Costa Rica
Volcanoes, cloud forest and the Pacific coast, from San José to Manuel Antonio.
Volcanoes first, beaches second.
Costa Rica packs astonishing biodiversity into a short, drivable loop. Start in San José, hike and soak beneath the Arenal volcano, walk the treetops of the Monteverde cloud forest, then finish on the beaches and wildlife trails of Manuel Antonio. A great first international road trip: short drives, eco-lodges, and a tidy mix of adrenaline and downtime.
I built this loop to pack three completely different Costa Ricas into one week - volcanic highlands, cloud forest, and beach - without the long drives that eat a shorter trip alive. The zip-line day in Arenal was the one none of us wanted to end.
- Rent a car with 4WD - some eco-lodge roads get rough after rain
- Book the Monteverde night walk ahead; it sells out
- ATMs are common, but carry some colones for small vendors
Buy this route as a print-ready kit, or have me reshape it to your family. Either way, you book it.
IN THE US · VENMO WORKS TOO · $39
Every stop here is somewhere we stood ourselves - not a template. Read more travel stories from the road.
MORE FROM OUR TRAVELS →Love this route? Buy the kit, or have me tailor it.
IN THE US · VENMO WORKS TOO · $39