Nov 28 – Dec 8 · Road trip

Costa Rica

A loose loop that starts on the Guanacaste beaches, goes inland to volcanoes and cloud forest, and ends near San José. Each step has two or three options with pros and cons, so you can pick your favorite and build the final plan.

11 days
5 bases
Longest drive ~3 h as planned
Season start of dry / high season

Decide step by step

Every option at a glance. Tap one to jump to its photo, pros and cons.

1. Beach & surfNov 28 – Dec 1
ATamarindoBPlaya Grande or AvellanasCNosara (Playa Guiones)
2. First jungle dayDec 2
ARío CelesteBRincón de la ViejaCSkip it: an extra beach night
3. Arenal VolcanoDec 3 – 4
ANayara SpringsBTabacón Thermal Resort & SpaCHotel in La Fortuna + spa day pass
4. Cloud forestDec 5 – 7
AMonteverdeBBajos del Toro
5. Last morning & fly homeDec 7 – 8
APoás VolcanoBLa Paz Waterfall GardensCCoffee farm tour
A filled = the original plan
Step 1
Nov 28 – Dec 1
Guanacaste
Beach & surf Big map →
Tamarindo and the Playa Grande river mouth from the air
Tamarindo and the Playa Grande river mouth from the air · Photo: Tamarindowiki

Beach & surf

Three nights on the coast to land, get over jet lag and learn to surf.

  • Arrival day: Pick up the car in Liberia and head straight to the coast. It gets dark around 17:30, so don't stop much on the way.
  • Two chill days: Beach, sunsets, and getting over jet lag. This coast is in its dry season in December, so expect sunshine.
  • Dec 1: Morning surf lesson, then drive inland in the afternoon.

3 optionsWhich beach should be your base?

Tamarindo beach
Tamarindo beach · Photo: Jarle Naustvik
AAs planned
Tamarindo

A lively surf town with gentle beginner waves and dozens of surf schools. Restaurants and bars are within walking distance.

  • Easiest place to learn to surf
  • Most food, bars and choice of hotels
  • Only 1¼ h from Liberia airport
  • The busiest and most built-up beach on the coast
1¼ h from the airport · 2¾ h on to Bijagua
Playa Grande, Las Baulas Marine National Park
Playa Grande, Las Baulas Marine National Park · Photo: Jorge Antonio Leoni de León
B
Playa Grande or Avellanas

Quiet beaches on either side of Tamarindo. Playa Grande is part of Las Baulas Marine National Park, where leatherback turtles nest from October to February. Avellanas is a laid-back surf beach with a few small hotels.

  • Much quieter and wilder
  • Turtle-nesting night tours with park rangers (book about a week ahead)
  • Tamarindo's surf schools are a short drive or boat ride away
  • Fewer restaurants, so you'll drive for dinner
  • Waves are stronger than in Tamarindo
About the same as Tamarindo
Fishermen on the beach at Nosara
Fishermen on the beach at Nosara · Photo: Carlos Adampol Galindo
C
Nosara (Playa Guiones)

A yoga-and-surf village hidden in the jungle, with no high-rises and long, consistent beginner waves on Playa Guiones.

  • The most relaxed vibe
  • Great surf for beginners
  • Beautiful, undeveloped beach
  • Rough, partly unpaved roads
  • Adds about an hour to both the arrival drive and the next drive
2¼ h from the airport · 3½ h on to Bijagua

Where to stayHotel suggestions

A · Tamarindo
  • Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas$$$ Splurge
    Villas with private pools, a short walk from quiet Playa Langosta at the south end of town.
  • Hotel Capitán Suizo$$ Comfortable
    Right on the beach, with big gardens, howler monkeys and a strong sustainability record. Walk to the surf schools.
B · Playa Grande / Avellanas
  • JW Marriott Guanacaste (Hacienda Pinilla)$$$ Splurge
    A big resort with a spa, near Avellanas. It's very comfortable, but less local in feel.
  • Hotel Las Tortugas$ Simple
    A small eco surf hotel, and the only one right on Playa Grande's beach. It has a pool, a Jacuzzi and hammocks.
C · Nosara
  • The Harmony Hotel$$$ Splurge
    Nosara's best-known hotel, a short walk from Playa Guiones. It has a spa, yoga and free surfboards.
  • Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort$$$ Splurge
    Jungle villas with saltwater pools, a spa and daily yoga.
  • Lagarta Lodge$$ Comfortable
    On a hill above Playa Nosara with big ocean views, with excellent reviews for its pool and dinners.
Step 2
Dec 2
Northern volcanoes
Jungle hike Big map →
Río Celeste, Tenorio Volcano National Park
Río Celeste, Tenorio Volcano National Park · Photo: Imatges, algunes lle… (Panoramio)

First jungle day

Your first taste of the rainforest on the way inland.

