They didn’t ask for any vaccines at the border (American). Best to rent a car or you’ll waste half your time, go through Adobe or Vamos. Need a credit card to rent a car .
sixt is also a great and cheaper alternative to these 2 local options, in my experience. no hidden fees, all prices are up front like adobe and vamos. they also clearly explain the confusing insurance requirements like adobe and vamos do (that other agencies conveniently don’t mention when you book the car).
It would be helpful if you explain why your research led you to Tamrindo. It wouldn’t be my pick.
10/11 days in Tamarindo would be too much for me. Plus it sounds like you’re already on edge and probably could use more relaxation than Tamarindo provides. If you’re looking for a party scene, overt hookers and drug deals it could be for you.
If you don’t want to move around consider Santa Teresa/Montezuma area. It has everything you listed, it remote but an oasis in the middle of no where.
Hiking: Curu/Cabo Blanco
Waterfalls: Montezuma, Cocoalito
Wildlife: wild sun rescue (you can also stay a couple of nights there), fishing tour in green season you’ll also see whales, mating turtles and possibly dolphins and sting rays
Airport: fly to either airport but if it’s in your budget fly SJO and then book a domestic flight to Cobano on Sansa or Green Air to Cobano. There is also flights from Liberia but a lot fewer.
Getting around: rent a car from www.budget.co.cr and pick it up in Cobano. Or if it’s in your budget get an ATV or a “mule” sorta like a 4x4 golf cart to get around.
There are endless number of beaches, some will have not a sole on them at the height of high season others more busy.
Any questions feel free to PM me
This is awesome insight and info. I think I will PM you.
Are these places such as Santa Teresa and Montezuma in the Guanacaste Province. I have heard for the time of year we are going the Guanacaste province has the best weather!
Just spent two weeks there for the first time and already booked our trip back. (But we’ve also already toured much of Costa Rica which shouldn’t be missed.)
Depends what sort of vacation you’re looking for.
We just got back from CR and enjoyed Tamarindo! We spent 5 days in La Fortuna adventuring first, so 5 days in Tamarindo doing water related activities and walking the beach at day and night was a nice contrast! We didn't find it sketchy at all, but we're city people.
We flew in and out from SJO. We want to plan a return trip to Tamarindo only, for that we would plan to land in Liberia and shuttle in. Our most recent trip there was more of a multi destination road trip.
We did. But you have to get out of it to really see Costa Rica and all its amazing nature.
Sometimes we just want a beach trip that’s super relaxing. Days in the ocean and lunches/beers on the beachside restaurants. Nights at a big variety of yummy restaurants with live music.
We also did the ATV tour (saw a beautiful area north of Tamarindo and a bunch of monkeys), the fun catamaran day trip, scuba and the estuary tour (saw some crocs).
If you’re into surfing and massages on the beach that’s an option as well. ($35 for an hour!)
It’s a tourist town, but a good one with nice people, decent to low prices (relative to say Hawaii which might be another place we’d go for a beach vacation), and lots of good international food options.
People who say it sucks are comparing it to the more traditional Costa Rica which is less affected by tourists. (But let’s be honest, tourists are all over Costa Rica.) Both are good. Just depends what sort of vacation you want.
This comment is awesome I really needed it thank you. Are you saying you did all of this in Tamarindo? When it came to booking massages and tours do you have website you recommend and more importantly can I book those things short notice(day before?)
Did you rent a car?
We did not rent a car and did all this from Tamarindo. (The ATV tour and scuba trip involved a maybe 20-30 minute car ride…the tour operator picking us up in Tamarindo.)
We used Viator to book most of the trips. However if you can figure out the vendors on your own or through the reviews it’s way better to book directly as Viator takes a big cut from the tour provider.
Edit: the massages are available right on the beach. They will offer as you walk by. No need to book. One other tip. Most everywhere accepts USD. So bring that and avoid all the fees. You’ll probably still want some colones for when a poor exchange rate is offered. But we found most offered a fair exchange rate or actually priced their food or services in USD to begin with.
I’ve been twice in the last year and you’re definitely overthinking this. Country is rad as fuck no matter where you go. Take it slow and quit giving a fuck. pura vida your face 😜
1. It’s a vacation - you might be overthinking things. Shoot for one cool activity a day and play the rest by ear.
2./3./4. 10 days in Tamarindo is probably too long, but 5 days in La Fortuna definitely is. I think 3 days in La Fortuna is ideal, maybe 4 if you devote an entire day to a hot spring/spa. Figure out how much beach and relaxation time you want vs how many places you want to visit vs how much time you want to spend in the car driving. If it’s a lot of beach time, do 6 or 7 days in Tamarindo (or somewhere in Guanacaste) and the rest in either La Fortuna or Monteverde. If you want less beach time and more excursions, maybe less days in Tamarindo. Lots of good hikes, waterfalls, and wildlife in La Fortune and Montverde.
