Hey, fellow travellers! Welcome to our latest adventure blog on Costa Rica. This stunning country has countless places to explore, but let’s be honest—four days just isn’t enough! However, if you're on a tight schedule like us and want to make the most of every moment, let’s dive right in.
Our must-visit list? A volcano, a beach, and, of course, the incredible national parks. I mean, can you even say you’ve been to Costa Rica if you haven’t seen a sloth? No way! Let’s get started!
Flights: Our round trip from Toronto cost around $1,600 CAD for two people.
Hotels:
At La Fortuna: We stayed at Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa, which turned out to be even more luxurious than we expected. The hot springs were absolutely incredible! Our stay costed us around 250 CAD per night. Recommended*.
At Manuel Antonio: We stayed at Shana by the Beach, which cost around 310 CAD per night. The resort was beautiful, featuring a private beach and an infinity pool.
At Manuel Antonio: On day 3, we opted for a budget friendly hotel Oceanfront Hotel Verde Mar direct access to the beach which costed us 144 CAD.
At San Jose: We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn San Jose Airport City Mall, which cost around 200 CAD per night.
Travelling inside costa Rica: We rented a car to explore Costa Rica and initially planned on getting a Jeep. However, since they were sold out, we ended up with a sedan instead. The total cost, including insurance, was around 715 CAD.
Here’s a detailed Costa Rica itinerary:
Day 1: After landing in San José, we picked up our rental car and drove straight to Arenal Resort—a scenic three-hour drive, though it rained most of the way. We checked in around 3 PM and headed straight to La Fortuna Waterfall, only to find it was already closing. Hoping to make the most of our time, we visited a chocolate-making factory next, but to our disappointment, it had also closed by 5 PM. That’s when we realized—most tourist activities in La Fortuna wrap up by 5 PM!
With some time to spare, we explored downtown La Fortuna before returning to our hotel. The highlight of the evening? A relaxing soak in the hot springs, sipping margaritas at the swim-up bar—an absolutely incredible experience. Later, we freshened up and enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner, making for a truly relaxing day.
Day 2: We kicked off our day with a 6 AM yoga class at the resort—an incredible way to start the morning. Practicing yoga with the soothing sounds of nature in the background was pure bliss, the most peaceful I’ve felt in a long time. Highly recommended!
After a delicious breakfast, we freshened up and set off for Mistico National Park. This place is a paradise for wildlife lovers, and the hanging bridges inside are simply breathtaking. The view of the volcano from the bridges is a must-see! If you're lucky, you might even spot a sloth hanging out in the trees.
For lunch, we stopped at a soda with stunning volcano views—because let’s be honest, you can’t visit Costa Rica without dining at a local soda! Come on!
Next, we made our way to La Fortuna Waterfall. Due to heavy rainfall the night before, swimming wasn’t allowed, but the sight of the massive, roaring waterfall was still awe-inspiring.
Later, we hit the road toward Manuel Antonio, a scenic five-hour drive from La Fortuna, ready for the next adventure!
Day 3: We always turn into morning people when we travel—gotta make the most of every moment! So, we headed to the beach early, and it was completely empty, as if we had the entire place to ourselves. We enjoyed the soft morning sun, took a refreshing dip, and soaked in the peaceful vibes—just the perfect way to start the day.
After an amazing breakfast, we sipped our morning coffee at the restaurant and spotted some huge, vibrant parrots nearby—a perfect start to the day! Feeling full of energy, we were in the mood for adventure, so we booked the famous zip-lining experience—and trust me, it was one of the best things we did in Costa Rica!
The entire activity was incredibly well-organized and professionally run by the team. It cost 125 CAD per person, and it was worth every penny. They offer the longest twin zip-line in the world, and soaring over the lush rainforest felt like flying—truly an exceptional way to experience the wild beauty of Costa Rica from a bird’s-eye view! After the exhilarating zip-lining experience, we were treated to a delicious Costa Rican-style lunch, which was included in the package. It was the perfect way to recharge after the adventure, allowing us to savor authentic local flavors while soaking in the incredible surroundings. The entire zip-lining experience lasted four hours, from 11 AM to 3 PM. It was an action-packed adventure, and the time flew by!
We then checked into our next hotel and headed straight to the beach to catch the sunset. Once again, we made the most of our time there! Unlike our morning spot, this wasn’t a private beach, so it was full of life—people lounging on the sand, vendors selling fresh coconuts, and even horse rides along the shore.
The sunset? Absolutely breathtaking. The sky transformed into a masterpiece of colors, making for the perfect, relaxing evening by the ocean.
To wrap up the night, we dined at a one-of-a-kind airplane-themed restaurant, where we enjoyed some incredible food before calling it a day. What a perfect way to end our adventure-filled day!
Day 4: We kicked off our morning at the beach again (yes, we are totally beach people!), enjoying a perfect cup of coffee and breakfast with ocean views. And the best part? We were entertained by a bunch of playful monkeys swinging around nearby while we ate—pure Costa Rica vibes!
After freshening up, we headed to Manuel Antonio National Park, where we decided to hire a guide—and it was so worth it. He pointed out some incredible wildlife, and guess what? We saw a sloth! Yes, you heard that right—a slooooth! And not just one, we spotted four sloths in the park. OMG, what an unforgettable experience! The total cost, including the guide and entry fee, was $60 CAD per person.
One of the highlights of Manuel Antonio National Park is its stunning beach, ranked as the 11th most beautiful beach in the world. And let me tell you, it lives up to the hype! Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with perfect waves and crystal-clear water, it was absolute paradise. We swam, soaked up the sun, and got seriously tanned—totally worth it!
For lunch, we stopped at an Indian restaurant called Namaste, where we ate like crazy. The food was delicious, but definitely on the pricier side.
Afterward, we hit the road for San José, a three-hour drive, and checked into our airport hotel for the night. The next morning, we returned our rental car and headed to the airport, wrapping up our incredible Costa Rica adventure! 🌴✈️
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