Costa Rica 2026 Adventures
Updated: Oct 12
Costa Rica Sites We Toured
Costa Rica flag pins
Day 1 – Thu Sep 17 | Travel Day ✈️
And we're off! 🎉 Heading out of Palm Springs this afternoon, quick layover in San Francisco, then an overnight flight to Costa Rica! Two weeks of rainforests, volcanoes, and wildlife ahead of me. I can hardly believe it. Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Central America! 🇨🇷✈️
📍 Palm Springs → San Francisco → San José, Costa Rica
Day 2 – Fri Sep 18 | ¡Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! 🌴
I MADE IT! 🇨🇷 Landed at Juan Santamaría International Airport bright and early this morning. The air here is warm and tropical and everything is so green. Checked into the DoubleTree Cariari Hotel near San José and spent the day settling in and soaking up the fact that I'm actually here. This is going to be an incredible adventure. Pura vida! 🌺
📍 DoubleTree Cariari Hotel, San Antonio de Belén, Costa Rica
Day 3 – Sat Sep 19 | Welcome & Getting Ready for the Jungle 🌿
Had our welcome meeting this evening with the tour group and I'm so excited about what's ahead! Met some wonderful fellow travelers. Now I'm packing my overnight bag for Tortuguero, a remote national park on the Caribbean coast that you can only reach by boat or small plane. Two nights in the jungle, here we come! 🐒🦜
📍 DoubleTree Cariari Hotel, San Antonio de Belén
Day 4 – Sun Sep 20 | Tortuguero National Park 🐢
Wow, just WOW. Tortuguero National Park is like something out of a nature documentary. We traveled through winding canals surrounded by the most incredible rainforest. Monkeys swinging overhead, toucans, and the most vibrant green you've ever seen. Staying at the Evergreen Lodge right in the heart of it all. No roads here, only waterways. This is pure magic. ✨🌿
📍 Tortuguero National Park, Evergreen Lodge
Day 5 – Mon Sep 21 | Deeper into the Jungle 🦥
Another day surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. Woke up to howler monkeys and birds I couldn't even name. Tortuguero is one of those places that makes you realize how amazing our planet really is. Spent the day exploring the canals and spotting wildlife. I could stay here forever (but the mosquitoes might disagree 😂). Second night at the Evergreen Lodge. 💚
📍 Evergreen Lodge, Tortuguero
Day 6 – Tue Sep 22 | On to the River Valley 🏞️
Said goodbye to Tortuguero today and headed inland toward the Arenal region. What a change of scenery! Rolling green hills, rivers everywhere, and you can feel the volcano energy in the air. Checked into the beautiful Tilajari Hotel Resort near Muelle San Carlos. The grounds are stunning and there are birds EVERYWHERE. This country just keeps surprising me. 🌈
📍 Tilajari Hotel Resort, Muelle San Carlos
Day 7 – Wed Sep 23 | A Day to Breathe 🧘
Sometimes the best travel days are the ones where you slow down. Explored the Tilajari resort, walked the nature trails, and just enjoyed the incredible surroundings. The views of the mountains and river are absolutely stunning. Ate amazing food and recharged for the adventures ahead. Costa Rica really knows how to do "pura vida." 🌿☀️
📍 Tilajari Hotel Resort, Muelle San Carlos
Day 8 – Thu Sep 24 | Hanging Bridges & Arenal Volcano! 🌋
Today, we glided above the rainforest floor and soaked in a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the jungle on a guided tour of Arenal's famous hanging bridges. Then we checked into Hotel Lomas del Volcán — and oh my goodness, you can see Arenal Volcano right from the hotel! The volcano is absolutely massive and so dramatic against the sky. We also enjoyed an amazing guided tour of the surrounding area. La Fortuna is such a charming little town, and I keep pinching
myself that this is actually real life. 🌋❤️
📍 Hotel Lomas del Volcán, La Fortuna
Day 9 – Fri Sep 25 | Ziplining & Farm Tour Day 🌱
Today I soared over the jungle canopy on a mind-blowing zip line adventure — and fun fact: Costa Rica is actually the birthplace of zip lining! 🎉 In the afternoon, I got my hands dirty on a visit to a local Costa Rican farm 🌿 and learned all about how they grow coffee, cacao, sugarcane, and tropical fruits. The flavors here are absolutely unreal — everything tastes so fresh and vibrant. I even tasted the most incredible chocolate straight from the cacao pod. This is how food should be. Another gorgeous night at Hotel Lomas del Volcán with that volcano glowing in the background. 😍
📍 Hotel Lomas del Volcán, La Fortuna
Day 10 – Sat Sep 26 | White Water Rafting! 🚣♀️💦
I DID IT!! 🎉 White water rafting in Costa Rica and what a rush! The rapids were thrilling, the scenery along the river was breathtaking, and I only screamed a little (okay, maybe a lot 😂). One of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. If you ever get the chance, DO IT. Last night at Hotel Lomas del Volcán. What a way to say goodbye to the volcano region! 🌋🚣♀️
📍 La Fortuna area, Costa Rica
Day 11 – Sun Sep 27 | Beach Day at the Pacific! 🏖️
From volcanoes to the ocean! Arrived at Los Sueños Marriott on the Pacific coast at Playa Herradura today and this place is GORGEOUS. Resort vibes, ocean breezes, and the sound of waves. After all the jungle and volcano adventures, a little luxury feels so good. The sunsets here are going to be legendary, I can already tell. 🌅
📍 Los Sueños Marriott, Playa Herradura
Day 12 – Mon Sep 28 | Exploring the Coast 🐚
Had a wonderful guided tour along the Pacific coast today. The tropical dry forest meets the ocean here and it's a completely different landscape from the Caribbean side. So many beautiful birds, incredible views, and that warm ocean breeze. This country has it all: rainforest, volcanoes, rivers, AND beaches. I don't want to leave. 🌊💙
📍 Los Sueños Marriott, Playa Herradura
Day 13 – Tue Sep 29 | Crocodile Safari & Back to San José 🏙️
Nothing like a river cruise and crocodile safari to top off the trip. Headed back to the San José area today, full circle moment. This trip has been absolutely life-changing. Two more days to soak it all in, do some last-minute exploring, and find the perfect souvenirs for everyone back home. 🛍️💛
📍 DoubleTree Cariari Hotel, San Antonio de Belén
Day 14 – Wed Sep 30 | Costa Rican Coffee & Last Adventures ☕
You simply can't leave Costa Rica without spotting a sloth and stocking up on coffee, right?! ☕ "Pura Vida" repeated everywhere meaning pure life! Spent the day savoring some of the best coffee in the world and soaking in every last moment of this beautiful country. Every sip tastes like mountains, rain, and sunshine all at once. Already planning my next trip back. Costa Rica, you have expanded my heart. ❤️🇨🇷
Day 15 – Thu Oct 1 | Homeward Bound 🏠
And just like that, two incredible weeks in Costa Rica have come to an end. 😢✈️ From the jungle canals of Tortuguero to the slopes of Arenal Volcano, white water rafting, farm tours, Pacific sunsets, and the most amazing people, this trip has been everything I dreamed of and more. Pura vida isn't just a saying here, it's a way of life. Thank you, Costa Rica. Until we meet again! 🇨🇷💚
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