Our 15th Anniversary Trip to Costa Rica
To know more about everything we did in Costa Rica for a week and what we recommend, read on.
Day 0: Landing, San Jose
We flew into Houston from where there is a ~3.5-hour direct flight to San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. It was late evening when we landed in San Jose and picked up our rental car. It is not advisable to drive at night due to single-lane winding roads and potholes in most of Costa Rica. So, we stayed at a local Bed & Breakfast place in the city for the night. We had Patacones, which are savory, crispy, twice-fried green plantains popular in this part of the world, for dinner, and they were tasty.
We started the next morning around 8 am, after our breakfast, for our waterfall hike. The Blue Falls and the Catarata Del Toro waterfall hikes are about a 2-hour drive from San Jose and are on the way to La Fortuna, our first destination. It is monsoon season in Costa Rica in August, and it started drizzling by the time we reached the hiking spot around 10 am. Both trails are a few hundred feet apart from each other on either side of the road, and the combo tickets for both hikes are available at Catarata Del Toro.
We got our tickets and were shown the trail for the Catarata Del Toro waterfall. It is a series of steps leading down to the beautiful waterfall, which made for a good exercise while coming back up. We got lost on our way back despite the signs everywhere, but we didn't mind, as the area was quite pretty. The waterfall was good, but if you are short on time, I would recommend you skip this and head directly to the Blue Falls.
We drove a few hundred feet to the Blue Falls parking lot and walked across the street to the entrance, where a guide was waiting to show us the way in. The property has seven waterfalls, all well marked, and a guide is usually stationed near each one to help visitors if needed. After walking for a bit on a dirt road, there is a junction with 4 waterfalls on one side and 3 on the other. We took a right at the junction and headed towards our first waterfall - Tepezquintle.
The skies suddenly opened, and it started pouring—the kind of rain that is unleashed on you with such energy and sound that it drowned you out completely. Being in a lush green jungle only added to the magic of it. Soon, we were thoroughly drenched and took shelter under a small canopy near the waterfall where the guide normally sits. The moment felt like something straight out of a movie. The gush of the water flow blended with the roar of the rain, the thunderstorms, and the hum of the jungle around us. As we squeezed together to fit beneath the tiny canopy, the whole scene felt surreal. After a short break, the guide motioned for us to follow and led us toward the beautiful waterfall ahead.
Due to the rain and the thick cloud cover, the water wasn’t its usual blue, but it was beautiful nonetheless. We then headed toward the next waterfall—Las Gamelas. The trail was quite slippery from the rain, but I’m glad the guide encouraged us to get closer. The sheer force of nature was mesmerizing, especially when experienced up close.
As we stood there taking in the powerful cascade, the guide motioned for us to look in the other direction. And there it was—another waterfall just to the right. We had no idea that Las Gamelas translates to “The Twins,” and the surprise of discovering the second waterfall made the moment even more exciting.
We then continued on to visit the rest of the waterfalls. Because of the heavy rain and strong currents, we couldn’t get as close to these falls, but we still enjoyed the experience of seeing each of them. Most of the waterfalls were hidden from view at first, and we had to descend a series of steep stairs to reach them. That only added a sense of mystery and anticipation to the whole adventure. Though hiking in the rain made it slightly challenging, we loved the overall experience. The waterfalls were beautiful, and the jungle hike was quite memorable. We definitely recommend the Blue Falls hike, if you are ok with a few steep stairs!
After finishing the hike around 3 pm, we drove to La Fortuna, where we would spend the next couple of days. I booked a beautiful dome set in an organic farm for a glamping experience, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. The dome struck the perfect balance between comfort and being immersed in nature. Mornings began gently, with the soft chorus of birdsongs echoing across the farm and the first light filtering through the trees. It felt calm and alive at the same time. We enjoyed watching the rain from inside the warmth of the dome in the afternoons. At night, the sky opened up into a breathtaking canvas of stars. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this Airbnb and would recommend it.
Day 2: Waterfall Rappelling & Canyoning, La Fortuna
It was my husband's birthday, and I booked the most anticipated adventure of our trip for the day—waterfall rappelling and canyoning. It is an adventure sport that involves navigating through steep, rocky canyons, typically by rappelling down waterfalls, jumping into pools, and hiking in the jungle. I reserved the morning half-day tour with Pure Trek Canyoning a month in advance, as it tends to rain in the afternoons in August. It included 4 exciting rappels, 1 thrilling monkey drop into the jungle pool, a delicious lunch, and transportation.
