{"id":3927,"date":"2024-01-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lareunionenphotos.com\/post\/costa-rica-an-unforgettable-2-week-itinerary\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T15:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T11:58:07","slug":"costa-rica-an-unforgettable-2-week-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lareunionenphotos.com\/en\/post\/costa-rica-an-unforgettable-2-week-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica: An Unforgettable 2-Week Itinerary!"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, you’ll find a summary of the fourteen days we spent in Costa Rica \u2013 the 3rd country on our World Tour. Amidst national parks, at the foot of a volcano, with our feet in the water of waterfall pools, experiencing the “Pura Vida,” we share our wonderful discoveries! We also share our food, accommodation, and transport tips. At the end of the article, those in a hurry will find a summary.\ud83d\ude09 <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>

We hope many of you will follow along on our adventures! <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>

A Necessary Stop in San Jos\u00e9 <\/span><\/span><\/h2>

\ud83d\udeec We landed in San Jos\u00e9 on Saturday, October 21, quite late in the evening, and slept at the <\/span>Alajuela Hotel,<\/span><\/u> located near the airport, which we do not recommend (rather poor value for money in our experience).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\ude97 We picked up our rental car and our friends, Charl\u00e8ne and Laurent, on Sunday evening. We had rented the apartment ” <\/span> Hospedaje Ana Lu <\/span><\/u><\/em>“, also in the Alajuela area, 15 minutes from the airport. This neighborhood was perfect for our overnight stop in San Jos\u00e9. We highly recommend this apartment, which we found on Booking. We received a personalized, high-quality welcome; the apartment is very well-equipped (fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, fans, etc.) and very clean. It’s worthy of a starred hotel, yet we paid \u20ac62 for four people. On Monday the 22nd, we set off for nearly three hours of driving to our destination: Tortuguero! <\/span><\/span><\/p>

3 Days of Total Immersion in Tortuguero National Park <\/span><\/span><\/h2>

<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udef6 Early morning departure from San Jos\u00e9, we drove for 3 hours to reach the La Pavona parking lot. After an hour-long boat ride \u2013 during which we saw dozens of birds, caimans, and iguanas \u2013 we arrived in Tortuguero! We had a room at the <\/span>Carey Lodging <\/span><\/u> (53\u20ac\/night including breakfast). A guide (named Verny) welcomed us upon arrival and helped us plan our schedule for the coming days. He took the time to show us the Tortuguero map and the main activities, detailing which ones required a guide and which we could do independently. He also gave us recommendations regarding national park entrance tickets via the SINAC website ( <\/span>Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion<\/span><\/em>). The day before (or even several days in advance), you can book your entrance tickets for one of the park sectors online; they will be valid for the entire day. Just present the reservation number at the ticket counter. For this first evening in Tortuguero, we took a short tour of the village after planning the next few days. Our hotel was located at the entrance to the national park, so we were lucky enough to see spider monkeys in the treetops from our hotel! For this first evening, we walked along the beach at dusk to look for any emerging turtles. Luck wasn’t on our side this time (it’s the very end of the season). <\/span><\/span><\/p>

All our YouTube videos are filmed with Insta360, find our <\/span>Insta360 promo code<\/span><\/u><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3P57BlU4JY0<\/div><\/figure>
\"Spider<\/figure>

\ud83d\ude0d This Tuesday, October 24, will undoubtedly be a day to remember\u2026 \ud83d\udef6We woke up at dawn \u2013 roused by howler monkeys outside our windows \u2013 and set off at <\/span>5:30 AM <\/span><\/strong>by canoe with our guide to explore the Tortuguero River and its extraordinary inhabitants! During these three hours of paddling on the river, we didn’t know where to look, as animals were all around us: caimans, ibises, herons, macaws, toucans, a sloth, a baby porcupine\u2026 and so many more!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

We were surprised to see that we could get quite close to the animals without disturbing them and without them feeling threatened by our presence. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\"Tortuguero<\/figure>

