Things to do in Costa Rica
Feb 17, 2015, 10:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2
Things to do in Costa Rica
Good morning everyone! I'm planning a backpacking trip to Costa Rica for 2 weeks at the end of March, I was hoping to find out the best hikes, waterfalls, hotsprings, beaches to visit, places to eat, hostels to stay. I've done a bit of research and found I'm most likely leaning towards Arenal and Fortuna. Hoping to do the most with my time there. Has anyone been here and have any tips.
Much appreciated! - Linda
Much appreciated! - Linda
Feb 17, 2015, 8:17 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,895
Your questions are so broad, they're difficult to answer.
You do realize that Arenal and Fortuna are essentially the same place? La Fortuna is the town; Arenal is the volcano and is the shorthand for the area. There's a lot to do there, but it would be hard to fill up two weeks.
For a reasonably affordable beach experience:
Puerto Viejo and Cahuita on the south Caribbean coast have a very different feel to them than the rest of Costa Rica.
Dominical on the Central Pacific coast is one of my favorite beach towns.
Manuel Antonio is very popular. The area is best known for its national park, but there's a ton of things to do, and a lot of good restaurants and a wide range of accommodation to fit all budgets.
You do realize that Arenal and Fortuna are essentially the same place? La Fortuna is the town; Arenal is the volcano and is the shorthand for the area. There's a lot to do there, but it would be hard to fill up two weeks.
For a reasonably affordable beach experience:
Puerto Viejo and Cahuita on the south Caribbean coast have a very different feel to them than the rest of Costa Rica.
Dominical on the Central Pacific coast is one of my favorite beach towns.
Manuel Antonio is very popular. The area is best known for its national park, but there's a ton of things to do, and a lot of good restaurants and a wide range of accommodation to fit all budgets.
Feb 23, 2015, 6:22 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,445
I think that you'd be hard pressed to fill more than 5-7 days or so in the Arenal/La Fortuna area. I'd also budget 3-4 days or so for Manuel Antonio/Quepos, and Carara/Jaco plus a day to get from La Fortuna to Quepos
That's a starting point - the rest depends upon how much time you want to spend at the beach and if you want to get away from the tourist infrastructure.
Corcovado on the Pacific by the Panama border is a great park, but it's remote from everywhere else and it will take another day to get to/from it to San Jose.
That's a starting point - the rest depends upon how much time you want to spend at the beach and if you want to get away from the tourist infrastructure.
Corcovado on the Pacific by the Panama border is a great park, but it's remote from everywhere else and it will take another day to get to/from it to San Jose.