10 Days in Costa Rica: Girl’s Trip Edition
This is a no frills guide to the ultimate 10 day Costa Rica Girl’s (on a budget) trip!
Costa Rica is BURSTING with opportunities for adventure, fun, and relaxation. Make the trip whatever your heart (& wallet) desires. This is an incredibly flexible guide to give you a little help planning your trip. Or you can just copy exactly what we did and you’ll have a blast ;)
The first time I visited Costa Rica I really fell in love. I spent a couple years visiting a coffee farm during harvest season in the mountains of Tarrazu to run a program for the kids’ of the coffee pickers. It really was a dream and I hope to continue the program in the future. Outside of that I’ve traveled throughout the country, exploring the rainforest, cloud forests and of course the beaches.
I’ve always loved taking people on trips, I’ve spent years bringing volunteers to my non profit in Ethiopia and Costa Rica, so it seemed like a piece of cake to plan the ultimate Costa Rican girls trip.
4 girls, 6 towns, 10 days, it was truly a dream trip and one you can easily recreate with your gal pals!
Day One
San Jose to La Fortuna
Fly into San Jose, Costa Rica (Juan Santamaría International Airport) and pick up your car rental! (Check out the paragraph at the end for Car Rental info!)
We are starting off our trip in the rainforest so first we’ll head to La Fortuna! It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from the San Jose airport.
La Fortuna is a small town home to the active Arenal volcano and the dormant Chato volcano. The charming town hosts hots springs, waterfalls, parks, water activities, chocolate tours and so much more, you will not be disappointed!
Accommodations: There are plenty of beautiful places to stay in La Fortuna, if you are wanting something inexpensive and authentic to the area I recommend Arenal Waterfall Lodge.
It was around $45 a night (breakfast included) for the CUTEST tree house that easily slept all 4 of us. There’s a restaurant and pool onsite as well! Wherever you stay, plan to be in La Fortuna for two nights!
Arenal Waterfall Lodge, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Day Two
La Fortuna, Hot Springs & Hanging Bridges
Wake up early and enjoy your complimentary hotel breakfast with a BEAUTIFUL view by the pool. Then head to the hot springs! You 100% do not have to go to a fancy spa resort to enjoy the La Fortuna hot springs, there is a free hot springs across from Tabacon Resort. At first glance the area might not seem like anything magical but as soon as you get in you’ll understand why this is a must.
Free Hot Springs in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
After your satisfied with your time at the hot springs head over to the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park where you can explore Costa Rican nature on some very cool hanging bridges.
We walked around the park solo and had a great time, if you want something guided the park offers tours as well! The entrance fee is $28.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, Costa Rica
Day 3
The Magical Rio Celeste
About a 1 1/2 hr drive from La Fortuna, Rio Celeste truly might have been my favorite experience on this trip. Local legend says that after God finished painting the sky, he washed his paintbrushes in Rio Celeste, making it the magical blue we see today.
Located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park the Rio Celeste Waterfall plunges 98ft into a glorious blue pool.
The entrance fee is $12 per person.
The total hike in and out is about 3 1/2 miles, it definitely has it’s challenging points but is beautiful every step of the way. The majority of the hike is unpaved and there’s about 250 steps you have to walk down (and back up) to see the waterfall itself. I swear, it’s worth it.
Walk through Tenorio Volcano National Park, home of Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste Waterfall, Costa Rica
The water itself in the Tenorio Volcano National Park is protected, as it should be, so you can’t swim in it but you’ll definitely want to cool down after that hike.
Less than a mile outside the park border is a swimming hole underneath a bridge, park along the road and jump in! The water was almost as blue as the waterfall and perfectly refreshing.
Accommodations: We stayed the night at the Cataratas Bijagua Lodge for $65, about 40min from Rio Celeste. It was a gorgeous property in a very rural area. The lodging itself was humble and provided the basic necessities. There is a small restaurant on site for dinner!
Cataratas Bijagua Lodge, Provincia de Alajuela, Bijagua de Upala
Day 4
Vamos A La Playa! Samara Beach + a Few Others Along the Way
As magical as the rainforest is, it’s time to head to the beach. After all, you are in Costa Rica. It’s about a 2 1/2hr drive to Samara Beach and you’ll want to check out Playa Flamingo, Playa Concha and Tamarindo along the way. Go ahead and grab a Pipa (roadside fresh coconut water) and beach hop your heart out. Crushed seashells make up the majority of Playa Concha making it uniquely beautiful. To access Playa Concha you’ll have to walk about 15 minutes from Brasalito Beach.
