Costa Rica is a place for adventure – from beginners who want to visit a new beach to more experienced travelers who are looking for a new or thrilling tour. The variety can give you a packed week of activities! There are MANY options of activities and MANY companies, so choose your priorities to decide on which city/area to visit.

Here are some of my recommendations of the best things to do in Costa Rica!

1. Explore Manuel Antonio National Park

For those who love creatures, a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park is a must. Guides bring along a telescope to help you see hiding animals. These experts can spot things a few centimeters long and camouflaged! They are also experts at taking photos through the telescope to document what you see. Some things we saw: sloths, masked tree frog, howler monkey, grasshopper, Jesus Christ lizard, and a bat. Your tour will end at the private part of Manuel Antonio beach, so you’ll be able to spend the rest of the day here!

Tips: 

• Admission is $16 per person. 
• You can book a tour guide with your admission ticket or spontaneously book a guide (usually cheaper) at the entrance. (About $25 per person) Tours are about 3 hours. Make sure they are certified with ICT – Costa Rica Tourism Board.
• Bring beach gear and wear comfortable walking shoes
• Get there early.

2. Relax at the Beach

There’s a reason why you traveled to a tropical location – the beach (“playa” in Spanish)! And Costa Rica has plenty to choose from along its western coast.

Here are some popular ones:

• Playa Conchal
• Playa Flamingo
• Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio)
• Playa Tamarindo
• Playa Santa Teresa
• Marina Ballena National Park – Whale Tail (Uvita)

Tip: Be sure to wear bug spray! Noseeums will cover you in bites that you won’t notice until the next day.

3. Go Surfing

Costa Rica has good surf! Head to the Pacific, western side of the country. There are beaches for all levels, so this would be a good place to take a lesson and try it out. 

Here are some of the beaches for surfing:

• Playa Dominical
• Playa Hermosa
• Playa Jaco
• Playa Nosara
• Playa Santa Teresa
• Playa Tamarindo

4. Taste Local Coffee and Chocolate

Coffee and chocolate are thriving exports and you’ll see them often for souvenirs. To learn more about how these products end up on our grocery shelves, you have the chance to meet the farmers, learn how it’s made, and taste it straight from the source.

Here are a few options:

• La Iguana Chocolate near Bejuco
• Rainforest Chocolate Tour near La Fortuna
• Café Britt near Heredia
• Café Don Emilio near Uvita

5. Experience the Best Ziplining

The best ziplining I’ve ever experienced was in Costa Rica. Their lines are long and fast. You’ll be zipping through the rainforest or near the ocean. You can find ziplining throughout the country and many say the best are in Arenal, which means seeing volcano views! 

Here are some companies to consider:

• Sky Adventures in Monteverde and Arenal
• Diamante Eco Adventure Park in Guanacaste
• El Santuario Canopy Adventure in Manuel Antonio

6. Go Hiking

Just like beaches and activities, there are plenty of places to hike for all levels of experience in Costa Rica. Some of the best hikes lead to waterfall swims or incredible views! Here are some hikes to consider:

• Rainmaker near Quepos
• Nauyaca Waterfall near Dominical
• Cerro Chirripó – Chirripó National Park – the highest peak in Costa Rica, overnight trip
• Arenal Hanging Bridges at Mistico Park
• Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Guancaste

Tip: Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, especially closer to the wet season.

Bonus: I haven’t been but I’ve heard Tortuguero National Park (on the Caribbean side) and Corcovado National Park (Southern, Puntarenas area) are two places to experience a more untouched rainforest environment. These are two areas that are harder to get to and you’ll see less development when you get there.

El Miro near Jaco is a short, easy hike to an abandoned structure filled with graffiti.

7. Jump into Waterfalls

Another Costa Rica experience is a waterfall! Whether it’s hiking to see a waterfall, rappelling down a waterfall, or jumping into a waterfall pool, you have options when you visit Costa Rica.

