Hi! I’m working on a 8-night itinerary for a first timers trip to Costa Rica early/mid December. We want to find the balance between seeing some of the diversity that Costa Rica offers while not spending our whole time going from place to place.
We are all in good shape and active and definitely are thinking of this as more of an adventure trip. As far as activities we are interested in doing some of the following: hiking, zip-lining, bird watching, beach time (not a necessity), waterfall rappelling, hot springs, river rafting, visiting a coffee plantation , riding bikes, eating local food, seeing wildlife
Below are the many itineraries I’m considering right now, but love would any thoughts and recommendations! We arrive at 10:30AM our first day so plan on traveling on from SJO to our first stop, but besides our flight everything else is open
Itinerary Option 1
- 3 nights in Cahuita / Puerto Viejo de Talamanca area
- 2 nights in Sarapiqui
- 2 nights in Arenal National Park (at Arenal Observatory Lodge)
- 1 night in San Jose
Itinerary Option 2
- 3 nights in Cahuita / Puerto Viejo de Talamanca area
- 4 nights in Sarapiqui (with either a day trip tour to Tortuguero or a half-day trip on the way to San Jose stopping at the Poás Volcano)
- 1 night in San Jose
Itinerary Option 3
- 2 nights in Turrialba Valley (Guayabo Lodge?)
- 2 nights in Sarapiqui
- 3 nights in Arenal National Park (at Arenal Observatory Lodge)
- 1 night in San Jose
Itinerary Option 4
- 3 nights in Manuel Antonio (based off concerns about it being too rainy on the Caribbean side)
- 3 nights in Arenal National Park (at Arenal Observatory Lodge)
- 2 nights in San Jose with a day trip to Rio Pacuare or a coffee plantation