Tamarindo is another must stop, we didn’t stay the night there but I honestly wish we did! It’s the quintessential Costa Rica beach town. We stopped for a drink and early dinner on our way to Samara and it was truly a treat.
Once you arrive in Samara you’ll understand why we made this our official first beach stay in Costa Rica. Since you’ll be arriving a little later in the day it’s the perfect time to watch the sunset and grab some dinner under the stars at La Dolce Vita. This was definitely my favorite dinner and how could it not be?! Imagine this… sitting on the coziest cushions right on the sand, under twinkle lit trees, eating the most amazing Italian food you’ll ever have in a tropical paradise. Yup, it exist at La Dolce Vita. The restaurant is actually a part of the bed & breakfast which was unfortunately fully booked but we still enjoyed an amazing meal. I had the best VEGAN ravioli a girl could ask for. Make this a must stop and set some coins aside for it because it was our most expensive meal but worth every colón.
Playa Samara, Costa Rica
Accommodations: We stayed at the Montelaguna Boutique Hotel for $160 for a room that slept 4 people (breakfast included.)
Day 5-7
Santa Teresa & Montezuma
Okay prepare for a mini road trip to Santa Teresa, it’s about a 3hr drive from Samara, don’t worry there are plenty of fruit stands and sodas (mom & pop Costa Rican cafe’s) along the way. Santa Teresa is where all of the yogi’s and backpackers from around the world end up when they visit or move to Costa Rica. Our first experience in Santa Teresa was sunset shopping at a local market on Playa Carmen. It was super fun and we found some cute new clothes for our night out on the town. If you’re looking for a night of fun and dancing, Santa Teresa is your place.
We enjoyed a delicious beachfront dinner and live music/open mic at El Carmen our first night. They had plenty of vegan options and yummy drinks at a fair price!
After our wild night out on the town ;), we woke up for a yummy breakfast at The Bakery right down the road from our hotel. They had a large menu with a good amount of vegan options but it was on the pricier side. If you’re on a super tight budget, there are definitely other places to choose from! After breakfast we made our way to the beach and spent the day “surfing”…Not sure I would confidently call it that but we had fun and that’s all that matters right? There are plenty of surfboard rentals around and they are VERY inexpensive. It was $10 a day per board. Worth. Every. Wipeout. When you’re ready for lunch, walk on down to Taco Corner for some vegan falafel tacos.
Day 7 we took a short drive from Santa Teresa and checked out Montezuma, which ended up being one of my favorite beach towns in Costa Rica. It’s much more my speed. Cozy, down to earth, artsy, filled with goodness. The town itself is incredibly charming and hosts a beautiful small beach to lounge on. After your done soaking up the sun, I highly recommend grabbing lunch at Sano Banano, not only is the atmosphere and service great but the menu has loads of fresh vegan and gluten free options. To be honest, it was all too good to not be present so I don’t have any photos but trust me, you’ll want to make the stop!
After lunch we took a short hike through the forest to the Montezuma Waterfall. The entrance to the waterfall is very easy to find and access is free. The hike was fairly muddy so be prepared. Enjoy a cool swim or if your brave enough, climb up and jump in!
Accommodations: Day 5-7 you’ll stay in Santa Teresa so you want to make sure you’re staying somewhere you love! We stayed at Hotel Tramonto ROJO Santa Teresa Guest House, location was GREAT and if you are looking for a budget friendly options and are okay with hostel vibes then this is a good option. If you want something on the more hip side, check out Somos. If you are hoping for some yogi action, there is plenty of yoga retreats in Santa Teresa as well! There really is so many great options to choose from!
Day 8-9
Playa Hermosa Here We Come!
Your journey to Playa Hermosa will take you about 4hrs. First you’ll need to head to the ferry in Paquera, get your tickets online beforehand here. You’ll drive straight onto the ferry (all passengers but the driver will need to exit the vehicle and walk onto the ferry.) If you can’t purchase tickets online, you should still be able to at the dock. It’s about an 1hr 15min ferry ride to Puntarenas and then an hour to drive Playa Hermosa.
Once you arrive in Playa Hermosa go ahead and just bask in all of its glory. If you’re a surfer or just an avid sunset watcher, this is your place.