• Pure Trek Canyoning near La Fortuna
• Nauyaca Waterfall near Dominical
• San Luis Waterfall near Uvita
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens near San Jose
• La Fortuna Waterfall near Arenal

8. Go Scuba Diving

Caño Island and Cocos Island are the top places to dive in Costa Rica. Both require a long boat ride – an hour for Caño Island and a liveaboard is required for Cocos Island because it is about 36 hours away. There are also closer dive sites and the majority of dive companies in Costa Rica are located in the Guanacaste province. Liveaboards usually leave from Guanacaste or Puntarenas.

We dove with Costa Rica Dive and Surf out of Uvita for a trip to Caño Island. It was a fun trip (about 9 am – 3 pm) and we had two dives with lots of wildlife seen (sharks, eels, octopus).

Tip: Don’t forget to pack/take motion sickness medicine for long boat rides. It’ll guarantee a better experience if you’re prone to sickness.

9. Try the Food

Casado plates, ceviche, gallo pinto, fresh fruit – Costa Rican food can be simple and delicious! You’ll be able to find local eats and familiar favorites while traveling in the country. You can even find craft beer!

See this post for more about eating and drinking in Costa Rica.

10. Enjoy the Flora, Fauna, and Environment

If you’ve done the previous things, it’s likely you’ve already done this! From the sloths and mushrooms to the tropical leaves and ocean waves, I loved savoring the environment and views I don’t typically have at home. Don’t forget to slow down and see Costa Rica as it is. The natural beauty welcomes you.

Here are some recommendations:

• Manuel Antonio National Park – As I mentioned earlier, this is one of the best places to take in the flora and fauna of Costa Rica.
• Crocodile Bridge on the Tarcoles River – If you’re driving through Tarcoles, be sure to stop by the bridge to see 20+ crocodiles below!
• Watch the sunset – Preferably while walking the beach. This is the best thing about a beach vacation!

Costa Rica is a place I think of fondly. There’s a reason why travelers are drawn to this beautiful and adventurous place. I hope you get the chance to discover it one day!

Check out these posts to plan your Costa Rica trip:

• Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica
• Tamarindo, Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Costa Rica Adventure Trip: Tamarindo and Arenal

The post 10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

For some, it will be a simple, relaxing and budget-friendly trip to one of the most natural countries in the world. For others, it’s a great introduction to the beach atmosphere of Costa Rica.

Here are some tips on where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and things you should know.

Where to Stay in Tamarindo

Hotel Arco Iris – We stayed at this cute bed and breakfast on our first trip to Tamarindo. It was a delightful stay with a very comfortable room with a newly renovated bathroom and a plentiful breakfast buffet with made-to-order omelettes.

Capitan Suizo – While we didn’t stay at this beachfront hotel ourselves, we spent a lot of time there while our friends stayed there. Their rooms are very comfortable and luxurious, though you do pay for the luxury. We enjoyed a spectacular dinner at their restaurant, they have a pool and ping pong available, and the staff is very friendly. The only downside is that the hotel is on the far south side of the city, so getting to all the shops and restaurants will be a trek.

Where to Eat in Tamarindo

When in Costa Rica, expect simple and fresh food. I enjoyed the fresh fish, gallo pinto (their special rice and beans recipe), fresh fruit, and good coffee. But you can also walk down the main street and find familiar foods like pizza, nachos, and sushi. Ask around and you’re likely to find the cuisine you’re looking for in Tamarindo because of the expats that have opened restaurants there. Here are some of the ones I enjoyed. (If you want more info on the cuisine, check out my Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica post.)

• Fiesta del Mar – Tucked away on one end of the main street of Tamarindo is this truly local Costa Rican restaurant, recommended to us by our kayaking guide. It was our favorite place to eat both times we visited Tamarindo.
• El Vaquero – This beachfront brewpub is a favorite. We went here a couple of times because the surfboard rental we used was in the same complex and they have live music on the weekend. Volcano Brewing Company is also part of the complex so they have craft brews on tap. For food, I recommend nachos.
• Falafel Bar – We enjoyed a very quick lunch here on the first trip and the chicken pita was delicious.
• Nari Pizza and Pasta – Recommended by friends, we tried this pizza place out for lunch and it did not disappoint. Three of us devoured slices of the Nari pizza and Margherita pizza.
• Sharky’s – To get your sports fix, this is the place. Their multiple HD TVs make sure you don’t miss playoff games even when you’re out of the U.S.
• Longboards BBQ – If all the tables at Sharky’s are taken, head a couple of doors down to Longboards. Their TVs aren’t as good as Sharky’s but they’ll get the job done. We tried the brisket nachos with tropical slaw and they were good.
• Seasons – The restaurant at Hotel Arco Iris was a casual and outgoing place to have dinner. We enjoyed mussels, coconut curry shrimp, and red snapper.

