The Ultimate Costa Rica Travel Guide

There’s a reason Costa Rica is at the top of so many people’s bucket lists. Full of lush rainforests, insane waterfalls, and huge mountains it’s not hard to fall in love with its natural beauty. Whether you want to kick back and relax at a scenic all-inclusive resort, find your zen through holistic practices, or chase some adrenaline with an epic excursion, Costa Rica has got it all!

This is truly a destination that satisfies both vacationers and travelers. I consider myself a little bit of both so it was no surprise that I loved this destination so much. 

Today I’m sharing all the details of our nine-day trip including transportation recommendations, 5-star resorts, and a full packing list. Enjoy! 

WHERE TO STAY 

We stayed at three different five-star resorts in two different areas. We started our trip by flying into Liberia and riding 2.5 hours to Punta Islita. After three nights we drove 6 hours to Osa where we spent five nights in the middle of the rainforest, 2,000 feet in the air. From Osa, we drove 3.5 hours to the San Jose airport where we flew back to the United States.

HOTEL PUNTA ISLITA

Hotel Punta Islita is nestled within the tropical rainforest with stunning views of Guanacaste’s black sand beaches. This Marriott property looked straight out of a movie with its black sand beaches, insane wildlife, and incredible landscaping.

Book your stay here.

The Resort 

The main area of Hotel Punta Islita was paradise. From a stunning infinity pool with a swim-up bar to beautiful views of Punta Islita beach, the design was truly a work of art.

The hotel is spread over several miles with a shuttle that takes you the short five-minute drive to the beach club/ocean. I loved this hotel because they had tons of on-site activities available. From free activities like mixology classes, cooking classes, and painting to optional add-ons like bird watching, ATVing, horseback riding, surf lessons, and more.

There were tons to do here without truly “leaving the resort” which made things super easy. While this would make a romantic honeymoon destination, it was also very kid-friendly with lots of families!

The Room 

Unlike a typical hotel, Punta Islita’s rooms are all separate from one another, kind of like tiny houses! It made for an incredibly relaxing experience being further away from other gifts, tucked away into your own private oasis.

I stayed in a Guest Room Mountain View (Double Occupancy) which had two double beds, a bathroom, and a small sink/getting ready area. We also had a beautiful yard with a hammock that overlooked the mountains.

This is one of their smaller rooms, however, Hotel Punta Islita has all kinds of different options, some with pools, ocean views, and three bedrooms that you can browse here.

The Food 

This hotel has different packages that you can buy depending on how often you want to eat at the resort. Honestly, there are only a few restaurants within a 30-minute radius, so unless you have a rental car, plan to eat all of your meals on-site.

The food here was so incredible that we didn’t even want to eat elsewhere. Alma Restaurant was where we ate breakfast and dinner. They had amazing Costa Rican options and fun spins on traditional favorites. Costa Rican cuisine is incredibly fresh with tons of rice, rice and beans, and seafood.  Many ingredients were grown on site and it showed!

Aurura Beach Club is located near the beach and is available for a swim-up bar and lunch. They have amazing burgers, tacos, salads and more. Everything here has a unique blend of ingredients that may sound “different” but will give your palette an explosion of flavor. Trust me!

The Spa

Nunka Spa was rated one of the top wellness spas in all of Costa Rica. I spent a morning here getting an incredible treatment + massage, allowing me to connect with nature and really ~zen out~ the pura vida way!

I did the 30-minute Nicoya bath full of local herbs, flowers goat milk, and honey to moisturize and replenish the skin. Followed by a 30-minute Shirodhara scalp/upper body hot oil massage. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and so centering.

RANCHO PACIFICO

Rancho Pacifico is a stunning boutique resort nestled in the lush mountains of Costa Rica’s Uvita region. This resort has just seven villas so it has a private, exclusive feel to it.

