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Walking through a rainforest has been on my bucket list ever since my student teaching days when my six week theme revolved around that particular ecosystem. A big anniversary was coming up so I wanted to plan something extra special. Waking up to the sound of monkeys seemed to fit the bill!
When planning a big trip, I like to purchase a guide book on the region as a reference guide for the duration of the trip. They usually include a map which can be priceless if/when your wifi/gps falls short. Additional ‘must haves’ include a portable charger and an outlet adapter. Check out my comprehensive Travel Hacks for a complete list.
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
We flew into Liberia, got our rental car, learned that gas is pumped by attendants and then finally we were on our way into the WILD green yander. We quickly learned Costa Rican ways: downed power lines – you drive over them (snapping noises add to the fun), mud slides – you drive around them and hope nothing is coming from the other direction.
Our first night was spent in the middle of the rainforest, just outside La Fortuna. Heliconios Nature Lodge was AmAzInG! Our little cabana had floor to ceiling windows on all four sides. What a view!! A small porch decked out with a table for two and two hammocks to lounge in made it complete. At night we went on a night hike. Our guide was a pro at spotting sloths, lizards, frogs and much more. The animals are so much more active at night and the sounds are unreal.
Arenal, Costa Rica
The next morning we headed into town to take on an extreme, seven hour hike up and around the famous Arenal Volcano. Once again, having a amazing guide who really knew the rainforest made for a great adventure. He taught us medicinal uses for many of the plants, spotted creatures that we would have never noticed and took us through muddy terrain with ease. Hiking shoes make a huge difference because their grip is so much better. Just be sure to break them in before the trip so you don’t get blisters. A light jacket, especially during the rainy season, is essential. After all that hiking, soaking in the Hot River with a lava mud facial was a perfect ending to the day.
Monteverde, Costa Rica
We took to the road the next morning and ventured out of the hot rainforest into a cooler climate higher in elevation in the Cloud Forest. We lodged at El Establo Mountain Hotel in Monteverde for the next two nights. Between our location in the Cloud Forest and coming during the rainy season, there was always a mist in the air. I’m not usually one for getting wet by choice, but we put on our raincoats, hoods and all, and went exploring. A guided tour through the National Cloud Forest Preserve was quite enchanting. The clouds literally came down near the path giving the forest a magical feel. Hundreds of hummingbirds, some even landing on our fingers, was a spectacular sight and experience!
Ziplining, night hikes, massages, along with two restaurants are all part of the amenities at El Establo. It makes it very convenient and efficient. Only a few minutes down the road by car lies the town of Monteverde. Two of my favorite off-the-beaten-path gems were the ficus tree bridge and a ficus tree that could actually be climbed up from the INSIDE. Downtown, we enjoyed eating at The Tree House Restaurant. There is a huge tree growing right up the middle of this two story building with seating all around. A live band and some fun drinks created such a welcoming atmosphere. Another place we stopped at multiple times was Stella’s Bakery. If you time your morning visit just right, you’ll be able to watch the monkeys in the trees as you sip your coffee on the back patio. Loved it!!
The Grand Daddy of ziplining and swings are found at 100% Adventura. Not for the faint of heart! The ziplining takes you from platform to platform in amongst the forest and then sends you on a 2km zip, Superman Style, hundreds of feet ABOVE the top of the forest. It’s exhilarating! Then comes the scariest part of all – the Tarzan Swing. A gut wrenching plummet 148ft down to the trees. I’m happy to say I did it but not sure I’ll ever choose to do it again.
Outside of Monteverde we took part in a coffee plantation tour. It encompassed so much more than just coffee. We saw and learned about sugarcane, pineapples and the cocao bean. It was all quite fascinating.
Sleep in an airplane? Yes, please
My husband has a love for airplanes so he was totally shocked when our last lodging spot of the trip landed him IN a plane for the night! The plane was completely decorated with beautiful woodwork and a small deck off the tail to sit and watch the wildlife. We had two monkeys that came right on our porch and almost stole his sunglasses. It was quite entertaining to say the least! Costa Verde offers multiple planes you can stay in depending on your party size.
Quepos also boasts the restaurant, El Avion, right down the road for aviation enthusiasts to continue getting their fix. A train car next door also is part of the quirky fun.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio hosts both a rainforest climate and a beautiful beach. You can opt for a guided tour but at this point we were just ready to take it a bit slower and do our own thing. We had learned so much from our past guides we were now able to find sloths and identify plants that were completely foreign to us just a few days ago. Between our previous guides and a handy pocket book we had the additional information we needed.
Overall, the food was mouthwatering, the wildlife was astonishing, and the experience was definitely one to remember. I can’t wait to go back!!
The whole Caribbean side is a trip in itself. If you’ve been to that region, what do you recommend?
