Venture With Amy

I have read some terrible reviews on visiting Costa Rica this year. It’s too expensive, it’s too touristy, it’s not filled with colonial buildings, the food isn’t Mexican (I’m not kidding, I have seen that posted…). As a traveler who visited Costa Rica in 2024 during the busiest week of the year I can honestly say that these negative reviews, in my opinion, boil down to poor planning and unrealistic expectations. It’s not that hard to Google food, architecture, and expenses when planning a trip – but it can be hard to craft your dream itinerary that balances highlights with uncrowded experiences when visiting a tourist hot spot. Here I’m sharing a ten night itinerary that focuses on the best of both worlds for first time visitors. If I worked in a school district with a one week Spring Break, I would condense this itinerary by skipping the beach town at the end. While it was relaxing and vibey, I didn’t do anything there that I would consider an absolute must – in fact, I pretty much just lounged around and played in the surf water.

Many travelers insist that a car rental is an essential component to any Costa Rican adventure, however I’ve crunched the numbers and as a solo traveler a car rental is not necessarily the best option. It may be a more economically sound way to go if you have others to split the costs with. By using shuttles and booking guided experiences I was able to rest and nap through slow travel days, and engage in so much learning from local guides that I would have missed out on without them.

10 Nights in Costa Rica

3 Nights in La Fortuna

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer

This itinerary is ideal for travelers with flights into Liberia Airport due to Liberia’s proximity to the last destination on this trip. Liberia Airport is on the smaller side, making it so quick and easy to navigate, and a highly suitable option for the busy school break seasons. After clearing customs, make your way to meet your prebooked shuttle service to La Fortuna. I tested out three different shuttle companies on my trip and Interbus easily came out on top. Their website was also amongst the easiest to navigate out of all the local companies I booked with. On future trips I don’t see myself messing around with other options. Don’t be surprised if the bathroom and snack rest stop involves a vehicle transfer – the spot they use is a bustling transfer hub with shuttles coming and going from all different directions swapping passengers. Take motion sickness meds before departure if you need them, sit back, and nap off the tired travel day feels.

Day 2: Rainforests, Volcanos, and Hot Springs – oh my!

To make the most of just two full days in La Fortuna you’re going to want to book multi stop day tours instead of single activity ones. I booked a tour with Red Lava TSC that included a rainforest hike, walking over the lava trails near the volcano, and soaking in the hot springs at Relax Termalitas. There was a delicious lunch included at Rainforest Cafe, not to be confused with the American chain restaurant of the same name. I found the tour to be highly educational and I learned so much about the flora and fauna of the rainforest, and history of the volcano. Our guide helped us spot a variety of wildlife and take pictures through his scope of animals I never would have noticed on my own. We even got to nibble on fresh picked medicinal plants that are traditionally used as kidney medication.

Day 3: Fortuna Waterfall and Maleku Indigenous Village

Another multi stop tour with Red Lava TSC. I chose them for both my day tours in Fortuna as one of the most affordable companies in the area offering tours with more than one activity in a day, and this days tour only had the slightest overlap with the previous days itinerary. It started with a tractor cart ride to the entrance of the steps down to Fortuna Waterfall. Lots and lots of steps. As you descend into the jungle you are greeted with your first view of the magnificent falls, traverse a hanging bridge, and well…can’t shake the thought of what it’s going to be like on the way back up. Seriously, wear sensible shoes. Having guides to watch our belongings while we swam sure came in handy here as there was some serious swimming through currents and rock scrambling involved to get closer to the falls.

After our visit to the falls we visited Maleku Indigenous Village to learn about local customs and handicrafts. On the way in our guide explained traditional greeting protocols and talked about his own ancestral ties to the village. It was such a welcoming and positive atmosphere as we learned to cheers in the local language with a traditional fermented (non-alcoholic) drink made from maize. All proceeds from visits to the village go towards local education initiatives. This was followed by a delicious buffet lunch at a nearby restaurant

Eventually we returned to the same lava trails area as the day before, but without the in depth walk through the rain forest. I’m so glad I visited the volcano twice as the clouds around it are constantly coming and going and I saw different segments of it each time. Finally, we wrapped up the day with another hot springs soak at Relax Termalitas.

Day 4: Bus, boat, bus….Trees, scorpions, tarantulas!

