Luckily I was able to experience the last ounce of “normal” travel in 2020 when 3 friends and I decided to do a road-trip across the beautiful country of Costa Rica in January 2020.
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, filled with lush natural forests, many different species and wildlife, beaches, mountains, hot springs, and much more. A safe eco paradise for those looking for adventure, nature and culture.
2 weeks in Costa Rica was the perfect time to see everything (although I would have loved to stay there longer)! We hit 6 different places in 2 weeks- San Jose, Monteverde, Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, La Fortuna & Puerto Viejo (note: although we did get to see a lot of the country, it was a lot of moving. So if you’re trying to relax and truly get to fully experience your surroundings, I would suggest doing 3 destinations).
Moving and seeing so much of the country does has some up and downs but coming out of this trip I was happy to experience various parts of the country and I now know which ones I’d like to go back too; with my top 3 places being Puerto Viejo, Monteverde & La Fortuna.
OUR ROUTE:
- December 31- January 2 San Jose (CITY)
- January 2-5 Monteverde (MOUNTAINS)
- Jan 5/6 Tamarindo (BEACH)
- Jan 6/7 Playa Conchal (BEACH)
- Jan 7-9 La Fortuna (MOUNTAINS)
- Jan 9-14 Puerto Viejo (BEACH)
HOW TO GET THERE: There are 2 major airports to fly into, but San Jose is definitely the most popular aka cheaper to fly into. If you’re planning to visit only the north side of the country, it would be wise to fly into the Liberia Airport, but if you plan to road trip across the country like we did from the center, the best way to do so is by flying into San Jose!
We booked our tickets for $360 roundtrip from Pittsburgh to San Jose.
Click here to get my FREE Cheap Flights Guide so you can save money on flights and use it towards more life experiences!
HOW TO GET AROUND: renting a car is the best way to see everything you want. The country also offers buses but a car is a great option if you want to make the most out of the drive and pull over for amazing scenic spots along the way
You are required to get rental insurance in Costa Rica so be sure to include that in your budget. We used my friends credit card which offered car insurance- they make you pay more when you get there but just pay it and your card will refund that money to you at the end of your trip
Browse rental cars here.
GETTING AROUND: Waze is your best friend when traveling around the country, because some places don’t have accurate addresses, so this will help point you in the right direction
TAXIS: When leaving the airport make sure to use an orange taxi since these are official and metered! It was $15 for us to get to downtown SFO to our hostel
I actually lost my camera bag in the taxi and was able to find the taxi with my receipt and had it returned to me. The company was actually super helpful & nice!
CURRENCY: In Costa Rica they use both Colones and US dollars, although it is easiest to just pay in Colones (only carry what you need). Most places in the touristy areas accept cards as well.Â
SAFETY:Â There was no point on this trip where I felt unsafe. We drove during the night sometimes but never walked around at night other than in Monteverde and Puerto Viejo. Use common sense!
WHERE TO STAY: there are a plethora of hostels, eco lodges and Airbnbs in this country so whatever fits best with your budget is up to you!
We managed to get 2 weeks of accommodation in Costa Rica for $125 each since we were splitting Airbnb’s between 4 people and obviously not opting for the most luxurious options. However despite the luxury lifestyle, all the places we stayed at were amazing throughout this trip and all are linked below!
Check out my Costa Rica vlog on Youtube from our trip!
Table of Contents
DAY 1 : SAN JOSE
ACCOMMODATION: we stayed at the Costa Rica Backpackers Hostel which was about $10 per night. The hostel had a kitchen, bar, restaurant, and pool! The open pool and eating area made it easy to meet other travelers and this hostel ended up being a great bang for our buck for a little slice of paradise in the city.
*if you travel near New Years, majority of businesses are closed on January 1st since it is a holiday*
Many people actually just use San Jose as a connecting point to get to other parts of the country, but we decided to explore the city a little bit before heading off to Monteverde.
We met a local named Eric who showed us around the city, played us music and told us some of the history of the buildings as well. The best thing to do while traveling is getting to know the locals, they know more about the country and will tell you about local hidden gems if you ask!
