I captured so many shots while in Costa Rica, it was hard to choose which image to post first. Here is my quick trip to Costa Rica, including where I stayed, ate, hiked, and all the great things that are "must sees" in such a beautiful country. My journey only led me to discovering more that I wasn't able to fit into the trip, but that just means that I will be going back one day!
This vacation was planned in 3 days! I decided to give myself 1 week before starting my new job and since my husband, Reed could also take some time off, I quickly booked a flight and hotel. I was worried about how the vacation would go, not only for planning it so quickly, but also because I've never actually planned a trip before. Costa Rica had been on my mind lately and I had been researching things to see there. I felt irresponsible for being so spontaneous. It was very out of character for me, but in a great way!
We stayed in the Arenal area near the town of La Fortuna. We booked our stay at the Mountain Paradise Hotel, but the area is full of hotels at all different rates including a hostel in La Fortuna. Our trip took place during mid January and the weather was mostly sunny.
The view of Arenal Volcano from our bungalow at Mountain Paradise Hotel.
Here's what I learned about Costa Rica
1. I felt safe
Costa Rica felt very safe. To compare, I am from Houston, Texas where it's not uncommon to be approached and asked for money. I didn't go walking around Costa Rica alone at night, but I did drive all the way from La Fortuna to Guanacaste with Reed. We stopped at gas stations and the local grocery store. It would have been helpful to know more Spanish, but we were fine with the extremely small amount of Spanish we could speak. We got lost at one point when we couldn't locate the entrance to a park. The people we asked for directions were very helpful and it really made me appreciate the country and its people.
View of Arenal Lake from the rainforest.
I recommend that if you rent a car get a GPS with it. This saved us! We had to find our hotel while driving on winding rural roads at night. The GPS showed us when to expect sharp turns. There was normally only one lane on rural roads, but on bridges it turned into only enough room for one vehicle. Signs indicated which car should yield first, but it still made my heart race. The GPS gave us confidence that we were headed the right direction when we ended up on dirt roads. We did not have 4 wheel drive and were fortunate for the dry weather, but I do recommend getting a small SUV with 4 wheel drive.
3. Great hiking experience
There are so many places to hike in Costa Rica. The best part is that the wildlife is so rich, it's like stepping into another world. It also didn't hurt that we were not at a high altitude so it was easy to breathe. There is one hike in particular that is not listed as a main attraction on vacation websites, but deserves recognition. This one was through Sky Adventures Arenal Park. The hike was just under 3 miles and included hanging bridges, viewpoints, and 2 waterfalls. This hike was more expensive at $25 per person without a guide, but it was worth it. Just to be clear, there are hanging bridge tours advertised all over Costa Rica. This was not one of the most popular on the list. The trail was very easy and well maintained. It did have about 200 steps up at the end, but still not very challenging. The best part about this activity was that we were alone through much of the hike. There was nobody else in sight when we stopped at both waterfalls, only butterflies and other various hidden animals. I loved the seclusion of it all!
The other hike we went on was to see the Rio Celeste waterfall and river located in Tenorio Volcano National Park. This hike was muddy and crowded, but the waterfall and river make this attraction a must-see! I actually liked the Sky Adventures hike better, but Rio Celeste is pure and magical. The crystal-clear, vibrant light blue water made me feel like I was in a fairy tale. There were many tour groups walking through and the pathway was slippery. The hike was very short (about 1.5 miles) and there were people of all ages participating. There are maybe 250 steps down to get to the waterfall, so it is a workout when you are ready to venture back up.
I was surprised that when reading reviews about Rio Celeste, nobody mentioned the 7 mile long dirt road to get there. We were certain that we were lost in the middle of the jungle! The road was dry, but had it been raining a lot it is possible that our car may have not made it.
Had I stayed in the area longer, I probably would have tried the Cerro Chato hike. It is a hike that leads to a beautiful crater lake right next to Arenal Volcano. If you do not want to hike, there are many other activities in the Arenal area including, zip lining, horseback riding, biking, guided wildlife tours, and water sports.
4. There are so many unique animals
Birds: Costa Rica is full of interesting animals. During our first day, I noticed many hummingbirds buzzing around the gardens at our hotel. They were colored deep aqua, purple, and some had white tails. I later found out that Costa Rica is home to 52 species of hummingbirds, compared to the 23 species that are found in the U.S. There are colorful birds everywhere, so it really is worth getting a brochure just to identify what you are looking at. Numerous guided bird watching tours are available in Arenal.
I was really excited about seeing a Toucan in the wild. He seemed much larger than the ones at the zoo. We were also lucky enough to see some owls, a smaller species of Toucan, some Blue Gray Tanagers, and a Jabiru Stork that was the size of a small horse!
Coatis: Costa Rica is full of Coatis. We saw one walking on the side of the road, and quickly pulled over to take a picture. I thought it would probably run away so I was shocked when it went right up to our car. I was a little nervous that this wild animal was not scared of us. I pulled a cracker out of my bag and threw it to keep the animal from crawling on me. We ran into another coati (or possibly the same one) after our hike and gave him another cracker. We found out later that you are not supposed to feed the animals!
