Costa Rica: on the path to pura vida

A 10-day itinerary through a volcanic land of charcoal sands and tropical rainforest

With miles of pristine coastline and luscious rainforest, you’re never far from world-class diving, surfing and yoga in Costa Rica – plus, with a strong set of eco-credentials and a Blue Zone community under its belt, this destination is taking sustainability seriously. Home to rainbow toucans and jewel bright butterflies, the Arenal Volcano National Park is a wildlife watcher’s dream, while the bohemian beach town of Santa Teresa is speckled with surf shops, smoothie shacks, and funky beach bars if you’re looking to get a taste of the pura vida lifestyle. Take in the natural beauty and colourful communities while staying in Costa Rica’s best boutique hotels, all ready to be booked with a call to our Travel Advisors.

At a glance

  • 10-day independent itinerary journeying from Ojochal de Osa to San José, based on flying in and out of Juan Santamaría International Airport.
  • Swap coastal rainforest for cascading waterfalls, from the comfort of specially selected Costa Rican hotels – including two Considerate Collection properties, Hotel Nantipa and Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa.
  • Highlights include sunrise birdwatching tours, canopy safaris, luxuriating in natural hot springs, night-time jungle expeditions, and picking up fresh produce from San José’s farmers markets.

BEGIN BY THE BEACH: OJOCHAL DE OSA

After a scenic four hour drive from the airport down the Costa Rican coast, you’ll come to the edge of the Costa de Ballena. To the south of Ojochal de Osa, the river opens up into mangrove forests, before meeting a sea teeming with coral reefs and marine life. To the north, beaches are home to Costa Rican turtles. While behind, the rainforest stretches up into the hills. From birdwatching tours and guided horse treks up to the Nauyaca waterfalls, to stumbling across the secret caves of Playa Tortuga, and canoe trips through tangles of mangrove forests in the Térraba-Sierpe wetlands, this is the perfect back-to-nature break.

SURF’S UP: SANTA TERESA

Follow the coast for two-and-a-half hours up to Puntarenas, where you can hop on a ferry across the warm waters to either Naranjo or Paquera. The bohemian beach town of Santa Teresa is a further four hour drive down to the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, but it is well worth the distance. The palm-tree-lined beaches are the main draw here, especially for experienced surfers – as the rough waves and rip currents can make swimming more of a challenge. If you’re not planning on bringing your board, you can cool off in the area’s tide pools which are idyllic swimming spots during low tide. It’s easy to see why expats have been flocking to this corner of the world for decades in search of slower living.

Travel Tips

This year-round destination is best booked well in advance if you’re planning on visiting during high season, when many North Americans fly south for some winter sun. In the dry season – roughly mid-November to April – you’ll usually find plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. Although it’s called the wet season, May to mid-November can be a great time to visit with fresh, sunny mornings and some dramatic downpours in the afternoons (just remember to pack your waterproofs and some sturdy shoes). During the months of November, April and May, the country is at its lushest and can be relatively quiet. Seeing the most of Costa Rica is best done driving, which makes a car (with good working air-conditioning) the essential method of transport. If you’re in need of a rental or transport between hotels, our preferred partner is SIXT – or, as always, ask our Voice Reservation Team for further details.

Previous

Independent Minds: Margarita Markantonaki, Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa

Next

Inside the Syros art scene with a Greek ceramicist

Latest stories

In with the new: 5 boutique hotels we can’t wait to check into

Travel planning for the new year is already well underway, and our newest hotel members are providing plenty of holiday inspiration — whether it’s whizzing down powdery slopes in the Austrian Alps or soaking up some winter sun on Sri Lanka’s palm-lined shores.

The ultimate Porto city guide

Built upon the banks of the River Douro and framed by Gustave Eiffel’s double-decker iron bridge, this hilly city with its colourful riverside promenade, winding cobbled streets and baroque churches is charming from the get-go. Beyond this, thanks to a flurry of buzzy hotel and restaurant openings, regenerated areas and

Independent Minds: Angela O’Connell, Chalets at Blackheath

Alpine adventures await in Australia’s Blue Mountains at this ruggedly refined chalet resort In the midst of the Blue Mountains’ UNESCO-listed beauty, adventurer Angela O’Connell came across the perfect setting for her boutique chalets – in less than perfect condition after the Black Summer bushfires had all but burnt out

A seaside staycation in Rye, East Sussex

The tide keeps changing on this medieval magnet, a pretty hilltop hub that’s been luring in East London creatives and interesting interior designers for years. And now, there’s a strong batch of smart spots to bed down, a cool natural wine vineyard just outside of town, and an endless supply