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Costa Rica Itineraries: The Land of Adventures
Heather Vergara- May 10
- 8 min read
Updated: May 12
Costa Rica offers exhilarating adventures, breathtaking natural wonders, wild wildlife encounters, and spectacularly unique ecolodges. While not an easy or relaxing vacation, it’s one you'll never forget! With so much eco-diversity, Costa Rica offers a range of itineraries to choose from, which means it's impossible to experience the destination in one trip. But that's okay, because once you visit, you will be back! We've now been twice, and I still feel like we've just scratched the surface of experiencing all that is Costa Rica.
To get a sense of Costa Rica's uniqueness, just look at the numbers:
27 National Parks
6 active volcanoes plus more than 60 dormant/extinct volcanoes
500,000 species of wildlife
5% of the world's biodiversity - jungles, cloud forests, coral reefs, rainforests, hot
springs, dry forests, waterfalls, and swamps
When you visit, the people of Costa Rica will welcome you with open arms and encourage you to live the "Pura Vida!" - which literally translates to "Pure Life." It's a greeting, a philosophy, a way of life. It means don't sweat the small stuff, live life to the fullest, and anything in between. You'll find yourself saying it many times a day and wanting to bring that feeling back home.
Costa Rica Destinations and Itineraries
Because the country offers incredible bio-diversity that varies depending on the area you’re visiting, you should move at least once during your stay. However, the roads are unpredictable and extremely curvy, so hire a private driver and pack your patience and your Dramamine.
The main tourist regions of Costa Rica include:
Arenal Volcano – The most popular tourist area in Costa Rica, this picture-perfect volcano lies near the adventure capital of La Fortuna in a lush rainforest, about a 3-hour drive from either of Costa Rica’s major airports (San Jose or Liberia).
Guanacaste coast – Home to the most popular beaches and beach towns: Papagayo Peninsula, Playa Hermosa, Playa Conchal, Tamarindo. Liberia airport is a short drive away – 30 mins to 1.5 hours, depending on which beach town you choose.
Nicoya Peninsula – If you’re looking for a more remote beach experience and don’t mind a drive (3 hours from Liberia, 5 hours from San Jose), this surfer hangout and wellness enclave has achieved Blue Zone status.
Manuel Antonio – Costa Rica’s most popular National Park, Manuel Antonio has all the outdoor adventures, wildlife, and beach experience in one place, so if you don't want to move, this is a good choice. Manuel Antonio is at least 3 hours from San Jose airport and more than five hours from Arenal, so it's difficult to combine Arenal with Manuel Antonio.
Monteverde Cloudforest - Famous for its biodiversity, including six life zones, and for having the most orchid species in a single place, Monteverde is also famous for its challenging roads.
Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific – Home to Corcovado National Park and known for pristine natural beauty, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife, as well as Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf), a serene, fjord-like bay perfect for snorkeling and whale watching. This area is only accessible by small plane or boat and usually requires an overnight in San Jose on the front and/or back end to accommodate the logistics.
Tortuguero National Park and the Caribbean Coast – Referred to as the “Amazon of Costa Rica,” this is one of the few places in the world that has successfully reversed deforestation and fiercely protects wildlife. The beaches here are major nesting sites for green turtles, but the brackish water is not suitable for swimming due to large waves, sharks, and crocodiles! Only accessible by small plane or boat.
While there's no shortage of options, the top itinerary combines the Arenal Volcano and rainforest with a Guanacaste beach experience. On our first visit, we combined Arenal with the Nicoya Peninsula, which was very difficult to get to and a little quiet for our tastes. Eight years later, we came back to share “pura vida” with our kids, and we chose a combo Guanacaste beach/jungle/Arenal rainforest itinerary with three stops and all the adventures. See what I mean by just scratching the surface? We’ve been twice and only experienced 3 out of 7 tourist regions!
Costa Rica Adventures and Accommodations
No matter which parts of the country you visit, adventure is always on the agenda in Costa Rica. Test your courage with whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, and ziplining. Get a workout hiking in the rainforest and exploring waterfalls, and then soothe your muscles in a thermal spring. You can explore on foot, horseback, or ATV and spot unique wildlife all around you—monkeys, sloths, snakes, jaguars, humpback whales, and brilliantly-colored frogs, macaws, hummingbirds, and butterflies. For water lovers, there's snorkeling, scuba, surfing, kayaking, SUP, and whitewater tubing – but don’t expect clear Caribbean waters. In fact, the popular beaches are actually on the Pacific side.
Hanging bridges, ATV, ziplining, waterfall rappel, whitewater tubing
After all that adventure, you can rest your weary head in accommodations as unique as Costa Rica. From beachfront resorts that blend into the landscape to eco wellness lodges nestled in a canyon over hot springs to luxury tented camps built in the treetops of the rainforest, you decide how rustic or how luxurious you want your accommodations to be. Most choices are committed to sustainability and conservation, making Costa Rica one of the most eco-friendly destinations.
When to Visit
Regardless of what time of year you visit, the sun sets around 5:30 p.m. all year long. Plan for early mornings to beat the heat and arrive back at your destination before dark.
High and dry season - Christmas to Easter
Expect high prices, higher temperatures, and sunny days. On our first visit, we visited in January, and we had a fair amount of rain in the rainforest but lovely weather on the coast. On our second visit in early April, we had beautiful weather in the rainforest but oppressively hot and humid weather at the beach.
Green season - May-July, November
The shoulder season offers a balance of pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. You’ll experience some rain, but it’s usually less frequent vs. peak rainy season, and the country is lush and green.
