Costa Rica Uncovered: Volcanoes, Waterfalls & Coastal Bliss

Arrive in San José and take a small plane to Quepos Airport—just a quick 45-minute flight. From Quepos, you will head 10 to 15 minutes down the road to the quaint little beach town of Manuel Antonio. Once settled at your resort, take time to enjoy the pool or a short walk down to the ocean to dip into the warm Pacific waters. The sunsets are beautiful from here, so make sure to enjoy a drink while soaking in the beautiful views.

For dinner on your first night, I recommend enjoying one of the on-site dining options at either of my recommended hotels. Both have excellent restaurants, including beachfront dining where your table is literally on the sand. Relax, enjoy the food and drinks, and get ready for some adventure to come!

The surrounding area of Manuel Antonio is full of all kinds of adventurous activities. I suggest waking up early and heading to Bon Bonete Bakery in town for a delicious pastry and coffee before heading out on one of these tours.

Explore Costa Rica on horseback: This is about a five- to six-hour tour that will include a horseback ride through the mountains and trails around beautiful Manuel Antonio. It stops at a beautiful waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool below. A typical Costa Rican lunch of chicken or fish with rice and beans is also usually included.

Hike Nauyaca Waterfall: Hike the two miles through beautiful trails to arrive at the two falls and swimming pools. The waterfalls are worth the hour-or-so hike, which is mostly a gentle incline. Pack a lunch, snack, and drinks and enjoy the pools. Jumping off the waterfalls is also permitted for those seeking a bit more adventure. I personally loved this hike, and our children of all ages were able to complete it pretty easily. For those wanting to see the falls but who aren’t up for the hike there and back, they do offer Jeep rides for a per-person cost.

ATV adventure in Naranjito: Ride through countryside, jungle, and mountains, with opportunities for breathtaking views and visits to stunning waterfalls. Start on a practice course to help you get accustomed to maneuvering the ATV. You will have the choice of booking between a single or double vehicle, and you and your partner can switch drivers throughout the trip. These tours also usually include a typical Costa Rican meal after your adventure.

After a morning of being on the go, come back to your resort and enjoy the pool, or head down to the public or private beach.

Suggested dining: For great food and an even better view, check out El Avion right in the heart of town. The C-123 Fairchild cargo plane has been converted into a pub and a two-level bar and restaurant has been built in, around, and above the plane. Make sure to go before the sunset, as the views from here are unbeatable.

This would make a great day to spend at the beach. Whether you are a relaxing, read-a-book type of beach-goer or would rather ride the waves, the beaches of Manuel Antonio are for everyone. Here are a couple of my favorite beaches to visit.

• Playa Espadilla: This beach is right in the main area of town. They have parking areas for a small cost and will watch your cars for you all day while you are there. The waves here are perfect for surfing or bodyboarding. You can rent surfboards or bodyboards right on the beach. They also have many other water sports like parasailing and banana boat rides. When we went with our children, this was a favorite! Food and drink service is available right from your beach chairs, so no need to worry about leaving for lunch or a yummy drink!

• Playa Biesanz: This beautiful beach is nestled into a cove, so the waves here are much calmer. It makes for a great beach to sit out in the warm water and wade. There is not much parking at this beach, so I advise taking a taxi or arranging a ride from your resort. Also, it is a short walk from the drop-off area down to the water. They have kayaks for rent if you are interested in getting out on the water. Chairs and shade are also available to rent, as well as food and drink service. You are also welcome to bring your own food and drink. This was my favorite beach for a relaxing afternoon. I could sit in that water all day!

Pro tip: If you are planning on any adventure tours, try to book those for the morning and leave your afternoons free for relaxing. As it is a rainforest, most of the rain will be later in the afternoon/evening or night, so it's best to do activities when it is more likely to be dry.

Two of my favorite things to do while in Manuel Antonio are to visit the National Park and enjoy a mangrove boat tour. Both are a two- to three-hour-long activity. If you can fit both in, I highly recommend it.

Manuel Antonio National Park: The park is a very short drive from the resorts into the end of town. Most resorts have a shuttle, or you can take a taxi. Make sure to purchase tickets to the park ahead of time, as it only allows so many visitors at a time. I suggest going in the early afternoon, as the morning can be a bit crowded. I highly recommend getting a tour guide for this visit; without one, the animals can be hard to spot at first, and the guides are so helpful and full of local knowledge! After you have spent a couple hours in the park, grab a gelato from the ice cream shop right outside the exit gates.

Mangrove boat tour: My favorite tour! An unforgettable boat tour through the channels of the mangrove forest, far away from civilization. You can discover an abundance of species native to the area, such as white-faced monkeys, anteaters, boas, iguanas, birds, and thousands of colorful crabs. Once again, a delicious lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Now it’s time to head to Arenal!

Arrive in Arenal/La Fortuna: You can either head out to Arenal the afternoon/night before or early this morning. Hire a car service so you can relax on this four-hour drive. Once settled and checked in, spend the daytime relaxing in the natural hot springs. Several of the recommended hotels have their own natural hot springs on site. They also have regular pools, so you can really enjoy your time going between both!

For an activity today, I suggest a night-time jungle tour. There is a tour that will take you to visit the trails of one of the best areas of La Fortuna to observe the local flora and fauna at the foot of the Arenal Volcano. They also go into the forest in search of the hourglass frog; the blue jeans frog, the largest frog in the country; the “Chicken Eating Frog”; and the most beautiful in Costa Rica, the red-eyed tree frog.

Dining suggestions: Enjoy the view of the volcano from the patio at Jalapas. Nestled in the heart of San Calos just 10 to 15 minutes from La Fortuna, this restaurant offers a relaxing atmosphere and friendly service. Try the tropical ceviche—it's amazing!

Adventure awaits! Today is time for some adrenaline rush. I suggest zip lining. Costa Rica has some of the best zip lining in the world, with several tour companies to choose from. I recommend booking a tour that includes several zip lines, hanging bridges, and repels. The views from the zip lines are breathtaking, and there is nothing like it. Most of these tours will include lunch. Don’t forget to try the local beer.

Alternate activity: Another adrenaline rush to try here in La Fortuna is white-water rafting. Join a guided tour for varying levels of experience and excitement. Many of the guides will pull over while on the river to see animals along the way.

Suggested dining: After an intense day of activity, go back to your resort and enjoy one of the many on-site restaurants. They offer excellent cuisine and beautiful views.

Start your morning off with a hike at La Fortuna Falls. The start of the trail is at the Rio Fortuna Waterfall Ecological Reserve, which you can get to by car or taxi. From there, it is 530 steps down to the waterfall and natural swimming pool. The walk takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The area also has a butterfly trail, orchid trail, restaurant, and souvenir shop.

After your morning exploring the waterfall, head back and enjoy an afternoon relaxing at the spa at Tabacón Resort. The spa experience at Tabacón offers the perfect match between spa design and nature. Spa treatments are rendered al-fresco in outdoor bungalows tucked away among the trees. It is one of the most relaxing experiences.

Time to say goodbye to Costa Rica. Pura vida! I recommend hiring a car service to take you from La Fortuna to San José Airport. This drive is about 2.5 hours, and there are places to stop and eat on the way.