It’s important to note this property is 2,000 feet above sea level, so you are literally at the highest point of the mountain which means you’ve got an entirely different climate. It’s the middle of the rainforest so it’s bound to rain at least once a day. The weather up here can be completely different than down by the beach. I have to admit, rain has never been so vibey. It was such a cool experience.

Book your stay here

The Resort 

Here’s a peek at the stunning infinity pool/hot tub. You had incredible views of Uvita Beach and all of the insane surrounding wildlife.

This resort offered tons of excursions as well, however, they were much pricier & transportation in general to get up and down the mountain starts at $60 round trip— you need 4X4 wheel drive for the 20-minute, steep ride up! They do however offer a free transfer to the beach daily from 10:30 am-1:30 pm which we took advantage of!

Additionally, they had a beautiful yoga platform, a gym, a spa, and several local hikes and waterfalls surrounding the property.

The Room 

Rancho Pacifico doesn’t have traditional hotel rooms, they have villas! It’s like living in your own mini-house. We stayed in their 2 Bedroom Luxury Villa and it was absolutely incredible.

The living room had floor-to-ceiling screens and a gigantic porch overlooking the rainforest. You really have to embrace the wildlife!

There were two bedrooms off of the kitchen which were both screened in and had airconditioning. Stunning with large, spacious bathrooms to accompany it. There are no keys here, just yourself immersed in nature. It’s the perfect place to center yourself.

The Food 

The dining experience here was unbelievable. This resort is different than your typical all-inclusive with a set menu for breakfast and lunch. The freshest most unique combinations that were mouth-watering. The Costa Rican breakfast was my personal favorite!

The dinner menu is prepared by a single chef that changes nightly. They serve two appetizers, one main course (choose between two options), and one dessert. From fresh fish to creamy pasta to tender steak the variety was unreal! We had some of the best food I’ve ever had while traveling. This was five-star fine dining, unlike any all-inclusive food you may have in mind!

The Spa

Of course, Costa Rica is known for its wellness so I had to check out the spa. I was treated to a 60-minute aromatherapy massage that featured a mix of different essential oils. Their spa has open walls so you get to look out across the lush mountains and really take in all the sounds of the jungle.

They have tons of different services you can browse here— relax and unwind while you’re here!

VISTA CELESTIAL

Vista Celestial is the sister property of Rancho Pacifico and while Racho has a more masculine, industrial feel Vista Celestial is girly and all things bright and airy. You’re a little lower in the mountains so the sky is generally a little clearer with the same stunning ocean views.

Book your stay here

The Resort 

The pool here is incredible with beautiful views of the ocean and tons of room to lounge. This is another boutique property with just five villas so you get a relaxing, private experience. Similar to the last hotel there are two yoga platforms, a gym, and the same access to trails and waterfalls. The staff were so kind and welcoming, really taking the time to educate us on their culture! We felt at home instantly.

The Room 

The villas here were insane. A clean open floorplan with a large king bed facing the ocean. With a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door giving way to your own private patio + hot tub this was the kind of room you never wanted to leave.

A true slice of paradise. Even the bathroom was stunning with its grand bathtub and mountain views. This was without a doubt one of my favorite hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in. I wish I had more nights to bask in its beauty!

The Food 

The dining situation here was very similar to Rancho Pacifico with amazing fresh mixed juices and mouthwatering lunch options. I had shrimp fried rice, burgers, ceviches and more. You’ve got to try a little bit of everything while you’re here! They also offer free room service so if you want to cozy up in bed, they will deliver right to you!

Dinner begins at 6:30 nightly and has a rotating, handpicked menu with one appetizer, main course, and dessert per person. Highly suggest coming hungry because you will leave feeling very full!

THINGS TO DO 

There’s so much to do in Costa Rica—you could truly spend weeks exploring the island and still not put a dent in all of the National Parks, waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches, and towns. The country is big and spread out with so many areas worth exploring. We spent half of our time relaxing within our beautiful resorts and the other half exploring the beaches and partaking in excursions. 