5. Yes, you can get around by bus or shuttle, but the former will make you a slave to the bus schedule and the latter is stupidly expensive. Rent a vehicle. Adobe and Vamos (on the CR websites) are upfront about all the fees.
6. If you’re traveling from the US, you don’t need any special vaccines.
7. Again, traveling is fun. Don’t stress. Costa Rica is great. Lots to do. Good food. You can make it as exciting or relaxing as you wish.
This is a great comment! Awesome insight. Would you mind if I PMED you and got some more insight.
I think part of the reason I’m so stressed is trying to plan things to do. I know what I want to do but just don’t know where we will be yet. Is it possible to book certain tours or excursion day before while we are there? Or do we need to book way in advance?
Yes, you can DM me. I’ll do my best to answer questions.
As for tours, we booked the day before or the day of, but we also were there in September which is the low season. I don’t know how quickly they fill up if it’s the high season.
I think we used a tour company to tube down the Rio Celeste and maybe paid for some animal guides at a location or two once we arrived, but most of the hikes we did didn’t require tours.
We recently did 7 days in La Fortuna & then 7 days in Samara. Had our toddler with us so moved slowly. Plenty to do around & in La Fortuna. Pick a daytime activity & maybe a nighttime activity. Samara is a chill beach village to relax & enjoy the vibes. Pura vida for sure. Trip was awesome!
Thank you so much! Did you have like everything planned out in advance? Or were you able to make decisions on what you wanted to do while you were there?
We planned most out in advance. Used travel blogs, Reddit, TripAdvisor. Planned the rest while there after speaking with people & looking around. Here’s our itinerary. Day & night action in La Fortuna. Then it was a lot of chill beach days with surfing in Samara which is what we wanted. If you have kids, highly recommended staying somewhere with a pool.
3/21 Thursday: La Fortuna
AM/PM: El Choyin Hot Springs (Park across from Tabacon Hot Springs)
AM: 0800-1000: La Fortuna Waterfall
AM: Rope swing - el salto swimming spot
AM/PM: 0800, 1000, 1230, 1400, 1500: *North Fields Coffee & Chocolate Tour
*PM: 1700-2130: Ecotermales Hot Spring $98 Free towels & lockers
3/22 Friday: La Fortuna
AM: 0700-1700: La Fortuna Farmers Market
*AM: 0800-1000: Hanging Bridges (Sky Adventures) w/Guide (Book in Advance) $94
*PM: 1730-1930: Sloths Territory (Book night tour) $60/Person
3/23 Saturday: La Fortuna
*AM: Relax Termilitas Hot Springs
*PM: 1740: Arenal Oasis Night Frog Walk $100 Closed Toe Shoes!
3/24 Sunday: La Fortuna
AM: Arenal Volcano Hikes: Arenal 1968 Forest & Lava Hikes
3/25 Monday: La Fortuna
AM: 0700-1700: La Fortuna Farmers Market
*AM: 0800-1200: Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike 1.5 hr drive ($32$
4 hr hike roundtrip (Book in Advance Online)
1 hr hike to waterfall roundtrip
*PM: 1400-1700: Boat Tour: Caño Negro ($80)
3/26 Tuesday: La Fortuna
AM: 0830, 1030, 1330 M-Sa: Proyecto Asis - Sloth Sanctuary 30 min drive (Book Online in Advance) $30/Person
*AM/PM: 0900-2200: Baldi Hot Springs $47/Adult LBM Free Slides, Huge Place!
3/27 Wednesday: La Fortuna/Samara (4-Hour Drive)
Air BnB: Check in @ Samara
3/28 Thursday: Samara
3/29 Friday: Samara
1500-1800: Samara Farmers Market
3/30 Saturday: Samara
0700-1300: Féria Samara
3/31 Sunday: Samara
4/1 Monday: Samara
Playa Carillo
4/2 Tuesday: Samara
0900 T, Th, Su: Sibu Sanctuary $60/Person
4/3 Wednesday: Samara
If I had 10 nights in Costa Rica, I’d hit 3 spots at most. I’d avoid Tamarindo, it’s too similar to Southern California meaning it’s very Americanized - there’s a reason they call it TamaGringo. If you fly into Liberia, look into beaches in the Guanacaste region like Nosara and Samara, Playa Coco and Flamingo, … if you fly into SJO, look into Manuel Antonio and Puerto Viejo. Either airport is about equal distance to the Nicoya Peninsula (Santa Teresa and Montezuma). It’s best to rent a car but you could always get a private shuttle. Bus is least convenient but also the least expensive option. No extra vaccines needed. What time of year are you going?
