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pandemicperipatetics · 6 months

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1 Week in Costa Rica

View along the drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

Overview

We spent about a week exploring the rain forests, hot springs, and beaches of Costa Rica. I am conflicted about whether I would recommend visiting here and/or return myself.

On the one hand, it was really beautiful (the rain forests were a particularly unique experience for me), we had a relaxing time at the resorts we stayed at, and the direct flight from NYC was convenient and quick (~4.5 hours each way). On the other hand, public infrastructure was poor (e.g., poorly maintained roads with insufficient road signs and highly disorganized traffic; smells of sewage in the national park and even in our fanciest resort at times), the social contract felt less intact than even in the U.S. (we felt like we were being scammed half the time, even in dealings with globally known brands like Hertz and Uber Eats; drivers on the roads seemed both aggressive and incompetent), and everything was comparably expensive to developed countries we’ve visited – think NYC prices for developing world infrastructure.

Personally, next time I’d probably choose a developed country with better infrastructure and similarly beautiful scenery, like Hawaii, somewhere in Europe (Switzerland and Norway are favorites), or if specifically looking for rainforest, perhaps Australia, which has one of the largest rainforests in the world (I haven’t visited that rainforest myself, but found Australia delightful to visit when I was recently in Tasmania).

Sunset from the short hike at our hotel's reserve at Manuel Antonio

Here's our Costa Rica itinerary and some high-level commentary on it:

Direct flight from Newark to Liberia (small airport in the northwest part of Costa Rica)

Picked up a one-way car rental at Hertz – our pickup was relatively easy, but we later saw that Hertz in both Liberia and San Jose (where we dropped off the car) have awful reviews for being scammy.

Drive to Arenal (3 nights) – this was a very lazy few days, the main attractions were the Tabacon hot springs and views of Arenal Volcano.

Drive to Monteverde (2 nights) – highlights here were the resort (Senda Monteverde) and the zipline experience over the rainforest.

Drive to Manuel Antonio (2 nights) – the national park here was stunning and rife with wildlife spottings, but the surrounding area was a bit unpleasant (crowded, trafficky, lots of scammers). Seems like a must-visit place if you go to Costa Rica though.

Drive to San Jose (1 night) - We did not hear good things about San Jose and did not explore, we only went there because we were flying out of San Jose Airport back to NYC.

Direct flight from San Jose to Newark

Arenal

View of the Arenal Volcano from the Arenal National Park hike on a very rainy day

Arenal is an area known for the Arenal Volcano and the Tabacon Resort ($$$$) and its thermal hot springs. It was a ~2 hour drive from Liberia airport – the drive was okay, but not super special.

View of the lake on our drive from Liberia to Arenal

The Tabacon Resort was nice, but underwhelming relative to anywhere else we stayed. I’m not big on hot springs, but I was pretty impressed with the resort’s hot springs, which were a bit of a maze of pools within a beautiful garden. Visitors can also pay ~$60pp to access the hot springs without staying at the resort. Personally I wouldn’t go out of my way for this, but if you love hot springs it could be worth a visit.

Tabacon hot springs

The activities in the area were nice, but also underwhelming compared to other parts of Costa Rica that we visited. We walked the trail in Arenal National Park (~$17pp). Yes, it was a single trail – we learned that national parks in Costa Rica are compact and expensive relative to national parks in the U.S. It poured almost the entire time we walked, making it a relatively unpleasant experience, and the scenery was very nice but also basically the same as what we saw in the other national parks we visited. The view of Arenal Volcano was fine – not Mount Rainier level amazing though.

The rainforest at Arenal National Park

Trying to hike in pouring rain and muddy trails

The vegetarian food at the hotel was limited and not amazing. We enjoyed the options at Organico Fortuna in the nearby town of La Fortuna (~20 min drive from our resort).

Though our experience was good, I probably wouldn’t return to Arenal vs. other parts of Costa Rica / the world.

Monteverde

Monteverde Cloud Reserve hike

We had a great time in Monteverde. It was a ~3 hour drive from Arenal on some very potholed roads (honestly a neck pillow for the drive wouldn’t be a bad thing), but the scenery on the drive was very beautiful.

On the trail at the Aguti Reserve near our hotel in Monteverde

The area is known for the Monteverde Cloud Reserve ($25pp entry for a ~2 hour walk in the rainforest). We enjoyed the walk – it wasn’t super different from walking in Arenal National Park, but it was nice that it didn’t rain.