What to Do in Tamarindo

Surfing and Beach Hopping – Surfing in Tamarindo is good for all levels of experience. If you need a lesson and didn’t have time to plan, surf instructors are ready and waiting for you on the beach for an immediate booking. You can also get a $10 per day surfboard rental right on the beach. If you want a better selection of boards, you’ll find multiple shops on the main street and they also run $10 to $15 for a board per day. If you get tired of Tamarindo Beach, there are several beaches (Playa Grande, Playa Langosta, Playa Avenellas) 15-30 minutes away. Ask your hotel about a shuttle.

Sport Fishing – Fishing billfish is a popular activity. You can book an eight-hour, day-long trip that includes the boat and two crewmen. The crew will do all the leg work and get you set up to start reeling in. If you don’t get billfish, you can catch dinner for the night as we did with our 25 lb amberjack!

Shopping – Tamarindo has many cute shops on the main street. You’ll find a variety of souvenirs and by the restaurant Fiesta del Mar, you’ll find shops with unique t-shirts.

Diving – If you want to scuba dive, be sure to book your trip before you arrive or after you arrive and two days before you want it to happen. Dive trips are at Catalina Island where there is lots of wildlife.

Things to Know

Currency – It’s ok to use U.S. dollars here, but when you withdraw money from an ATM or get change back from a restaurant, it’s likely that it will be in Costa Rican Colones. You’re also at the cashier’s mercy to whatever exchange rate they use. So, decide what you want to do before you go or play it by ear! In 2022, they are changing their paper money to plastic money and some vendors may not accept the paper money.

Beer – You’ll have your choice of Pilsen, Imperial, or if you’re lucky, the local brews from Volcano Brewing Company in Tamarindo.

Breakfast – From the experience of three hotels in Tamarindo (and two hotels in Arenal), hotels included breakfast (usually buffet) with your stay.

Transportation – If you are only visiting Tamarindo or less than two places in Costa Rica, a rental car is definitely not needed. Shuttles are available and you need to book them before you arrive. I recommend Ecotrans or Interbus. Your hotel can also help with booking transportation. Tamarindo is small enough to walk everywhere or they have taxis.

Liberia Airport – The Liberia airport is the closest one to Tamarindo. It’s about a 50-minute drive away. You’ll want to arrive two to three hours before your departure time to work your way to your gate. Flights leave in the same time period so the airport gets very crowded and a little hectic.

Key Phrases

A lot of locals understand English, even if it’s only a few key phrases. Still, it’s helpful to know a few phrases that might not be part of the regular Spanish education. Here are some of the phrases I think you should know.

Tico (colloquial term for Costa Rican): You’ll find this to describe things that locals like, such as ’tico breakfast’ and Costa Ricans call themselves tico or tica.

Pure Vida (translates to Pure Life): This phrase is a way to express the happiness of being in Costa Rica. It’s like ‘heck yeah’ or ‘this is the life!’

Comida Tipica or Comida Casado (translates to Typical Food): the name of the standard and simple dish that includes gallo pinto, fried plantains, a salad, and some kind of protein.

Guaro: a clear liquor made from sugar cane found in Central America. The Costa Rican brand is Cacique Guaro.

Pescado, Carne, Pollo (translates to fish, beef, chicken): You usually get your choice of protein in your comida tipica dish.

Piña (translates to pineapple, pronounced peen-ya): You’ll find this fruit plentiful in Costa Rica. Get them in a fruit bowl or smoothie.

Costa Rica is beautiful, friendly, and full of adventure. The great thing about Costa Rica is there is an abundance of places to visit and a variety of things to do. From the Pacific side to the Caribbean side, beach to rainforest, there are memorable experiences throughout the country. No matter where you go, the friendliness and tourism-focused people will win your heart and make you feel like family.