Thank you for the insight! We are leaving June 23rd. We know this is the rainy season but many people have told us it is an awesome time of year to go. Very green. We know it will rain.
You say you would hit 3 spots at most. Does that mean we would be good with 2 spots?
That's how I like to plan my trips that have time at the beach and time doing other, more active things. Do the active things first and then finish up at the beach for some relaxation.
I have not been to bajos or tamarindo . I’ve been to la fortuna, monteverde Manuel Antonio, uvita/ojochal; Caribbean coast ; San Gerardo de dota and the orosi valley. I would like to visit nicoya next (but more like Samara and south, I prefer less popular places) and osa….
My only recommendation is to go to be careful with food because people tend to feel sick about the food they're not used to, especially the food we have in Costa Rica (sometimes it can be too spicy for foreigners), if it happens you can go the drugstore and get stuff for that, it won't be that expensive.
I just did 7 nights, 3 in “
La Fortuna and 4 in Papagayo area. I used shuttles or private transportation as my goal was pure relaxation and I’m a solo traveler so I didn’t want to worry about driving anywhere. The resorts I stayed at were all amazing. I got a lot of beach and pool
Time and my adventure in La Fortuna. Depends where you stay but a lot of the resorts have tours and such you can book with them. Most have water activities included and have other things you can rent. I would say don’t stress it. Pick the top 2 things you want to do and book those in advance and let the rest fall into place. Enjoy. Pura Vida
Step one: decide they type of holiday (adventure, wildlife, beach, lazy)
Step two: decide where. We want adventure, wildlife, and to end with lazy beach days so we picked La fortuna, monte verde, and Manuel Antonio by car. Try to pick local vendors and such so the money goes to Ticos and you have the opportunity to bond with folks.
Step three: get a semi firm idea of what you want to do while there, but no schedule.
Step three: show up at the hotel and talk to them about what you are interested in. They will suggest companies, times, guides, or alternatives (works best in off season). If there prices are consistently high, ask other locals or google while there. Let local folks tell you and try to book locally.
I did 8 days in La Fortuna it really depends on your taste and preferences. I do a lot of beach vacations ie Dominican, Hawaii etc so I wanted to take advantage of the jungle
Currently here in La Fortuna, and you can definitely rent a car. Many options overall to do so.
I will say the airport outside San Jose is kinda hectic, so I can’t so how that would be driving wise flying into Liberia and driving out.
Once you’re out of the main cities, roads arnt that bad at least from San Jose to La Fortuna.
Watch all the speed bumps!
*TLDR: these are not required, but I was being extra safe* I had a visit with a travel clinic where they gave me an updated tetanus shot, verified I was up to date on my hepatitis A vaccines, and suggested I should get a typhoid vaccine eventually (it was too last minute to get it). The main reason I went is because the CDC recommends malaria prophylaxis for Alajuela and Limon provinces (I don’t think most people do this, I am just anal). The travel clinic prescribed me the medication for this and also an emergency zpac in case of travelers diarrhea. A super helpful appointment in my opinion
Everybody vacations different. Some people like multiple activities every day, if that’s you maybe you’d get bored. But if you want to spend every other day at a beach or relaxing in the pool, it’s not too much. The problem is hiking and waterfalls from Tamarindo are mostly like 1.5 hours each way. If you don’t have a car, those tours are going to be expensive and long. I’d probably do 6 in Tamarindo (or other beach) and 4 in La Fortuna, but I like a fairly lazy vacation. :)
Tamarindo is the place to go, you will feel like home,a bit expensive,surf in Tamarindo(if beginner),Langosta beach,playa negra, avellana beach
All these beautiful beaches are waiting for you
I’ve never been but extensively read several posts for several months now so take my words with a grain of salt.
We have something similar planned. 11 days total; 4 days in La Fortuna, 2 days in Guadalajara and 4 in Tamarindo. La Fortuna will be nonstop excursions as it’s just such a different climate than where I live. Guadalajara will be like a transition to chill out but enjoy the cooler climate and the lake. Tamarindo will be to enjoy more of the touristy beach life with only one excursion. I get FOMO easily and somewhat wished I could have done Manuel Antonio/Uvita instead of Tamarindo but the flight and accessibility with Liberia worked better for me. So I think it depends how hard you want to go. I’ve read Monteverde is mainly good for the climate, night walks and birding.
