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Trip Report
Three week road trip in Costa Rica with my best friend
In February 2021 I did a three week roadtrip in Costa Rica with my best friend. We rented a car in San José the capital of Costa Rica and went to few places during three weeks.
North AmericaCosta Rica11 days / February 2021
Highs & Lows
Enjoy the beautiful sunsets from Tamarindo and Santa Teresa beaches. Enjoy the natural hot springs in la Fortuna.
Costa Rica is a small country but there aren't many main roads so it takes a lot of time to do few kilometers.
Itinerary Overview
We started in San José and went by car to Tamarindo. We spent one week there enjoying the beaches and surfing. Then, we went to the national park of Rincón de la Vieja and spent only the day there. We spent the night in Tiliran just to rest and left the day after to go to LA Fortuna. We spent around four days enjoying the beautiful nature of this place. We decided then to drive to the Manuel Antonio national park to enjoy the wildlife. Our last stop was in Jacó where we spent only two nights.
Tamarindo The beautiful sunsets and the nice sufr spot
Tamarindo is a small city on the pacific coast know as a nice surfing spot ans also know as a party place. We went there in search of sun and beaches after leaving the cold and grey month month of February in Switzerland. We weren't disappointed. It's a really nice place to enjoy a chill life. Surfing during the day, drinking coconut water which are sold directly on the beaches, enjoying the magical sunsets (from the beach or while surfing). You can also walk around the small city. It's very pleasant because everything is close and everything can be done walking. There are many restaurants (typical and international ones) and few shops to buy nice bikinis and clothes.
In Tamarindo everything seems simple and you don't have a lot to think about.
There are also fews places to rent surfing boards. It's a nice spot for beginner and intermediate surfers. At night the are also nice bars but I was there during the pandemic so everything closed early and were used to enjoy the evening next to the beach where all people gathered with beers and wine. There were also some private parties but I am not sure how it is there in a no COVID situation.
From Tamarindo you can also visit the Conchal beach which is beautiful and less touristy. (The Tamarindo beach is not the most amazing beach I saw in my life so it's nice to go and see an other one with clear water.) You can go there by bus and taxi or by car.
You can also do a day trip to the National Park Rincón de la Vieja to do some trekkings and see some beautiful waterfalls and do some activities as canopy in the trees. (There is also canopy in Tamarindo).
If you have a car, I highly recommend to go to Cueva los Coyotes. It's two hours driving but it's really nice and not touristy!
On the beach you can also enjoy horse riding. The sunset is a perfect time to do that you can also enjoy it from one of the many restaurants and bars along the beach.
In Tamarindo the only thing you have to do is enjoy the life!
La Fortuna Outdoor activities and the beautiful view on the Arenal Volcano.
La Fortuna is a small city with beautiful nature and its beautiful Arenal Volcano. There are a lot of outdoors activities such as rafting, canopy, canyoning and more. It's a little bit expensive (around 50 or 60 dollars for each activity) so if you have a tight budget be sure to chose the one you want the most. I did the the canopy in the trees and it was amazing. The view on the forest from the high trees is wonderful.
There are also many places to enjoy a good swim. First of all, if you are in La Fortuna you cannot miss the hot natural springs coming from the Volcano. This place is called el Choyin and it's close by car from the center of la Fortuna. You can go there after a long day enjoying the outdoor activities to rest you body and mind. Don't hesitate to take some beers, wine and candle to stay longer. It's a free and a place where a lot of locals go.
You can also ask for the secret place in your hostel and they will tell you how to get there. The water it a little bit cold but it's worth it!
If you like waling you can also enjoy a trekking around the volcano!
Q & A
What would you have changed?
I would have stay more to visit the carribean side as Puerto Viejo!Anything go wrong during the trip?
The car overheated and would not start again during one day trip. We had to wait that the company to arrive and exchange the car. It was annoying but nothing serious.Restaurant recommendations?
The typical food is really basic but tasty. Rice, beans, salads and meat or fish. You also find international food so don't worry.Tips you would give a friend?
Book in advance you accommodation in Tamarindo. It's busy during the high season!Packing tips?
Mosquito spray, at night in la Fortuna it can be cold. Take some warm clothes.Transportation Tips?
If you have the money rent a car. The buses work well too but often you have to go back to say José to go in another place ans you lose a lot of time doing this.Any surprises?
The day we left Tamarindo the monkeys had decorated our car with their poop.Booking details?
If you are under 21 and want to rent a car. You can rent it with Europcar. However you have to pay more as a young driver.
Lodging
Me and my friends slept in three different hostels in Tamarindo. You have a lot of choices to sleep in Tamarindo. Many hostels and also hotels. If you're on a budget and want to meet new people I can highly recommend the hostels. But be aware that Tamarindo during the high season is a busy place so try to book in advance or you would have no choice to change hostels many times during your stay. You can check the hostels on Hostelworld or on Booking. They are all well situated.
Palacios Arenal hostel. It's a cheap and really nice hostel. The owner will explain you all you can do in La Fortuna and is really friendly.