We also had a very nice zipline experience (~$65pp for a ~3 hour experience traversing 13 ziplines). The ziplines took us over the rain forest, which was a very cool vantage point, and the zipline guides were extremely professional and very friendly. I would definitely recommend this.

The zipline experience also included an optional "Tarzan Swing"...

We stayed at the lovely Senda Monteverde ($$$), a luxury resort with rooms with an elevated treehouse vibe. The resort offered free admission to the nearby Aguti Reserve, with lots of trails to walk through rainforest flora. They also had many nice touches such as a free minibar in the room, free activities such as yoga, medicinal tea, and cocktail making, and leaving us heated water bottles before bedtime when it got a little chilly. We had a great experience here.

Treehouse vibes at Senda Monteverde

The resort grounds were so lush and beautifully designed

Monteverde was the chilliest place we stayed – I was glad I brought a few full sleeve shirts and a fleece jacket – and it rained on and off during our visit. It was also the least crowded area we visited, which was a treat.

Manuel Antonio National Park

On the water at Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park was stunning (entrance is ~$17pp for 3+ hours of hikes in the rainforest and access to beautiful sandy beaches). It encompasses both rainforest and some of the bay leading into the Pacific Ocean. We saw the most wildlife at Manuel Antonio vs. any other area. We didn’t have time to enjoy the beaches, but they looked lovely.

We so so many monkeys on the Manuel Antonio National Park hike!

However, the park is a bit overrun, understandably given its exquisiteness. It was mandatory to buy entrance tickets online in advance (we tried to do this the morning of and all that was left was an 11am entry time, but our hotel concierge told us we could still enter earlier, which worked out fine for us). The park entrance was overrun with aggressive, scammy men posing as official park tour guides (they were not) and trying to fraudulently sell parking spots. We were lucky that our hotel offered a free shuttle to and from the park so we didn’t have to deal with the hassle of parking here (we also saw there was a public bus, which seemed like a good option).

Manuel Antonio hike - one of the trails led to this beautiful rocky beach

Another trail at Manuel Antonio National Park led to this beautiful viewpoint -- some parts of the park reminded us of the Road to Hana in Maui

We also really enjoyed doing a half-day catamaran excursion (~$80pp, booked through Viator and also available to book through the hotel) with views of the national park from the water. The water was too murky to see anything when we tried snorkeling, but the views throughout were gorgeous.

On the catamaran

We stayed at Gaia Hotel ($$), a resort with rooms that weren’t as luxurious as our other stays, but with the best, most personalized and attentive service we experienced anywhere on our trip. The resort also had a reserve on the property and free guided walking tours of it – we got to see macaws and a beautiful sunset over the water.

Sunset at Gaia (the resort is the white building on the left on the water)

Manuel Antonio was the hottest place we stayed – definitely weather for shorts/t-shirt or light hiking pants/light UPF protective shirt + mosquito repellent. The vegetarian food at the hotel looked unappealing, but there were a few decent restaurants in town (we liked Namaste Indian, Varuna Plant-Based for salads and smoothie bowls, and the Thai restaurant), all in 2-3 block area. Driving in this area was somewhat unpleasant: the one road leading to and from the park was trafficky and full of aggressive and bad drivers, and it was hard to find parking near the restaurants in town.

Iguana hanging out by the pool at Gaia resort

San Jose

The ~4 hour drive from Manuel Antonio to San Jose was miserable. The paucity of road signs (i.e., giving drivers advance notice when a 2nd lane on the road was closing) and many disrespectful drivers created a lot of needless traffic and danger on the road.

Once we reached San Jose, we stayed at the Marriott Hacienda Belen on points, a 20-min drive from the airport. It turned out to be a very nice hotel (great fitness center, Christmas carols) though the vegetarian food options were minimal and we used Uber Eats instead (and got stomach sick off the vegan food we tried).

Nothing we saw of San Jose on our drive in, and then later to the airport, made me think it would be a nice place to spend more time.

Returning our car rental to the San Jose airport was a bit complicated since they didn’t give us an address, and we initially went to the wrong location (at the domestic terminal vs. an offsite location). If you use Hertz here – which I’m not sure can be recommended given how poor their Google reviews are – the San Jose airport dropoff location is called “Hertz Costa Rica Rio Segundo, Alajuela” and is opposite a Hampton Inn.

The San Jose international airport terminal was very crowded (on a Saturday mid-day) – security took about half an hour, and neither of the two Priority Pass lounges had any capacity to accept new guests. All of the food places in the terminal had horrible Google reviews (<3 stars).

