Costa Rica: A Travel Guide
Costa Rica: A Travel Guide
I recently took a scouting trip to Costa Rica and explored 3 very unique landscapes in this breathtaking country. Two of my (new) besties and I had an incredible adventure in La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Uvita.
La Fortuna is 3 hours north and slightly west of San Jose and it’s home to the Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano was absolutely breathtaking and there are many opportunities to hike the area. La Fortuna is also known for hot springs and there are so many to choose from! We spent a few days in La Fortuna before heading to Monteverde, which is about 2-3 hours southwest of La Fortuna. As you are getting closer to the Pacific Coast, you will find yourself still up in the mountains at least an hour away. We opted for the shorter drive that required us to drive through the river. Our lodging host assured us that it was low enough, so we did it and it was so much fun!
Monteverde is known for the Cloud Forest, which is a beautiful natural reserve with so much wildlife and giant trees that take your breath away. After a couple of nights in Monteverde, we headed to Uvita which is 4 hours south of Monteverde and on the Pacific Coast.
Uvita is famous for one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Every day at low tide, a stunning sandbar emerges from the ocean in the shape of a whale’s tail. You can walk out onto the tail and swim in the calm bays on either side at this time.
To Wander:
La Fortuna: We hiked to the La Fortuna Waterfall. For a fee you can enter the park and hike down to the waterfall and swim in the pool. We also soaked in the natural hot springs in San Carlos. It was very warm, relaxing and we saw so many monkeys! We also hiked through the Arenal Volcano National Park through lava rock and bamboo lined trails. I would highly recommend all of these, the scenery was stunning.
Monteverde: We hiked the Cloud Forest Reserve and I would suggest putting that on your bucket list. It took us about 3 hours to complete the entire loop. It was so green, we saw lots of wildlife, and the trees were stunning and huge. We also hiked the small trails in town down to a waterfall and had the whole trail to ourselves. I would definitely recommend this peaceful stroll as well.
Uvita: We hiked out to the tip of the whale tail beach in the Marino Ballena National Park. While this journey is a must, you need to be aware of times for low and high tide, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer. We stayed on a gorgeous property that had its own private beach, swimming hole and lots of hiking trails that we were excited to explore.
To Refuel/Imbibe:
La Fortuna: We ate at Las Ventanas every night we were in La Fortuna. It translates to the Little Window and it was so cute, had amazing food and the best fruit cocktails. We also had a delicious meal at Inspira.
Monteverde: We ate at Stela’s Cafe for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s just that good. We went to Tramonti one night for dinner and wine and they had good food and a very nice outdoor patio for dining.
Uvita: We ate at La Cusinga Lodge’s restaurant, The Aracari. The food was good, but we mostly went for convenience since we stayed at the lodge. The cocktails were better ;) We also ate at Mystic Sushi and I would highly recommend it for the food, not necessarily the service.
Overall, I loved Costa Rica and I plan on returning to not only host retreats but for personal travel, as well.
Images by Personal Branding Maven Elise Kutt at Mod Bettie Portraits
My name is Anna VanAgtmael, and I am a certified yoga instructor with a passion for yoga, travel, and connecting with others.
I believe in trying everything once. My values lie in collecting memories over things. Though we desire adventure and authentic experiences, naturally our fear holds us back.
My ambition is to inspire and encourage you to unmask your fears and jump into the unknown.
Anna VanAgtmael | Yoga Enthusiast | Travel Designer