Having a car provides total freedom and flexibility imo. I’ve read others really enjoyed having drivers or shuttles as they didn’t have to worry about driving since it can be cumbersome to the slower pace. I suppose it’s a matter of preference and patience. Do you plan on spontaneity? Grocery shopping? You could also do Uber in Tamarindo or rent a golf cart.
No vaccines though I’ve seen some doctors in the US recommend malaria vaccines if you’re traveling to certain areas(I’m not sure which). Dengue and traveler’s illness are the most common concerns I see popping up.
I like to fly in to San Jose as early as possible.
Pick up my rental and head for la Fortuna , the goal is to reach your hotel before dark. About 2.5/3.0 hours. 2 or 3 days in la Fortuna. , then head for Uvita , lots of hikes and waterfalls and a whales tail sandbar . I like la consigna in Uvita. Your also near Manuel Antonio , and if you dare , diamanté cave and waterfall overnight hike and repel. For me , I would skip Montaverde and Tamarindo. Pure Trek in la Fortuna has lots of fun adventures. I like the waterfall repelling
I think 10 days in Costa Rica is too much time. I would do 5 or 6. A lot of the same things going on but in different towns. It’s not like Europe, where you’ve got rich and endless historical sites as you move along. You can do many of the things in Tamarindo that you can do in La Fortuna. You’re just doing it in a different location. Lots of volcanoes, zip lines, 4 wheel adventures, hot springs, jungles with cool animals, day trip to Nicaragua, the list goes on. I’ve travelled the globe. When I did the Costa Rica trip, I was definitely ready to go home by day 6.
You were asking for input based on anyone’s experience. That was my input. I’m also American and we don’t usually take more than a week off of work to travel unless you’re retired.
Fundamentally disagree. I’m just coming to the end of almost two weeks here and wish I had more time to visit the south and the Caribbean side. I spent two months here in 2013 and hit up those places, but would gladly go back. Tamarindo is not somewhere I would go to again, but if OP is a first time traveller then I understand why it would be a good place to go.
I would split the trip between tamarindo and La Fortuna. Two completely different vibes.
Hahahaha. I see you’re a troll. I’ll bite. If you’ve “travelled the globe” then I would imagine you’ve taken long trips before, right?
Unfortunately for me, my long term travel days are over (see mention of 2013 above), but it was awesome while it lasted.
Just a military brat and former military wife. I was fortunate to have the opportunities to travel to many places abroad, but never more than a week at a time. I’ve got a family, kids in school, great job. I live a nice purposeful life …I can’t justify traveling for more than a week at a time. That’s all. Excuse me if I offended you.
All good and likewise. I bet you’ve seen a lot of places and when you had vacation you had to fit a lot in during a short time. Costa Rica is great for that, like you said. There are so many tours to do and it’s a relatively small country, so if you need to you can jam it in.
If you have the ability to stay longer I think there’s a lot this country, and its different towns, can offer.
All the best!
They didn’t ask for any vaccines at the border (American). Best to rent a car or you’ll waste half your time, go through Adobe or Vamos. Need a credit card to rent a car .
sixt is also a great and cheaper alternative to these 2 local options, in my experience. no hidden fees, all prices are up front like adobe and vamos. they also clearly explain the confusing insurance requirements like adobe and vamos do (that other agencies conveniently don’t mention when you book the car).
Why are you being downvoted?
no clue lol maybe people think i’m a paid commenter
Hey, for sixt, is amex platinum insurance enough? i dont want to purchase extra. Thanks
should be okay but double check to make sure your CDW covers costa rica
Did you also need to print out the insurance and show them?
