment. This beach is in my top 3 of the most beautiful beaches I have seen during the trip.
Location: Paquera
Day 8 - 17 Dec 2021
Montezuma Waterfall
Content: From downtown Montezuma, walk or drive about 0.5 km south to the small bridge across the Rio Montezuma. Just after the bridge, there is a trail and parking on the right. Parking costs about $2, otherwise entry is free. We parked on the road, so escaped the paid parking. After a hike of about 20 minutes, you will reach the waterfall. Once There, you can swim in the cool water and make a lot of beautiful pictures.
Location: Santa Teresa
Day 8 - 17 Dec 2021
Chicken Joe's Rotisserie
Content: In the evening we went back to Santa Teresa and ate at chicken joe. This is a casual restaurant serving roasted chicken, tacos, ceviche and other Peruvian style items. We had a good meal, but we have to say, it’s expensive for what it is. 🍗
Location: Manzanillo
Day 9 - 18 Dec 2021
Cafe Social
Content: The next day we had a good breakfast at Cafe social. This is another great place to breakfast or to lunch.
Location: Santa Teresa
Day 9 - 18 Dec 2021
Cocobolo Surf Hotel & School
Content: After breakfast, we took a surf lesson with Cocobolo Surf school which I highly recommend. The teacher was very nice and gave us good advices. He was constantly checking our moves and giving us advices to improve us. The course lasted approximately 1h30, including 30 min of explanation on the beach and 1 h of training in the sea. We had a wonderful time ! | The price was 60 euro per person for an individual course
Earth Cafe
Content: After the surf lesson with had lunch at Earth café, which is a small café/restaurant that offers vegan or vegetarian dishes, including a smoothie menu. The atmosphere is casual. I had the best avocado toast 🥑 here so far.
Location: Santa Teresa
Day 10 - 19 Dec 2021
Banana Beach Restaurant
Content: A desire for cocktails, smoothies, good food and reggae? Go to the Banana Beach Bar. It’s a very relaxing place to watch the sunset in the late afternoon with your feet in the sand. You can also spend a whole afternoon on their deckchairs, which are free. That’s what we did, enjoying an entire afternoon relaxing on the beach with a delicious smoothie in the hand.
Eat Street
Content: Eat street is a cozy place where you can order your food and drinks from four different booths (coffee, tacos/burritos/burgers, bowls and drinks). This place is very popular and crowded.
Location: Quepos
Day 11 - 20 Dec 2021
Manuel Antonio
Content: The Manuel Antonio National Park welcomes nearly five hundred thousand visitors every year. It is not surprising that tourism in the Quepos area plays an essential role in the daily life of many people. We visited the parc the whole day.
Airbnb
Content: Quepos is a small town in Costa Rica, which we know if we visit the Manuel Antonio National Park, because the town is mostly known as the gateway to the Manuel Antonio National Park. That’s why we spent 2 nights in Quepos at sunrise house.
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Day 12 - 21 Dec 2021
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Content: From Manuelle Antonio we drove straight to the Caribbean coast. It was a 8 hour drive. Puerto Viejo is the main city in the southern Caribbean and is surrounded by beautiful beaches. Puerto Viejo was once a small fishing village. Now increasingly popular, it is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the world. With its relaxed atmosphere and unique blend of Latino, Afro-Caribbean and indigenous Bribri cultures, the city is a lively place to spend a relaxing vacation.
La Prometida
Content: We stayed at La Prometida hotel, which was more than perfect! It’s a little more expensive than other hotels in the area, but it’s worth the price. The rooms are modern villas nestled between the jungle and the ocean. Each villa is thoughtfully decorated. The location is ideal, it’s 2 steps from the beach, and is also within walking distance of the center. The owners, an Argentinian couple, are very nice. You get the impression that they really care about your well-being. Every morning we were given special attention. The coffee was dropped off at our door, which is a very pleasant touch. The place is also so cozy, comfortable and peaceful that you can only hear the birds and monkeys in the morning. Big mention also for the breakfast. All in all, this is a hotel I highly recommend.
Location: Puerto Viejo
Day 13 - 22 Dec 2021
Puerto Viejo
Content: One of the things to do in Puerto Viejo is to rent a bike and bike along the coast. From Puerto Viejo, it’s 26 km round trip to Manzanillo. Everywhere in Puerto Viejo you can rent bikes. While biking, you’ll pass by the most beautiful beaches such as: - Playa Cocles - Playa Chiquita - Playa Punta Uva - Playa Negra (located on the other side of Puerto Viejo) A little advice, leave early when it is still cool and choose a nice beach to spend the afternoon. We spent the afternoon at Playa Punta Uva. It is according to me the most beautiful beach of the region. It is also part of my favorite beaches of this trip. Furthermore, it is also here that you will find one of the most Instagrammable spot with the palm tree.
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Day 13 - 22 Dec 2021
GypSea Café | Playa Chiquita
Content: If you want to eat on the way, you can stop at Playa Chiquita and eat at the Gypsea Café, which is a nice place for lunch.
Todo Es Posible
Content: In the evening we had Italian dinner. I recommand this address. It's a delicious Italian restaurant, owned by an expat originally from Rome. Big mention for the swordfish pasta. 🍝
Location: Unknown
Day 14 - 23 Dec 2021
Parque Nacional Cahuita
Content: Another thing to do is to explore the Cahuita National Park 🐒 Cahuita National Park is 20 km from Puerto Viejo. While hiking in the park, you’ll see the beach on your left and dense jungle on your right. You’re likely to see all kinds of animals like raccoons, sloths, howler monkeys and more. Tip: Go when the tide is low. We didn’t pay attention to that and had the high tide. So, we could not continue to the end of the trail, which is a shame. | The entrance fee is by donation. You can give what you want. To give you an idea, generally the average amount is 5 euros.
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Day 14 - 23 Dec 2021
Sol del Caribe
Content: One of my favorite restaurants, which is a Caribbean cuisine. Try the Caribbean style chicken, a killer! 🍗
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Day 15 - 24 Dec 2021
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Content: Relaxing day at the hotel.
Koki Beach Restaurant Bar Lounge
Content: Christmas diner at the beautiful koko restaurant and bar overlooking the beach, and situated in the center of Puerto Viejo. The food and cocktails are great. 🍹 We had a great evening.
Location: San José
Day 16 - 25 Dec 2021
Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
Content: Nice hotel situated in the centre.
San José
Content: In the early afternoon we left our little paradise to our last stop, San José. San José is the capital of Costa Rica and probably the starting or return point of your trip. Unfortunately, San José is not a pleasant city and my advice is not to stay there too long. However, the city has a very special atmosphere, which is nice to discover during a little walk in the city.
National Theatre of Costa Rica
Content: We went to the National Theatre to drink a Costa Rican coffee. It's a nice place for a drink and pastry.
Location: San Pedro
Day 17 - 26 Dec 2021
Stattoos Tattoo Piercing Shop Los Yoses
Content: To end the trip well, I did a tatoo as a souvenir of this amazing trip!
Location: San José
Day 17 - 26 Dec 2021
Buenazo Acai Bowls & Smoothies
Content: After the tattoo we walked around the Barrio escalante district which has some LA vibes. Here we had a last quick lunch with an excellent acai bowl before going to the airport. Flight departure at 17pm.