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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.
Drake Bay To visit the stunning Nationalpark with its various wildlife
5+To visit Corcovado National Park, it is best to stay overnight in Drake Bay - a small town in a bay, from where you can take a boat to the national park at 6 pm.
The national park is one of the world's most biodiverse regions - macaws, taipipirs, crocodiles and lots of monkey species live here. With a little luck, jaguars can also be seen in the wild. I took a day trip to the park and was lucky that our guide spotted many animals for us in the treetops - even though his binoculars were broken ;)
In the village of Drake Bay, social life takes place between two supermarkets. There are also a few restaurants and a pharmacy - but there is not much going on here. The locals were very friendly and I had the impression that people here really still live in harmony with nature.
Montezuma Beach To see the Pacific Ocean, practice yoga and take a walk at the beach
4+In Montezuma I saw the ocean for the first time on my trip - what a sight! On the Nicoya Peninsula, there are many beach towns popular with tourists with a wide variety of surf and yoga accommodations. Instead of a hotspot like Santa Teresa, I opted for the smaller, chilled-out Montezuma.
Every morning I walked along the beach to yoga on a terrace overlooking the ocean, and in the afternoon I took a short hike into the jungle - and saw monkeys in the wild for the first time in my life. Here you can also hike to a waterfall, but the path is not considered safe. In fact, on my way back I saw an ambulance driving towards the waterfall.
The journey by bus over a dusty gravel road is perhaps a bit arduous - but it is definitely worth it. Montezuma is a relaxed place with a special vibe and an almost deserted beach. Absolute recommendation!
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Spend more time at certain places, for example in Montezuma - to really come down.Tips you would 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!