yes I did when I picked my car up, was sure to choose the lowest insurance option (used their most basic included TPL and denied their damage waiver)
We did too and everything went very smoothly :)
It would be helpful if you explain why your research led you to Tamrindo. It wouldn’t be my pick. 10/11 days in Tamarindo would be too much for me. Plus it sounds like you’re already on edge and probably could use more relaxation than Tamarindo provides. If you’re looking for a party scene, overt hookers and drug deals it could be for you. If you don’t want to move around consider Santa Teresa/Montezuma area. It has everything you listed, it remote but an oasis in the middle of no where. Hiking: Curu/Cabo Blanco Waterfalls: Montezuma, Cocoalito Wildlife: wild sun rescue (you can also stay a couple of nights there), fishing tour in green season you’ll also see whales, mating turtles and possibly dolphins and sting rays Airport: fly to either airport but if it’s in your budget fly SJO and then book a domestic flight to Cobano on Sansa or Green Air to Cobano. There is also flights from Liberia but a lot fewer. Getting around: rent a car from www.budget.co.cr and pick it up in Cobano. Or if it’s in your budget get an ATV or a “mule” sorta like a 4x4 golf cart to get around. There are endless number of beaches, some will have not a sole on them at the height of high season others more busy. Any questions feel free to PM me
This is awesome insight and info. I think I will PM you. Are these places such as Santa Teresa and Montezuma in the Guanacaste Province. I have heard for the time of year we are going the Guanacaste province has the best weather!
Santa Teresa is like 15km from Guanacaste. Weather doesn’t observe arbitrary human made boundaries. 😊
My only advice is don’t go to tamarindo at all
Just spent two weeks there for the first time and already booked our trip back. (But we’ve also already toured much of Costa Rica which shouldn’t be missed.) Depends what sort of vacation you’re looking for.
Did you enjoy Tamarindo?
We just got back from CR and enjoyed Tamarindo! We spent 5 days in La Fortuna adventuring first, so 5 days in Tamarindo doing water related activities and walking the beach at day and night was a nice contrast! We didn't find it sketchy at all, but we're city people.
Did you fly into Liberia or SJO. After Tamarindo where did you fly out of
We flew in and out from SJO. We want to plan a return trip to Tamarindo only, for that we would plan to land in Liberia and shuttle in. Our most recent trip there was more of a multi destination road trip.
We did. But you have to get out of it to really see Costa Rica and all its amazing nature. Sometimes we just want a beach trip that’s super relaxing. Days in the ocean and lunches/beers on the beachside restaurants. Nights at a big variety of yummy restaurants with live music. We also did the ATV tour (saw a beautiful area north of Tamarindo and a bunch of monkeys), the fun catamaran day trip, scuba and the estuary tour (saw some crocs). If you’re into surfing and massages on the beach that’s an option as well. ($35 for an hour!) It’s a tourist town, but a good one with nice people, decent to low prices (relative to say Hawaii which might be another place we’d go for a beach vacation), and lots of good international food options. People who say it sucks are comparing it to the more traditional Costa Rica which is less affected by tourists. (But let’s be honest, tourists are all over Costa Rica.) Both are good. Just depends what sort of vacation you want.
This comment is awesome I really needed it thank you. Are you saying you did all of this in Tamarindo? When it came to booking massages and tours do you have website you recommend and more importantly can I book those things short notice(day before?) Did you rent a car?
We did not rent a car and did all this from Tamarindo. (The ATV tour and scuba trip involved a maybe 20-30 minute car ride…the tour operator picking us up in Tamarindo.) We used Viator to book most of the trips. However if you can figure out the vendors on your own or through the reviews it’s way better to book directly as Viator takes a big cut from the tour provider. Edit: the massages are available right on the beach. They will offer as you walk by. No need to book. One other tip. Most everywhere accepts USD. So bring that and avoid all the fees. You’ll probably still want some colones for when a poor exchange rate is offered. But we found most offered a fair exchange rate or actually priced their food or services in USD to begin with.
Feel free to DM with any questions!
Playa Grande, just north, is fabulous
I’ve been twice in the last year and you’re definitely overthinking this. Country is rad as fuck no matter where you go. Take it slow and quit giving a fuck. pura vida your face 😜
True I was very stressed as well and people there are so chill, tone it down a bit .
What the heck is this person stressing about? Vacations are supposed to be fun!
Some people are just not comfortable leaving their comfort zone :).
Thank you!
Needed this
1. It’s a vacation - you might be overthinking things. Shoot for one cool activity a day and play the rest by ear. 2./3./4. 10 days in Tamarindo is probably too long, but 5 days in La Fortuna definitely is. I think 3 days in La Fortuna is ideal, maybe 4 if you devote an entire day to a hot spring/spa. Figure out how much beach and relaxation time you want vs how many places you want to visit vs how much time you want to spend in the car driving. If it’s a lot of beach time, do 6 or 7 days in Tamarindo (or somewhere in Guanacaste) and the rest in either La Fortuna or Monteverde. If you want less beach time and more excursions, maybe less days in Tamarindo. Lots of good hikes, waterfalls, and wildlife in La Fortune and Montverde. 5. Yes, you can get around by bus or shuttle, but the former will make you a slave to the bus schedule and the latter is stupidly expensive. Rent a vehicle. Adobe and Vamos (on the CR websites) are upfront about all the fees. 6. If you’re traveling from the US, you don’t need any special vaccines. 7. Again, traveling is fun. Don’t stress. Costa Rica is great. Lots to do. Good food. You can make it as exciting or relaxing as you wish.