THINGS TO DO IN SAN JOSE:
Central Market & National Artisans Market: this little market offers souvenirs, handmade jewelry and crafts at prices that cant be beat!
Morazan Park: a beautiful park in the middle of San Jose that has amazing golden wings for photo ops- many call these the “Wings of Mexico”
DAYS 2-4: MONTEVERDE
From San Jose to Monteverde it takes about 3 hours, and is such a beautiful drive up the mountain!
ACCOMMODATION: A pretty little apartment that is super close to town.
THINGS TO DO IN MONTEVERDE:
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve of Monteverde ($9 entry fee with student ID): 8 miles of trails through an almost magical cloud forest filled with fresh air, lush greenery, and huge trees. We did the Encantado Trail, Del Bajo Trail and the Youth Challenge Trail!
Catarata Los Murcielagos Waterfall ($6 entry fee): a somewhat steep hike down through the forest, across three bridges until you reach the stunning waterfall
Ziplining and Hanging Bridges at Adventura Park ($57 per person): an adventure park filled with zip lining, hanging bridges, and even a tarzan swing
Monteverde Butterfly Garden ($12 entry fee with student ID): an amazing gathering place of butterflies with many different species to observe
more options: Viento Fresco Waterfalls, Catarata Serena, Horseback riding, Coffee, Chocolate and Sugarcane Tour
DAYS 5-7: TAMARINDO / PLAYA CONCHAL
The west side is an amazing place to catch sunsets!
ACCOMMODATION: One of my favorite stays during the trip that is very close to Playa Conchal
THINGS TO DO IN TAMARINDO/ PLAYA CONCHAL:
GO TO THE BEACH!! We went to Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, and Playa Hermosa. All were beautiful, especially for sunset!
If you want to add a little more adventure and go up north you can go to the Rincon National Park & Llana Del Cortes Waterfall then head to the Rio Celeste Waterfall on your way to La Fortuna.
DAYS 7-9: LA FORTUNA
ACCOMMODATION: Cute little apartment near the town
THINGS TO DO IN LA FORTUNA:
Arenal Volcano: something you will not miss on your drive into La Forutna is the active Arenal Volcano measuring at least 5,358 ft (1,633 metres) high.
La Fortuna Waterfall aka Catarata Fortuna ($18 entry fee): a 245 ft (75 meters) tall waterfall into a beautiful blue pool at the base of the dormant Chato volcano
La Fortuna Free Hot Springs: a free steaming spring right near the La Fortuna Waterfall- we actually accidently found this but ended up spending the rest of the day here soaking up the hot water
On the way to Puerto Viejo you can stop at Cataro De Toro, Paos Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens and the Toucan Rescue Ranch if you’re up for it!
DAYS 10-14: PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA
Puerto Viejo was my FAVORITE destination we went too because it was all Caribbean and chill beach vibes down there.
*during the winter months the swell is super strong and the tide is usually high in the south so be careful; since tides were high, we weren’t able to lay out on many beaches*
ACCOMMODATION: An open air little house near the beach
THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO VIEJO:
Playa Negra: a long black sand beach that sits between Puerto Viejo and Cahuita
Playa Punta Uva: a beautiful beach with soft tan sand, tall palm trees and turquoise water that is amazing to swim and snorkel in; also check out Playa Punta Uva Arrecife (Grape Point Reef)
Manzanillo: another beautiful beach with tan sand, and impressive snorkeling and diving
Jaguar Rescue Center: an animal rescue center is dedicated to the rehabilitation of mistreated, injured, orphaned, and/or confiscated animals. (Public tour $22, Private tour $75)
Sloth Sanctuary: The Sanctuary located near Cahuita is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, research, and release of injured or orphaned sloths ($30 entry fee)
GET TATTOOS! We last minute got tattoos from Ouerto Viejo Tattoo and they did just a great job, were so kind, and affordable! My friends and I all got matching butterfly tattoos and my other friend got “Pura Vida” on the inside of his lip lol- I believe mine was $70!
After visiting all of these amazing places, we returned to San Jose to take our rental car back and hopped on our separate planes to different destinations!
I hope this blog post helps inspire you find amazing places through the breathtaking country of Costa Rica and give you a little insight you how to budget for your trip!