Peak rainy season - September-October
Rainfall can potentially limit access to some areas and impact outdoor activities. We originally planned our last trip for Fall Break in October, but after digging into the weather, I decided to postpone to Spring Break due to the risk of rain limiting our vacation!
Our Costa Rica 9-night, 3-stop Adventure-Filled Itinerary
For our second trip to the land of Pura Vida (and our kids' first), we chose a combo beach/jungle/rainforest itinerary with 3-stops and all the adventures.
Beach Stay at W Costa Rica - Reserva Conchal
The W Costa Rica - Reserva Conchal is an architecturally eclectic and boldly colorful brand that attracts hipsters and families alike. Hidden amongst the mangroves of Reserva Conchal, W Costa Rica offers a boutique experience on an expansive property with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and one of the best beaches in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is not known for beautiful beaches, so you take note when you find a beautiful one!
W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal is a modern oasis surrounded by lush landscapes.
Here we enjoyed:
Sunset catamaran snorkel cruise - the sunset was beautiful, the snorkeling wasn't impressive.
Beach ATV - Brady had a ball driving, but I wish we had done ATVs at Arenal in the rainforest where it's more beautiful and not as hot.
Chill time at the beach and pool
Golf for the boys
Resort tours for the girls. In addition to touring our resort, The W, we toured The Westin Reserva Conchal Golf Resort & Spa, an All Inclusive Resort. While the Westin is more budget-friendly, my clients and I have all appreciated the more authentic and boutique experience at The W.
Adventures at the W: sunset catamaran, beach time, golf, and beach ATVs.
Costa Rica's Pacific coast is HOT, humid, and dry unless you go during green season. If I had to do it all over, I would've skipped the beach stay.
Jungle stay at Rio Perdido
On the way (sort of) from the Guanacaste coast to Arenal, you'll find Rio Perdido, a unique eco lodge designed to be in perfect harmony with its one-of-a-kind setting. Built in the middle of a 1500-acre reserve over a thermal river and two converging canyons, Rio Perdido is cooled by an ever-present breeze (which we welcomed after the hot and humid beach weather) and framed by a unique dwarf forest with an endless variety of flora and fauna. We saw so many monkeys!
Rio Perdido brings thermal wellness and outdoor adventure together.
At Rio Perdido, we enjoyed our bungalow nestled in the middle of the jungle and all the onsite adventures:
Canyon adventure with zipline, tarzan swing, challenge bridge, climbing routes
Whitewater tubing
Sunrise mountain biking
Hiking, hot springs, and volcanic mud
Clifftop yoga
Adventures and scenes at Rio Perdido: canyon adventure, whitewater tubing, volcanic mud, and so many monkeys!
Rainforest stay by Arenal Volcano at Nayara Tented Camp
My hubs and I stayed at Nayara Gardens eight years ago and LOVED the setting in the middle of a verdant rainforest. When Nayara built Tented Camp, I knew we'd be back with the kids! Named the #1 resort in Central America four years running, Nayara's luxury "tents" sit on stilts to maximize the stunning views of Arenal Volcano while minimizing their environmental footprint. Each tent features a large terrace with a private pool fed by mineral hot springs, both an indoor and outdoor shower, plus plenty of interior space for the whole family. Aside from the spectacular landscapes, luxurious tent, and bountiful breakfast buffet, our favorite feature here was the complimentary laundry! We returned home with suitcases full of CLEAN clothes!
Nayara Tented Camp is perched on a clifftop with views of the rainforest all around.
At Arenal, we conquered our biggest adventures of the trip and relaxed a little.
Waterfall rappel - the first drop was 165 feet!
Hanging bridges
The zipline of all ziplines at Costa Rica Sky Adventures
Massages for all of us - the kids' first time!
Arenal adventures: hanging bridges, ziplining, waterfall rappel, and whitewater rafting from our first visit
The two most luxurious resorts in Arenal (and the resorts I book most) are Nayara Tented Camp and The Springs Resort and Spa. Both resorts are Virtuoso properties where I can offer special VIP amenities and sometimes special pricing. I was able to tour The Springs Resort and Spa and brought my family along so they could experience the resort with me.
The views and grounds at both Nayara and The Springs are spectacular, but Nayara’s setting, as well as its accommodations, are unmatched. Where The Springs stands out is its onsite activities at Club Rio Adventure Center. Activities include: river tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, rock climbing and rappelling, fishing, hot springs, and a wildlife sanctuary tour. The resort also offers putt-putt, which my family enjoyed for hours, plus multiple levels of hot spring pools right at the center of the resort. The dining options at The Springs are more kid-friendly but also less authentic than Nayara. Both resorts are excellent choices, and now I have firsthand experience, so I can counsel my clients on the best fit for them!
When you're ready for Pura Vida, Show Them the World is ready to help design the adventure of a lifetime!
Heather Vergara is a former PepsiCo marketing executive who left the corporate world to be a Mom and never found her way back. Instead, she focused on her passion for travel and adventure and created Show Them the World, a travel concierge service for busy families longing to reconnect and see the world together. She's now a Million Dollar Advisor with Gifted Travel Network, a Virtuoso agency. Heather has helped hundreds of families experience Hawaii, Alaska, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Italy, France, Greece, England, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Africa, Iceland, National Parks, and more to come!
Heather has an MBA in marketing from Indiana University, a Digital Marketing Executive Education certificate from Columbia University, and a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives with her husband, two kids, and two furry dogs in Zionsville, Indiana.
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