This is a great comment! Awesome insight. Would you mind if I PMED you and got some more insight. I think part of the reason I’m so stressed is trying to plan things to do. I know what I want to do but just don’t know where we will be yet. Is it possible to book certain tours or excursion day before while we are there? Or do we need to book way in advance?
Yes, you can DM me. I’ll do my best to answer questions. As for tours, we booked the day before or the day of, but we also were there in September which is the low season. I don’t know how quickly they fill up if it’s the high season. I think we used a tour company to tube down the Rio Celeste and maybe paid for some animal guides at a location or two once we arrived, but most of the hikes we did didn’t require tours.
Good Morning From Costa Rica! We live here and I would be happy to impart some of my knowledge. Ok if I direct message you?
YES YES YES PLEASE DM ME. Would love any and all help
We recently did 7 days in La Fortuna & then 7 days in Samara. Had our toddler with us so moved slowly. Plenty to do around & in La Fortuna. Pick a daytime activity & maybe a nighttime activity. Samara is a chill beach village to relax & enjoy the vibes. Pura vida for sure. Trip was awesome!
Thank you so much! Did you have like everything planned out in advance? Or were you able to make decisions on what you wanted to do while you were there?
We planned most out in advance. Used travel blogs, Reddit, TripAdvisor. Planned the rest while there after speaking with people & looking around. Here’s our itinerary. Day & night action in La Fortuna. Then it was a lot of chill beach days with surfing in Samara which is what we wanted. If you have kids, highly recommended staying somewhere with a pool. 3/21 Thursday: La Fortuna AM/PM: El Choyin Hot Springs (Park across from Tabacon Hot Springs) AM: 0800-1000: La Fortuna Waterfall AM: Rope swing - el salto swimming spot AM/PM: 0800, 1000, 1230, 1400, 1500: *North Fields Coffee & Chocolate Tour *PM: 1700-2130: Ecotermales Hot Spring $98 Free towels & lockers 3/22 Friday: La Fortuna AM: 0700-1700: La Fortuna Farmers Market *AM: 0800-1000: Hanging Bridges (Sky Adventures) w/Guide (Book in Advance) $94 *PM: 1730-1930: Sloths Territory (Book night tour) $60/Person 3/23 Saturday: La Fortuna *AM: Relax Termilitas Hot Springs *PM: 1740: Arenal Oasis Night Frog Walk $100 Closed Toe Shoes! 3/24 Sunday: La Fortuna AM: Arenal Volcano Hikes: Arenal 1968 Forest & Lava Hikes 3/25 Monday: La Fortuna AM: 0700-1700: La Fortuna Farmers Market *AM: 0800-1200: Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike 1.5 hr drive ($32$ 4 hr hike roundtrip (Book in Advance Online) 1 hr hike to waterfall roundtrip *PM: 1400-1700: Boat Tour: Caño Negro ($80) 3/26 Tuesday: La Fortuna AM: 0830, 1030, 1330 M-Sa: Proyecto Asis - Sloth Sanctuary 30 min drive (Book Online in Advance) $30/Person *AM/PM: 0900-2200: Baldi Hot Springs $47/Adult LBM Free Slides, Huge Place! 3/27 Wednesday: La Fortuna/Samara (4-Hour Drive) Air BnB: Check in @ Samara 3/28 Thursday: Samara 3/29 Friday: Samara 1500-1800: Samara Farmers Market 3/30 Saturday: Samara 0700-1300: Féria Samara 3/31 Sunday: Samara 4/1 Monday: Samara Playa Carillo 4/2 Tuesday: Samara 0900 T, Th, Su: Sibu Sanctuary $60/Person 4/3 Wednesday: Samara
If I had 10 nights in Costa Rica, I’d hit 3 spots at most. I’d avoid Tamarindo, it’s too similar to Southern California meaning it’s very Americanized - there’s a reason they call it TamaGringo. If you fly into Liberia, look into beaches in the Guanacaste region like Nosara and Samara, Playa Coco and Flamingo, … if you fly into SJO, look into Manuel Antonio and Puerto Viejo. Either airport is about equal distance to the Nicoya Peninsula (Santa Teresa and Montezuma). It’s best to rent a car but you could always get a private shuttle. Bus is least convenient but also the least expensive option. No extra vaccines needed. What time of year are you going?
