Costa Rica, Part 2: Exploring the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica
This is Part 2 of a two-part series on our trip to Costa Rica. You can read about Part 1 here. To see the full 10-day itinerary, click here.
Day 4: La Fortuna's Wild Encounters
Today we said goodbye to the Andaz and the Guanacaste coast and headed inland to Fortuna. The Andaz had some of the best breakfasts I’ve enjoyed at a hotel/resort, and we often enjoyed breakfast with beautiful views of the grounds and its inhabitants.
On our drive, we stopped at Café y Macadamia, which had fantastic views over Lake Arenal and delicious macadamia-themed drinks and treats. We were a little too early for lunch, otherwise I would highly recommend it for a lunch stop as they sold a variety of warm food as well as baked treats. We did enjoy a nutty latte and dessert while soaking in the views.
We were keen to see sloths in the wild since Costa Rica is known for them, so we took a little tour around Sloth’s Territory. I highly recommend this tour if you’re interested in seeing sloths. We didn’t see a great number of sloths, but our guide was clearly very invested and knowledgeable about sloths, and taught us so many interesting things about their behavior. We learned more on this tour than any other tour we took in Costa Rica.
Pro tip: Bring your own binoculars if you want to see sloths in Costa Rica. We bought a fairly inexpensive pair off Amazon before our trip, and they were such a game changer. Even for the tours where guides were pointing the sloths out to us, they were so high up (and usually sleeping) that they couldn't be spotted without a pair of binoculars. And while most guides will let you look through their binoculars, that's only for a second and it was more comfortable to look through our own binoculars for as long as we wanted.
Then it was off to the famous La Fortuna waterfall! A tropical rain shower hit us while we were at the waterfall but it didn’t stop us from hiking down and taking some pictures.
Day 5: Safari River Float and Arenal Volcano
We took a safari river float with Canoa Aventura on Day 5. It was five to a boat and our guide was highly entertaining. As we leisurely drifted down the river during our safari float, the banks teemed with life. Crocodiles stealthily lurked in the waters while the vibrant plumage of pelicans and toucans added a splash of color to the verdant landscape. I was hoping to see more monkeys, but unfortunately only saw one family of howler monkeys. Nonetheless, the variety of water fowl we saw more than made it worthwhile.
In the afternoon, we hiked the Arenal 1968 Colada trail. It was a great little hike to see different sides of the Arenal volcano, and there’s a beautiful restaurant viewpoint at the end of the trail where you can enjoy some light eats while taking in the volcano in all its glory.
Day 6: Adventures in the Sky
Today we went to the Sky Conservatory for their hanging bridges and the chance to zipline in yet another ecosystem, a lush tropical rainforest. We did not see as many animals here as we did the previous days, but could hear the calls of birds and howler monkeys throughout the forest.
We were staying at the Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa during this portion of the trip, so we spent the afternoon relaxing in their many thermal pools. You do not have to be a hotel guest to visit their thermal pools, they sell day passes as well, and I would definitely recommend a visit if you’re in the area.
It had been cloudy so far during our time in the La Fortuna area, so we never got to see the peak of the Arenal volcano. Finally, we were awarded with a glimpse of the peak during sunset, as we were driving towards town for dinner. However, it disappeared behind clouds within a few minutes.
Day 7: Wildlife Trails and Night Tour
Day 7 brought us face to face with remarkable creatures, many of which are poisonous, and some found only in Costa Rica. On the Bogarin Wildlife Trail, we saw bats sleeping under banana leaves, two owls cuddling, and of course, sloths. We were very lucky to see 5 or 6 sloths on the short trail here, but most of the sloths were very high up in the trees. Just as we were exiting the trail, we were graced with the presence of a male three-toed sloth coming down to do #2. He was moving on the trees right beside the trail, maybe a meter away from us, so we got a super close look at him. It was such a treat to see a sloth up close, considering we'd been spending the past few days craning our necks, searching the tree tops for a glimpse of unmoving fur that could only be seen through binoculars.
At Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, our hearts raced as we spotted the vibrant hues of the eye lash viper snake and the fer de lance, and the sight of a tarantula reminded us of the intricate web of life thriving within the forest.
We saw more nocturnal creatures with a night tour at Arenal Oasis, like Costa Rica’s infamous red eyed tree frogs, or the strawberry poison dart frog (which locals call “blue jeans” for the blue on their legs).
Day 8: Volcanic Exploration
Today, we leave La Fortuna and head toward Manuel Antonio National Park in the San Jose province.
We made a stop at the majestic Poas Volcano on the way, which was a great tourist destination because they built the viewing platforms practically at the mouth of the volcano. Unfortunately, it was super cloudy on the day we visited, so we could barely see anything except a wall of grey. We waited half an hour on the viewing platform hoping the clouds would shift, and just as we were about to leave, we were granted a glimpse of the turquoise lake within the volcano's crater.
We also made a stop at a place marked "Crocodile Bridge" on Google Maps. I hadn't read about this when we planned the trip, but it turned out to be exactly as advertised. It was a road crossing a river, and underneath the bridge, there were dozens of crocodiles. I counted at least twenty. There was a local teasing one of the crocodile by hanging a sausage on a fishing wire from the bridge, making the crocodile jump out of the water for it.
We ended our day with a picnic on la Playa Espadilla, as we watched the sun set over the horizon.
Day 9: Manuel Antonio's Primate Encounters
While planning our trip, we had debated whether or not to go to Manuel Antonio National Park. It was described as the number one national park in a country full of incredible ecosystems, but it was not in the same region as most of the sights we were planning to explore. So we tacked it on to the end of our trip so we could fly out of San Jose. Was it worth the drive? Absolutely.
Although we had seen some monkeys throughout our time in Costa Rica, this one spot had all five species native to Costa Rica, including the capuchin and the squirrel monkey, which had alluded us so far. In one word, it was a haven for primate enthusiasts. Amidst the lush foliage, we marveled at the sight of not just one or two, but dozens of monkeys running overhead or swinging effortlessly through the trees. But it wasn't just monkeys we saw, we saw wild deer, Halloween crabs, a black widow spider, and even coatimundi. Each sighting was a testament to Costa Rica's rich tapestry of wildlife.
We hired a guide for Manuel Antonio because it is quite big - and I do recommend getting a guide - but we also did a few hikes on our own after our guide left us. And we were lucky enough to still be able to spot some wildlife on our own! The most rewarding sight, perhaps of the entire trip, was watching a parrot snake eat a tree frog on the railing of a boardwalk that we were on in broad daylight!
Day 10: Departure
As our incredible journey draws to a close, we reluctantly bid farewell to Costa Rica, taking with us memories of thrilling adventures and natural marvels.
Costa Rica's biodiversity continues to astound us at every turn, revealing the intricate connections between its inhabitants and their habitats. From the slow and deliberate sloths to the playful monkeys and the elusive reptiles, each encounter painted a vivid picture of this country's natural wealth.
As we bid farewell to this paradise, our hearts are filled not just with thrilling memories of ziplining and nature trails, but also with the vibrant imprints of Costa Rica's diverse wildlife. Our journey was not merely an adventure; it was an immersion into a world where every creature, big or small, plays a crucial role in the intricate web of life.
Until next time, keep exploring!
Note: This itinerary has been crafted based on personal experiences and preferences. Activities and timings may vary; I highly recommend making advance bookings wherever available.