A tiny country in Central America, there is an almost infinite number of places to visit in Costa Rica. From gorgeous beaches to wild tropical jungles. It’s heaven for nature lovers. We had three major stops in this wonderful country, so we’re full of Costa Rica travel tips. For a jungle experience, you’ll find my favorite things to do in La Fortuna. Then, it’s time for the cloud forest and the many things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica. And, finally, chilling at the beach is the leader of things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica! I hope my Costa Rica travel tips and travel guide will help you enjoy your trip even more!
Costa Rica – The Country of Natural Wonders
This little Central American paradise is basically an oasis, packed with wonders. Above all, the best places to visit in Costa Rica cater to wild souls. Adventure awaits at every corner here, and so do Costa Rica travel tips!
Most places to visit in Costa Rica revolve around nature, as it’s a world leader in ecotourism. From enchanted forests to secluded beaches, possibilities are endless. Tourism is very developed here, and it’s easy to get around, with Costa Rica travel tips for every budget.
When you want to get to know nature, you can read the section on the best things to do in La Fortuna. You can follow by a side of enchanted forest, reading about things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica. To relax after all the movement, all things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica will be your jam. Enjoy my Costa Rica travel tips, below!
A few Costa Rica Travel Tips
You can book everything yourself, but we did it through Anywhere Costa Rica. I highly recommend them, as they allow you to customize your itinerary to your specific desires. Plus, the transport is really smooth and personal. It really gave us a personable approach to all our favorite places to visit in Costa Rica. And, of course, a new perspective on Costa Rica travel tips!
Try to stay in the country for at least two weeks, varying the locations. Before you buy your plane tickets, check whether your dates are on the dry or rainy seasons. While the cool places to visit in Costa Rica are usually open year-round, they’re more fun when you’re not soaking wet. Think of how unpleasant it would be to experience the beautiful Pacific beaches and things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica when it’s raining all the time. That’s the main thing you should take from these Costa Rica travel tips!
Check your yellow fever vaccination base on which country you are coming from…. As a Swede you did not need this but if you are coming from Brazil you do…something we got aware of at the check in counter. So if you want to avoid any hassle – bring your yellow fever card with you!
Our first and most exciting stop: things to do in La Fortuna!
Our Itinerary of the Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica
Due to our yellow fever blunder, we spent only one week in Costa Rica. Given that there are so many places to visit in Costa Rica and even with our itinerary below, I would strongly recommend to stay not less than 2 weeks in this green country!
First Stop: Things to do in La Fortuna
| How to get there | Take a bus from San José to the village center, for about 3 hours or book a private transfer |
| Nights stayed here | 2 |
| Hotel | Arenal Volcano Inn |
| Things to do in La Fortuna | River rafting, horseback riding, visiting the waterfall, see Arenal volcano |
One of the most popular places to visit in Costa Rica, La Fortuna took its time in showing itself to us. It took us 20 hours to reach our jungle hotel, the Arenal Volcano Inn. arriving from Buenos Aires. On the outskirts of the volcano, we felt immediately connected to nature. It was quickly time to start our list of things to do in La Fortuna. First up: river rafting, one of the first of our places to visit in Costa Rica!
The adventure begins in the rapids
Anxiety quickly took hold of us as we approached the rapids with our guide, having never rafted. The Costa Rica travel tips and instructions of what to do if falling into the rapids felt terrifying! The river had three levels of difficulty when rafting, which seemed like a big start of our things to do in La Fortuna. Still, once we were there, the rush took over, and it was a thrill like we’d never experienced. Soaking wet, we were so happy to feel in tune with the beautiful nature around us. A perfect start on our list of places to visit in Costa Rica!
A quieter alternative
Next in line on our list of things to do in La Fortuna was the local waterfall, on horseback. We headed to the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall, a national landmark and a cherished spot for fashion photo shoots. It’s a beautiful oasis in the middle of the jungle, and there aren’t enough Costa Rica travel tips recommending it!
At this point, it rained on us and we were soaked once again. Remember my star among Costa Rica travel tips: visit during the dry season and avoid making our mistakes. Still, don’t let some water stop you from enjoying the things to do in La Fortuna!
While there are many things to do in La Fortuna, it all seems to revolve around the Arenal. This active volcano in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle is the most famous one in the country. A beloved eco-tourism destination, its grandeur overlooks the entire area.
Next up: things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica.
Second Stop: Things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica
| How to get there | Private transfer or take a morning bus there and get in |
| Nights stayed here | 2 |
| Hotel | Hotel Cala Lodge Monteverde |
| Things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica | Zip lining, hike in the cloud forest, bird watching |
A new side of this wondrous country
The things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica are pretty different from the Fortuna scene. This wonderful forest in the sky feels like a haunted place from a fairytale. There are plants and trees here that only exist in this particular corner of the world. There are just so many wildly different places to visit in Costa Rica.
