For me Costa Rica was a DREAM destination that I feel I have only scratched the surface!
I went in May 2023 and was invited as part of a arranged travel agents tour to experience this diverse country on behalf of Once in a Life time holidays.
It is great for families, couples and solo travellers of all ages.
There are so many places to visit in Costa Rica but I would strongly recommend that an arranged escorted tour is the best idea, as self driving can be a little daunting and the road signage is quite non-existent. By being on a tour it allows you to take in the scenery and listen to the super knowledgeable tour guide ! so whether its a small group with like minded travellers or a private tour we can arrange the perfect trip for you.
Accommodation can range from 3-star comfortable to 5-star ultra luxurious eco conscious spa retreats, so pretty much something to suit every taste, want and budget.
San Jose - Costa Rica's largest city and cultural capital, today is a sprawling metropolis. Sitting in the Central Valley region, the city offers a range of comfortable hotels and provides a good base to explore nearby volcanoes, coffee plantations, national parks and rainforests. Surrounded by the Central Mountain range and set within a valley, San Jose boasts a dramatic backdrop. The city itself is a pleasant mix of modern and Spanish colonial architecture and several interesting museums, art galleries, boutiques and restaurants can be visited.
Arenal – Arenal National Park is home to the specular Arenal Volcano standing at 1633m lies on the Northern part of Costa Rica. It laid dormant until July 1968 when a huge explosion blowing its top off and until recently it was considered the most active volcano in Central America. Although no longer offering periodic eruptions and nightly lava shows. lt has a tremendous peak to catch a glimpse of when the cloud lifts, which we were managed to experience !!! Can you imagine lying by the pool, having lunch or enjoying your private terrace with a plunge pool whilst staring at a volcano?? I had to pinch myself on many occasions !! The highlight of the day for me for sure was whilst wandering through the grounds of the Nayara hotels when we came across what we're all counting on seeing .... mummy sloth with her baby.
The Arenal area is well known for its diverse wildlife and most sought after species for their colours, unique features and popularity, and multicoloured toucan, the poisonous blue jeans dart frog and of course the laziest friend the sloth. Our guide was amazing, his knowledge of the area and knowing where the sloths could be located was absolutely priceless, it also paid off to be up and out early before it got too hot, humid and busy. I would always recommend a guide whether it's part of a group or a private driver.
La Foruna offers some great adventure activities, where you can enjoy volcano hikes, canopy walkways, thrilling zip line rides, hiking, biking and white water rafting.
For the Nature lovers don't miss Cajo Nego Wildlife Refuge a wetland area close to the Nicaragua border and easily accessible from Arenal, this is considered one of Costa Rica top wildlife area
Monteverde Cloud Forest felt almost magical with its green foliage surrounded by whirling mists perched on the edge of the Tilaran Mountains. This stunning rainforest is made up of 26,000 acres and 8 different biological zones !!! Apparently there is more than 500 species of birds !! A stay in Monteverde merits a visit to the numerous hanging bridges, suspended walkways offering treetop views. For those who wish to discover the night-time wonders of the forest, a visit to the cloud forest at night is a must, we went out for a night walk with a guide and the sounds of mother nature was deafening and truly wonderful.
For those that are a little more active why not experience the Sky Adventure Park where you can test the adrenaline junkie in you and fly through the air on one of the many canopy zip wires. Or for those that aren’t as adventurous why not take a guided walk on the Sky bridges, in fact the 1st bridge we crossed was the longest in Costa Rica and 2nd longest in South America !! As we navigated around the suspension bridges we were able to take in the views, spot the wildlife and importantly learn about the biodiversity. Another highlight to this amazing day was getting the opportunity to see a Quetzal bird !!! one of the world's rarest birds apparently 90% of people that visitor the country have the expectation of seeing this stunning bird, however sadly only 5-10% actually do... He was just sensational and I feel honoured to have seen him!
Taking a pair of trainers/closed toe shoes is highly recommended especially for any trial walks whether it's during the day or night, mainly for your comfort also because the weather can be unpredictable, thin clothing is essential if it rains and easy to dry
Manuel Antonio National Park is one the most popular in the country thanks to its flora and fauna specimens. It's home to 3 of the 4 existing monkey species in Costa Rica. The park boasts 3 different trials and varies in grade from flat to very steep. Our knowledgeable nature guide Hugo who whilst I explored one of the trails that was flat thankfully pointed out the wildlife and again I was on the look out for sloths. This is a popular area to stop and have some beach time also!
OMG where do I start? The people, the scenery, the nature and the stunning places to stay. Seriously though I think it has to be being able to witness some of the worlds most amazing animals in their natural habitat, being taken around by our tour guide who knew exactly ‘what to see and when’ was invaluable.
Because of its location, warm weather predominates, but many different microclimates are found throughout the country!
Weather, hot dry season is generally December to April and a rainy or green season from May to November. The rainy season is NOT constantly wet, though July invariably brings a temporary decline in rainfall and in general the mornings are clear.
Costa Rica is located in Central America, connecting North and South America. It borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south.
It's located 12 hours flight from London, I flew out from Heathrow with one stop on the way out however, British Airways do offer a Direct service from London.
Who would of thought that I would be so excited to see birds, iguanas, sloths and frogs .. but I was
