How to Plan a Trip to Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of my favorite places. In fact, it was the first place I traveled when I retired as an athlete and wanted to escape to a place where I could just reconnect with myself, think about my life and the direction it was going, and experience what this “pura vida” was all about. I did all that and then some. Costa Rica truly is a destination that speaks to your soul and makes it sing.
It is an adventure lover’s playground.
It is a nature lover’s dream.
It is a surfer’s paradise and a yogi’s spiritual haven.
It is the perfect place to relax and unwind.
It is home to the most awe-inspiring sunsets.
There is so much to do and explore in each of the different regions, yet if your heart is calling you to simply just be, there is no better place to make that happen as well. Choose your magic: would you like to be one with nature and be surrounded by lush greenery and fall asleep to the sounds of the rainforest or be lulled to sleep by the sounds of crashing waves after you’ve witnessed one of the most breathtaking sunsets of your life? Those are just two choices of many that await you.
There are so many choices when planning a trip to Costa Rica, depending on the experience you are looking to have. If you have never been and wonder where you should start considering, that could be a fun conversation! Today, I wanted to highlight what I consider to be the “Top 3”, both in terms of popularity but also as a starting point where you can begin to craft your own perfect trip, that includes one or two of these big dogs, and then go from there!
Arenal Volcano
Home to the most impressive and well known Volcano in Costa Rica. Although eruptions have paused since 2010, it remains a stunning sight. Visitors here enjoy a host of activities, from white water rafting, waterfalls, hiking, and canopy tours. The friendly town of La Fortuna provides the perfect location for exploring this area.
Monteverde
photo courtesy of monteverdeinfo.com
This is the hot spot for Ecotourism in Costa Rica! You are surrounded by the cool, misty cloud forest and deep green foliage as far as the eye can see. Visitors here are interested in wildlife, and also enjoy activities such as walking the famous suspension bridges, canopy tours, horseback riding, and visits to the cheese factory.
Manuel Antonio
This is one of the country’s most famous natural parks and gives visitors a spot on visual of the Costa Rica of their dreams. The town of Manuel Antonio is set high above the national park and boasts some world-class views and beaches. The activities to be enjoyed here include swimming, hiking in the park, surfing, and a lot of relaxing beautiful sunsets.
I leave at the end of this week for my own amazing trip to Costa Rica and it will include Monteverde, but also 3 other places a little off the beaten path and destinations I have yet to explore. I am looking forward to sharing those experiences with you and hope that they inspire your own wanderlust. If you are looking to create your own customized trip, contact me to discuss!