9 Day Cost Rica Itinerary with Shelby
Costa Rica.. you have my heart! Costa Rica is filled with beautiful beaches, tropical fruits, Imperial beer, and pura vida. Visiting Costa Rica for 8 days gave me a fresh perspective of the world and I’m excited to share my experience with you! Put your mask on and enjoy 😊
I know traveling during COVID is a taboo…. but I did it anyway. Sorry.
U.S. Citizens are permitted to enter Costa Rica and there is no COVID test required, but we did have to fill out an online “Health Pass” that basically stated our insurance would cover COVID related medical treatment. After completing the Health Pass, we received a QR Code that we were instructed to show before our flight and in customs.
We took a red eye from LAX and flew into the Liberia International Airport. Liberia is a smaller airport, so customs was quick…. Just make sure your Health Pass is filled out correctly because I almost didn’t get let in 😊 I’d recommend calling your insurance and they can instruct you on how to the get that info.
There are lots of options for transportation at the Airport and you will be greeted by friendly Costa Ricans to help guide you. We rented a car which I HIGHLY recommend if you plan on traveling through the country. We rented through Payless Car Rental. NOTE: make sure to check if the car is manual or automatic because we had to get a new car because we couldn’t drive a manual one.
An extra $1,600 later.. we were on our way! We started our trip in the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste, about 30 minutes from the airport.
Location: Guancaste, Papagayo
Hotel: El Mangroove, Autograph hotel
Day 1: Relax and relaxation 😊
We are a little jetlagged, so we just spent the afternoon having appetizers by the pool. And maybe an 1842 shot. Or two.
Day 2: Exploring and boat tour
We spent the morning exploring Papagayo in our rental car. We wanted to check out the Four Seasons for lunch and golf, but unfortunately, they weren’t letting anyone in who wasn’t staying on the peninsula.
We explored Playas Del Coco – a beach town with cute restaurants and shops. We had lunch at Bambu Beach Bar, and this is where we had a taste of Costa Rica’s “firewater,“ Chiliguaros…. They taste like shots of bloody mary and go down way too quickly.
4-10 Chiliguaros later…
It was 2 o’clock and time for our Private Sunset Beach Tour! Our captain, Marcy, picked us up on the boat, and we headed out! We stopped at several islands to snorkel (I saw lots of tropical fish and a sea turtle!!) and spent the afternoon cruising around the gulf. Marcy provided beers and water, but we brought a few extra beers for… hydration. Towards the end of the tour, Marcy spotted a pod of whales and dolphins! I’m a wildlife fanatic, and I get SO excited when I see animals in the wild. This moment was my favorite moment of the trip… watching the sunset on a private boat next to whales and dolphins, with my favorite person. Very special.
I booked the tour through the travel blog Mytanfeet, and I’m so happy I did! I highly recommend checking out Mytanfeet for all things Costa Rica – tips, guides, activities, and more. It is beneficial in planning your trip to Costa Rica!
Thank you to our captain, Marcy, for such a fun day!
Day 3: White water rafting! For all the extreme adventure individuals 😊.
This was my first-time white water rafting. Luckily for Michael, I had no idea that we were doing Class III and Class IV rapids, or else I would have said “adios.” My adrenaline was pumping, and I got sat on, but we got some hilarious pictures, and I had the best time! The guides provided snacks (seriously the best pineapple I’ve ever tasted in my life) and a delicious lunch. We booked with Tenorio Adventure Company on TripAdvisor. The entire excursion was excellent, and I highly recommend it. Thank you, Elvin, for being a fantastic guide!
Tips: Wear waterproof shoes (no flip flops) and bring a waterproof phone case for pics.
Location: Tamarindo
Hotel: The Coast Beachfront Hotel
Day 4: Drive to Tamarindo (1 hour 30 min)
This drive was one of my favorite parts of the trip… driving through the countryside with the windows down, listening to music, and soaking it all in. We forgot an AUX cord, but luckily we had a portable speaker to play some tunes.
Michael spotted a hole in the wall restaurant off the road's side, and we decided to stop. We ate some smoked meats with beans and salsa. It was the most authentic meal we had the entire trip, and I’m so happy we got a taste of the local Costa Rican cuisine.
We arrived in Tamarindo and checked in to the Coast Beachfront Hotel. Tamarindo is a cute beach town with trendy restaurants and good surf.
For dinner, we had pizza and wine at Pizzeria La Baula.
Day 5: New Years Eve/ Lola’s
We sent New Year's Eve brunching at Lola’s on the beach and enjoy the day. I highly recommend Lola’s when visiting Tamarindo! After brunch, we rented two lounge chairs for USD 20 and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.
There wasn’t much going in the evening because the restaurants and bars closed at 7 pm (due to COVID). We still made the most of it and watched fireworks on the beach at midnight.
Location: Monteverde
Hotel: Hotel Belmar
Day 6: Monteverde
Monteverde is my love language. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. It took us about 4.5 hours to drive from Tamarindo to Monteverde. The road up the mountain is very narrow and winding. It was a little sketchy, but we made it safely. Thank God Michael is a good driver because I would have driven us off the mountain 😊
We stayed at Hotel Belmar, described on their website as “venerable, world-renowned with experiences full of natural wonder, elegance, and warm, friendly service.” This is true. They had all the wellness essentials: farm-to-table cuisine, hiking trails, juice and tea bar, massages, yoga classes, and alcohol. I’ve never felt more venerable staying at this hotel. And yes, I had to google what venerable meant.
Day 7: Exploring and Zip Lining
Waking up in a cloud forest is surreal, especially in the beautiful Hotel Belmar. We woke up, mediated/ prayed, enjoyed some Costa Rican coffee, and watched the sunrise.
We decided to do some exploring after! We drove into town and had sex in a tree. Relax, mom! It’s the name of a drink. Thank you, Tree House Restaurante, for a fun experience.
Afterward, it was time for ziplining! I booked The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde through TripAdvisor, and I highly recommend it. We did a Tarzan swing free-fall, climbed a rope ladder through a hollow tree, and rappelled down 150 ft zipline. My adrenaline and anxiety were through the roof! But, the views of the forest were worth it.
One of the locals recommended Tramonti for dinner, and it was some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had. And I’ve had Buca di Beppo. We ordered a Caprese salad, Fettuccine Bolognese, Spaghetti Pesto, and two bottles of wine for dessert. The owner came out and thanked us after, and it made me love the restaurant even more. I can’t wait to visit again 😊
Location: San Jose
Hotel: Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Day 8: San Jose
We stopped at Stella’s for coffee on the way out. Their banana bread was so good that we had to grab two. It took about 3 hours to drive from Monteverde to San Jose. There wasn’t much to do in San Jose, so we just relaxed in our hotel.
Day 9: Home Sweet Home
We flew out direct from Juan Santamaría International Airport to LAX (about 6 hours). After an uber to Newport and In-n-out, we were home.
I’m grateful and humbled that I was able to experience this wonderful country. Thanks for reading about my trip, and I hope it inspires you to experience the world. Pura Vida!
