The last option we recommend is doing the Drake bay hike trail, where you will walk past multiple beaches where you can cool off when you get to hot. A very nice hike which you don’t have to ‘finish’ because you can just stop at whatever beach once you don’t feel like walking further.

Accommodation, food and drinks

• Accommodation: Mirian’s Place

• Breakfast: Coco cafe 

• Lunch: Nature cafe

• Dinner: Lookout restaurant 

Selva Armonia has a view over the famous whale tail, a natural occurrence of the waves that formed a whale tail when you look at it from above. Fun fact: whales pass by here twice a year, which makes the whole thing even more special.

Another activity we recommend is visiting the Nauyaca waterfalls, which are considered the most beautiful of Costa Rica. We agree on this one, even though there is a waterfall that is up there as well. Later more about this one. 

For surfing, you can head to any beach where you will find local surf shops to rent a board. Do mind that the waves here are for more advanced surfers. We have experienced this the hard way ;)

Accommodation, food and drinks

• Accommodation: Selva Armonia

• Breakfast: Cafe Vivo

• Lunch: Sibu 

• Dinner: Seba’s

From Uvita, you can follow the coastline north until you reach the Nicoya Peninsula. Here lies Santa Teresa, a bohemian village where surfers, yogis and backpackers meet. The dirt roads are dusty, the waves are constant and the atmosphere is so relaxed that many travelers stay longer than planned.

What to do in Santa Teresa
Surfing! Like many coastal towns in Costa Rica, surfing is often at the top of the list of activities here. Take advantage of the long beach breaks of Playa Carmen and Playa Hermosa. The more advanced surfers gather at Playa Santa Teresa during sunset. All you have to do is get a cold beer at the supermarket and enjoy the surfers and the beautiful colors of the setting sun.

Book a yoga session at sunrise or sunset

Health in both nutrition and exercise is an important motto in Santa Teresa. Yoga is therefore the perfect activity for this place!

Explore the Nicoya Peninsula

Combine adventure with relaxation and rent a quad to explore all the beaches in the area. Because the roads are sometimes bad, the quad is the perfect means of transport. Since the peninsula has so many places to explore, driving around can easily be a whole day activity. Just make sure you end up at a nice spot to see the sunset.

Travel tip: To reach Santa Teresa you have to take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera and continue via jungle roads. Make sure your car is a 4x4, especially in the rainy season. If you are not traveling with your own rental car, there are also buses from Paquera to Santa Teresa.

The cloud forest
Visit one of the famous cloud forests of Monteverde. Travelers often choose between Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena Cloud Forest. The former is more popular, mainly because of the beautiful hanging bridges that you encounter on the route. Santa Elena is known for being a bit quieter in terms of visitors, which also increases the chance of spotting animals. For both parks, if you want to walk through the park with few other tourists, you have to get to the park very early. With a lot of patience, you might even spot a hummingbird like we did!

Go ziplining between the treetops

One of the longest lines in Latin America! It may be a bit touristy but once you are floating over the rainforest it feels like you are alone with nature.

Visit a local coffee farm

You will learn everything about the process of making coffee in a few hours. Don Juan tours is recommended. We found the tour quite expensive but also super interesting! You will be told everything about the process of making cacao and coffee.

Ficus La Raiz, in the heart of Monteverde

If you have the time for it, we highly recommend visiting Tenorio Volcano National Park. About a 2,5 hour drive from La Fortuna to the north, you will find one of the most magical natural phenomena of the country: the Río Celeste, a sky-blue river that owes its color to a chemical reaction between minerals. It is the highlight of this park, where you can easily walk around for a few hours. The story as told by the locals is that Río Celeste got its stunning color when God dipped his brush in the river as he was painting the sky.