Other Helpful Posts:

• Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica

The post Tamarindo, Costa Rica Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

From the Pacific side to the Caribbean side, beach to rainforest, there are memorable experiences throughout the country. It’s been seven years since my first trip to Costa Rica, and I’ve been able to visit three times. I’ve learned a lot more about the country since that first trip, so here’s an updated travel guide for you.

Country Facts

• Pura Vida is a state of mind. Take every moment to live life to the fullest. As a greeting and farewell, the phrase gets used a lot. This kind of thinking is probably why the country has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, and the people are considered the happiest in the world.
• Costa Rica’s military was abolished in 1948. Yes, they have no military! They have police but no united force against other countries.
• Over 26% of Costa Rica’s land is protected through national parks, animal refuges, and biological reserves.
• Costa Rica occupies 0.03% of Earth’s landmass, yet it has 6% of Earth’s total biodiversity.
• Costa Rica didn’t use street signs until 2012. Locals used landmarks and buildings for reference.
• Tourism is Costa Rica’s top source of foreign exchange. Their main cash crops are bananas, pineapples, and coffee.

Quick Tips

• Visa: Most countries, including the U.S., will receive a 90-day visa upon arrival.
• Language: Spanish
• Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC). $1 USD is about 646 colones.
• Credit Cards: Can be used at hotels and ATMs, but cash is preferred and easiest. It was hard for us to find a working ATM! One bed and breakfast gave us cash in exchange for a credit card charge.
• Capital City: San José
• Water: Generally safe to drink from the tap unless you’re in rural areas

Common Costa Rican Phrases

• Tico (colloquial term for Costa Rican): You’ll find this to describe things that locals like, such as ’tico breakfast’, and Costa Ricans call themselves tico or tica.
• Pure Vida (translates to Pure Life): This phrase is a way to express the happiness of being in Costa Rica. It’s like ‘heck yeah’ or ‘this is the life!’
• Comida Tipica or Comida Casado (translates to Typical Food): the name of the standard and simple dish that includes gallo pinto, fried plantains, a salad, and some kind of protein.
• Guaro: a clear liquor made from sugar cane found in Central America. The Costa Rican brand is Cacique Guaro.
• Pescado, Carne, Pollo (translates to fish, beef, chicken): You usually get your choice of protein in your comida típica dish.

Best Time to Visit

Dry season is the most popular time to visit. Close to the equator, Costa Rica has a tropical climate year-round and differentiates the seasons by the amount of rainfall: wet (May to November) and dry (December to April) seasons.

How to Get to Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two international airports: one in San Jose (SJO), the capital and largest city in the country, and one in Liberia (LIR), the capital and largest city of the Guanacaste province. 

Unless you’re staying in San Jose, you’ll likely take ground transportation to your final destination in Costa Rica. See the section below to decide what city to visit.

How to Get Around

If you will be visiting more than one city, I recommend renting a car, and especially a 4×4 if you’ll be exploring. Most roads for getting around are paved, but you may encounter unpaved roads and muddy, sloped parking lots. Also, rent a GPS or make sure you have the Waze app on your phone. Some recommended car rental companies I’ve found are Mapache Rent-a-Car, Wild Rider, and Vamos Rent-a-Car. You’ll also find international car rental companies like Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, and Budget. If you’re traveling during the high season (like around Christmas and New Year’s), be sure to reserve your car months in advance.

If you don’t want to rent a car or drive, shuttles and drivers are readily available. There are also taxis and ridesharing in busier areas. A shuttle I’ve used is Interbus. My experience with them was efficient, friendly, and very affordable. They pick up and drop off at your exact location.

Where to Visit in Costa Rica – Best Cities

Here are some of the most popular cities in Costa Rica for visitors. These are the best cities set up for tourists, meaning there are plenty of options for places to stay and convenient tour options. Below are some details about each place to help you decide.

If you’re visiting for a week, I recommend splitting your time between the beach and Arenal or Monteverde, which are rainforest locations and where the best zipline tours can be found. 