Sloths: I was really set on seeing a sloth while in Central America. I found exactly what I was looking for at Ecocentro Danaus ($9 per person) . I asked the guys at the reception desk if there were any sloth sightings that day and they responded with "there's one sleeping right here". They walked Reed and I right over to the spot so we could take pictures. We ended up seeing 3 sloths on the grounds. Ecocentro Danaus also has an enclosed butterfly habitat. When we walked inside, hundreds of Blue Morpho butterflies fluttered around us. This was also cool because again, we were completely alone in the butterfly sanctuary. The rest of the area was full of interesting birds and was all around, a neat place! A QUICK NOTE: If you are visiting this wildlife reserve, you MUST wear bug spray. I did not encounter any mosquitoes on my long hikes, but this place was swarming!
Monkeys: We only saw 1 monkey in the wild and that's because it ran out in front of our car. I have also heard that a good place to see monkeys is at Manuel Antonio National Park, which is another place I hope to get to next time I visit Costa Rica. A great way to get some interaction with monkeys is to visit a wildlife rescue center. Since it had high ratings, we chose to book a tour+ volunteering excursion at Proyecto Asis. This place was awesome! Our volunteering included chopping up fruit for all the animals and feeding them! This wildlife refuge had an awesome guide and really educated us about local wildlife issues.
There are many more unusual animals in Costa Rica, these were just some we were lucky enough to see.
5. The beaches are public
I need a whole month to explore Costa Rica! We spent one day driving to the Province of Guanacaste to visit a beach. Here are some pictures on Playa Conchal. It was a long beach. The area where we parked had some souvenir shops, horses for rent, and a few small restaurants. We walked to the far edge of the beach. It made us a little nervous because we found ourselves alone on one corner of the beach, but it was still very relaxing. More people showed up towards the evening. I was surprised that it was very easy to find parking and there was no fee to park. We learned that all of the beaches in Costa Rica are public. The Guanacaste area seemed very arid compared to lush rain forests of Arenal, but I loved getting some time to swim in the Pacific Ocean.
6. It's easy to get pizza, but "Typico" food is great too
Food is a very opinionated matter, but if you like pizza you're in luck. Every town we drove through had multiple pizza places. We found a restaurant close to our hotel called Que Rico that served both Italian and Costa Rican or "Typico" style food. We got pizza, pasta, burgers, and a chicken rice dish. It was so good that we ended up going back 2 more times. I like the Central American dish Gallo Pinto , which is rice and black beans mixed together and seasoned with cilantro, peppers, and onion. Gallo Pinto was available every day for breakfast at our hotel and served with eggs, a corn tortilla and a side of fired plantains. It is also very easy to get fresh fruit from a stand. Costa Rica farms most of the pineapples that end up in U.S. grocery stores, so it's nice to try it at its freshest.
This is what got when I ordered desayuno typico. Scrambled eggs, gallo pinto, fried plantains, queso, and a corn tortilla. It was delicious!
This is the burger I ordered at Que Rico. The patty came with bacon and two slices of ham on it. I've never had a burger before that included ham slices, but it was very good.
7. Hundreds of things to do and see
Unless you hate the outdoors and pleasant warm weather, Costa Rica has an endless amount of activities to do and places to see. My experience in Costa Rica was enchanting! I am fairly new to visiting different countries, and recommend Costa Rica as a good destination for Americans who are new to international travel. This trip had a lot of American influence, but I also felt that I got a good taste of Costa Rican culture. Spanish was helpful but not mandatory and areas were "touristy" without being overly crowded. The landscape and plant life are stunning. Costa Rica is a true rain forest paradise!
Thank you for reading! I hope this provided you with accurate and helpful information and reasons to love Costa Rica.
3. Great hiking experience
There are so many places to hike in Costa Rica. The best part is that the wildlife is so rich, it's like stepping into another world. It also didn't hurt that we were not at a high altitude so it was easy to breathe. There is one hike in particular that is not listed as a main attraction on vacation websites, but deserves recognition. This one was through Sky Adventures Arenal Park. The hike was just under 3 miles and included hanging bridges, viewpoints, and 2 waterfalls. This hike was more expensive at $25 per person without a guide, but it was worth it. Just to be clear, there are hanging bridge tours advertised all over Costa Rica. This was not one of the most popular on the list. The trail was very easy and well maintained. It did have about 200 steps up at the end, but still not very challenging. The best part about this activity was that we were alone through much of the hike. There was nobody else in sight when we stopped at both waterfalls, only butterflies and other various hidden animals. I loved the seclusion of it all!
The beautiful and crystal clear water of Rio Celeste.
one river merging with another, and the fine line dividing the vivid blue water.
Blue Morpho Butterfly at Rio Celeste Waterfall
I was surprised that when reading reviews about Rio Celeste, nobody mentioned the 7 mile long dirt road to get there. We were certain that we were lost in the middle of the jungle! The road was dry, but had it been raining a lot it is possible that our car may have not made it.