Just another gratuitous picture of the sandy beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park, since we took 0 pictures of San Jose :)

Logistics

When to visit – We visited in the last week of November, right after Thanksgiving. The first half of the trip was pretty rainy. November is the end of rainy season in Costa Rica -- it’s probably worth trying to visit squarely in the non-rainy season (which starts in December) to be safe.

Driving in Costa Rica – We had a few people recommend we hire a driver to take us around. We personally prefer not to deal with drivers (especially after our poor/scammy experience in Kerala) and liked the flexibility of doing our own driving. The only leg that I thought was so unpleasant as to maybe make a driver useful was Manuel Antonio to San Jose. Luckily, S is a very good driver and we made it just fine.

Renting a car – We were glad to have a 4x4 car for the potholed and muddy roads. Maybe look at other agencies than Hertz given their poor reviews on Google. And FYI, Costa Rica requires purchasing liability insurance directly from the rental car company (we didn’t know this until we arrived and were informed by the Hertz agent).

Vegetarian food – The traditional breakfast of eggs, rice and beans, and plantains was proteinful and delicious, but other than that the vegetarian food at the resorts was generally pretty sad (lots of bland pastas and occasionally a veggie burger with not-crispy fries). Getting enough protein was difficult.

Health & Sanitation – The CDC states that it’s better to drink bottled water in Costa Rica. Some of our hotels told us the water there was potable, but we stuck with bottled water to be safe. The CDC also warns of mosquito-borne diseases, so we were careful to wear long pants and sleeves most of the time and (when it was unbearable) to wear plenty of bug spray.

Currency – The currency, the Costa Rican colon, was exchanging at approximately 530:1 USD when we visited. We never used cash – credit card worked fine everywhere, including at toll booths on the highway and at the national parks. The only place where cash might be needed is perhaps if you take a public bus, like to/from Manuel Antonio National Park (I don’t know for sure how payment for public transit works in Costa Rica).

#costa rica #arenal #monteverde #manuel antonio

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toptenthing · 9 months

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Ten Stunning Volcanoes with Unique Geothermal Features

Volcanoes are not only awe-inspiring natural wonders but also dynamic sources of geothermal activity that shape the landscapes around them. From steaming fumaroles to bubbling hot springs, these volcanic regions are home to unique geothermal features that captivate the imagination. Here, we explore ten stunning volcanoes around the world that boast remarkable geothermal phenomena. #GeothermalExploration 1. Yellowstone Caldera, USA: Located within Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Caldera is renowned for its geothermal wonders, including the famous Old Faithful geyser. This supervolcano's geothermal activity powers colorful hot springs, boiling mud pots, and vibrant terraces. #GeothermalWonders 2. Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica: Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is a hotspot for geothermal exploration. Its surrounding area is dotted with thermal hot springs that offer relaxation and therapeutic benefits. The Tabacon Hot Springs, fed by the volcano's heat, provides a truly immersive geothermal experience. 3. Mount Erebus, Antarctica: Mount Erebus is Antarctica's southernmost active volcano. Its summit hosts the world's southernmost active lava lake, emitting a mesmerizing glow. This unique geothermal feature provides valuable insights into the planet's geological processes. #Nature'sPhenomena 4. Nisyros Volcano, Greece: The island of Nisyros in Greece is home to a dormant volcanic crater with impressive geothermal phenomena. The Stefanos Crater is renowned for its active fumaroles and vivid colors, creating a surreal landscape that showcases the Earth's internal heat. 5. Hekla Volcano, Iceland: Iceland's Hekla Volcano is famous for its geothermal activity and unique landscape. Surrounded by geysers, hot springs, and steaming vents, Hekla's stark contrast against the snowy backdrop is a testament to the island's geological diversity. 6. Mount Teide, Spain: Mount Teide, a stratovolcano on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, boasts geothermal features such as the Roques de García, a cluster of rocks formed by volcanic activity. The El Teide National Park offers visitors the opportunity to explore these unique formations. 7. Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand: Wai-O-Tapu, located in New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone, is a geothermal wonderland with striking hot springs and geysers. The Champagne Pool and Lady Knox Geyser are standout features that showcase the beauty of geothermal activity. #UniqueVolcanoFeatures 8. Mount Vesuvius, Italy: Famous for its catastrophic eruption in AD 79, Mount Vesuvius is also renowned for its geothermal features. The region around the volcano is dotted with thermal springs and baths, providing a glimpse into the Roman bathing culture. 9. Mount Bromo, Indonesia: Mount Bromo, part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in Indonesia, is famous for its ethereal landscape. The volcano's caldera is filled with a sea of sand, surrounded by otherworldly geothermal vents that emit sulfuric gases. 10. White Island, New Zealand: White Island, an active stratovolcano in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, offers a captivating blend of geothermal and marine features. The island is home to steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pools, and the unique phenomenon of a crater lake within an active volcano. These ten stunning volcanoes with their unique geothermal features remind us of the Earth's fiery origins and its ever-evolving nature. They serve as reminders of the intricate interplay between geological forces and the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. The Ten Best Camping Sites for Families and Their Pets 2023 Read the full article

