San Jose & Central Highlands

Hotels:

Gran Hotel – has elevators, accessible rooms

Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel– easy walking trails and only has ground level rooms

Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belen – large pathways, handicap accessible rooms, elevators

Poas Volcano Lodge – handicap accessible rooms, but not many tours that can accommodate physical restrictions (so probably only good for a 2-night stay)

Activities:

Coffee tours, foodie tour, museums, Toucan Rescue Ranch

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Manoa Hotel with a view of Arenal Volcano

Hotels:

Tabacon Thermal Resort – handicap accessible rooms are the Orchid rooms with king bed

Arenal Manoa Hotel – flat property, golf cart shuttle around the property, spacious rooms

Amor Arenal Luxury Lodge – wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms

Arenal Kioro Hotel – can accommodate mobility issues with rooms closer to the main property, golf cart shuttle around the property

The Springs Resort & Spa – large property, but have some elevators and shuttles around property

Activities:

Slothies and birds tour, coffee and chocolate tour, Arenal Reserve Tram & Walk, a sunset cruise on Lake Arenal, cooking classes, Cano Negro boat tour, Danaus eco-center, hanging bridges (can provide electric scooter if needed but the traveler won’t be able to do the whole trail system)

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Senda Monteverde Hotel, a cloud forest hotel

Hotel:

Senda Monteverde Hotel – one Senda Suite is handicap accessible, sort of hilly

Activities:

Don Juan coffee & chocolate tour, Monteverde Reserve Tram & Walk, Vida Silvestre night walk, Private Monteverde reserve hike

Guanacaste

The pool backs up to Conchal Beach at the Westin Playa Conchal All Inclusive Resort.

Tamarindo, in general, is a great area for people with mobility issues/seniors because of the easy access to town, the beach, and sidewalks!

Hotels:

Westin Playa Conchal All Inclusive Resort– seven Handicap Royal rooms, Dlx upon request

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort – flat property, handicap rooms are on the ground floor, very easy beach access

JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort– elevators

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas – rooms are on the ground, have pathways around the property

The W at Reserva Conchal – golf cart shuttle service, elevators

Activities:

Catamaran cruises, Diamante discovery tour, fishing

Manuel Antonio and Central Pacific

Pool and Central Pacific view from Hotel Parador, Manuel Antonio

Hotels:

Los Altos Beach Resort – elevators, large rooms

Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort – handicap accessible rooms

Alma del Pacifico Hotel, Esterillos Beach – handicap accessible rooms, but not many activities available in this area

Arenas del Mar Beach Resort – ground level rooms are good for people with mobility issues, golf cart shuttle if needed

Tulemar Resort – shuttles around the property, big rooms

Hotel Parador – a flat property with beach shuttle, handicap accessible rooms

Activities:

Private Manuel Antonio Park, catamaran cruises, Damas boat tour, Carara National Park, fishing

The Caribbean Coast

Le Cameleon Boutique Resort pool view

Hotels:

Le Cameleon Boutique Resort– flat property, handicap accessible rooms

Activities:

Jaguar Rescue Ranch, Sloth Sanctuary

Nicoya Peninsula

Pool and beach view from Punta Islita

Hotels:

Harmony Hotel at Nosara – flat property, accessible rooms, easy beach access

Hotel Punta Islita– golf cart shuttles around the property, large pathways, activities on the property, handicap accessible rooms

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My adventure began at Rancho Pacifico Hotel, South Pacific Coast.

LOOK AT THAT VIEW.

I started my trip in the South Pacific region of Uvita. Getting to Rancho Pacifico Hotel from San Jose International Airport took about 4 1/2 hours with a stop to grab some food and visit the Tarcoles Crocodile Bridge, where a large population of crocodiles can be observed from the bridge. When I arrived at Rancho Pacifico, I settled in and toured their beautiful treehouses and villas – each with views of Playa Ballena and the rainforest. Rancho Pacifico is surrounded by lush, tropical forest with wildlife like sloths, monkeys, frogs, lizards, and birds. After settling in, I had an incredible dining experience –  with a great drink selection! The property has culinary themes each night. For me, it was a barbeque and Italian meal…. delicioso!