  • Drive inland on the afternoon of Dec 1 and sleep near the park.
  • Hike early on Dec 2, when it's cooler and the wildlife is out.
  • Drive to La Fortuna in the afternoon and arrive before dark.

3 optionsWhich jungle day?

Río Celeste waterfall
Río Celeste waterfall · Photo: MongeNajera
AAs planned
Río Celeste

A 3–4 hour rainforest hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park to a waterfall and a river with an unreal turquoise color. Sleep in Bijagua the night before.

  • One of the most striking sights in the country
  • Fits the route best: 1½ h on to La Fortuna
  • Gravel roads at the end, so a 4x4 helps
  • Swimming isn't allowed in the river
  • Buy tickets online in advance
2¾ h from Tamarindo · 1½ h on to La Fortuna
Oropéndola waterfall, Rincón de la Vieja
Oropéndola waterfall, Rincón de la Vieja · Photo: Alanatoby
B
Rincón de la Vieja

An active volcano near Liberia. The Las Pailas loop passes bubbling mud pots and steaming vents, and there are side trails to waterfalls. There are hot springs nearby to soak in afterwards.

  • Real volcanic activity up close
  • Waterfalls and hot springs on the same day
  • Longer drive on to La Fortuna (about 3 h)
  • Closed on Mondays (Dec 2 is a Wednesday, so you're fine)
  • Enter before noon for the waterfall trails
2½ h from Tamarindo · 3 h on to La Fortuna
Sunset at Playa Avellanas
Sunset at Playa Avellanas · Photo: DanielaAvila26
C
Skip it: an extra beach night

Stay a fourth night at the beach and drive straight to La Fortuna on Dec 2.

  • More beach time and one fewer hotel change
  • Arenal has plenty of jungle anyway
  • The longest drive of the trip: about 4 h
  • You miss the turquoise river
About 4 h from Tamarindo to La Fortuna

Where to stayHotel suggestions

A · Río Celeste (night of Dec 1)
  • Río Celeste Hideaway$$$ Splurge
    Big bungalows with hot pools, right next to Tenorio Volcano National Park.
  • Kakao Lodge & Garden$$ Comfortable
    A garden lodge known for its breakfast and a night walk on the grounds.
  • Cabinas Cascada Río Celeste$ Simple
    Close to the park entrance and good value, but the rooms are small.
B · Rincón de la Vieja (night of Dec 1)
  • Borinquen Thermal Resort$$$ Splurge
    Hot springs, mud baths and a full spa in the volcano's foothills. It's a spa stop in itself.
  • Hacienda Guachipelín$$ Comfortable
    An adventure ranch at the base of the volcano, with hot springs, a spa and a pool.
C · Extra beach night
  • Same hotel as step 1
    Just add a night to your beach booking.
Step 3
Dec 3 – 4
La Fortuna
Volcano + spa Big map →
Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano · Photo: Bernard Gagnon

Arenal Volcano: the spa stop

Hike on Dec 3, then make Dec 4 a slow spa day after a week on the move.

  • Hikes: the Arenal Volcano National Park trails and the old lava flows. For a proper challenge, Cerro Chato is a steep, muddy climb to a crater lagoon.
  • La Fortuna Waterfall: it's a lot of stairs down, but you can swim at the bottom.
  • Hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy, plus a guided night walk for frogs, snakes and sloths.
  • Dec 4: a slow day of hot springs, massages and doing nothing.

3 optionsWhere to stay for the spa nights (Dec 2–4)?

Arenal Volcano from the La Fortuna side
Arenal Volcano from the La Fortuna side · Photo: Bernard Gagnon
AAs planned
Nayara Springs

An adults-only resort where every villa has a private plunge pool fed by the volcano's hot springs. It has a full spa and several restaurants.