We arrived at Pure Trek Canyoning's office by 7 am and boarded their shuttle. After collecting the rest of the members in our group from various resorts, we were transferred to an off-road vehicle, which took us to the rainforest. We were suited up and given a brief safety briefing and a few instructions on rappelling. If it's your first time, please do pay attention to that :)
The thrilling adventure lasted a couple of hours and ended with us taking a big leap on the last waterfall. It was a fantastic experience, one that I would definitely recommend.
Once back at the Pure Trek office, there was an option for a shower/change of clothes, and we were served a warm lunch. We were so happy with the adventure and thought the day couldn't get any better, but it actually did.
After lunch, we drove to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Even though we had spent the previous day surrounded by several waterfalls, we were so glad we made the trip to see yet another one. The hour I spent at La Fortuna was one of the most relaxing experiences I’ve ever had. I could literally feel the stress melting away from my body, and I fell completely in love with the
The weather was perfect, the water was refreshingly cold, and we were able to get so close to the waterfall that I felt fully immersed in it. The mist, the sound of the cascading water, and the lush surroundings created a moment that felt almost magical. It was the kind of experience that only happens when you’re able to let go and be completely present—something that doesn’t happen nearly often enough.
The plan for the afternoon was to visit one of the resorts to experience the thermal hot springs. But as the day warmed up, soaking in hot water didn’t sound nearly as appealing. So we changed course and decided to visit the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park instead.
We had gorgeous, clear views of the Arenal Volcano from here. While we enjoyed the Nature walk through the tropical rainforest and the views from the hanging bridges, we only spotted a few monkeys along the way. In hindsight, it felt like an activity we could have skipped and instead spent that time relaxing in our beautiful dome.
Day 3: Arenal Volcanic National Park, La Fortuna
We woke up in the morning, and our Airbnb host took us on a tour of the organic farm and showed us everything they grow on the farm. We enjoyed the tour and also got to see a three-toed sloth on one of the trees, which was exciting.
We headed to the Arenal Volcanic National Park in the morning for some hiking and exploring. You can buy the tickets at the entrance for $15 per person. We did the Las Coladas trail (~1 mile) and combined it with the El Ceibo trail (~2 miles) on the way back for a total of 3 miles. We were lucky to have clear views of the Volcano, but the hike itself was ok.
We then decided to check out the Peninsula Sector of Arenal Volcano National Park, which has a separate entrance and is about a 20-minute drive from the main volcano sector. We had read the warnings about the road being rough and unpaved, but we were still not prepared for just how rough it actually was. Suffice it to say, we were very lucky to get in and out without a flat tire. For most of the drive, we genuinely weren’t sure we were going to make it. Turning back felt just as risky as continuing forward. The road eventually connects back to the highway if you drive past the park entrance, and we hoped that stretch would be better than the one we had just endured. It was slightly better, though we can’t say for sure.
The main trail in this section of the Park is the Miradores Trail, a ~2-mile round-trip hike with panoramic views of Lake Arenal and a three-story observatory tower. We actually enjoyed this hike more than the previous one, but the drive to get there is not something we would recommend.
Day 4: Cloud Forest, Monteverde
After having a wonderful time in La Fortuna, it was time to head to our next destination—Monteverde. Known for its high-altitude cloud forests, it was a place I had been curious to experience. I had made a reservation in advance for an afternoon hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Before the hike, we stopped for lunch at Stella's Monteverde, and their vegetable lasagna was really good. With a happy tummy, we set off to explore the cloud forest.
We followed a trail to the Continental Divide viewpoint and then took another trail across a hanging bridge to loop back toward the entrance. The cloud cover and drifting mist in that lush green forest created a cool, mysterious atmosphere, and we enjoyed the quiet walk through Nature.
Later, we checked into our cabin at Rainbow Valley Lodge. The cabin itself was beautiful, but the view from the balcony was truly breathtaking. It’s rare to find such expansive, panoramic views of the forest stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean. I was elated!
Around 4 p.m., the clouds rolled in and slowly enveloped the entire landscape, adding yet another layer of magic to the scene. They cleared up a bit later, but for a while it felt like we were floating right inside the clouds.
