2-Week Road Trip Through Costa Rica
Costa Rica might not be considered your typical honeymoon destination, but for the couple who wants equal parts adventure and relaxation it might just be the perfect place.
Best time to visit: November to June
Your Stay:
Day 1-3 Finca Rosa Blanca
Day 3-6 Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas
Day 6-8 Rio Perdido
Day 8-11 Makanda by the Sea
Day 11-14 Kura Boutique Hotel
Costa Rica is a land of volcanoes, rainforests and cloud forests, huge waterfalls and mighty rivers. Benefitting from the coast on both sides of the country, it offers beaches in both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Rich with natural beauty, adventure, wildlife and local culture you might say it has it all.
This itinerary takes you from the coffee plantations of San José to the laidback beach town of Las Catalinas, deep into the rainforest at the foot of the Miravalles Volcano and then to the unmissable Manuel Antonio national park before ending high-in-the-sky overlooking the Uvita whale tail sandback. Along the way prepared to be pampered with 5* hotels, one of the top 10 most romantic restaurants in the world, and plenty of the “pura vida” Costa Rican hospitality.
Day 1-3 Finca Rosa Blanca (2 nights)
Landing in San José your first stop is the Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Farm & Inn. Located less than 15 minutes from the airport, this is the perfect outpost to settle into the pura vida mentality and adjust those body clocks.
With just 14 unique suites, this place will be your haven away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby capital city. Overlooking the valley below, you’d be forgiven for feeling like you’ve found heaven at this local gem.
Spend your first evening relaxing and getting to know the resort. Wake up feeling refreshed and enjoy a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of Gallo Pinto (Rice and Black Beans) served with Sautéed Plantains, Corn Tortillas, Scrambled Eggs and Sour Cream Garnish. Fresh juices and fruits are served alongside and you’ll feel fully-fueled-up for the day ahead.
Enjoy some downtime at the uniquely set hillside infinity pool or wander into town and take-in the local market. In the afternoon, take the tour of the coffee plantation to understand the rich history of Costa Rican coffee and how it’s grown. Beginning with a farm walk, led by an expert guide, the tour winds through shaded fields and forests, home to over 137 bird species. You'll take a lesson in coffee cupping before ending the tour at the restaurant, with your favorite preparation of Café Rosa Blanca and some accompanying cake.
Enjoy a slow-paced dinner at the hotel restaurant, with local delicacies and South American wines. After dinner, grab a board game from the hotel bar, and just soak up the feeling of having nothing else you need to do.
Day 3-6 Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas (3 nights)
After breakfast your rental car will be delivered to Finca Rosa Blanca and you’ll be on your way to the town of Las Catalinas. Enjoy a leisurely 4-hour drive, taking in the views and stopping at one of the many roadside food stops for lunch along the way. The final 15 minutes of the drive will take you through the forest on a dirt-track road, and depending on the recent rain through a free-flowing stream, so a 4x4 is essential!
On arrival at Casa Chameleon you’ll be greeted with a refreshing welcome drink and invited to check-in at the open-air lounge alongside the reception as you take in the incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. Step into your luxury suite, home for the next 3 nights, complete with private infinity plunge pools, super-king size beds and glass rainfall shower.
Make a reservation at the hotel’s sunset viewing bar to ensure a prime seat and enjoy a tropical cocktail as you watch the sun disappear into the unobstructed ocean in front of you. Dinner is just a few steps away at Sentido Norte - one of the 10 most romantic restaurants in the world, an accolade Casa Chameleon is rightly proud of. With near-360 degree views and mouth-watering local cuisine you surely won’t be disappointed.
Over the next few days, your time is your own - enjoy the privacy of your suite, venture up to the incredible main pool, explore the laid-back beach town of Las Catalinas, hike the local trails or even go scuba diving off one of the nearby islands. There’s so much to keep you busy here that you’ll always feel you’ve earned your sundowner at the end of the day.
Day 6-8 Rio Perdido (2 nights)
Head 100km inland today, and find yourself in another world, deep in the forest and ready for adventure. This 600-acre private canyon reserve is named Rio Perdido (lost river) after the mile-long thermal waters running deep in a gorge underneath the resort.