An unexpected surprise from my room

Rancho Pacific is an especially good option for independent travelers looking for privacy and adventure. They have independent hiking trails accessible from the property like the waterfall loop trail that leads to a secret waterfall or trails up the mountain for incredible views overlooking Ballena Beach.

… the secret waterfall!

Rancho Pacifico will also soon be adding a new pool and yoga observation deck!

Stop 2: Kura Design Villas, South Pacific Coast

Imagine pulling up on a winding jungle road to a sleek private hotel in the middle of the forest. That’s exactly how I came upon Kura Design Villas. This ultra-modern adults-only hotel is perfect for couples with a romantic atmosphere and amazing views overlooking the rainforest and famous whale’s tail on the South Pacific Coast. There are only eight villas – two of which are the brand new master suites with outdoor infinity plunge pools overlooking the whale’s tail! Check out this video about the Kura experience:

Admittedly, this isn’t my video, but it illustrates the Kura Design Villas experience perfectly!

Stop 3: El Castillo Hotel, South Pacific Coast

Jungle vibes from El Castillo gardens

I next visited El Castillo Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel overlooking the South Pacific Coast reminiscent of a European villa. With just six hotel rooms located within close proximity, the hotel cultivates a sense of community among guests.

My pretty afternoon pick-me-up at El Castillo

The culinary experience at El Castillo is exceptional. They have a young talented chef who will bring you into town to the markets to buy ingredients for meals and snacks and explain each dish to you as you dine.

Snook with seasonal vegetables, greens, jelly, and puree dots

El Castillo offers a Chef’s Table experience with local, seasonal ingredients crafted into inspired dishes, explained and presented by their chef!

Rose mousse with rose syrup, mandarin oranges, and chocolate crumble

Another highlight of the El Castillo experience is its immediate access to Garza Island, a private island where guests can spend the afternoon with a picnic lunch from the restaurant. And my favorite unexpected surprise? The resident iguana who hangs around the property sunbathing by the pool.

Stop 4: Hacienda AltaGracia, Southern Mountains

AltaGracia has so many beautiful horses in their stable. You can’t miss a horseback riding excursion through the trails!

Hacienda AltaGracia, an Auberge Resort, is a large sprawling hacienda offering a customizable luxury experience. The hacienda once was a fully functioning hacienda with over 28 indoor stables for horses and the largest riding ring in Central America. It has since been converted to the luxury hotel that it is today. The equestrian stable still stands and offers a variety of equestrian tours or you can simply tour the stable and pet the horses if you aren’t up to taking a ride. AltaGracia has a multitude of complimentary tours, many of which are exclusive to them. They have exclusive access to waterfalls, nature preserves, and coffee plantations around the area.

I’d highly recommend checking out the “relaxation room” at Hacienda AltaGracia’s spa, a large dark soundproof room with individual chaise lounges and reading lamps with curtains to separate your space from other peoples’. Despite AltaGracia’s off the beaten path location, they offer a kind of connected comfort with the option to log in to your Netflix and Hulu account from the room’s Apple TV for those of us that aren’t quite ready to throw out the WiFi password or our favorite shows.

Stop 5:  Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Osa Peninsula

The drive to the Osa Peninsula is so worth it! Here’s a view of the Golfo Dulce on the ride to Lapa Rios Ecolodge.

When I checked into Lapa Rios Ecolodge on the Osa Peninsula, I was given the rundown on the multitude of different tours offered daily which were included in my stay. I signed up for a hike with one of their on-site naturalist guides during which I was able to see all four monkey species native to Costa Rica: squirrel, white-faced capuchin, howler, and spider monkey.

While we saw all four Costa Rican monkey species, it was difficult to get a picture! Seen here is a curious squirrel monkey.

The hiking trails were not the only place to see wildlife from Lapa Rios Lodge. There are animals all over the property. You may have monkeys come up close on the walk back to your room. There are frogs at the pool and crabs and lizards are all over the paths! The lodge even has an observation deck with views overlooking the forest for wildlife viewing. You’re bound to see animals even walking down to the beach, a quiet untouched stretch of sand where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.

Bungalows, hammocks, and views… what’s not to like?