Traveling on a bus, boat, bus route is one of the most popular ways for travelers to go from La Fortuna to Monteverde/Santa Elena as there are significant time savings when you cross the lake instead of going around it. I can’t wait to share more about this travel day another time, but really booking a bus, boat, bus option is all you need to know for now to follow this itinerary.

I booked a morning transfer option so I could also fit in an evening adventure on the same day. I can’t recommend Finca Modelo Ecologica enough for your adventure experiences in Monteverde. The evening adventure consisted of climbing up 131ft through the center of a hollow ficus tree to watch the sunset on a viewing platform above the other treetops. The inside of the tree is fitted with climbing grips in just a few spots and for the rest of the climb you make use of the knobby shape of the tree. You will be fitted with a climbing harness and helmet for safety.

After the tree climb we were given flashlights and began our nighttime jungle hike. The hiking nature of this portion surprised me a bit with some of the steep sections and rocks to navigate in the dark, but that made it such a thrilling adventure. Our guide helped with spotting scorpions, tarantulas, toucans, frogs, click light beetles, glasswing butterflies and more.

The tour finished with an included dinner that we had ordered from a menu ahead of time so that it was ready and waiting for us when we arrived at the restaurant. The restaurant was in central Santa Elena so we could take our time and make our own way back to our accommodations.

Day 5: Canyoning with Finca Modelo

Keeping the theme of heights alive after last night’s adventure, it’s time to go canyoning today! Canyoning typically involves rappelling down waterfalls and may also include jumping or sliding depending on your tour provider. On the tour with Finca Modelo Ecologica you will repel down six waterfalls including one at a towering 131ft (the same height as the tree the day before!).

Our two guides did an incredible job at making sure we were safe, providing clear instructions, hyping everyone up, and taking amazing photos. This activity would be best suited to travelers who can swim in deep water without a lifejacket and with moderate fitness levels.

The shorter time frame of this activity compared to the days with full day tours leaves time for exploring Santa Elena, and I recommend spending sometime at Cafe Monteverde for some truly delicious cold brew and the cutest cafe environment.

Day 6: Coffee, chocolate, sugar…yes please!

After a number of days with a fair bit of physical activity, it’s time to sit back, learn, sip, and snack your way through the Don Juan 3 in 1 Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugarcane Tour. The tour includes unlimited coffee before and after the actual tour portion, and the gift shop is extensive and competitively priced relative to shops in town. Our guide was excellent and provided us with tons of knowledge about local production, customs, and traditional goods surrounding the cultivation of each crop in Costa Rica.

Day 7: Hiking El Tigre Waterfalls

Hiking at El Tigre Waterfalls is a fantastic way to experience the famous hanging bridges of Costa Rica without the price tags and crowds of the parks in the Fortuna region. The park features nine bridges with a mixture of hanging and natural tree bridges, and four waterfalls. The Spring Break season is a great time to visit as it’s warm enough then in the cooler mountain regions of the country to swim in the falls. Travelers who visit at other times of the year may find it to be quite windy and chilly.

Pay to play nature sites can get mixed reviews amongst travelers, but it’s important to remember that the costs cover maintenance (especially with features like hanging bridges), conservation, security. The secure aspect was especially valuable to me on as this was a solo trip. In terms of crowds I found with a very minor bit of patience it was easy to pace myself in a way that I was spaced out from other travelers on the trail and was alone for the majority of the trek other than at each of the falls.

Day 8: Transfer to Samara

Ahhhh, the destination reveal you’ve been waiting for if you’ve read this far. Samara is the sleepy surf town where you’ll unwind and wrap up your Costa Rican experience. Sit back and enjoy a nap on your transfer shuttle as you head to the beach.

Days 9 and 10: Beach, pool, sleep, repeat

My days in Samara were completely unplanned. I swam, wandered, ate, and soaked up the beach town vibes with a splash of shopping on the side. With the waters here being ideal for surfers be sure to pay attention to your surroundings in the water so you’re not in anyone’s way and remember to never turn your back on the ocean.

Day 11: Departure day

It’s time to pack your bags, board your transfer shuttle, and head back to Liberia Airport. One of my fav things about this route is that you don’t need a night in Liberia or San Jose at the end of your trip because Samara is close enough to Liberia to stay at the beach until the very end.

I hope this itinerary overview is helpful for you when you’re planning your next trip to Costa Rica. I know I cannot wait to return and see more of this stunning country one day.