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<\/a><\/p>\nHere’s the link to the Google Maps loop<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arriving<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>Most flights from the US to Costa Rica (SJO) arrive late at night, so it’s nice to plan that first night in Alajuela ahead of time. I recommend these hotels right near the airport.<\/p>\n Renting a Car<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t be afraid to rent a car in Costa Rica. \u00a0It allows you supreme freedom and the opportunity to explore at your leisure. \u00a0The tourism industry is well-established and it’s made for much more competitive rates than in many other areas of Central America. Sheldon and I have used these rental companies:<\/p>\n Day 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Start early to beat the traffic through San Jose. \u00a0Head east, then south on Highway 2 towards San Isidro del General. \u00a0You’re guaranteed to get lost, but that’s part of the fun. \u00a0Stop wherever anything looks interesting, and enjoy the drive because it’s taking you through some beautiful country. \u00a0Costa Rica is a lush and vivacious place were plant and animal life abound. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Day 2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Before nightfall, you’ll need to head North to Manuel Antonio. \u00a0Stay in any of the many bed and breakfasts near the park, and skip Quepos, which, while an interesting port town, has some drawbacks.<\/p>\n Day 3<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Continue northwest along the 34 and maybe stop in and take a peek at Playa Hermosa. Whatever you do, don’t miss a stop on the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles where you’re guaranteed a chance to see the most enormous crocodiles you may ever see. \u00a0I’ve heard legends about tourists tossing live chickens off the bridge, but I will neither confirm nor deny whether I know anyone who’s actually done it.<\/p>\n Leave yourself some time, though, because you’ve still got a four hour drive to Samara. Once you get to Samara, pick out a nice hotel because you’ll finally sleep in the same bed for two nights.<\/p>\n Day 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Even if your experience doesn’t reach that level of amazingness, Samara is straight-dreamy. \u00a0It’s a chill-enough town that you might have the beach all to yourself if you make a late-night stroll. And if you get to where you’ve had enough, you could always jump over and check out Nosara.<\/p>\n Day 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Sleep in and enjoy a lazy morning in Samara. \u00a0We found a nice little pastry shop for breakfast and took it easy. \u00a0Once your ready to get on the road again, keep your eyes peeled for monkeys in the trees as you drive. \u00a0We found a troop of spider monkeys in a tree off the road between Samara and Nicoya.<\/p>\n After you cross back over the International Friendship Bridge (A gift from Taiwan), you’ll be headed inland into the mountains again. Take the Inter-American Highway north to Canas and then turn off towards Arenal on 142. \u00a0This road will take you along lake Arenal at the base of the most majestic active volcano I’ve ever seen. \u00a0You’ll arrive late so you probably won’t be able to see the top. (You’re best chance is early in the morning before it starts to cloud up).<\/p>\n As it gets dark, keep a lookout for lava spilling down the mountain. \u00a0You’re not close enough for it to be scary, but seeing it is quite the experience. You’ll also be able to feel and hear the mountain grumble.<\/p>\n Day 6<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you’ve partaken of La Fortuna and scaled your way back up the stairs, you can map out your next few stops. \u00a0Your drive today will take you up over another mountain pass and through some really amazing towns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first stop will be Zarcero, where some uniquely trimmed bushes combined with some high-mountain fog combine to create a mystical feeling as you tour the town’s central park. \u00a0There will be plenty of photo-ops and more great memories.<\/p>\n Continue south on the 703 and turn off towards Sarchi<\/a> before you get back to the Inter-American Highway. \u00a0Sarchi is a great place to load up on wooden knick-knacks and genuine Costa Rica\u00a0souvenirs. \u00a0Not only is the selection great, but the prices are reasonable as well.<\/p>\n You’ll stay the night in Grecia… a small town with an interesting church and not much more. \u00a0If you’d like, you could also head back into Alajuela, which isn’t too far away.<\/p>\n Day 7<\/strong><\/p>\n After your senses are raw with amazement, you can head back down to Alajuela where you’ll stay where you started (if you liked it). \u00a0Be on the lookout for roadside vendors selling enormous strawberries. \u00a0Don’t pass them up. \u00a0You could stop in at the market downtown or even go into downtown San Jose if you’re into bigger cities.<\/p>\n Day 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Unfortunately it all comes to an end today. You’ve made memories that you will cherish for a lifetime and hopefully you’re closer to your spouse or travel mate. \u00a0This won’t be the last time you visit Costa Rica. \u00a0You haven’t even seen the half of it.<\/p>\n Add-ons<\/strong><\/p>\n I’ve wanted to stop in on the Boruca<\/a>\u00a0indigenous\u00a0tribe twice now and never made it happen. To pull this off, you’d need to make a deeper loop down south to begin and add at least one night.<\/p>\n You could opt to take the ferry from Puntarenas<\/a> en route from Manuel Antonio to Samara and swing by Montezuma or Malpais (both places I’ve heard absolute ravings about). \u00a0A Canadian couple once told me that they watched somewhere in the neighborhood of 100-150 monkeys partying in a tree outside Montezuma.<\/p>\n The first time we went, we booked a 1 night, 2 day tour with Jungle Tom Safaris<\/a> from San Jose out to Tortuguero, which is only accessible by a boat through the canals on the Caribbean side. \u00a0We saw (and heard) howler monkeys and turtles, laid out on a black-sand beach, and toured a banana plantation.<\/p>\n Once again, I can’t rave enough about Costa Rica. \u00a0As I write, I am overcome with a wanderlust that could be criminal. \u00a0My only hope is that you’ll go and send me your pictures and tell me your stories. \u00a0Thank you for wanderlusting with us. \u00a0Keep coming back and tell your friends. \u00a0Life is too short not to wander.<\/p>\n If you’re still trying to figure out how to pay for your flights to Costa Rica, get yourself some frequent flier miles. \u00a0Check out our FF Mile Cards<\/a>\u00a0page to see what’s out there at the moment.<\/p>\n\n