I was also impressed by the rigorous sustainability practices the lodge upholds. They are always looking for new ways to minimize their carbon footprint and were the first hotel in Costa Rica to attain all five leaves in sustainability, a measurement of sustainable hospitality and resource management put in place by the Costa Rican Tourism Board. They even educate guests on their environmental practices and urge them to get involved during their stay.

Stop 6: Starbucks’ Hacienda Alsacia, Alajuela

Hacienda Alsacia has coffee fields for days (and a little waterfall) and helps educate local farms.

The highlands in Alajuela grow some of the world’s best coffee. So it’s not surprising that Starbucks has chosen the fertile patch of land now known as Hacienda Alascia for their new coffee plantation. At Hacienda Alascia, Starbucks is brewing up their own exclusive variety of coffee and offering coffee plantation guests a quick tour with a coffee flight at the end of the tour. They are also doing great things for the farmers in the area! They have an education center focused on teaching local coffee growers eco-friendly and sustainable practices as well as sharing which varieties are best to grow in the area.

Last stop: Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation, Central Valley

I think Finca Rosa Blanca has the prettiest doors in all of Costa Rica! They have some of the yummiest coffee too…

I ended my adventure at Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort, Located in the Central Valley, Finca Rosa Blanca is a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of San Jose and a fantastic way to take in more of Costa Rican culture. While I thought my stay would mostly revolve around coffee, I was pleasantly surprised by the authentic, beautiful art in every nook and cranny of the hotel. The villas on the coffee plantation were warm, welcoming, and inviting! And a coffee tour during your stay is definitely a must! I don’t have a coffee problem, I swear…

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First Stop: San Jose, Costa Rica

Landing in San Jose, Costa Rica

Landing in the capital city of San Jose, I welcomed the balmy night air and a nice chat with my driver, who did his best to point out buildings and parks to me through the darkness. I arrived at Hotel Grano de Oro, which looks like a mansion right out of the New Orleans Garden District. Warm reception and sweet little peek-a-boo gardens located within the hotel made me feel like I had stepped into the Central American version of southern hospitality.

The difference between San Jose at night and San Jose during the day is, well, night and day. In the morning, the city is bustling and full of people. The buildings are vibrant colors and the parks are shining in the sun. But I couldn’t stay and revel in the energy of the city, my destination lay in the central highlands.

Second Stop: La Paz Waterfall Gardens

There is no shortage of natural power and beauty at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens are a fun getaway not far from the action in San Jose. My tour of the gardens was spent holding toucans who were way more curious to look at my face instead of the camera, trying to coerce morpho butterflies to land on me, and marveling at the beautiful big cats. I even got a nice little snack of house made cheese and warm sugar cane juice to get my energy up before moving on to the waterfall hike portion of the gardens. La Paz boasts 5 beautiful waterfalls and the preservation of the nature and forest around the falls is wonderful. Ducking under vines, feeling the mist from the falls, and watching water trickle down the stony walls gives you the distinct feeling you’re on a jungle trek.

Third Stop: Santa Juana

The smooth & oh so scenic Nature Air flight to Quepos! On to the next portion of my Costa Rica adventure…

The next morning I said goodbye to San Jose and hello to the airport again. To get to Santa Juana, I first took a domestic flight to Quepos/Manuel Antonio which was easily the most interesting and incredibly scenic flight I’ve ever taken in my life. The ride only lasted for about 20 minutes but I won’t soon forget the lush hills and mountains and sparkling rivers I stared down at.

The hospitality at Santa Juana Lodge was out of this world! There is such a sense of community in this village & Roxanne’s food makes you feel right at home.

Before heading to Manuel Antonio, I stopped in the village of Santa Juana to check out Santa Juana Lodge. The moment I got there, it truly hit me that I was in Costa Rica. It was picturesque; there was a slight mist hanging over the mountains that surrounded the hill I stood atop, there were toucans, tall palms, farms, little houses, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and it was silent- save the cawing of birds. Here I learned about the conservation and rehabilitation efforts that are taking place to repopulate Costa Rica with the famous Red Macaw. I also learned to fish for tilapia with a stick and string, basically making me a professional fisherman. Now if I could just get Nat Geo to give me my own show.

