As many of you know, my aunt and I have been trying to do yearly trips together. For the past couple years, we have taken tours with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), first to Ireland and then to Sicily. This year, we are off with them again, this time to Costa Rica.
Guided tours are not my preferred way to travel. I tend to like being in a single city for weeks, or even longer, feeling like a local. But I do have to admit that it’s nice to a) see more, b) have a guide with me, and c) not have to deal with logistics on my own. So as a change of pace, it works. Plus even at my age of 44, I’m always the youngest, and that helps me to feel a bit better about myself and the shape I’m in.
The biggest change for me being on a tour like this is, not having made my own arrangements or having to do much pre-research, I really haven’t mapped out what a slate of articles might look like. I do hope to get 8-10, and given the itinerary, I’m guessing the overwhelming majority will focus on nature and beautiful places as opposed to culture.
The tour covers pretty much the entire country, with the exception of the northern portion of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast in the Guanacaste province. This is awesome, because that’s the one place I’ve already been. You can click here to read that experience.
Below is the itinerary. I’m guessing most of it is relatively set, but weather and such can always force some changes. You can follow along with me on my Bluesky account – if you don’t have one, please sign up for this awesome non-fascist social media platform – as I will try to post daily updates and photos.
Day One – Los Angeles to San Jose, Costa Rica
A direct red-eye flight gets us in early in the morning, so after clearing customs and dropping stuff off at our hotel – and finding coffee – we have at least part of the day to explore Costa Rica’s capital and only large city. Depending on what time we can check into our rooms, we will do one or both of the National Museum of Costa Rica and the Museo del Jade, which sit across a square from each other.
Day Two – San Jose to Muelle
A quick note: the towns we stay in on this trip are barely places on a map. I think many of them are basically just a few hotels and restaurants outside a national park, but I’ll report back.
Anyway, today we leave San Jose, heading north toward the Nicaraguan border. While most of the day is making that drive, we get a nice tour of a coffee farm on the way. Woot!!!
Days Three and Four – Muelle
The first morning sees us actually all the way to the Nicaraguan border, with a boat on the Rio Frio in the Cano Negro Wildlife Reserve. And then after an afternoon at a local hot springs, we have an evening nature walk after dark. Seems like a solid day.
The following day we spend in a local village, meeting with a rural women’s collective and being hosted for lunch. These “A Day in the Life” activities are one of OAT’s signature things, and are normally decent.
Day Five – Muelle to Monteverde
The morning en route will be spent at Arenal, both walking near the volcano and on a boat on the lake below. Then it’s up to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Days Six and Seven – Monteverde
This first day we get to actually explore the Cloud Forest, with elevations up to 11,000 feet! Apparently there are more than 300 species of orchids. Do they bloom in March? If not, I hope the animal spotting is on point.
The following day’s exploration is via a series of hanging bridges in the cloud forest canopy. I’m really excited for this whole segment.
Day Eight – Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is on the Pacific Coast, and today we make our way south to that part of the country. When we arrive, we have a boat tour through the mangrove forest.
Day Nine – Manuel Antonio
The day is in the national park, with a nature walk to look for squirrel monkeys, and some time at the beach. Seems like a good time.
Day Ten – Manuel Antonio to San Gerardo
After a morning spent at a spice plantation known for its vanilla (yes, I plan to bring some fresh vanilla home), and cocktails and food made from the spices, it’s an afternoon drive to the Savagre River valley.
Day Eleven – San Gerardo
Today we set off in search of the Guatemalan national bird, which also has a home here, the quetzal. Look up photos; they are stunning! And hard to find. Wish us luck!
Day Twelve – San Gerardo to San Jose
It’s back to San Jose today, and a city tour that we didn’t get on the front end. About half the group will leave us here, while the other half continues for a few more days.
Day Thirteen – San Jose to Tortuguero
The one part of the country remaining to be explored is the Caribbean coast, and today we head there. It’s a long bus ride followed by a boat to Tortuguero National Park.
Day Fourteen – Tortuguero
Exploration here is by boat, and hopefully will include some green sea turtles saying hi. There are also caimans, iguanas, and more.
Day Fifteen – Tortuguero to San Jose
Back the way we came, a boat to a bus, and back to the capital.
Day Sixteen – San Jose to Los Angeles
A late morning flight home, and that’s all she wrote on our Costa Rican adventure!
As you can see, most of my articles will be focused on nature, probably divided by geographic area, or even by wildlife. There will also be a story about San Jose, hopefully one about rural village life, and maybe one about coffee and spices. Others will have to wait to see what inspires me. Regardless, I hope you all are looking forward to reading about this incredible country.
Content will be a couple months delayed, probably beginning sometime in June.
If you are like me, and like following along on maps, below is one with the places we are staying marked. San Jose is the flag in the middle. Muelle is to the northwest of the capital, with Monteverde just west of there. Miguel Antonio is down on the west (Pacific) coast of the country, and San Gerardo just inland of it. Tortuguero is the flag all the way on the east (Caribbean) coast at the top right of the map.