Had I stayed in the area longer, I probably would have tried the Cerro Chato hike. It is a hike that leads to a beautiful crater lake right next to Arenal Volcano. If you do not want to hike, there are many other activities in the Arenal area including, zip lining, horseback riding, biking, guided wildlife tours, and water sports.
4. There are so many unique animals
Birds: Costa Rica is full of interesting animals. During our first day, I noticed many hummingbirds buzzing around the gardens at our hotel. They were colored deep aqua, purple, and some had white tails. I later found out that Costa Rica is home to 52 species of hummingbirds, compared to the 23 species that are found in the U.S. There are colorful birds everywhere, so it really is worth getting a brochure just to identify what you are looking at. Numerous guided bird watching tours are available in Arenal.
This bird (pictured above) is the Rufous-Tailed Jacamar
White Tailed Trogon
Coatis: Costa Rica is full of Coatis. We saw one walking on the side of the road, and quickly pulled over to take a picture. I thought it would probably run away so I was shocked when it went right up to our car. I was a little nervous that this wild animal was not scared of us. I pulled a cracker out of my bag and threw it to keep the animal from crawling on me. We ran into another coati (or possibly the same one) after our hike and gave him another cracker. We found out later that you are not supposed to feed the animals!
Sloths: I was really set on seeing a sloth while in Central America. I found exactly what I was looking for at Ecocentro Danaus ($9 per person) . I asked the guys at the reception desk if there were any sloth sightings that day and they responded with "there's one sleeping right here". They walked Reed and I right over to the spot so we could take pictures. We ended up seeing 3 sloths on the grounds. Ecocentro Danaus also has an enclosed butterfly habitat. When we walked inside, hundreds of Blue Morpho butterflies fluttered around us. This was also cool because again, we were completely alone in the butterfly sanctuary. The rest of the area was full of interesting birds and was all around, a neat place! A QUICK NOTE: If you are visiting this wildlife reserve, you MUST wear bug spray. I did not encounter any mosquitoes on my long hikes, but this place was swarming!
pictured above: Two toed sloth sleeping
Three toed sloth. He could really turn his head!
Monkeys: We only saw 1 monkey in the wild and that's because it ran out in front of our car. I have also heard that a good place to see monkeys is at Manuel Antonio National Park, which is another place I hope to get to next time I visit Costa Rica. A great way to get some interaction with monkeys is to visit a wildlife rescue center. Since it had high ratings, we chose to book a tour+ volunteering excursion at Proyecto Asis. This place was awesome! Our volunteering included chopping up fruit for all the animals and feeding them! This wildlife refuge had an awesome guide and really educated us about local wildlife issues.
Spider Monkey at Proyecto Asis
There are many more unusual animals in Costa Rica, these were just some we were lucky enough to see.
5. The beaches are public
I need a whole month to explore Costa Rica! We spent one day driving to the Province of Guanacaste to visit a beach. Here are some pictures on Playa Conchal. It was a long beach. The area where we parked had some souvenir shops, horses for rent, and a few small restaurants. We walked to the far edge of the beach. It made us a little nervous because we found ourselves alone on one corner of the beach, but it was still very relaxing. More people showed up towards the evening. I was surprised that it was very easy to find parking and there was no fee to park. We learned that all of the beaches in Costa Rica are public. The Guanacaste area seemed very arid compared to lush rain forests of Arenal, but I loved getting some time to swim in the Pacific Ocean.
6. It's easy to get pizza, but "Typico" food is great too
Food is a very opinionated matter, but if you like pizza you're in luck. Every town we drove through had multiple pizza places. We found a restaurant close to our hotel called Que Rico that served both Italian and Costa Rican or "Typico" style food. We got pizza, pasta, burgers, and a chicken rice dish. It was so good that we ended up going back 2 more times. I like the Central American dish Gallo Pinto , which is rice and black beans mixed together and seasoned with cilantro, peppers, and onion. Gallo Pinto was available every day for breakfast at our hotel and served with eggs, a corn tortilla and a side of fired plantains. It is also very easy to get fresh fruit from a stand. Costa Rica farms most of the pineapples that end up in U.S. grocery stores, so it's nice to try it at its freshest.
This is the burger I ordered at Que Rico. The patty came with bacon and two slices of ham on it. I've never had a burger before that included ham slices, but it was very good.
7. Hundreds of things to do and see
Unless you hate the outdoors and pleasant warm weather, Costa Rica has an endless amount of activities to do and places to see. My experience in Costa Rica was enchanting! I am fairly new to visiting different countries, and recommend Costa Rica as a good destination for Americans who are new to international travel. This trip had a lot of American influence, but I also felt that I got a good taste of Costa Rican culture. Spanish was helpful but not mandatory and areas were "touristy" without being overly crowded. The landscape and plant life are stunning. Costa Rica is a true rain forest paradise!
Thank you for reading! I hope this provided you with accurate and helpful information and reasons to love Costa Rica.
I'm ready to go to Costa Rica now!!
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