Travel to Costa rica

Paris - San José

Arrival around 6 pm at San Jose airport where we picked up our 4x4 that we had booked priori our departure. Then we went straight to our B&B Dos Palmas in Alajuela, one suburb of San Jose.

San José - Orosi

We left Alajuela around 8am after a good breakfast, bound for Irazu volcano via Cartago. It took us time to find our way out of San Jose and Cartago as the road signs are quite rare but we finally reached Irazu volcano around 10am. During the climb we were in the clouds but when we reached the top it all cleared up. The view on the crater was stunning!

In the afternoon we left for Orosi via Paraiso. We pushed to Tapanti to visit the national park, under heavy rain and finally spent the night at Sanchiri lodge in Orosi.

Orosi - Puerto viejo

After a 4 hour drive we settled in La isla Inn, 20mn away from an amazing caribbean beach. Unfortunately, pouring rain was still on the menu.

Puerto viejo - Puerto viejo de Sarapiqui

Rain, rain, rain... we decided to skip the visit of the promising Cahuita national park and decided to leave the area, hoping we would find a clearing.
We left by 11 bound for Puerto viejo de sarapiqui and book a room in la Quintas de sarapiqui, superb ecolodge.
But there the rain falls with even more intensity, this is umbelievable. We'll learn later on that in one day it rained as much as it usually does in one month! We dressed accordingly and decided to enjoy the wonderful gardens with colourful exotic flowers and funny blue-jean frogs.

Puerto viejo de Sarapiqui - Fortuna

The river Sarapiqui had swollen because of the heavy rains, therefore we had to give up the idea of a boat ride. We decided to leave the area bound for Arenal volcano. We reached Fortuna early afternoon and enjoy the thermal bath at the foot of the volcano.
Because of the clouds which were still very thick and everywhere it was impossible to have a glimpse of the volcano...

Fortuna - Santa Elena

The road between Fortuna and Arena had been damaged because of the heavy rains and the floods. Driving that day was difficult but the surrounding landscapes (lake Arenal) brought a little joy.

Once in Santa Elena we settled in Quetzal Inn and decided to go on the canopy tour.

Santa Elena - Playa tambor

Meeting at 7:30 with our guide in front of the Santa Elena natural reserve for a walk in the rainforest. It is really worth it!

Then we left, bound for Pacific coast. We reached Puntarenas under a clear blue sky and a bright sun... finally! We joined the queue to take the ferry to Paquera and decided to push as far as playa tambor where we settled in Christina cabinas.

Playa tambor - Montezuma

The morning was dedicated to the Curu natural reserve where we spotted many monkeys and really enjoyed walking on the paths. Then we went for a swimming and bathing afternoon.

Montezuma - Playa tambor

Departure at 8 to Cabo blanco absolute reserve. After a 2 hour walk we reached a gorgeous beach of the Pacific coast. During the hike we heard, and finally saw monkeys and other wildlife.

Playa tambor - Tarcoles

Back to Paquera to take the ferry. Once in Puntarenas we drove along the coast until Tarcoles where we went for a boat ride on the rio Tarcoles. We spotted many crocodiles and birds. It was a really good moment.
In the afternoon we enjoyed the beach at our hotel Carara.

Tarcoles - Quepos

We hit the road bound for Quepos where the afternoon was dedicated to a horseriding tour in the forest.

Quepos

We spent the full day in Manual Antonio national park where we spotted many sloths, butterflies, iguanas and other wildlife from Costa rica. We also enjoyed the sandy beaches of the park.

Quepos - Orosi

We kept on driving along the coast until Bellena then back to Orosi via San Isidro and the cerro de la muerte.

Orosi - San José - Paris

Flight to Paris