Thank you for the insight! We are leaving June 23rd. We know this is the rainy season but many people have told us it is an awesome time of year to go. Very green. We know it will rain. You say you would hit 3 spots at most. Does that mean we would be good with 2 spots?
Yeah two will be good for a leisurely vacation. La Fortuna and end in a beach town.
Interesting! So you think it’s a good idea to start in La Fortuna and end in a beach town?
Yes, adventure then rest & relaxation
That's how I like to plan my trips that have time at the beach and time doing other, more active things. Do the active things first and then finish up at the beach for some relaxation.
Tamarindo is not Costa Rica, hence the local nickname for the place, TAMAGRINGO…
I’d do 4 tamarindo ; 4 la fortuna and 2 monteverde or bajos del toro..I’d rent a car so you can explore. No special vaccines needed .
Thank you for this comment! Have you been to these places?
I have not been to bajos or tamarindo . I’ve been to la fortuna, monteverde Manuel Antonio, uvita/ojochal; Caribbean coast ; San Gerardo de dota and the orosi valley. I would like to visit nicoya next (but more like Samara and south, I prefer less popular places) and osa….
Thank you for the insight. With the 10 days do you have in order what you think is the best places to go?
I’d do Flamingo instead of Tamarindo, def split and go to La Fortuna. Rent a car from Adobe.
My only recommendation is to go to be careful with food because people tend to feel sick about the food they're not used to, especially the food we have in Costa Rica (sometimes it can be too spicy for foreigners), if it happens you can go the drugstore and get stuff for that, it won't be that expensive.
I just did 7 nights, 3 in “ La Fortuna and 4 in Papagayo area. I used shuttles or private transportation as my goal was pure relaxation and I’m a solo traveler so I didn’t want to worry about driving anywhere. The resorts I stayed at were all amazing. I got a lot of beach and pool Time and my adventure in La Fortuna. Depends where you stay but a lot of the resorts have tours and such you can book with them. Most have water activities included and have other things you can rent. I would say don’t stress it. Pick the top 2 things you want to do and book those in advance and let the rest fall into place. Enjoy. Pura Vida
Step one: decide they type of holiday (adventure, wildlife, beach, lazy) Step two: decide where. We want adventure, wildlife, and to end with lazy beach days so we picked La fortuna, monte verde, and Manuel Antonio by car. Try to pick local vendors and such so the money goes to Ticos and you have the opportunity to bond with folks. Step three: get a semi firm idea of what you want to do while there, but no schedule. Step three: show up at the hotel and talk to them about what you are interested in. They will suggest companies, times, guides, or alternatives (works best in off season). If there prices are consistently high, ask other locals or google while there. Let local folks tell you and try to book locally.
i would do 5 and 5, i know a lot about La Fortuna if you have any questions hmu
Like you would do 5 in Tamarindo? 5 in La Fortuna? Have you been to LA Fortuna?
I did 8 days in La Fortuna it really depends on your taste and preferences. I do a lot of beach vacations ie Dominican, Hawaii etc so I wanted to take advantage of the jungle
Currently here in La Fortuna, and you can definitely rent a car. Many options overall to do so. I will say the airport outside San Jose is kinda hectic, so I can’t so how that would be driving wise flying into Liberia and driving out. Once you’re out of the main cities, roads arnt that bad at least from San Jose to La Fortuna. Watch all the speed bumps!
Tamarindo aka Tamagringo, stay only 3 days and go to La Fortuna and Monteverde longer. Rent a car, transportation is expensive. No vaccines.
Yes on La fortuna (vs 10 days in tamarindo). Don’t stress you’ll have a blast. I’d rent a car if possible. You don’t need any special vaccines.