\ud83d\udc06Afterward, we went to have breakfast at the hotel. Then, we went to do the “<\/span>Jaguar Trail<\/span><\/u> <\/span><\/strong>” independently. A short two-to-three-hour hike in the heart of the national park, along a marked trail that runs alongside the beach. We saw monkeys, frogs, turtle carcasses (killed by jaguars), birds, ants\u2026 We did it without a guide, and it’s perfectly doable, though we certainly missed dozens of species that were probably around us but that our untrained senses didn’t allow us to see.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udc22In the evening, at <\/span>8:45 PM, <\/span><\/strong>we set off with our guide to witness the turtles laying their eggs on the beach.<\/span> An unforgettable experience!<\/span><\/strong> On the path leading to the beach, we saw a red-eyed, blue-footed frog, very rare according to our guide; we saw a sloth eating, and we saw lizards. Then we waited for many long minutes while the reserve officers monitored the beaches for turtles\u2026 Around 10:30 PM, just as we were all despairing, the guide gave us a comprehensive lesson on the life of turtles, the nesting process, their choice to come to Tortuguero to lay eggs, and overall, we were able to discuss the local wildlife with him, especially <\/span>the jaguar, <\/span><\/strong>as Tortuguero National Park is home to about 41 jaguars, and they sometimes come to the village to eat\u2026 the villagers’ dogs! \ud83d\ude26 A fascinating exchange, and a wealth of information; we were truly privileged because our guide, <\/span>Verny<\/span><\/em> , was passionate about his island and nature. After 11 PM, just as we thought the turtles had stood us up, two people from the group had already left, and Verny offered us compensation (to repeat the experience the next day), we received information that a turtle had just arrived on the beach! So we walked about 3 km at a brisk pace to reach the turtle on that beach. To do this, we had to go back through the Jaguar Trail in the dark. It was quite an experience in itself, being in the pitch-black jungle at night, with all the surrounding sounds! It was worth the effort because we arrived in time to see a 96 cm green turtle lay eggs in the hole she had just dug in the sand\u2026 We went in small groups of 6 to 10 people; no cameras or phones were allowed (to avoid creating a magnetic field that would disturb the turtle), no images were taken, and no white light was tolerated. So, illuminated by the moon and a single small infrared light held by a park ranger behind the turtle, we were able to watch her lay. First, we saw the eggs emerge and nestle in the hole, then we saw the turtle camouflage her eggs by sweeping sand with her flippers. Given the late hour, we all had to leave the beach and let the turtle peacefully return to the sea. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

The late arrival is explained by the end of the nesting season. We consider ourselves very lucky to have witnessed this. During peak season, the guide explained that about a hundred turtles come every evening around 8 PM\/9 PM. This way, tourist groups are spread out, which greatly limits human impact on the turtles. Generally, you can witness the entire nesting process: from arrival on the beach, digging the hole, laying, camouflaging, and then returning to the sea. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udc38 Wednesday, October 25: we took a boat for about ten minutes to reach the village of San Francisco, where we explored Tortuguero National Park – Cerro (without a guide). We paid $2 per person for entry and $6 per person for the boat. We were able to climb to the viewpoint overlooking the canopy: a bird’s-eye view of the Tortuguero River arms – the ocean – and all the jungle stretching out below us! <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Allow two to three hours for the tour. We saw dozens of small red frogs, capuchin monkeys, an otter swimming, and distant birds flying over the canopy. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\"Tortuguero<\/figure>

<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udc0a We leave Tortuguero, heads full of memories and stars in our eyes. On the return boat trip, we once again admired caimans, iguanas, and birds of all kinds\u2026 What a quality escort all the way to our car! <\/span><\/span><\/p>

<\/span><\/span><\/p>

<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Four Days in La Fortuna, at the Foot of Arenal Volcano <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>

\ud83c\udfe1 We got back in the car, heading for La Fortuna (about a 3-hour drive). We arrived at our Airbnb, and we can tell you it was incredible! We recommend checking it out if you’re planning a stay near Arenal Volcano:<\/span> link here<\/span><\/u><\/a>. Our accommodation has a breathtaking view of the volcano, which made each of our breakfasts magical. It’s fully equipped and very clean.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

\ud83c\udf0b For this first full day, we discovered <\/span>Arenal Volcano <\/span><\/u>within the national park ($15\/person for park entry). In addition to a beautiful hike with various viewpoints of the imposing Arenal Volcano, we were amazed to see a toucan and a family of coatis that put on an incredible show for us! Mothers and their young coatis were digging for food, crossing the path right in front of or next to us! Again, we were touched to see that these animals are not familiar with humans, as they never approach us, but they don’t fear us either.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