If you’d rather stay in one place, my recommendation is the Manuel Antonio area. From there, you can take day trips to Jaco, Dominical, or Uvita if you want to explore. The four cities I’ve mentioned here are a bit overrun, but there are activities in the area, like a hike or dive trip, that will take you away from the crowds. It’s about two hours from Jaco to Uvita.

Here’s more about each city on the map.

Tamarindo 

• 1.5 hrs from Liberia, 4.5 hrs from San Jose
• Small beach town but very developed
• Hotel recommendations: Hotel Arco Iris, Capitan Suizo
• See my Tamarindo guide here

Nosara

• 3 hrs from Liberia, 5 hrs from San Jose
• Small town known for yoga options
• Also has beaches and boutique hotels

Santa Teresa

• 4.5 hrs from Liberia, 5 hrs from San Jose
• A little harder to get to but that means this beach town is a little quieter
• Lots of recommended beaches for surfing and swimming in this area including Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa, and Playa Hermosa

Jaco

• 2 hrs from San Jose, 3.5 hrs from Liberia
• Popular for surfing but also one of the most developed (busiest) beach towns
• Come to party
• El Miro is a short hike with a great lookout point

Manuel Antonio/Quepos

• 3 hrs from San Jose, 4.5 hrs from Liberia
• Manuel Antonio National Park is the second most visited in Central America; see lots of wildlife here
• Manuel Antonio is said to be the prettiest beach in Costa Rica
• Rainmaker is a nice hike nearby

Dominical/Uvita

• 3.5 hrs from San Jose, 5 hrs from Liberia
• Dominical is popular for surfing
• Dive boats to Cano Island leave from Uvita
• Near waterfalls and hiking – Nauyaca Waterfall is one of the most famous

Arenal/La Fortuna

• 1.5 hrs from Liberia, 3 hrs from San Jose
• Rainforest location for ziplining, Arenal Volcano, hot springs, white water rafting
• Hotel recommendations (lots of luxury hotels in this area): Nayara Hotel

Monteverde/Santa Elena

• 2.5 hrs from Liberia, 3 hrs from San Jose
• If you want the cloud forest of Arenal but with fewer tourists, less development, and cooler weather

Drake Bay

• 6.5 hrs from San Jose, 8 hrs from Liberia
• Most remote place in Costa Rica and a premier rainforest destination
• Visit Corcovado National Park

What to Eat

Take a look at this post to learn more about Costa Rican food! I recommend trying a casado plate and gallo pinto during your trip.

Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica

What to Do in Costa Rica

My favorite (and the more unique) things you’ll do in Costa Rica are seeing the wildlife (sloth guaranteed) in Manuel Antonio National Park, ziplining in the rainforest, and canyoning down waterfalls.

See this post for 10 recommendations of the best things to do in Costa Rica.

I definitely recommend putting this country on your travel list. It was a fun, easy, and adventurous trip!

Check out my other posts about Costa Rica:

• 10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica
• Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica
• Tamarindo, Costa Rica Travel Guide

The post Costa Rica Travel Guide – How to Start Planning Your Trip appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Costa Rican meals are my kind of food. Fish and fruit were fresh and abundant. The meals were easy, simple, and delicious.

Here are some of the foods and drinks we indulged in during our Costa Rica trips.

FOOD

Casado or Comida Tipica (Typical Food)

This typical Costa Rican dish includes beans, rice, fried plantains, salad, and a choice of meat: chicken, fish, pork, or steak. Fish was my usual choice and I loved the dish every time. If you try this dish, make sure to ask for Salsa Lizano, a sweet and slightly spicy brown Costa Rican salsa. It’s great to add to rice.

Gallo Pinto

One of our favorite things was this side dish of beans and rice with small diced bell peppers and onions. Sometimes we were lucky and the casado plate had gallo pinto instead of regular beans and rice. The secret to this dish may or may not be the addition of Salsa Lizano and coriander.

Fresh Fruit

The fruit was amazing in Costa Rica. Mangos, pineapple, guava, and watermelon are plentiful.

Ceviche

Ceviche is available on many menus and is my favorite appetizer.

Squid/Calamari

We had fried calamari and coconut curry calamari at two different meals and I loved both.

Tartare

We also enjoyed tartare several times and really liked the sesame oil they used in the dish.

