Things to Do in Costa Rica
A 9-day travel guide:
Recommended spots include links to my
solo female travel extended itinerary
Costa Rica trip preparations: flight and car rental
Airline Tickets traveling from Rhode Island (PVD) to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
Booked Jan. 10 to travel April 4 – April 12
Total Costa Rica flight cost: $344.43
Alamo Car rental:
Pick-up on April 4, return April 12; Nine days ($35/day)
Total car rental cost: $310.47
Day 1
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Arrive in Costa Rica and explore the capital city, San Jose:
Where I stayed:
Hostel — Costa Rica Guesthouse
Private Room & Shared Bedroom, $41 USD
Where I ate dinner:
Silvestre San Jose, 8-course meal, $57.37 USD
Day 2
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Go to nature. Pack up to explore La Fortuna, the gateway to two volcanoes at Arenal Volcano National Park. Hike the volcano and enjoy the hot springs. Visit the waterfalls and hanging bridges
Where I stayed:
Hotel Campo Verde, Alajuela $75.03
Where I went:
Hot Springs: Ecotermales Fortuna Alajuela $40 USD
Day 3 – Day 5
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Head to the beaches! Drive to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Playa Grande, Guanacaste region just north of the Tamarindo area. It’s one of Costa Rica’s best surfing spots and home to the largest marine reptile, the leatherback turtle.
Where I stayed:
La Marajeda Hotel Guanacaste, ~325.00 USD (3 days)
Where I ate:
La Marajeda Restaurante (highly recommended), $20 – $35 USD
Lucy’s Retired Surfer Guanacast (highly recommended), $21 USD
Pico Bistro Tamarindo, $16.37 USD
Jack Ripp Inn, $34.45 USD
Day 6 – April 9
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Go inline to the dry tropical forest, with hundreds of bird species and explore the small, bordering towns.
Where I stayed:
Flying Crocodile Hotel, $60 USD
Day 7 – April 10
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Drive up toward the mountains and check out stunning viewpoints!
Where I stayed:
Hotel Santa Fe, $35.03 USD
Where I ate:
Pizzeria y Restaurante DiKary, $15 USD
Day 8 – April 11
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Trek through the Monteverde cloud forests. There are so many low-hanging clouds, like fog, hovering on this mountainous area; the sky essentially comes down to the forest!
Where I stayed:
Hotel Boareevard Mango, $30.14
Where I went:
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hanging Bridges, $20Where I ate:
Restaurant Cafe Y Macada Puntarenas (highly recommend), $12.43
Day 9 – April 12
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