#GeothermalExploration #GeothermalWonders #Nature'sPhenomena #UniqueVolcanoFeatures

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wizardesssheart · 9 months

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Tabacon Hot Springs and Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

#Tourism #pool #Central America #volcanic #hotel

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adventurosis · 10 months

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Costa Rica Day 2:

We woke up, had breakfast at our hotel and headed over to mistico hanging bridges.

The park was very crowded! In the park we saw 2 snakes, maybe a sloth and an iguana but I think that’s about it.

After that we went and hiked at arenal National park. Entry was $16 per person- would definitely skip. You hiked to a view of the volcano which you could see from several places in the arenal area. We did see some white faces capuchin monkeys here which was cool but it didn’t have a ton of animals.

Then we went to the butterfly conservatory- it was $20 per person. Definitely skip this. We saw a lot of those butterflies just flying around in Costa Rica and they had frogs in tanks. Not worth it.

After this we stopped at a soda (restaurant) on the side of the road which was good and cheap! We got pork dishes.

Then we went to el choyin- Badi ally it gets water which is run off from the tabacon hot springs resort- so the water was warm. We had to pay to park they asked us from 5000 colones ($10), but we only had 2800 and they accepted that. So that was annoying and it was packed with people.

After that we went out for a coffee drink and dessert in La Fortuna- the cafe rainforest. Decadent coffee drinks- really delicious and friendly staff.

We watched the sloth move around a bit at night which was cool! Then we went to sleep.

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rolliaa · 2 years

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Wellness package central

WELLNESS PACKAGE CENTRAL SKIN

Hatha yoga classes are offered every morning and Restorative yoga classes are offered every afternoon. This lush escape nestled in the mountains with views extending out to the Pacific Ocean emphasizes well-being. Really loving this whole eating healthy thing over here!” via Retreat is an 11-room boutique hotel and wellness center located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. “Every breakfast here begins with a bowl of fruit, freshly made juice, granola with goat milk yogurt, and something like a chia pudding… then we get coffee and omelets. The mud should set for about 10 minutes before rinsing in the river. Upon reservation of the mud body-painting treatment, guests are given the mineral-rich mud which can be applied to your partner, yourself, or your friends at a special hot river pool designated for treatments. Additionally, Rio Perdido Hotel offers massages and their signature volcanic mud body-painting. The lively landscape has created dozens of natural pools at varying temperatures and rich with minerals from the soil in which guests can relax. The river is naturally heated by the Miravalles Volcano. It is situated on a 600-acre nature reserve with Rio Perdido Thermal River at its focal point. The hotel is only about 1 hour from Liberia International Airport but has far fewer visitors than Arenal Volcano. Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River, GuanacasteĪ nice off-the-beaten-path alternative to Tabacon Resort is Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River in Bagaces, Guanacaste. The Grand Spa has a multitude of memorable spa experiences that can be booked in outdoor bungalows surrounded by nature in complete privacy. The hot springs are a true tropical paradise surrounded by lush tropical gardens. Located near Arenal Volcano, the highlight of Tabacon Grand Spa & Thermal Resort is its expansive hot springs naturally fed by the volcano. Tabacon Grand Spa & Thermal Resort, Arenal Volcano The spa at Pranamar has a variety of massage treatments and treatments focused on the release and relaxation of specific body areas or problems such as the traveler’s well-being package or the yogi’s path package. With daily surf and yoga classes with views overlooking the ocean from a spectacular Yoga Shala, guests can slow down and reconnect with their surroundings. All packages must be used the same day and treatments may not be split up.įind rest, relaxation, and relief by booking a spa package at MassageLuXe today.Pranamar Villas from Villas and Yoga Retreat is an oceanfront 9-villa boutique hotel set on the pristine beaches of Santa Teresa in the heart of yoga country on the Nicoya Peninsula. This will also help them learn about any current conditions that may affect your treatments. This way, they will be aware of any concerns and special needs you may have. When you visit MassageLuXe, our service providers will carefully go over confidential questionnaires with you.

