Avoid the crowds in Costa Rica and discover the most beautiful, off the beaten track destinations in Costa Rica in 2 weeks! You’ll stay at unique accommodations in the middle of nature. Maquenque Nature Reserve is a great example. The hotel can only be reached by boat and during your stay, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to spot the great green macaw.
Pura Vida is the motto of every Costa Rican and literally means “pure life”. This trip offers you a taste of what pure life feels like on the Caribbean coast. Join the rhythm of the locals, relax on the beach, float in the waves on a surfboard and enjoy cocktails in the afternoon sun.
This trip is all about to explore beautiful Costa Rica in a relaxed way, enjoying the vibrant flora and fauna of this country, the friendly people and tasty food. Pura Vida!
Before you start your journey along the most beautiful places of Costa Rica, you can recover from the long flight.
Our driver will be waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your first accommodation. Here you can relax by the pool in the beautiful garden. Order a coffee or a cocktail and make a toast together. You have arrived!
After breakfast you will receive your rental car. Once all the paperwork is done, you’re off again down the Caribbean coast to the small town of Manzanillo.
In Manzanillo the road ends and your jungle house is waiting for you. Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is certainly one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Its atmosphere, the beach and the reggae music will make that you go into relax mode immediately!
You can explore the surroundings of Manzanillo on foot, walking along the beach, or by bike, cycling along the coast towards the larger town of Puerto Viejo de Limon. Along that one way you will find nice restaurants and bars and you can sign up for a surf lesson or book a snorkeling tour.
If you want to get a taste of Costa Rica’s indigenous culture, then visit the Bri Bri Indians and learn more about their age old habits and way of life.
After the first impression of the Caribean coast it is time to really travel off the beaten path! Your next destination is the small village of Barra Pacuare, south of Tortuguero National Park.
You’ll stay in a basic, but comfortable cabin and you’re surrounded by nature. The tiny village is a true off-the-beaten-track destination and you won’t meet other tourists. Together with a guide you go (in season) look for leatherback turtles that come to lay their eggs on the beach, a unique experience! In addition, it will be easy to get to know the small local community. This is your first introduction to Costa Rica’s Pura Vida!
Your next destination is in the heart of Costa Rica. If you want to get to know the Costa Ricans and farm life, you should visit Sarapiqui. Don Rodolfo and his family will take you around their property and show you all kinds of things – and let you taste them!
Previously the family was active in growing tropical potted plants, but they have switched to growing pineapple and cacao, among other things. They are happy to share their experiences with travelers who visit.
There is also a lot to do outside the farm in Sarapiqui, such as rafting or visiting the suspension bridges of Tirimbina. The region is growing, but mass tourism is not here yet.
Maquenque is a beautiful nature reserve in the north of Costa Rica and your next destination. Bird lovers will love it here, there is a good chance that you will spot Great Green Macaw and toucans when you are having breakfast in the restaurant of your lodge.
The lodge was set up by the local Artavia family, who decided to return their land (first used for animal husbandry) to nature in order to provide the next generation with a sustainable income. Your guide, also a member of the family, will introduce you to everything that grows and blooms around the hotel and you also contribute yourself by planting a tree.
On to the next remarkable piece of nature. Bijagua is the base for a visit to Volcán Tenorio National Park. Or perhaps better known: for Rio Celeste.
This river is really as blue as you see in the pictures. A nice hike will take you first to the waterfall, for those who want to hike even further you can walk all the way to the end of the park. Along the way you will encounter several other interesting points during this more intensive hike.
There is more to experience in this region as well. Frog’s Paradise is there for lovers of frogs or you can also explore the area on horseback or by mountain bike. The surroundings of the Corobici River can be admired with a floating trip, see how many animals you see during the trip.
Junquillal is a small coastal town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica with a beautiful long and quiet beach. If you’re lucky, you can spot turtles in the season or help baby turtles find their way to the sea at the local turtle shelter.
You stay at a cozy, comfortable hotel and the Dutch owners will do everything to make your time here unforgettable. The food they serve is delicious and because they have been in the area for quite some time, they are happy to provide you with tips on what you can do in and around Junquillal.
Activities that are certainly recommended are a kayak tour in the mangroves, but also relaxing at the beautiful beach of Playa Avellanas!
If you want to see something different in the area, go visit the local pottery village of Guatil, where craftsmen are still using age-old pottery techniques, originally developed by the Chorotega Indians some 5000 years ago.
Your journey through paradise ends at a comfortable hotel close to the airport. Here you can relax by the pool in a nice tropical garden before you flying home the next day.
If you fly in the afternoon or evening, you might want to consider a final visit to the nearby Poas volcano!
If you wish to travel a bit longer, then it might be nice to extend your trip and visit Zapotal de Miramar. This little village is beautifully situated on top of a mountain. From here you’ll have a magnificent view of the Pacific ocean and the beaches and islands of Puntarenas.
In Zapotal only live some 200 people and agriculture is their main source of income. You can stay in simple cabins or opt for a homestay with one of the local families. A day tour is included in this pleasant and educational stay. Here, you will for sure avoid the crowds in Costa Rica!
Check the destination Zapotal here