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Costa Rica

Pura vida: sloths, surf and smoking volcanoes

Best time · Dec – Apr (dry season) Trips from · $3,489 Trips on offer · 1

Costa Rica Tour: Volcanoes, Rainforest and Pacific Surf

Costa Rica squeezes rainforest, volcanoes and two coastlines into a country you can cross in a day. Raft white water, walk the jungle at night, cross hanging bridges over the canopy, soak in volcanic hot springs under Arenal, then swap it all for surf lessons at Samara and sloths in Manuel Antonio. Pura vida is not a slogan here, it is the operating system.

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The lowdown

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The route: San José loop in 13 days

Day 1 you land in San José and settle in; day 2 is a walking tour of the capital and a butterfly garden visit. Day 3 is white-water rafting by day and a guided jungle night walk after dark. Day 4 travels to La Fortuna with a farm lunch hosted by locals, day 5 is the hanging bridges canopy walk followed by a soak in volcanic hot springs, and day 6 is spent chasing and swimming under rainforest waterfalls. Day 7 heads to the Pacific coast and Samara, day 8 is a surf lesson and a salsa class at sunset, and day 9 is a free beach day. Day 10 moves to upscale glamping near Manuel Antonio, day 11 is a full day in Manuel Antonio National Park among sloths, monkeys and jungle-fringed beaches, day 12 returns to San José and day 13 you check out and travel on. A cacao experience is also part of the itinerary.

Where you sleep and what is included

Twelve nights are covered in twin, double or triple ensuite rooms: three nights in a La Fortuna hotel near Arenal volcano with a pool and restaurant, two in a Sarapiquí rainforest lodge with two pools, three in a Samara beach hotel a short stroll from the sand, and two in upscale glamping tents near Manuel Antonio with Wi-Fi and air-con. You get 16 meals, a group leader from airport pickup, all transport in Costa Rica and every listed activity, with no pay-on-arrival extras. Groups are around 30 travellers. The trip is rated active, but no experience is needed for the rafting or the surf lesson. Pack quick-dry clothes, a rain jacket, closed shoes you can get wet, strong insect repellent and a head torch for the night walk. Flights, travel insurance (required by the operator), visas and personal spending are extra.

Best time to visit Costa Rica

December to April is the dry season on the Pacific side, where most of this trip runs, with sunny days for the beach and clearer views of Arenal. It is also the busiest and priciest time, especially over Christmas and Easter. May to November is the green season: afternoon rain, fuller waterfalls, fewer people and better rafting, with September and October the wettest months on the Pacific. The rainforest is wet by definition, so a jacket is useful year-round. Surf at Samara is beginner-friendly in most months, which is why the lesson lives there.

Getting there from Australia and combining it with Central America

There are no direct flights from Australia to Costa Rica; you will connect through the United States, typically Los Angeles, Dallas or Houston, into San José. Check current entry requirements for your passport for Costa Rica and for US transit before you book. Because the trip starts and finishes in San José, a return ticket does the job. Costa Rica is also the gateway to a longer Central America run: buses cross north to Nicaragua and south to Panama, and the Caribbean coast at Puerto Viejo is a popular add-on after the tour. Give yourself a buffer day before day 1 in case of a delayed connection.

Money and budget beyond the tour

Costa Rica uses the colón, and US dollars are widely accepted too. Cards work in most hotels and restaurants, but carry some cash for small sodas (local eateries), markets and tips. Costa Rica is pricier than its neighbours, which is exactly why having 16 meals, all activities and all transport prepaid helps. Your extra spending is the remaining meals, drinks, snacks on free days and any optional activities you add at Samara or La Fortuna. Tipping guides and rafting crews is customary. Budget separately for travel insurance, which the operator requires.

Costa Rica travel guides

Good questions, straight answers

What does the Costa Rica Adventure include?

Twelve nights of accommodation in La Fortuna, a Sarapiquí rainforest lodge, Samara and glamping near Manuel Antonio, 16 meals, a group leader from airport pickup, all transport and every listed activity: the San José walking tour, a butterfly garden, white-water rafting, a jungle night walk, a farm visit with lunch, hanging bridges, volcanic hot springs, a waterfall day, a surf lesson, a salsa class, a cacao experience and Manuel Antonio National Park.

How much is a Costa Rica tour?

The 13-day Costa Rica Adventure is from $3,489 per person. International flights, travel insurance, visas and personal spending are extra.

When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?

December to April is dry season on the Pacific side, with sunny beach days and clearer volcano views. May to November is greener, wetter in the afternoons and quieter, with stronger rafting and waterfalls.

Will I see sloths?

Manuel Antonio National Park on day 11 is one of the best places in the country to spot sloths and monkeys, and the jungle night walk and rainforest lodge add more chances. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but this route gives you plenty of shots.

Do I need to be fit or know how to surf?

No experience is needed. The trip is rated active because of rafting, waterfall hikes and surfing, but the surf lesson is for beginners at Samara's gentle break, and the leader paces the hikes.

Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

Check current entry requirements for your passport on Smartraveller or with the Costa Rican embassy, and check transit rules for any country you connect through, as most flights from Australia route via the United States.

Is Costa Rica good for solo travellers?

Yes. Rooms are shared twin, double or triple, the group is around 30, and rafting, surf lessons and salsa classes do the socialising for you.

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