Fourth Stop: Manuel Antonio National Park 

I could tell Manuel Antonio was full of wildlife even before I got to the Manuel Antonio National Park, considering when I stepped out onto my balcony at Hotel Si Como No that morning, I witnessed a group of 5 howler monkeys running across the roof of the adjacent building as though they had just been up to trouble.

Balcony view at Hotel Si Como No

It was in the national park that I began to understand Costa Rica’s relationship with nature. The environment, the land, the animals are all something that the locals are proud of and they certainly take pleasure in showing them off to travelers. Many of the animals I saw were carrying babies (quite a few pairs of mom and baby sloths!) much to every visitors’ and guides’ joy alike. In another tender moment, I witnessed a hummingbird “school of love” where a mature hummingbird teaches the young males to sing properly. While I was running through nature like a kid on a playground I nearly forgot that this was the only opportunity I had on my trip for a dip in the ocean so I made sure to take advantage of it at one of the park’s 4 beaches.

Fifth Stop: Monteverde Cloud Forest

The sunset in the mystical magic cloud forest of Monteverde.

The next stop in my busy itinerary was Monteverde Cloud Forest. Monteverde was a pleasant surprise. I had heard of Costa Rica’s most famous cloud forest before and expected all manner of fog and rain. Instead I found dreamy misty mornings and warm sunshine in the afternoon.

Who likes organic Costa Rican coffee?!  What a great afternoon pick me up.

I must admit to being quite excited about the Don Juan Coffee tour. Costa Rican’s drink a lot of coffee, and after tasting the difference between theirs and the coffee I sipped in the Miami Airport, I was ready to immerse myself in the caffeine culture fully. The Don Juan Coffee Plantation offers a fun, interactive look at the production of coffee, sugar cane, and chocolate, all of which were delicious and I would happily consume again. It also served as a lesson in Tico culture; we, a group of strangers, were encouraged to work together, communicate, laugh, and become friendly as we raced to pick coffee, shared opinions on the bitter notes of 90% cocoa candy, and juiced sugar cane for each other’s drinks.

The true star in Monteverde, in my opinion, is the the town of Santa Elena, a walkable distance from some of the area hotels. It reminded me of a cute little college town with its small shops and cafes everywhere. Tourists and locals blended perfectly in the streets and I felt at ease and embraced as a foreigner.

Last Stop: Arenal Volcano

The final stop on my journey was Arenal, the epitome of vacation. No bit of this town is boring. I found myself present in every moment I spent at Arenal, unwilling to miss anything it offered me.

I found paradise and you can’t make me leave! Hot springs at Tabacon Thermal Resort.  

The Tabacon Thermal Resort served as my mecca. Every day I spent in Arenal, I also spent in the Tabacon hot springs in my free time. The location of the springs feels like a long lost tropical labyrinth of decadence and peaceful seclusion. There are bridges to cross, gardens to admire, waterfalls to discover, and pools to wade in. I let that sweet heat embrace me and all of the intense adventuring I did during the day melt right off.

Speaking of intense adventuring, the Costa Rica Sky Zip Line is something special. I’ve done plenty of ziplines and they’ve all seemed the same so I felt prepared for the ride in the sky that I was about to embark on. That is, until I heard how high up the lines are- 650 ft. For perspective, that is 200 ft taller than the tallest roller coaster in the U.S.! Bring. It. On. Gliding hundreds of feet in the air may sound intimidating but the views are very worth it. I was so focused on the lovely vista that I forgot all about the height and everything else around me.

Airport Reflections

Me loving every minute of the chocolate and coffee culture.

With Arenal in the distance, my journey came to a close. Waiting for my flight on the morning of my departure allowed me some time for Airport Reflections. If I could give anyone traveling to Costa Rica advice it would be:

1. Agree to everything offered to you, you won’t be disappointed.
2. Watch and listen, something amazing could be right beside you.
3. And if you take one souvenir from Costa Rica, let it be coffee.

Note: We do not normally recommend visiting 6 destinations in 10 days. Our Costa Rica Experts travel to experience as much of the country as possible so we can make first-hand recommendations.

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