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San José, Costa Rica
Fly into San Jose and grab a car rental, then start driving to El Castillo.
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La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Dec 9-12: Arenal / La Fortuna (Volcano + Jungle)
Attractions:
Misty mornings, hummingbirds, local cheese, and secret waterfalls
Lodging:
Look for eco-lodges or cabins outside La Fortuna town (look in El Castillo side or near Mistico Area) - more jungle, less “adventure hub”
Lodging in El Castillo:
- Essence Arenal (likely our best bet)
- Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa
- Airbnb options
Food:
Try olla de carne (beef vegetable stew) or fresh trout with garlic
Activities:
- Arenal Observatory Lodge trails - will need day pass, great wildlife with fewer crowds than the main parks
- Exotermales or Termales El Salto - secret river hot spring
- Mistico Hanging Bridges - go at opening times to beat crowds and see more animals
- Bogarin Trail - locally run sloth-spotting trail
- Dinner at a soda - Soda Viquez or a small family place outside of town
- Night rainforest tour (local naturalist-led)
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Monteverde, Costa Rica
Dec 12-14: Monterverde (Cloud Forest + Rural Culture)
Tip: Swapping tropical rainforest for cool, misty cloud forest. Avoid the main cloud forest reserve at peak times and explore community-based trails instead. Pack a sweater.
Lodging:
Santa Elena or outside town, at a quiet family farm lodge
Lodging in Monteverde:
Monteverde Lodge & Gardens ($)
Cala Lodge (quieter and more personal vibe)
Monteverde Ecolodge B&B
Food:
Local cheese, sugarcane, coffee, and gallo pinto for brekky
Look for sodas (family-run lunch spots)
Activities:
Choose Curi-Cancha Reserve (bird-rich) or Children’s Eternal Rainforest (the largest private reserve in Central America) over the crowded main reserve
Night forest walk with a local naturalist (great for frogs, kinkajous, sloths)
Hang out in the tiny town of Santa Elena and chat with locals over chorreadas (corn pancakes)
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Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
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San José, Costa Rica