Costa Rica is one of my favorite destinations - there is so much natural beauty crammed in this small country of 19,600 square miles. From the humble capital city of San Jose, located in the center of the country at about 3.600 feet above sea level, everything is close at hand - the Caribbean and the Pacific Coast are less than 90 minutes away, the lush lowland rainforests of the Caribbean slope are about 75 minutes away and the cloud forests and the volcanoes of the central highlands are less than 1 hour away. For a visitor who can afford only 7-8 days in Costa Rica, it is possible to explore a variety of habitats and life zones in a very short time period.
The following 8 day/7 night itinerary would be ideal for such a traveler:
One night in San Jose - if you arrive during the day, you may have time for a quick highlights tour of the city and some shopping
Two nights in the Caribbean lowlands - an opportunity to explore the lush rainforests of Costa Rica. Nature hikes, white water rafting, birdwatching etc.
Two nights at Bosque de Paz - private nature reserve and lodge at about 7,000 feet above sea level, Cloud forests and montane rainforests, Secluded and quiet. Ideal for hiking and nature studies
Two nights La Fortuna - Popular resort area, and site of Arenal Volcano, most active volcano in Costa Rica
Alternate: 2 nights in Tortuguero - well-established ecotourist destination located on the Northern Caribbean Coast. Wet coastal forests, very lush and green. Drive/take motorboat from San Jose/return by air. Important nesting area for both Green and leatherback turtles.
Alternate: Two nights in Monteverde - popular ecotourist destination and mountain resort straddling the continental divide. Misty cloud forests, very lush and green with views of the Pacific Ocean. Somewhat commercial but there are many attractions in the area. Many lodges to choose from. Nice social scene.
If you can afford to stay 3-5 days longer, I would add an extra night at Bosque de Paz and in San Jose and/or perhaps 2-3 nights in Manuel Antonio, a popular resort area with lush tropical landscapes and excellent beaches on Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast. Alternate - any number of resort areas located on the Nicoya Peninsula (Northern Costa Rica) - Ocotal, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Samara or Nosara.
For your information, a variety of tour packages to Costa Rica are offered by Calypso Island Tours, with themes ranging from turtle watching to butterfly gardens. All these tours are fully customizable.
Bus Goldberg is a seasoned world traveler and the director of Calypso Island Tours, a travel company that specializes in botanical adventures and nature tours to such diverse destinations as Costa Rica, Thailand and the Caribbean. He also maintains his own travel blog, Calypso Island Chronicles which features insightful commentary on traveling in the tropics and ecotourism as well as destination tips, travel anecdotes and humor.
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