Day 5: Downtown, Monteverde
The views from our cabin were so spectacular that we decided to cancel our planned hike to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and simply enjoy the morning from our balcony instead. After watching the sunrise, doing some yoga, and eating fresh fruit on the deck, we felt completely content just soaking in the peaceful surroundings.
Later, we headed out to explore the charming downtown of Monteverde. We enjoyed a great cup of coffee at Café Monteverde, had a delicious lunch at The Open Kitchen, and picked up a few cute souvenirs while wandering through the small shops in town.
In the evening, we walked around the Rainbow Valley lodge area, which was quite pretty, and called it a day.
Day 6: Arenas Del Mar Resort, Manual Antonio
After spending time relaxing among the clouds in Monteverde, it was time to head to our next destination—Manuel Antonio. Since we were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary, I decided to splurge and booked a stay at Arenas Del Mar Resort. The resort is both a beachfront and a rainforest eco-luxury property, set on 11 acres of private nature reserve next to Manuel Antonio National Park and right on the beach, so I was very excited for us to experience it.
The property was beautifully set up to include all the elements of nature, both the lush jungle and the lovely beach, and it completely lived up to the hype. The service was exceptional — the staff drove us around in golf carts, pointed out monkeys and sloths along the way, and welcomed us with drinks and chocolates upon arrival. The ocean view from our room balcony was gorgeous, and the views from the restaurant and pool were even more spectacular.
Soon after checking in, we spent some time at the private beach. The water was perfectly warm, and the waves were strong, which made it especially fun for me. We also had monkeys visit us on our balcony :)
Later that evening, we headed out for dinner and were lucky to stumble upon Namaste India Restaurant. We loved both the food and the vibe so much that we decided to go back again the next day to celebrate our anniversary. If you visit, don’t miss their chaas/jeera lassi.
Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park
I woke up early to watch the sunrise by the beach, something I absolutely love doing. Afterwards, I spent about an hour playing in the morning waves of the ocean. The rhythm of the waves seemed to match my energy, and I felt myself blending into the moment. There is something about spending quiet time in the ocean early in the morning that feels deeply calming, and it made the whole experience incredibly therapeutic.
Afterwards, we got ready and headed to the resort’s restaurant for breakfast. The views from the restaurant were breathtaking, and the breakfast was just as amazing. It was the perfect way to start our anniversary.
Later in the morning, we headed to Manuel Antonio National Park, where we had reserved a 9 a.m. entry slot. One practical tip: the official parking lot only accepts cash, so it’s worth carrying some if you are planning to visit.
The park boasts an astonishing variety of flora and fauna within a relatively small rainforest area, along with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. We explored a couple of trails and were able to spot monkeys, sloths, colorful crabs, frogs, and several other creatures along the way.
We also spent some time at the park’s pristine beaches, simply soaking in their beauty. After about three hours in the park, we headed back to our resort and spent the rest of the day relaxing by the beach.
Day 8: San Jose Downtown
After spending a wonderful time at the resort and the beach in Manuel Antonio, we headed back to San José to explore the country’s capital city. We arrived around noon and spent the rest of the day walking through the bustling downtown and the vibrant Mercado Central de San José. We enjoyed soaking in the lively atmosphere, sampling local food, and picking up a few souvenirs along the way.
Day 9: Departure
We returned the car in the morning and flew back in the afternoon, already hoping to return someday. If we had a few extra days on this trip, we would have loved to explore places like Tortuguero and Guanacaste Province as well.
Overall, it was a relaxing and fun trip. Renting a car and navigating the potholes along winding, single-lane roads was probably the only slightly stressful part of the journey. While we booked the rental online through DiscoverCars and paid in advance for what we believed was full-coverage insurance, we were asked to purchase additional coverage when we arrived at Dollar Rent-A-Car, which was a bit confusing. We also later realized that a significant portion of the fees went to DiscoverCars as a broker fee, something that wasn’t clearly broken out during the booking process.
Even with those small hiccups, the experience of exploring Costa Rica’s waterfalls, cloud forests, rainforests, and beaches made the trip wonderful and left us wanting to return soon. Most of all, we felt incredibly lucky to have found such wonderful accommodations throughout this trip. Each place had its own unique charm and character, and every stay added something special to our overall experience. From being immersed in the sounds of nature to waking up to breathtaking views, they allowed us to connect with our surroundings in a deeply memorable way. If you are considering a trip to Costa Rica, just go for it - you won't regret it :)
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