WELLNESS PACKAGE CENTRAL SKIN

Our line of VIP Repechage Facials has treatments for every skin type! This top tier package allows you to combine a standard massage, like the Swedish or deep tissue massage, with a VIP facial treatment. Our Emerge spa package has everything you need to feel like a new you. For this spa package, plan on being in the spa approximately 2 hours depending on the type of facial chosen. Both services must be used on the same visit. *Consists of 50-minute massage service and time for consultation and dressing. Combine a standard massage with a LuXe Facial to get the best of what MassageLuXe has to offer! *Consists of an 80-minute massage service and time for consultation and dressing.Įvolve your wellness with a packaged spa day. Our add-ons include: Hot Stones, Vitamin Scalp Treatment, LuXe Deep Relief, Foot Scrub, Lamina Lift Mask, and Aromatherapy. The Escape package allows you to combine a standard massage, like the Swedish or deep tissue massage, with an add-on of your choice. Our luxurious spa packages are designed to revitalize your mind, body, and soul.Įscape your day to day and treat the body and soul with one of our popular spa day massage packages. Come in, relax, and stay awhile! Combine a massage with a facial for the ultimate day of health, wellness, and relaxation.

#Wellness package central

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vaexpeditionscostarica · 2 years

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Arenal Tours in Costa Rica- Five Things You Should Not Miss

The region of Arenal and La Fortuna is one of the top destinations in Costa Rica. Earlier its eruption offered an incredible view of the red lava pouring over the sides of its crater. But now, the red lava days are gone. It has remained a dormant volcano since December 2010. Travelers are still keen to visit Arenal Volcano despite its lack of volcanic activities. Are you an avid tourist eager to see & explore Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica? A custom-made Arenal tour in Costa Rica is the right thing you are searching for.

Many travelers add Arenal tours in Costa Rica to the top of their list. At the same time, the volcano & Hiking Trails are the main attraction here. There are many additional things to do in Arenal, Costa Rica! These excursion activities will make your trip unforgettable, whether you’re looking for excitement or relaxation.

Rafting in white water

Rio Balsa and Rio Sarapiqui are the two rivers in Costa Rica suitable for grade 2-4 rafters, and they are conveniently adjacent to the Arenal Volcano. In contrast to the previous excursion, this one takes you along the upper Balsa River, allowing you to try some adventure & tackle more challenging rapids.

Arenal Hot Springs:

Costa Rica offers access to dozens of hot spring pools, upscale hot spring resorts & free hot springs, which are local’s and backpackers’ favorites! La Fortuna is one of the finest places in Costa Rica to soak in some hot springs. You get this opportunity because the surrounding of Arenal Volcano country is gifted with natural geothermal activity. You shouldn’t miss it & include it as a part of Costa Rica’s Arenal tours! It recommends spending one full day at Tabacon, Baldi, or Eco-Thermales and staying at a hotel that offers private hot springs on site.

Admire The Views At Lake Arenal

Lake Arenal offers a multitude of activities for interested local & global travelers. It is located at the foot of the Arenal Volcano. Being the largest lake in Costa Rica, it allures travelers to fishing & numerous water activities. The lake itself is a lovely sight, especially on clear days when the Arenal Volcano reflects in the lake’s sparkling waters. Adventurer travelers like to travel to try their adventure skills or some of their activities.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding On Lake Arenal

It is among the best options to view Arenal Lake’s magnificence. The journey begins with a boat ride to the lake’s center, where you will board a SUP. Once you stabilize yourself, get up and start traversing the calm water in the lake. You’ll stop there for a brief instruction on the island & go ahead to explore the breathtakingly beautiful vista throughout the journey.

Kayaking On Lake Arenal

Kayaking allows you to experience the beauty of Arenal lake. You will get the opportunity to explore the abundance of birds that can be spotted on the lake. Observe birds such as flycatchers, kingfishers, Great blue herons, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, etc. This tour is ideal for amateur and experienced birdwatchers.

Va Expedition is a leading tour & travel management company that offers numerous tour packages, including Arenal tours in Costa Rica, for their valued customers. They have vast experience in the travel industry, which allows them to provide you with the best recommendations and tour activities in Costa Rica. For more information on your Arenal tours in Costa Rica, please contact Va Expedition at 1-(860)856-5858 today!

#Arenal tours in Costa Rica #Costa Rica Tour #costa rica tour

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