The first item on the list of things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica? Marvel at the nature around you, as all Costa Rica travel tips will tell you. A truly humbling experience, particularly for us city dwellers, the cloud forest has a peculiar dreamlike quality. It’s famous around the world, particularly for nature lovers, thanks to its wide variety of birds. It’s perhaps the favorite spot for nature lovers among all places to visit in Costa Rica!
The sun comes out and it’s time for the things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica
Rain followed us around, almost keeping us from all the wonderful things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica. Once the skies opened, the place changed entirely before our eyes. We were steps away from monkeys, beautiful birds, and tiny ecosystems that only exist here. My most important Costa Rica travel tips in this area? Just enjoy the ride!
As the jungle lay below us, it was time for the crown jewel among our things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica. Zip lining lay ahead for us, in a tour booked through SKY Zip Line, a company specializing in this adventure. Keep that name in mind when checking out places to visit in Costa Rica!
I have a pretty bad fear of heights, but that wasn’t going to stop me from trying. It was time to face my vertigo head on, once and for all. It was terrifying, yes, but I knew I was as safe as I could be, and I dared to fight my fears. When I was up there, terrified and thrilled at once, I dared further. When I opened my eyes, the view was incomparable. I was glad to have chosen this among my places to visit in Costa Rica. It’s no wonder this quickly became one of our favorite things to do in Monteverde!
Here, adventure is everywhere, and it’s the perfect place to challenge yourself. My favorite of all Costa Rica travel tips is to push your limits further.
It’s time to enjoy all the things to do in Montezuma!
Third Stop: Things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica
| How to get there | Take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera, and then take a bus. You can also fly from San José and then take a taxi. As it’s on the edge of the country, on the Pacific, it’s a little far! |
| Nights stayed here | 3 |
| Hotel | Ylang Ylang |
| Things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica | Chill by the sea! |
A well-deserved quiet time
Exciting as they might be, adventure is exhausting. We were almost full of adventure after going through all the things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica. As our time here neared its end, we were up for relaxation. That’s why our main item among things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica was chilling!
A cute and picturesque surfer town, this wonderful spot served us what we craved: peace and quiet. It’s an oasis in the Pacific. All things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica have to do with enjoying the sun and waves. So the best of all Costa Rica travel tips in this area is to sink your toes in the sand and let it do its thing. Don’t forget to enjoy all the relaxing things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica, one of the loveliest places to visit in Costa Rica!
The dreamy beach hotel
Here, we stayed at an all-inclusive hotel, the Ylang Ylang. A secluded place in its own little corner of the wide beach, you’ll feel the whole Pacific is yours to take. One of the best Costa Rica travel tips I can give you is to soak up the wonders of the area. My favorite among all things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica is relaxing!
Get the sun on your face, or even visit the waterfalls nearby. Ride on a horse or on a bike, and go through these old natural paths. Still, the best things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica all revolve around the beach. You must add a beautiful and secluded beach to your places to visit in Costa Rica.
Just steps away from the actual things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica, the jungle stands watching over all places to visit in Costa Rica. One of the best Costa Rica travel tips I can give you is to really feel the beat of nature. It’s a wonderful feeling to know you’re truly surrounded by places untouched by man.
Don’t be shy in spending some time finding your inner silence before the next step of your life. It’s what all the best things to do in Montezuma Costa Rica are all about!
More on Travel with a Silver Lining
- Read more Costa Rica travel tips and more about places to visit in Costa Rica from my story of our voyage, here and the days at Ylang Ylag here!
- Want to get more inspiration from my Central & South America travel? Find all my posts here on each country page: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico!
- Check out my top 3 posts: 18 Instagram Spots in Lisbon, My Amalfi Coast Photography Guide and the Top 10 Hipster Restaurants in Moscow!
- For more beautiful landscapes around the world, check out my 17 Most Instagram Worthy Spots in Mykonos, Greece and Places to Visit in Hua Hin, Thailand!
Booking Support & Input
- Decided on traveling to Costa Rica? Momondo is the place to find the best deals on flights to this beautiful Central American country. If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, do it HERE!
- Find the best hotels in Costa Rica through Booking.com. Click here for La Fortuna lodgings, here for Monteverde, and here for Montezuma!
- Once you reach San Jose Airport in the Costa Rica capital, you won’t want to wait for the adventure to begin. Book a transfer from the airport to La Fortuna here. You can then book transport between La Fortuna and Monteverde, and let the adventure continue!
- Through Get Your Guide, you can find the unique experiences that can make your trip unforgettable. Why not take this lovely La Fortuna: Guided Twilight Wildlife Safari and get to know the flora and fauna? And check out their top Costa Rica tours, below!
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2 Comments
This post is amazing! Costa Rica looks beautiful. I’ll have to go there next!
thanks dear. I agree with you, it’s so beautiful, i can highly recommend going if you get the chance to 🙂