Costa Rica
A Field Guide
Costa Rica works best when you don’t rush it.
Slow drives. Changing plans. Letting the day unfold differently than expected.
This page is for people who like being outside and figuring things out as they go. Jungle, coast, small towns, long stretches in between.
moments we still talk about
hiking through dense jungle, listening for movement all around
sitting in natural hot springs knowing the volcano is there. You just can’t see it
learning how wildlife is protected and why keeping distance matters
waking up in our little jungle cabin, surrounded by nothing but green
evenings with new people, sharing stories and understanding what “pura vida” truly means
falling asleep in a tipi with a snoring “teacup pig” underneath
walking for hours with no real destination, just coastline
driving roads that barely felt like roads and adjusting your plans around them
taking that first zipline and committing to all the ones that follow
catching sunsets that felt completely different at the beach and in the city
places to bookmark
stays we’d go back to
City apartment in San José
Jungle cabin in Monteverde
Tipi stay in Santa Teresa
Hot spring resort in La Fortuna
experiences to build around
Volunteering with wildlife
Snorkeling trip to Isla Tortuga
Ziplining in Monteverde
Hiking in Cabo Blanco National Park
Rpad tripping down the Pacific coast
areas that shaped the trip
La Fortuna with its volcano and hot springs
Monteverde with cloud forest and jungle stays
Nicoya Peninsula with diverse beach towns and coastal drives
Alajuela region as a starting point and volunteering base
a few practical notes
The “pura vida” mindset is one of the most defining parts of the experience
Be respectful with locals. Their pace, values, and way of life shape the country
Wildlife comes with rules. Keep your distance, especially with sloths
A 4x4 makes a real difference once you leave main roads
Driving takes longer than it looks on the map
Directions don’t always rely on addresses. Expect landmarks and rough descriptions
Some of the most popular beach towns didn’t feel like us. Santa Teresa and Sámara for example. We really liked Montezuma and smaller places along the way
a route that actually worked
We spent 4 weeks in Costa Rica, splitting our time between volunteering inland and a road trip along the Pacific coast.
We started around Alajuela, easing into the country while volunteering and adjusting to the pace. From there, we moved towards La Fortuna and Monteverde. Time in the jungle, cloud forest, and around the volcano region. After that, we took the car down to the Nicoya Peninsula and followed the coast. Small beach towns, long drives, ferry crossings, and plenty of unplanned stops along the way.
It worked because we didn’t try to do everything. We focused on a few regions and let the route build itself between them.
Note: If you only have 2 weeks instead of four, focus on one region. Cloud forest and volcanoes. The Pacific coast. The Caribbean coast, which is still on our list. Or a slower inland stretch.
If you’re curious…
Take what feels right. Leave the rest.
Build your own version of it.
When you’re ready to go further:
Explore other countries · Look at routes and itineraries