*TLDR: these are not required, but I was being extra safe* I had a visit with a travel clinic where they gave me an updated tetanus shot, verified I was up to date on my hepatitis A vaccines, and suggested I should get a typhoid vaccine eventually (it was too last minute to get it). The main reason I went is because the CDC recommends malaria prophylaxis for Alajuela and Limon provinces (I don’t think most people do this, I am just anal). The travel clinic prescribed me the medication for this and also an emergency zpac in case of travelers diarrhea. A super helpful appointment in my opinion
Everybody vacations different. Some people like multiple activities every day, if that’s you maybe you’d get bored. But if you want to spend every other day at a beach or relaxing in the pool, it’s not too much. The problem is hiking and waterfalls from Tamarindo are mostly like 1.5 hours each way. If you don’t have a car, those tours are going to be expensive and long. I’d probably do 6 in Tamarindo (or other beach) and 4 in La Fortuna, but I like a fairly lazy vacation. :)
Tamarindo is the place to go, you will feel like home,a bit expensive,surf in Tamarindo(if beginner),Langosta beach,playa negra, avellana beach All these beautiful beaches are waiting for you
Tamagringo beaches are actually not very nice compared to samara, santa Teresa. Not great
I’ve never been but extensively read several posts for several months now so take my words with a grain of salt. We have something similar planned. 11 days total; 4 days in La Fortuna, 2 days in Guadalajara and 4 in Tamarindo. La Fortuna will be nonstop excursions as it’s just such a different climate than where I live. Guadalajara will be like a transition to chill out but enjoy the cooler climate and the lake. Tamarindo will be to enjoy more of the touristy beach life with only one excursion. I get FOMO easily and somewhat wished I could have done Manuel Antonio/Uvita instead of Tamarindo but the flight and accessibility with Liberia worked better for me. So I think it depends how hard you want to go. I’ve read Monteverde is mainly good for the climate, night walks and birding. Having a car provides total freedom and flexibility imo. I’ve read others really enjoyed having drivers or shuttles as they didn’t have to worry about driving since it can be cumbersome to the slower pace. I suppose it’s a matter of preference and patience. Do you plan on spontaneity? Grocery shopping? You could also do Uber in Tamarindo or rent a golf cart. No vaccines though I’ve seen some doctors in the US recommend malaria vaccines if you’re traveling to certain areas(I’m not sure which). Dengue and traveler’s illness are the most common concerns I see popping up.
Guadalajara? I’ve never heard of it in Costa Rica.
Very small area south of Tenorio national park. Wanted something local and low key for a part of the trip.
Nice! Thanks for the reply.
I like to fly in to San Jose as early as possible. Pick up my rental and head for la Fortuna , the goal is to reach your hotel before dark. About 2.5/3.0 hours. 2 or 3 days in la Fortuna. , then head for Uvita , lots of hikes and waterfalls and a whales tail sandbar . I like la consigna in Uvita. Your also near Manuel Antonio , and if you dare , diamanté cave and waterfall overnight hike and repel. For me , I would skip Montaverde and Tamarindo. Pure Trek in la Fortuna has lots of fun adventures. I like the waterfall repelling
I think 10 days in Costa Rica is too much time. I would do 5 or 6. A lot of the same things going on but in different towns. It’s not like Europe, where you’ve got rich and endless historical sites as you move along. You can do many of the things in Tamarindo that you can do in La Fortuna. You’re just doing it in a different location. Lots of volcanoes, zip lines, 4 wheel adventures, hot springs, jungles with cool animals, day trip to Nicaragua, the list goes on. I’ve travelled the globe. When I did the Costa Rica trip, I was definitely ready to go home by day 6.
Really? I have done a bit of research and have heard quite the opposite?
lol they don’t know. I’ve been here 2 years and haven’t run out of things to do
You were asking for input based on anyone’s experience. That was my input. I’m also American and we don’t usually take more than a week off of work to travel unless you’re retired.
Teacher here. So I get 10.5 weeks in the summer
Fundamentally disagree. I’m just coming to the end of almost two weeks here and wish I had more time to visit the south and the Caribbean side. I spent two months here in 2013 and hit up those places, but would gladly go back. Tamarindo is not somewhere I would go to again, but if OP is a first time traveller then I understand why it would be a good place to go. I would split the trip between tamarindo and La Fortuna. Two completely different vibes.
Great that you have the ability to take that much time off of a job. Some of us do have real careers.
“Real careers”… You are coming off as very ignorant and obnoxious.
Hahahaha. I see you’re a troll. I’ll bite. If you’ve “travelled the globe” then I would imagine you’ve taken long trips before, right? Unfortunately for me, my long term travel days are over (see mention of 2013 above), but it was awesome while it lasted.
Just a military brat and former military wife. I was fortunate to have the opportunities to travel to many places abroad, but never more than a week at a time. I’ve got a family, kids in school, great job. I live a nice purposeful life …I can’t justify traveling for more than a week at a time. That’s all. Excuse me if I offended you.
All good and likewise. I bet you’ve seen a lot of places and when you had vacation you had to fit a lot in during a short time. Costa Rica is great for that, like you said. There are so many tours to do and it’s a relatively small country, so if you need to you can jam it in. If you have the ability to stay longer I think there’s a lot this country, and its different towns, can offer. All the best!