The best 2 weeks in Costa Rica
Costa Rica – a surfer’s paradise and animal lover’s dream. Sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama, this Central American country hosts a vibrant rainforest with stunning coastlines on the Pacific and Caribbean. It exudes it’s motto of “Pura Vida” (pronounced poo-rah vee-dah) which translates to “Pure Life” or “Simple Life”, with people enjoying life in the slow lane. Here’s how to spend the best 2 weeks in Costa Rica.
Upon leaving Caye Caulker, we made our way to Costa Rica. Our flight from Belize to Guatemala was on the smallest plane I’ve ever flown in, with just 30 of us in a propeller plane! Although the flight was only an hour, it was pretty rocky with bumps that made your stomach drop. We then had a few hours layover in the airport before boarding our next flight to San Jose. Unless you’re planning to make your way through Central America, I’d suggest flying to cut the travel time.
Where to stay for 2 weeks in Costa Rica
Airport Apartments – San Jose
Not planning to spend any time in San Jose itself, we stayed at Apartotel Obelisco San José Aeropuerto for our arrival night. I’d recommend booking a place here if you’re in need of somewhere to stay before moving on. The accommodation is only a 15-minute drive from the airport and they will provide pick-ups and drop-off shuttles – perfect for when you’ve just landed and can’t wait to get into bed.
The apartments are sizeable with 2 double beds, a kitchen, lounge, office desk and 3 bathrooms. All laundry is provided plus a breakfast of bread, ham, cheese and fruit, if you wish.
We stayed here both on our first and final nights in Costa Rica and it worked beautifully – especially with the ease of them organising our 4 am airport drop-off.
Air BNB
Air BnB is such a great way to find unique places globally. We stayed in Casa Gisela while visiting the Nuevo Arenal area. The place has breathtaking views of Lake Arenal, with 3 bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen and a swimming pool. It was great to have a break from hostel life and settle into a home. We used this as our base, played plenty of card games, made yummy feasts and enjoyed having the space to ourselves.
Selina
The hostel we used throughout our Costa Rica travels was Selina’s. This chain is located globally and is ideal for travellers. There’s a range of room options varying with each Selina. Therefore, you can stay in larger multi-person rooms to keep the cost down or have your own private place if you’re in need of some alone time.
Most have a bar/restaurant, a swimming pool to lounge by, and plenty of local excursions to book. They also host plenty of activities such as bar crawls, karaoke nights, and quiz nights. Some even have cinema rooms your can book for the evening.
How to get around Costa Rica
As there were 5 of us travelling for 2 weeks in Costa Rica, we opted to rent a car. This made moving between locations much easier. We threw all of our stuff in the back and had the freedom to travel when we needed, often stopping along each route for an activity or snack spot.
Costa Rica uses shuttles as transportation around the country. Although these can be a cheaper option, they lack the freedom and speed at which to get somewhere. If you’re exploring lots of areas, be prepared for long journeys.
Week 1 – La Fortuna & Nuevo Arenal
After our first night in Costa Rica, we made the 3-hour drive to La Fortuna. This small town sits on the edge of the Nuevo Arenal National Park and is surrounded by a wealth of greenery and forests. We spent 3 nights at the Selina hostel here, which is a good amount of time to explore the area.
What to do in La Fortuna
Sloth Sanctuary
If you’re an animal lover, like me, you’ll love wandering the forest in search of sloths. A 15-minute walk from the hostel, just west of the town, you’ll find the Sloth Sanctuary. We spent a couple of hours keeping our eyes peeled for any movement in the trees. We saw 5 sloths including a mother and baby, plus plenty of other wildlife! For $50 USD (£40), you can hire a guide to take you around the 2-mile route, but we opted to do it ourselves, with a fun game of wildlife spotting.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
Go deeper into the forest and immerse yourself by visiting the Mistico Hanging Bridges. For $26 USD pp (£21), wander the 2.5-hour trail up treetops, down to the forest floor and across multiple hanging bridges. The views are spectacular and there’s just something about being surrounded by nature that makes it even more special. You need to wear closed-toed shoes for the hike and be prepared to sweat as the humidity is high!
Hot springs
Being so close to the Arenal volcano makes La Fortuna the perfect place to visit a hot spring. We popped into Titokú Hot Springs on our journey to our next destination. There are a few around the area, but I’d advise going to a natural one as opposed to a man-made version. Although very relaxing, we didn’t last long as we got way too hot!
Canyoning & White Water Rafting
One of my favourite days during our 2 weeks in Costa Rica was our excursion of canyoning and white water rafting. We organised this day trip through the La Fortuna Selina and for £128 pp, it was worth every penny. We were picked up from our hostel at 8am and transported 15 minutes away to the start of the canyoning trail.
You are kitted out with a helmet, gloves and harness, given a safety talk and then embark on the 5 abseil descents. The whole thing takes 1.5 hours depending on how long it takes the entire group to get through each section and walk in between. The descents range from 50m to 7m and will definitely get your heart racing!
Afterwards, you’re transported to your drop-off point, before being transported to the next location. Another 30-minute drive away, you’ll arrive at the start of the white water rafting route. We had Jorge as our raft guide. The 5 of us spent the next 2 hours navigating the class 2 & 3 rapids. Jorge was a great guide, leading us through each stage of the rapids and explaining when and when not to paddle.