We then ate at the restaurant <\/span>El Novillo del Arenal<\/span><\/u>, which we recommend: a breathtaking view of the volcano and a very good and hearty meal (18,340 colones, or \u20ac32 for two).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

To end the day beautifully, we swam in the<\/span> Chollin hot springs<\/span><\/u>: 100% natural and free, these hot springs are public. We paid 5,000 colones for parking (\u20ac9).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

\"Arenal<\/figure>

\ud83e\udda5 This Saturday, October 28, we discovered the <\/span>La Fortuna Waterfall<\/span><\/u> within Arenal National Park. Entrance to the waterfall costs $16 per person. The waterfall is very high and powerful, but it’s possible to swim in the main pool. This area is also supervised. For fewer crowds, you can also swim in the river arm, where the water is calm and crystal clear! The site also includes a small orchid path where you can admire different plant species. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

In the afternoon, we visited a <\/span>sloth park (Sloths Territory)<\/span><\/u> located near our accommodation. We paid $35 per person for a guided tour in the forest lasting 1.5 hours. In Tortuguero, we had only seen two sloths (one from very far away during our canoe trip, one at night during the turtle outing), and we really wanted to see more. However, in hindsight, we could have skipped this activity \u2013 relatively expensive and quite touristy.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udca7Sunday, October 29, we braved the rain to marvel at the great waterfall of <\/span>Rio Celeste<\/span><\/u> ! And we were not disappointed! We had booked our tickets via SINAC the day before ($12\/person), and had to pay 2,000 colones for parking (\u20ac3.50). We first walked through a lush forest where we encountered snakes, then descended the stairs leading to the impressive waterfall! Swimming is not allowed, nor is going down to the water; a viewpoint is set up for us to stop just before. Once we climbed back up the stairs, we continued our walk to the left to follow the river and discover very curious phenomena: the bubbling waters, and the demarcation of the two waters: crystal clear and the darker river water! Impressive. The walk is very well laid out, with a bit of elevation but nothing too strenuous. The rain didn’t let up that morning, but it didn’t stop us from fully enjoying the place! <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\"Rio<\/figure>

\ud83d\udee3\ufe0fThis Monday, October 30, we hit the road very early to cross a large part of the country. From Arenal to Corcovado, it took us about 8 hours to cover the 430 km. In the middle of the afternoon, we discovered the incredible world of the <\/span>Amapola Lodge<\/span><\/u> (<\/span>link<\/span><\/u><\/a>) where we would stay for the next 5 days. The lodge is located between Playa Blanca and Puerto Jimenez. It’s a large, individual wooden house with wide openings to the private forest, the immense park, and the swimming pool. Upstairs, a large dormitory has several beds. Then a private room is completely open and overlooks the forest! Having the feeling of sleeping in the heart of nature but with the comfort of a bed with a mosquito net and a private bathroom was a unique experience that we recommend to everyone! We were welcomed like royalty by Beatriz and Gerardo, who also live on the property with their three children and their three adorable dogs, Sultan, Fifi, and Gordon \ud83d\udc36. A quick dip in the pool allowed us to relax after this day of driving, and then we experienced our first night almost immersed in the jungle! What a sweet lullaby the song of nature was. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\ud83e\udda5Tuesday, October 31, we had an appointment with our host Gerardo, who kindly showed us around the 17-hectare property. We met his many chickens and roosters, then walked through the forest and along the stream, keeping an eye out for snakes. We saw his cows and horse, and he showed us caterpillars, inedible mushrooms, and a Pavona (bird). Gerardo then put us in touch with a local guide, allowing us to visit Corcovado the next day. He then recommended Playa Blanca, 5 minutes from the accommodation. The site is indeed very nice; we saw many turtles swimming just a few meters from us! We then had lunch at the <\/span>Bistro Playa Blanca,<\/span><\/u> we ate very well, and the service was also excellent! The restaurant owner, a Canadian, led us a few steps from the restaurant and showed us a sloth just a few meters away! We were amazed to see it so close and so peaceful in its tree. Our meal was only better for it! Throughout the meal, we also saw macaws and toucans. We recommend the place. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\"Corcovado<\/figure>