DRINKS

Fresh Fruit Juice

With plentiful fresh fruit comes plentiful fresh fruit juice! Breakfast and snacks usually included a mix of fresh fruit juices like orange pineapple or mango guava. This watermelon and basil blend was my favorite.

Pipa Fria

On beaches, people sell Pipa Fria, young coconuts with cold coconut water.

Coffee

I’m not a regular coffee drinker but Costa Rican coffee is too good to pass up!

Cerveza

If you’re a beer drinker, you’ll have the choices of Imperial and Pilsen everywhere.

There are a few local breweries! I’ve tried Volcano Brewing Company in Tamarindo and PuddleFish Brewery in Jaco – both good options.

Guaro

Guaro is a high purity sugar cane liquor and Cacique is Costa Rica’s most popular distilled Guaro. I had it in a variety of mixed drinks with fruit juices. My favorite use was one restaurant’s “Miguelito shot,” which was liquor and coconut cream.

DESSERT

Many, many times, we were so full on the appetizers and entrees (did you see those big plates of food?!), we didn’t have room for dessert! We did get to try a few. The Costa Rica dessert selection usually included tres leches cake, flan, creme brulee, and rice pudding.

Costa Rica Restaurant Recommendations

Here are the restaurants we tried and I recommend in Costa Rica:

Tamarindo

• Fiesta del Mar – Tucked away on one end of the main street of Tamarindo is this truly local Costa Rican restaurant, recommended to us by a tour guide. It was our favorite in Tamarindo and possibly the whole trip!
• Falafel Bar – We enjoyed a very quick lunch here and the chicken pita was delicious!
• El Vaquero – This beachfront brewpub was great! We went here a couple of times because the surfboard rental we used was in the same complex and they had live music most nights. Volcano Brewing Company is also part of the complex so they have craft brews on tap. For food, I recommend the humongous nachos.
• Patagonia del Mar – A white tablecloth restaurant, Patagonia del Mar is a fancy and friendly place for dinner.
• Seasons – The restaurant at our hotel was a causal and outgoing place to have dinner. We enjoyed mussels, coconut curry shrimp, and red snapper.

Arenal / La Fortuna

• Nene’s Restaurant – Recommended to us by a driver, Nene’s was where we stopped for lunch while exploring La Fortuna. We were told by several locals that their ceviche is the best in town and I enjoyed my fish casado dish.
• Sushi Amor (Nayara Hotel) – Only open to Nayara Hotel guests, Sushi Amor was a cute place to have dinner. They have plenty of sushi roll options.
• Altamira (Nayara Hotel) – Also only open to Nayara Hotel guests, Altamira was a nice, intimate restaurant featuring many Costa Rican dishes.

Near Bejuco Beach

• Las Delicias del Robalo – Open-air restaurant with a good casado plate
• Jardines Cafe – Good for a casual breakfast
• El Chiringuito – Fancier spot for Italian/Mediterranean cuisine

Want to learn more about Costa Rica? Check out my Costa Rica Travel Guide. Check out all the Costa Rica posts here.

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Pura Vida. It’s a phrase I heard multiple times a day and is the only way to describe our amazing week-long Costa Rica adventure in the beautiful country. When you’re on vacation in Costa Rica, living your fullest life and feeling “real living” is easy in this adventure-rich, eco-diverse, and laid-back country.

Here are all the details about my trip to Tamarindo and Arenal.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a small town on the Northern Pacific Coast in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. It’s about an hour and 20 mins away from Liberia (the nearest international airport). You can easily walk from one end of the main street to the other in 30 minutes. While it may not have the prettiest beach in Costa Rica, this beach is great for surfing, especially for beginners. I also loved the small-town vibe and their wide selection of restaurants. We spent four days here and while we were surprised they didn’t really have a late nightlife, it was perfect for beaching and relaxing.

Playa Tamarindo

The beach has great waves and is filled with surfers of every level. The beach is lined with restaurants, bars, and hotels. Board rentals are easily found and so are vendors selling souvenirs and coconuts. On the north end of the beach is the estuary and Playa Grande is on the other side. The estuary is a popular place for caiman and crocodiles, so pay a small boat to take you across.