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<\/a>Once you get to San Isidro, take the 243 over the pass towards Baru. \u00a0Just over the peak, you’re going to find yourself at El Mirador Restaurant. \u00a0All other restaurants in Costa Rica and on planet earth pale in comparison. \u00a0I recommend the Casado (the typical Costa Rican meal consisting of Gallo Pinto (rice and black beans), meat (generally pork or beef), and sweet fried plantain (proof that God loves us). \u00a0El Mirador does it up right and the view leaves nothing to be desired. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>If your trip stopped here, it would already be a success, but you’re just getting started. Once you’ve had your fill, find your way down the mountain and get a place to stay in the idyllic surfer town of Dominical. \u00a0Work up your appetite again by renting a surfboard and giving it a shot. The waves are big enough to give you a fighting chance, but not so big that they will crush you. Enjoy the sunset with a beachfront meal at one of the many popular restaurants in Dominical.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Along the road from Platanillo to Baru, you may have seen a little store with a sign for Nauyaca waterfall. That’s your objective this morning. Skip the horseback tour unless you’re crazy about horses and\/or you enjoy the feeling of helplessness as your horse slips and slides on the muddy trail. \u00a0For $2 or $3 you can just hike. \u00a0Nauyaca is a powerful waterfall with inviting, crystal clear water. \u00a0When you descend into it, you’ll notice that the entire canyon is filled with mist – not the best place for cameras, but an amazing place for memories. \u00a0Bathe in its waters and refresh yourself.<\/span>
\n<\/a>You should be back by about noon, and if you’re as obsessed as I am, maybe you’ll want to run back up to El Mirador. \u00a0Either way, save some time because you’re about to visit the most amazing beach in Costa Rica – Playa Ventanas. \u00a0You’ll find it just a little further south of Dominical – past Uvita and Pinuelas (which, incidentally, is a great beach if you have kids because hermit <\/a>crabs abound). \u00a0Playa Ventanas, though, combines a secluded cove with a palm-tree canopy, and a big rock outcropping which is pierced by two tunnels which beg you to enter. \u00a0Hearing the waves crash in the echo chamber of these tunnels is eerie and serene at the same time. \u00a0You’ll never forget Playa Ventanas.<\/p>\n<\/a>Start your day with a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park<\/a>. \u00a0If you don’t see white-faced Capuchin monkeys here, then you’re just plain unlucky. \u00a0When we visited in 2006, I had a showdown with one of these bad boys right in the middle of the trail. \u00a0You might even find the elusive squirrel monkeys. \u00a0Manuel Antonio, while uber-touristy, is a must-see because it combines great hiking trails, beautiful beaches, and an abundance of wildlife.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Samara completely spoiled me. \u00a0All other oceanic experiences will never compare with what happened to us there. \u00a0We were lazing on the beach, chatting with the owner of a surfshop. \u00a0The thought occured to me to ask him if he knew of anyone who could take us out into the ocean in hopes of finding a pod of dolphins. \u00a0It wasn’t an hour later that we arranged for a friend of his to take us out in a tiny little boat. \u00a0The friendly captain set a course for the deep water and we enjoyed the scenery while the swales of the ocean engulfed us. \u00a0Almost an hour later, our captain pointed out some splashes in the distance. Before long we found ourselves right in the middle of dozens of dolphins, jumping alongside the boat. \u00a0The boat came to a halt and we threw on some snorkeling gear and joined in the fun. \u00a0There were dolphins under us, alongside us, and all around us. \u00a0We could hear them and just reveled in the experience. \u00a0On the way back, we hand-fished and caught a beautiful Dorado (which we later had cooked up for us for dinner). \u00a0If that weren’t enough, our captain also swung us by reef where we also did a little snorkeling. \u00a0It was absolutely surreal and unfortunately not something easily re-created.<\/p>\n<\/a>You could stay in La Fortuna, but I’m going to recommend that you spring for something closer to the Volcano. You’ll also be here for 2 nights, so keep that in mind. \u00a0Tonight you’ll visit Tabacon<\/a> – the magnificent hotsprings at the foot of Arenal. \u00a0If you really want to splurge, you can stay right there… I doubt you’d regret it.<\/p>\n<\/a>Your first objective today is another hike to a serene waterfall. \u00a0La Fortuna Waterfall<\/a> is just outside the town of La Fortuna, and while its a more commercialized spot than Nauyaca, I can assure you that it will be unlike anything you’ve seen before.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Make your way directly to La Paz Waterfall Gardens<\/a>, a veritable paradise within a paradise. \u00a0The place has an aviary that is so much more incredible than any other I’ve seen. \u00a0We had toucans trying to get into our backpack. \u00a0If that weren’t enough, the hummingbird haven and the butterfly garden will inspire you.<\/p>\n<\/a>Once you’re done with those, you can scour the reptile area for red-eyed tree frogs or see the jungle cats in their natural habitat. \u00a0And of course there’s a reason it’s called the Waterfall Gardens… more than a couple beautiful waterfalls are also on the premises. \u00a0You could easily spend the entire day here.<\/p>\n<\/a>Between Samara and Arenal, you could also route your trip to make a stop in the Monteverde cloud forest area<\/a>. Here you can see some old-growth rain forest that will just completely paralyze you. \u00a0We saw enormous, 1000 year-old Mahogany trees and climbed up through the hollows of strangler figs. \u00a0Monteverde is a wonderland.<\/p>\n