Costa Rica, positioned in Central America, is a well-liked trip vacation spot, particularly for households with older youngsters. Not solely is it an exquisite nation, with a lot to see, but it surely additionally provides thrilling journey actions that teenagers will particularly take pleasure in. There’s one thing for everybody in Costa Rica.
Nonetheless, determining the place to go throughout your journey may be difficult as a result of there’s a lot to do. There are quite a few cities to go to, and most vacationers don’t need to keep in three or 4 inns throughout a household trip. You’ll need to both work out which cities to remain in after which plan actions or do the alternative. Select your actions after which choose the cities/inns.
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High Trip Spots in Costa Rica
Costa Rica isn’t an unlimited nation, but it surely’s nonetheless massive sufficient that you simply’ll want to contemplate the place to remain. This Central American nation sits on each the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean coasts. As well as, there are some extra inland locations throughout the nation.
Costa Rica is a pleasant nation, and also you’ll take pleasure in speaking to the residents you meet. Whereas stuffing your trip stuffed with actions is tempting, reserve sufficient time to benefit from the panorama and the folks. There’s a lot to do in Costa Rica, and you’ll’t do all of it.
We took a guided tour throughout our Costa Rica trip, so we didn’t have to fret about transportation or planning. However in case you are going alone, you’ll need to plan excursions, make reservations, and take into account your transportation earlier than you go. If you’re staying at a resort, your lodge concierge might also be capable of help with any plans and/or reservations.
Throughout our weeklong journey to Costa Rica, we stayed in three separate areas at three totally different inns. If we had been on this journey ourselves, I’d have opted to remain at solely two inns to make it simpler.
High Trip Spots in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is split into seven provinces – Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, and San Jose.
Guanacaste
Guanacaste, positioned alongside the Pacific Ocean, is without doubt one of the hottest Costa Rican vacationer locations. This Northwestern province, which incorporates its capital metropolis of Liberia, is called for the Guanacaste tree.
Throughout our journey, we spent two nights in Guanacaste. Nonetheless, I want we had extra time as a result of we loved the seaside and the resort.
This area provides many seashores, together with the next:
- Tamarindo Seaside (Playa Tamarindo)
- Playa Hermosa
- Playa Grande
- Playa Panama
- Samara Seaside
- Playa Conchal
- Playa Guiones
- Playa Carillo
As you’d count on, water sports activities are large in Guanacaste. A few of these excursions may be booked prematurely (we suggest checking GetYourGuide), however you might also discover you can e-book issues at your lodge.
Guanacaste can be residence to Santa Rosa Nationwide Park. This park provides ten pure habitats, together with mangroves and savannas. Friends can take pleasure in seashores and trails the place you may see and study concerning the animals dwelling in Costa Rica.
Throughout our time in Guanacaste, we stayed on the El Mangroove, Autograph Assortment (a part of Marriott Bonvoy). This lodge was one in every of my favorites as a result of its distinctive rooms, seaside entry, and exquisite outside pool space.
Our rooms at El Mangroove had been distinctive. We entered the room by means of a screened-in space with a sofa, desk, and hammock. Then, we had a second space, accessible with a separate key, the normal lodge room (with mattress, bathe, closet, and loo). Our household of 4 had two of those rooms related by an inside door.
The El Mangroove is positioned in Playa Panama. Like all seashores in Costa Rica, the precise seaside space is public. There’s additionally a pool space on the property with cabanas for lease. We loved spending time on the seaside on our final day in Guanacaste.
Arenal (Alajuela province)
The world of Arenal volcano and the city of La Fortuna is one other standard Costa Rican vacation spot. We spent three nights right here, however I’d have most popular at the very least one additional to take pleasure in our resort’s facilities.
There’s a lot to see and do within the Arenal Volcano space. Standard actions embrace ziplining, scorching springs, ATVing, and varied day journeys (together with Cano Negro, the place we went for a day). Our lodge, providing lovely views of Arenal Volcano, was the one place we noticed toucans flying within the wild.
The city of La Fortuna is small, but it surely’s a pleasant space to stroll round. We had a couple of hours to spend there, though some rainfall dampened a bit. Many scrumptious eating places, ice cream outlets, cafes, and reward outlets are all inside strolling distance.
Throughout this a part of our journey, we stayed on the Lodge Arenal Suites and Spa. This lodge, providing household suites, has lovely views of Arenal Volcano. Though we spent three nights right here, I’d have appreciated one additional evening.
Our room included two beds, a settee mattress, a desk, a separate bathe stall and loo space, and a scorching tub (proper within the room). Whereas we might have match our household of 4 on this room, we had two separate (adjoining however not connecting) rooms.
The resort space’s grounds are gorgeous. Facilities embrace scorching springs, a spa, an out of doors pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, and a present store. It’s only a brief drive to many actions, together with ziplining, the new springs resorts, and La Fortuna.
San Jose
We began our Costa Rica household trip within the capital metropolis of San Jose. Whereas we didn’t spend a lot time there (solely two nights), we cherished what we skilled.
Whereas in San Jose, you may go to the city middle and the Central Market (Mercado Central). If you’re excited about native meals, a strolling meals tour may be booked prematurely.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is without doubt one of the hottest sights in Costa Rica and is a brief drive from San Jose. We had been upset that we couldn’t do that as a result of we didn’t have sufficient time. I’ll go to the subsequent time we’re in Costa Rica.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park consists of 5 totally different waterfalls and a wildlife sanctuary. In the event you e-book it as a tour from San Jose, it’s usually a half-day or full-day journey, so that you’ll want to make sure you have sufficient time in your trip itinerary. One tour may be booked right here prematurely.
Throughout our time in San Jose, we stayed on the Costa Rica Marriott Lodge Hacienda Belen, a brief distance from the San Jose Airport. We solely had two nights at this lodge, however I want we had one other day or two.
This lodge is a former espresso plantation, they usually supply excursions. Once more, we didn’t have time for a tour, so I need to return for one more go to sooner or later.
The Costa Rica Marriott Lodge Hacienda Belen provides an exquisite outside pool space with a bigger and a cooler, smaller pool. There’s additionally a spa and a driving vary. It’s not proper in San Jose, however cabs and ride-shares can be found.
Airports in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has two worldwide airports. We arrived on the San Jose Worldwide Airport (Juan Santamaria Worldwide Airport), which was about 20 minutes away from our lodge. Then, we departed from Daniel Oduber Quirós Worldwide Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. It was the best for us to depart from a special airport than after we arrived.
Optimum # of days in Costa Rica
We spent seven nights in Costa Rica, however I’d have appreciated one other day or two. We had been on the go for our complete journey, however I’d have appreciated a day or two to discover our inns. They had been all lovely. If I had been to plan one other Costa Rica trip, I’d plan an eight—or nine-day journey or simply keep in two inns.
Climate
The summer time in Costa Rica is the wet season, and we had rain nearly day-after-day of our journey. Nonetheless, it didn’t rain all day day-after-day. The mornings had been principally clear, and we had some wet nights.
The wet season is Might by means of November, and the dry season is November by means of April. If visiting in the course of the wet season, convey umbrellas, quick-drying sneakers, and rain jackets.
Different Data
Spanish is spoken in Costa Rica. We did discover that folks in most vacationer areas spoke English.
Forex is the Costa Rican colón (CRC). We by no means exchanged cash and used our bank cards all through the journey. ATMs had been out there, and US {dollars} had been additionally usually accepted.
Costa Rica makes use of 120 volts and 60 hertz (the identical as the USA). It was good to not have to fret about bringing adaptors for our units.
Have you ever been to Costa Rica? What had been your favourite trip spots?
