My friend and I rented a 4x4 to go on a pura vida road trip in Costa Rica. We drove from the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica to the Caribbean Coast and back again. Pura vida in English translates as "pure life". For Costa Ricans it signifies a way of life, a free spirit kind of attitude, and a laidback culture.

In two weeks, we laid on deserted, volcanic sand beaches, climbed an active volcano, walked through a cloud forest, relaxed in natural hot springs, encountered monkeys and sloths, witnessed two wild parrots flying, danced to reggae, had three flat tires, met the most adorable parrot named Paquito, and drank the biggest margarita ever!

Best tip: If you plan on going to Costa Rica, I highly recommend renting a 4x4. Having your own transportation will make traveling much easier and much more time-efficient not to mention give you complete freedom to do as you please.

Interesting fact: Costa Rica doesn't have a national army - it's the safest country in Central America but also the most expensive.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN COSTA RICA

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RINCON DE LA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK

Its meaning in English is "the old woman's corner" which made me want to explore it even more! Parque Nacional Rincon de la Viejo is a beautiful natural park located in the province of Guanacaste on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

There are many hiking trails clearly indicated at the entrance along with the time it takes and difficulty level. Give yourself a few hours to explore the diverse floral and fauna.

Along the way, you can also encounter some natural pools to refresh in and a few fumaroles - sulfur pits that fill the surrounding air with a very fowl smell. At the top there's a volcano that can be reached by following the trails but we started our hike too late to go and come back safely before nightfall.

PLAYA GRANDE & TAMARINDO

Costa Rica has an impressive number of vast, often empty, beaches. Playa Grande, also known as Salinas, was no exception. With only a small surf center nearby there wasn't much else to do but to lay back to admire the beautiful landscape, and to watch the surfers!

Playa Grande is on the Pacific Coast where the sand is dark, the ocean tumultuous, and the waves incredibly high. I had never experienced such strong waves; it was quite dangerous!

Also located on the Pacific Coast is Tamarindo, a beach town offering everything for a worry-free vacation. A wide choice of hotels, resorts, Westernized restaurants, shops and bars can be found all within walking distance of each other.

Void of anything authentically Costa Rican, it definitely seems like Tamarindo was built for the sole purpose of attracting tourists. Having said that, the beautiful beach had very few tourists. Although, I went in April so I’m guessing it gets much busier during high-season.

MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE

Besides its wide, open beaches and awesome surfing, Costa Rica is also known for its natural beauty and diverse eco-systems. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the most popular of its kind where hundreds of plant and animal species live and thrive.

Five suspension bridges aid in getting around the forest which occasionally surpasses the clouds. The peaceful surroundings, untouched nature and extremely fresh air make this reserve a must-see while in Costa Rica.

Beware: The road is unpaved and difficult to navigate. A 4x4 is definitely recommended when visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

ARENAL VOLCANO

Costa Rica boasts many volcanoes but the most famous is Arenal Volcano in the district of La Fortuna. We were lucky to find a local guide who took us halfway up the actual volcano unlike others who walked on trails surrounding it. We walked on black lava that had flowed not long before we set foot there. It felt like we were back in prehistoric times!

At nighttime, we headed to an area designated to watch Arenal Volcano spur smoke and lava. It took a while for the volcano to manifest itself but when it finally did, I was reminded of how vulnerable we were in the face of this force of nature.

PUERTO VIEJO (CARIBBEAN COAST)

Given its small size, it's surprising that Costa Rica shares its coasts with two oceans - the Pacific and the Caribbean. When we arrived in Puerto Viejo, I was instantly hooked! It was like we were in a completely different country with reggae playing loudly everywhere and Rastafarians hanging out at every street corner.

The tri-colors of Jamaica could also be seen on shop signs and t-shirts. Puerto Viejo is the very definition of laid back living. Quaint shops and restaurants serving healthy granola breakfasts are the norm in Puerto Viejo.

Most of the beaches in Puerto Viejo were empty save for a few wild horses. We chose to go to Playa Negra, a black volcanic sand beach, which can be reached by foot from town. There aren’t any amenities on the beach so remember to bring everything you need (sunscreen, water, towel, etc.)

MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

In my opinion, the town of Manuel Antonio is overdeveloped but the park itself is wonderful  (see entrance fee & opening hours). It was amazing to see sloths and white-faced Capuchin monkeys in their natural habitat. I also heard the ear-piercing cry of the howler monkeys!

Be careful when wandering around Manual Antonio Park as the monkeys are known to grab anything they can (like a bag of chips).

The beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park are also very nice, and are a great place to munch on some empanadas while sitting on a boulder.

PLAYA HERMOSA (NEAR JACO)

The beach and the town in Jaco weren’t the nicest so we decided to go to Playa Hermosa, instead. This black volcanic beach only had a few houses and one restaurant. It was empty, and the only sound I heard was the waves crashing. Ah, Pura Vida!

PAQUITO THE PARROT

Paquito lived at the guest house where we stayed at in La Fortuna. He was free to fly wherever he pleased often visiting the neighbours. He also spoke a few words in English and Spanish. He was adorable!

PLAYA OCOTAL

Although Playa Ocotal wasn’t the best beach, the huge margaritas at Father Rooster made it worth going to. This was the perfect ending to my pura vida road trip in Costa Rica!

TRAVEL RESOURCES

• Book flights to Costa Rica via Skyscanner
• Compare hotel prices in Costa Rica on Booking.com & Agoda
• Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
• Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Costa Rica
• Search for tours & excursions in Costa Rica
• Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
• Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise

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Lydia

I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.

More about me here.