\ud83e\udd9cWednesday, November 1, we woke up at 4:30 AM and set off to meet our guide, named <\/span>Jairo<\/span><\/em>, who would reveal the secrets of <\/span>Corcovado National Park<\/span><\/u>! This was our last national park excursion, so our expectations were very high! There are <\/span>several ways to get to Corcovado<\/span><\/u><\/a>; one is by boat, where you can see dolphins and whales along the way, then you arrive at <\/span>Sirena<\/span><\/u> where you can spend the day or sleep overnight (very limited spots for overnight stays). However, the expedition is relatively expensive (more than $120\/person – without the overnight stay). We opted to discover <\/span>La Leona<\/span><\/u>, which was more economical as we paid $75 per person (guide and park entrance), and access is by car. For a good reason, the day didn’t go as planned, and it was excellent! <\/span><\/span><\/p>

–<\/span> Announced Program<\/span><\/em>: Meet at 5:30 AM to pick up our guide, who gets in our car. 1.5-hour drive to cover the 40 km separating Puerto Jimenez from the parking lot. Return expected around 12\/1 PM to Puerto Jimenez.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

– <\/span>Reality:<\/span><\/em> we did pick up our guide on time and at the agreed location. Very early on, the paved road ended, and we took a stony, pothole-ridden path! (Small cars should avoid \u2013 4×4 highly recommended!) It was impossible to drive faster than 20 km\/h. Jairo explained that the government deliberately doesn’t improve the road because it’s a crossing point for many animals. We found this measure truly brilliant! (If only all countries in the world could also prioritize nature!) And very quickly, we saw for ourselves the incredible nature surrounding us: it’s simple, we stopped about ten times to admire the animals along our way: eagles, parrots, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys\u2026 In the end, it took us 3 hours to reach the parking lot! Note that we had to cross three river passages by car! It was super scary! Then, we walked 3 km to reach the national park entrance. There again, we took the time to admire everything nature offered us: an anteater resting on a palm branch, deserted black sand beaches, macaws, etc. We then arrived at a checkpoint manned by rangers (they live here for 12 days, then have 6 days off with their families). They are responsible for park entries, trail maintenance, and must also protect the park from drug traffickers. We then walked 3 km into the heart of the park. Jairo explained the history of La Leona, before its designation as a national park in 1975 and after. Then we passed the checkpoint again (3 km back as well), then the beach to the parking lot (an additional 3 km), and drove for 2 hours for the return journey. Finally, we got back to our accommodation at 4:30 PM! The day was therefore very eventful! We loved our guide Jairo, full of knowledge, advice, humor, and everything was easy with him; it was truly great. We recommend his site for your trip: <\/span>link<\/span><\/u><\/a>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hXBOToyhHG4<\/div><\/figure>

\ud83d\udc3e Thursday, November 2, after taking time to rest in the morning, we went for lunch in Puerto Jimenez, and in the afternoon, we chilled and prepared for our early departure the next day. For my part, I took one last forest tour with Beatriz and Gerardo looking for the Pavona or a possible snake! I came back muddy up to my calves, but with a big smile on my face and a head full of memories. The kindness of this family truly touched me and marked my stay in Costa Rica. I also enjoyed my last moments with the little dogs, who were so adorable and whom I was very sad to leave. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udc0a Friday, November 3: the alarm rings (again) at 4 AM! We hit the road very early to reach the airport. We had to return the rental car and catch our respective flights. On Jairo’s good advice, we stopped at the “crocodile bridge”! On the road between Corcovado and San Jos\u00e9, there’s a very large bridge from which you can admire dozens of crocodiles on the riverbanks below. A last lunch in San Jos\u00e9, just the four of us, and we returned the rental car and said goodbye until new adventures. Charl\u00e8ne & Laurent returned to Paris, and we flew to Peru. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

And so, two wonderful weeks in Costa Rica came to an end. All four of us are still dazzled by everything we’ve just experienced together. \ud83e\udd29<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\"Sea<\/figure>

<\/span><\/span><\/p>

In brief (overall budget, encounters, accommodation, activities, transport):<\/span><\/span><\/h3>

\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf7 We spent two intense and hard-to-describe weeks in Costa Rica! Here’s our assessment as 4 travelers, very happy with what they’ve just experienced: <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\ud83d\udc4d Some highlights: <\/span><\/span><\/p>