Sharing a list of everything we did here: 

Beach Day At Punta Islita Beach 

Our first hotel was just a short walk to Punta Islita Beach. We were on the Pacific Coast here so the waves were big and surf-abe. This beach also has black sand due to its volcanic origin! It’s strikingly beautiful in person.

The water is totally swimmable but I suggest water shoes or rubber flip-flops for the walk down as it’s really rocky before getting into the water.

ATV Excursion 

One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new country is ATVing! It’s an easy, exhilarating way to cover a lot of ground and is generally very safe since it’s led by a local guide. We booked this two-hour excursion through our first hotel, Hotel Punta Islita.

Throughout the two hours, we saw a little bit of everything— the local village homes, church, and market—sites of the rainforest, tons of wildlife, and the coastline of a stunning black sand beach. We went through rivers, waterfalls, and more. Epic views and an adrenaline rush! 

Zip Lining Excursion

I heard ziplining was the best excursion to do in Costa Rica, and I have to say I couldn’t agree more. I’ve done it in several different countries but the views here were by far the best. Looking around in the jungle + seeing the mountains from so high up was a feeling like no other.

We also got caught in the rain which made it even more magical. There are so many different ways to book this, we did it through Hotel Punta Islita which had six courses in the middle of the rainforest. 

Osa Waterfall Hike

There are tons of different waterfalls throughout Costa Rica— both national landmarks and small hidden gems. Osa waterfall was nestled next to our second hotel, Rancho Pacifico so we did the hour-and-a-half hike. It was not a beginner’s hike (quite steep and slippery!) but the views were so worth it. 

We would have loved to visit another one where we could jump off a rock and swim around but unfortunately, the weather just wasn’t holding up for us… next time!

Explore the Town/Market of Uvita 

Our second and third hotels were a short drive from the quaint town of Uvita. This cute area had a handful of restaurants, bars, and local markets. It’s right along the beach so it’s also where you can sign up for various excursions like surfing, catamaran sailing, etc. These things usually book up a few days in advance so I suggest planning ahead!

They also have a local farmers market every Saturday and Wednesday with lots of local vendors and fresh produce worth checking out! 

Uvita National Park Beach Day

You can’t come to Uvita without checking out the beach. This is the Pacific Coast so the beaches have great surfing waves and lots of whale sightings. It’s $6 to enter and is card only! Bring cash for the coconuts and street vendors right outside— they accept American dollars! 

Sea Turtle Expedition 

Costa Rica has the largest sea turtle population in the world and is a top destination for tourists who want to witness a sea turtle nesting/hatching. 

Mother turtles get pregnant three times a year and drop 80-100 eggs which then hatch 45 days later. Depending on the time of year, you witness one-half of the cycle! We went on a night tour on the beach where we watched sea turtles come out of the ocean, make their nest, and, lay their eggs. Definitely a once in a lifetime type of activity although I have no pictures since you have to keep the flash off of these creatures! 

WHAT TO WEAR 

Not sure what to wear on your trip to Costa Rica? The whole country has a relaxed, laid-back tropical vibe to it. Think flowy maxi dresses, breathable linens, and funky beach cover-ups. But don’t forget this isn’t your typical Caribbean destination… Costa Rica is full of outdoorsy adventures and fun excursions. Activewear and sneakers are both must-pack items! 

Sharing fourteen outfits + swimsuits I wore throughout my trip in this blog post. As always I’ve linked everything so that you can shop! 

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Well, what are you waiting for?! It’s time to book your dream vacation to Costa Rica. I promise you this is a destination that will steal your heart, leaving you both relaxed and energized all at the same time.

My favorite trips are the ones where I kick back and relax and do a little bit of adventuring. Costa Rica was just that! Feeling so lucky for this chance to connect with locals, find my zen, and experience a new culture. I know for a fact this won’t be my last time in Costa Rica—I can’t wait to come back and explore all that this beautiful country has to offer. Until then!