Check-in to one of the 30 stylish and sustainable bungalows, which from the outside are reminiscent of storage containers converted into treehouses. Inside you’ll find all the comforts you’d expect - extra large beds, deliciously soft sheets and a rainfall shower.
All meals are served high above the canopy in the airy indoor-outdoor restaurant. Boasting local chefs and fresh produce, the menu is filled with traditional un-fussy cuisine. Spoil yourself on your second night and have a private dinner under the stars on the floating platform 50-meters above the rushing waters of the Rio Perdido. Nature provides the perfect soundtrack to the evening, with birds and monkeys the main instrumentalists.
For the next 2 days, you’ll be falling into bed feeling perfectly exhausted. The beauty of Rio Perdido is not just in the incredible setting, but in the amount there is to do. Aside from the thermal river with dozens of natural bathing pools and the incredible on-site tubing route, the hotel offers three traditional pools and a spa. For those looking for a truly unique way to explore the surroundings, the Canyon Adventure is both exhilarating and surprising, featuring 5 ziplines, 4 climbing routes, a tarzan swing and so much more. For the more traditional at heart - hiking, mountain-biking, nature-walks and cliffside walks are also offered.
Day 8-11 Makanda by the Sea (3 nights)
Today’s drive takes you four hours south, through the most incredible variety of landscapes. Out of the forest, into the valleys, across rivers, through copious palms and down to the coastal road. Take your time and stop along the way, plenty of roadside delights await with local street food and fresh juices, the chance to see crocodiles in the wild and a number of breathtaking viewpoints you’ll want to grab some snaps from.
Arriving at Makanda feels like arriving at a Beverly Hills mansion. The design is eclectic and at times over-the-top but somehow blends into the hillside above the beach town of Quepos. The rooms are large, with stunning sea-views and plush furnishings that you just wouldn’t expect in a beachside hotel.
The two pools feel like the watering holes of the resort, with guests gathering for food, drinks, swimming and sunbathing when not out on activities. The swim-up sushi bar is the hidden gem and is highly recommended for both lunch or an afternoon snack (cocktails optional at both). For a change of scenery head down the (slightly treacherous) path to the private beach below. Inaccessible except from the resort, the beach attendant will set you up with beds, towels and refreshments so all you need to take is yourselves and your swimsuits. Avoid the walk back up and ask him to send the hotel’s golf cart - but make sure you hold on!
If Makanda itself wasn’t enough of a reason to make the drive down south, Manuel Antonio national park is the real attraction. Just 5 minutes from Makanda, an untouched tropical paradise awaits. Take a private guide and prepare to be amazed by what they can spot with their naked eye, plus they’ll carry a telescope to give you an up-close look at sloths, monkeys, birds, frogs, insects and plants. End the tour with a swim at one of the two protected beaches inside the park.
Day 11-14 Kura Boutique Hotel (3 nights)
Your final stop awaits, just 1 hours drive south from Makanda. Beware the final 15 minutes of the drive and leave your car at the hotel’s parking area in the town below. Kura will send a driver to collect you and as they climb the steep terrain up, you’ll be glad you chose to sit back and relax.
Kura is everything a 5-star star boutique hotel should be. Personal, private and picture perfect in every way. The 360° pool terrace which houses the hotel’s bar and restaurant is spectacular and looks down to the Whale Tale sandbank below. The 8-suites and spa, which are positioned in a row to offer complete seclusion, also have unobstructed views.
It’s tempting to stay beside the pool and soak up your last few days of Costa Rican sunshine, but those in the know will take the hotel’s daily shuttle to the sandbank (during low tide). Equipped with chairs and a cool box you can walk on the whale tale itself, and then find a spot to set down for a few hours. Civilisation won’t ever feel too far away, with a few bars dotted along the seafront, offering beach service and in case you run out, cold beverages and snacks.
Kura’s restaurant is the cherry on top. Open only to hotel guests it feels both intimate and exclusive, with sunset views on one side and treetops as far as they eye can see on the other. Offering both local and international cuisine there is just so much you’ll want to eat that you’ll be planning your meals to make sure you can taste everything.
After your final sleep at Kura, it’s time to go to the airport. You might be heading back home, but we’re pretty sure you’ll be heading back to Costa Rica in the future, because believe us - despite a jam-packed trip, there’s so much you haven’t even seen yet!
