8 Days to Pura Vida: The Ultimate Costa Rica Adventure

We landed in San José around 2 pm and picked up our rental car with Hertz. Their shuttle was quick and efficient, and the process was smooth.

The drive to La Fortuna takes about 3–4 hours, but timing is crucial—this is not a road you want to navigate in the dark. If possible, book an early flight arrival or arrange private transportation.

By the time we reached La Fortuna, we were ready to settle in and prepare for the adventure ahead.

We had dinner at Anch’io pizzeria, a beautiful restaurant with incredible food and staff!

Breakfast at the hotel was a highlight on its own—sometimes a buffet, sometimes à la carte, but always delicious.

Our first big adventure was the Mistico Hanging Bridges, one of the trip’s absolute highlights. The lush rainforest trails and suspended bridges offered breathtaking views and wildlife encounters.

Tip: Arrive early to enjoy quieter trails.

Afterward, we enjoyed lunch at Anch’io again! The entree and dessert that made us come back for more was the fettuccini with shrimp and zucchini, and the “house dessert” which was a flan with passion fruit sauce! I also enjoyed an espresso martini.

We then spent the evening at The Springs Resort, where multiple hot spring pools and clear skies gave us a perfect view of Arenal Volcano. An unforgettable day!

If you have the energy: Check out “Charlie’s Disco” that was recommended to us by the locals for a night out.

This morning we joined a “sloth and monkey wildlife tour” booked through Viator.

The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and even let us capture photos through their telescopes, giving us amazing close-up views of the animals.

Afterward, we returned to The Springs Resort to make use of our two-day pass. The variety of pools and relaxing setting make it the perfect way to balance adventure with relaxation.

We finished the evening with dinner and drinks in town.

Extra tips

• If you are looking to fill time in La Fortuna, check out El Salto Rope Swing—a local swimming area that is free to visit.

• We also did not have time to include a chocolate tour, but that is first on my list next time I visit Costa Rica.

Today was a travel day from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, with plenty of scenery along the way.

The drive is long, so we broke it up with a couple of stops (plan these ahead—Waze can be unreliable.) Don’t hesitate to ask locals for guidance—we did on multiple occasions and everyone was very helpful.

If you have the opportunity to stop, you can shop at El Jardin gift store and spot crocodiles at Tarcoles River Bridge.

By the time we arrived, we were ready for dinner at El Avión. This unique restaurant is built around a retired airplane, with both indoor and outdoor seating. I started with a pineapple daiquiri. My group shared chicken nachos and I had the chicken pasta à la vodka. The service, atmosphere, and food were top-tier.

For a bonus: Go between 3–5 pm to spot toucans in the surrounding trees.

We started early with a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Guides are highly recommended—they know where to look and bring telescopes for spotting sloths, monkeys, birds, and insects you’d likely miss on your own.

We booked “Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour” on Viator, and our guide was Alexander. Alexander was very knowledgeable and cared for the safety of everybody in the park!

After exploring the park, we relaxed on the beautiful beach inside the reserve, then grabbed lunch nearby.

In the afternoon, we wandered through local shops by the marina before ending the day with a casual dinner at El Wagon. We enjoyed cocktail specials and shared all of our entrees, which were margarita pizzas, a cheeseburger, and garlic shrimp pasta.

Today’s highlight was a catamaran tour that included drinks, snacks, and lunch. This was booked through Viator: “Catamaran Ocean King Manuel Antonio”.

The boat was spacious, with waterslides and plenty of room to swim or snorkel during a long stop in the bay.

After returning to shore, we spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach by our hotel with some drinks before heading out for dinner. We drank margaritas and Sex on the Beach. There was a man from one of the restaurants offering drink service. It was a perfect balance of activity and leisure.

We made the drive back to San José today, leaving Manuel Antonio around mid-morning. Traffic can build as you approach the city, so allow extra time.

Once checked into our hotel, we enjoyed the pool and sauna before packing up for departure. It was a calm, restorative final night after an action-packed week.

Our flight home was scheduled to depart at 2 pm, but we weren’t quite ready to end the adventure. Before heading to the airport, we made one last stop at El Mano del Mantra, where we booked the VIP Tour.

This private experience included a side-by-side ride along the 5.6-mile trail, stopping at the park’s most spectacular viewpoints. The views were breathtaking, and the private transport allowed us to take photos without feeling rushed. Along the way, we explored coffee fields, learned about the production process, and sampled fresh Costa Rican coffee. The flexible format meant we could spend as much or as little time in the park as we wanted.

If your schedule allows, I highly recommend adding this unforgettable stop before your departure.