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Trip Report
Pura Vida: Backpacking in Costa Rica
3 weeks full of nature experience with myself and a backpack
+ 12
North AmericaCosta Rica5 days / November 2019
Highs & Lows
A spontaneous cacao farm tour with a tasting with a view - didn't know chocolate could have such a variety of flavors!
On my daytrip to the national park Corcovado I drank to little water and to much coffee so I got dehydrated in the end.
Itinerary Overview
Costa Rica with its stunning nature and endless biodiversity has always appealed to me. In November 2018, I realized my dream and traveled for three weeks through this impressive country with its friendly people.
I flew to San José and stayed there for a few days to listen to the sound of the language, taste the food and soak up the atmosphere of the city. There are few real sights in the capital - except for the national theater and a few museums. So quickly off to the countryside!
During my trips to Volcano Arenal, the secondary forest of Monteverde and the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, I saw such diverse landscapes and learned about new species of animals that I was always amazed and wondering about our planet. "Pura Vida" is what the locals say as a greeting, what means full life. That is exactly what describes this country best.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Spend more time at certain places, for example in Montezuma - to really come down.
What tips would you give a friend?
Take a guide in Cahuita national park - first I thought it's not necessary, but then he spotted a lot of hidden sloths in the trees for me.
Packing tips?
Take a headlamp with you - you can use it during night tours through the dark jungle as well as in some hostels which have outdoor bathrooms.
Transportation Tips?
To go to Drake Bay and the Corcovado National Park, you can also take a bus. But that takes a lot of time - so if if you are short on time, treat yourself to the flight on the cessna from San José to the mini airport of Drake. That was fun!
Any surprises?
When I hiked to Vulcano Arenal, I did'nt get to the main entrance of the national park - but in the end I had a great jungle experience with a dutch girl which was lost, too ;)
Lodging
I stayed at Las Contingas Lodge for 3 nights in a bungalow. The accommodation is simple, but has its own small terrace with hammock and rocking chair and a common area with incredible views over the bay. The lodge is run by a lovely family with children, for breakfast we had pancakes with fruit, super delicious!
My accommodation Hotel Luna Llena was totally cozy - I had my own cabin from which I could listen to the sounds of the jungle, especially the howler monkeys in the early morning ;) There is a well-equipped communal kitchen and dining areas with a view, overall a great outdoor atmosphere!