Kayak Tour with Arenas Adventures

We did a 3-hr kayak tour in the Tamarindo estuary. Though we were bummed we didn’t see any monkeys or crocodiles, we did see lots of different birds and got a good workout! Our guide Eli was very informative, friendly, and funny. He even told us about a somewhat hidden restaurant where we had one of our favorite meals of the trip. More on that later!

Arenal / La Fortuna

The journey from Tamarindo to Arenal was long (4-5 hours) but it was cool to see the scenery change from dry desert and beach to the lush and green rainforest. We stayed near the Arenal Volcano, and La Fortuna is a small town 10 minutes away. While La Fortuna has many hotels and shops, the road in between is sprinkled with luxury hotels and resorts. La Fortuna is a good place to get the local feel and is within walking distance of many souvenir shops and restaurants.

Arenal Volcano

When we arrived, we were told by many locals that we were lucky to see the top of the volcano but we kept seeing it throughout our trip! It wasn’t until the last day when we were driving out of Arenal did we see the volcano as it usually is, half-covered by clouds. You can see the volcano from most spots in the area and I believe most hotels have a view of the volcano from their rooms and/or their public areas.

Sky Adventures Arenal Park: Sky Tram & Trek, Sky River Drift

Costa Rica has one of the top zipline experiences in the world, so we were excited to try it at Sky Adventures’ Arenal Park. We did a combo tour that first took us by tram up into the canopy. Then we ziplined on seven cables with the highest being 656 feet and the longest being 2493 feet. Depending on size, we could get up to 45 miles per hour! It was awesome zipping through the rainforest, enjoying the views of Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano. After a quick lunch, we enjoyed the Sky River Drift tour which included zipping on three carbon fiber lines (smaller and less intense than the previous steel lines), vertically descending into the river, and a tubing adventure powered by the rapids.

Pure Trek Canyoning

Recommended by another couple from our hotel, we decided to book this canyoning trip that had us rappelling into and down waterfalls. If you’ve ever rappelled before, you know how fun it is because we controlled how fast we went with one hand, though they did also control a safety rope in case we lost the rope. The three waterfalls ranged from 45 to 165 feet and the tour also included one free-fall drop and hiking through the rainforest. The guides were very knowledgeable about the wildlife and rainforest and we learned a lot about how plants help each other and fight to survive.

Hotels

Hotel Los Lagos Farms

While we didn’t enjoy the actual hotel as much, the wildlife farms at Hotel Los Lagos were fun to explore. They had different areas of wildlife including Blue-jeans Frogs or Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs, crocodiles, leaf-cutter ants, and butterflies.

Hotel Arco Iris

We loved this boutique hotel in Tamarindo. The hotel has around 14 rooms and is about a 5-10-min walk from the beach. Our room was very comfortable and roomy. One of our favorite things was our hammock on the patio, which we enjoyed in the mornings. The staff here is awesome and friendly. Francisco at the front desk helped us book tours and transportation and had lots of helpful information about the town. The breakfast buffet was top-notch and Coco makes delicious omelets! I would highly recommend this hotel.

Nayara Hotel

This hotel near the Arenal Volcano was a royal experience. It’s been voted the #1 resort in Central and South America and #5 hotel spa in the world, not to mention thousands of positive guest reviews. From the moment we stepped out of the car and onto the steps of the hotel, we could tell we would have a 5-star experience. The service was incredibly hospitable and helpful. The room, grounds, and restaurants were beautifully designed and maintained. The front desk helped us plan all our tours and transportation and they have a network of great drivers to take you into La Fortuna, to the airport, or wherever you need to go. It was a bit of a splurge to stay here but it was well worth it. For the location, it was very close to all our tours and a 10-minute ride to La Fortuna town. If you want a luxurious place to stay as you adventure in the Costa Rica rainforest, this is the place!

It was an incredible, adventure-filled trip and I haven’t even talked about the food yet! If you love outdoor activities and nature, you should definitely consider visiting Costa Rica.

Check out these posts for more information on Costa Rica:

• Costa Rica Travel Guide
• 10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica
• Tamarindo, Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica

Want to read about my adventures around the world? Click here.

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