We even got the chance to hop out of the raft and float down the quieter part of the river. We also enjoyed a fruity snack by the water’s edge halfway through. I’d advise wearing clothes and trainers you don’t mind getting soaked!
After the excursion, you get changed into your dry clothes and enjoy a delicious spread of local cuisine included in the trip package. Finally, you’ll be dropped back at your accommodation. I’d highly recommend this experience as it had us laughing non-stop. There’s even a chance to purchase some photographs of your best facial expressions.
Nuevo Arenal
Following on from our time in La Fortuna, we made the hour’s journey to Nuevo Arenal. Here, we stayed at an Air BnB, Casa Gisela, and revelled in the opportunity to have a place to ourselves. The house was perfectly situated with views of the lake and we spent our 3 nights here playing card games, drinking sangria and cooking feasts.
Where to eat in Nuevo Arenal
The little town of Nuevo Arenal is quiet but hosts a great German bakery which is worth a visit. Here, you can get fresh bread, parties, cheesecake and even treat yourself to an iced coffee to cool yourself down.
What to do in Nuevo Arenal
Kayak on the lake
The one day we tried to do something, we went in search of kayaks on the lake. There are a couple of spots along the drive. However, you need to bring cash with you, which we sadly didn’t have between us.
Waterfall Rio Celeste
Another recommendation is to explore the Rio Celeste Waterfall. We sadly didn’t make it to this wonder, but this 3.5-mile route is a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to cool off after the 250-step descent.
Week 2 – Tamarindo & Nosara
After our first week in the rainforest and national park, it was time to head to the coast. We said goodbye to Coral and the remaining 4 of us made the 2.5-hour drive to Tamarindo. Here, we stayed at the Selina hostel located in the centre of the town and a short 5-minute walk to the beach.
Where to eat in Tamarindo
Breaking Bread
Our favourite brunch spot while in Tamarindo was Breaking Bread. This little cafe provides delicious breakfast options with homemade bread to accompany. I’d recommend getting the Shakshuka or Scrambled Eggs & Avocado, plus an iced coffee too – Super tasty!
Sol Bakery
Another brunch option is Sol Bakery. With cute outdoor seating, Sol offers delicious breakfasts with options of eggs, waffles or pastries. I’d suggest getting the eggs on sourdough and a slice of the carrot cake or banana bread for later!
El Mercadito de Tamarindo Food and Cocktail Market
For dinner, head to El Mercadito de Tamarindo. This food and cocktail market is the perfect place to satisfy whatever you’re in the mood for. Here, you can get nachos, burgers, poke bowls, or sushi, plus ice cream for dessert!
What to do in Tamarindo
Browse the Boutique Shops
This popular surfers town hosts a range of great boutique shops, ideal for purchasing your next swimsuit or bikini, most of which are handmade. You’ll also find plenty of opportunities to purchase tourist items, perfect for any gifts to take home with you.
Go Surfing
We spent our days surfing at any opportunity. Through the hostel, you can rent surfboards for the entirety of your stay. Every morning we enjoyed a sunrise dip. The conditions were great for beginners with clean 2ft waves rolling in between long periods.
Nosara
After our 3 nights in Tamarindo, we headed 2 hours south to Nosara. This was our final destination for our 2 weeks in Costa Rica. This is an up-and-coming surfing town with plenty of boutique hotels being built. We stayed at the Selina hostel again, this time with an apartment to ourselves which was a welcome treat.
Where to eat in Nosara
La Luna
For a more bougie option, visit La Luna. This restaurant sits right by the sea and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. We enjoyed a tasty dinner of steaks, flatbread and cocktails. We did, however, get a bit forgotten about after moving from inside the restaurant to an outside table. But you have to remember, everything is on Costa Rican time!
Gabi’s Place
Head to Gabi’s and you’ll find a great food market with a range of dinner options. I’d recommend the Vietnamese stall which does a great Bahn Mi and Noodle dish! You can also try the pizza place for a delicious thin base and yummy toppings.
10 Pies
Our final dinner in Nosara was spent at 10 Pies. Here, we enjoyed a feast of tacos and wings and tested our spice level capacities with their homemade hot sauce. It was a full journey of emotions trying it and, naturally, we had to get ice cream for dessert!
What to do in Nosara
Daily Surfs
Our daily routine consisted of 6am surfs, this time with bigger and more rough conditions. The wind had picked up and the swell was 4ft – 5ft. After our cruisy week in Tamarindo, it was certainly a challenge getting out back but even playing in the white water was good fun!
Relax by the pool
Following our morning surfs, we spent most days relaxing by the pool. This Selina has a library where you can do a book swap, perfect for getting in that holiday read. They also have 2 pools, one of which has a volleyball net. All of this combined had us in full holiday mode!
Here’s to the best 2 weeks in Costa Rica
Finally, we made the 5-hour drive back to San Jose. We stayed at the airport apartments again, we dropped off our rental car and headed into the city for a final dinner. Our final 2 weeks in Costa Rica were a great end to the travelling with the perfect combo of exploring and relaxing. 2 weeks isn’t long enough to fully immerse yourself in this wonderful country, but it’s a great place to start!
Catch up on all the travels by following me on Instagram @ellielwilliams. For more wanderlust, check out my travel tips and highlights here.
Els x