There are casual beach bars and restaurants right on the beach in Playa Hermosa or if you’re feeling like cooking you can walk down the street to the local market. The neighboring town Jaco is just a 10 minute drive from Playa Hermosa and is filled with food and shopping. Surfboards are available for rent on the beach as well! Lunch at Karma Cafe & Restaurant is a MUST for my fellow vegans. This FULLY vegan restaurant in the heart of Jaco is everything a vegan restaurant should be, creative, delicious and very obviously made with love.Of course I tried almost the entire menu and I have 0 complaints or critiques. For either or both nights you spend in Playa Hermosa, heading to Green Room in Jaco is a must for dinner and live music. The bustling cafe and bar hosts local live music EVERY night as well as local art. The menu has multiple vegan options to choose from! I recommend the Cauliflower Vegan Tacos.
Accommodations: No questions asked, Ola Bonita Beach Front ApartHotel is the place to stay. I’ve stayed here quiet a few times and it consistently feels like a home away from home. The rooms definitely feel more like an ocean front studio, equipped with kitchenettes and a quaint living space. And you really can’t beat the view or the ocean front pool. Note* Don’t freak out too much when an iguana comes to relax poolside with you.
Day 10
Doomsday. Let’s just call it what it is.
It’s time to head home, every amazing trip has to end at some point. Unless you decide to stay forever, I really don’t discourage that. But more than likely, your going to drive back to San Jose. The 1 1/2hr drive is an easy one, some of my favorite snack and fruit stands are along the way, make sure to try a bag of spicy plantain chips and really do not leave without having a Pipa! You’ll drop your car off at the rental location and they’ll shuttle you to the airport sun-kissed and salty.
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica
Trip Notes
Car Rental: I’ve rented a car every time I’ve traveled to Costa Rica, it’s super convenient and usually pretty inexpensive. For this trip I recommend having a 4x4, unless you are super comfortable driving stick, make sure you are getting an automatic. There are plenty of car rental options, I’ve always explored Kayak to find the best deals and have had great experiences with Payless & Green Motion. You will have to purchase an insurance policy which you usually can do online when reserving the vehicle but often times the car rental company will tack on insurance when you arrive. Make sure to research in advance so you are not having to pay for double insurance! If you are wanting something more equipped for adventure, check out Nomad Adventures for 4x4 car rentals with all the fixins.
Travel Insurance: Better safe than sorry! When I was younger I rarely got travel insurance but in my ripe age of 30 I’ve become more cautious ;) Trawick International is a great and inexpensive option for Costa Rica travel insurance.
Food: Costa Rica is 100% vegan friendly, if you are wanting to eat like a local, grab a casado “sin carne por favor!” A typical casado consists of gallo pinto (rice & beans), salad (usually with tomatoes + lime juice), PLANTAINS and tortillas. Personally, I could eat it every meal but if you need to branch out there are plenty of other types of food available!
Costa Rica’s Best Kept Secret: Should I really be telling you this? I don’t know. But it’s too good not to share. Okay here we go….CHILIGUARO aka a chili shot. A few years ago I spent about a week way down south in Golifito near the border of Panama, I was basically squatting until they would let me through the border. Another story for another time. BUT I stayed at the coolest motel-esk spot on the marina called Banana Bay. There was a scuba shop at the motel so obviously I took advantage and took a scuba class in the sweet waters of Golfito. Long story sort of short, post scuba, my instructor gifted me with the most magical, refreshing, spicy shot known as Chiliguaro. The alcohol in Chiliguaro is called Cacique Guaro and is made of sugar cane liquor and to my knowledge is only available in Latin America. I’ve ordered it probably way too many times since and without fail, almost every time, the person taking my order looks shocked, pleased and usually brings a couple rounds more. Don’t leave Costa Rica without a truly local pura vida salud!
Money: Don’t forget to notify your bank or credit card that you’ll be out of the country! Most places in Costa Rica accept card but it’s so nice to have Colones on hand and you will need them for the toll roads so make sure to have some coinage! You can pull money out of the bank atm when you arrive or exchange money beforehand and bring it with you.
Safety: Costa Rica is safe for solo female travel but as always, be alert and aware of your surroundings. I don’t recommend night driving as the roads are windy and some unpaved. Watch your belongings, don’t leave anything valuable hanging around, don’t wonder off with rando’s. Also watch your stuff around monkeys, not joking, little thieves.