  • The most luxurious way to unwind
  • Hot springs right outside your door
  • A few minutes from La Fortuna
  • The most expensive option by a wide margin
  • Book early, since December is high season
5 min from La Fortuna
Tabacón hot springs
Tabacón hot springs · Photo: Central Intelligence Agency
B
Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

A natural hot river runs through the rainforest here at the foot of the volcano, forming waterfalls and pools. It's the classic Arenal soak.

  • The best natural hot springs in the area
  • Guests get unlimited access to the springs and grounds
  • Pricey
  • Bigger and busier, with day-pass visitors
15 min from La Fortuna
La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall · Photo: Bravodelnorte
C
Hotel in La Fortuna + spa day pass

Stay at a comfortable mid-range hotel in town, and buy a day pass to Tabacón or another hot spring resort for the spa day.

  • Much cheaper
  • Walk to restaurants and tour pickups
  • You still get a full spa day
  • Less of a retreat
  • You leave the hot springs at closing time
In town

Where to stayHotel suggestions

The options above are already hotels. Other good ones:
  • Amor Arenal$$$ Splurge
    A romantic pick: private villas with warm plunge pools and double rain showers.
  • Hotel Arenal Montechiari$$ Comfortable
    Garden bungalows in nature, but only a 6-minute walk from town.
  • La Fortuna Downtown Boutique Hotel$ Simple
    Modern rooms with balconies, across from the central park.
Step 4
Dec 5 – 7
Cloud forest
Cloud forest Big map →
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Monteverde Cloud Forest · Photo: Cephas

Cloud forest

Mist, moss and the best wildlife guiding of the trip.

  • Do at least one guided early-morning walk. Guides spot about ten times more wildlife than you would alone.
  • Another night tour is worth it, because the wildlife up here is different from Arenal's.
  • It's cool, windy and often drizzly, so bring a fleece and a rain jacket.
  • Dec 7 afternoon: drive toward Alajuela, near the airport.

2 optionsWhich cloud forest?

Resplendent quetzal, Monteverde
Resplendent quetzal, Monteverde · Photo: Cephas
AAs planned
Monteverde

The classic. The Monteverde Reserve is the famous one, Santa Elena is higher and less crowded, and Curi-Cancha is great for birds, possibly including the resplendent quetzal. There's also ziplining if you want an adrenaline day.

  • The most wildlife, guides and variety
  • A beautiful drive around Lake Arenal
  • About 3 h of driving on each side, partly on gravel
  • Busy, and the town is touristy
2½–3 h from La Fortuna · 3 h on to Alajuela
Catarata del Toro, Bajos del Toro
Catarata del Toro, Bajos del Toro · Photo: Steve Jurvetson
B
Bajos del Toro

A quiet cloud-forest valley between Arenal and the airport. Catarata del Toro drops into an extinct volcanic crater, and the Blue Falls are milky turquoise. El Silencio Lodge & Spa makes it a second luxury stop.

  • Far fewer people
  • Shorter drives: about 2½ h less in total
  • Another spa option
  • Fewer guided tours and less wildlife spotting than Monteverde
  • No ziplining, and it's mostly lodge-based
1¾ h from La Fortuna · 1½ h on to the airport

Where to stayHotel suggestions

A · Monteverde
  • Hotel Belmar$$$ Splurge
    A Tyrolean-style lodge with views to the Gulf of Nicoya, a spa, a top restaurant and the highest sustainability rating.
  • Senda Monteverde$$$ Splurge
    Modern rooms with private terraces next to a small private reserve.
  • Arco Iris Lodge$$ Comfortable
    Twenty stone-and-wood cabins in a garden, walking distance to Santa Elena town.
B · Bajos del Toro
  • El Silencio Lodge & Spa$$$ Splurge
    A Relais & Châteaux lodge on a 500-acre private cloud-forest reserve, with suites with private hot tubs, a spa and a farm-to-table restaurant. Listed from about $680 a night.
Step 5
Dec 7 – 8
Alajuela
Departure Big map →
Poás Volcano crater lake
Poás Volcano crater lake · Photo: Peter Andersen

Last morning & fly home

One last highlight close to the airport, then return the car.

  • Sleep near the airport on Dec 7, so the last morning is short on driving.
  • Return the car and be at the airport by around 16:30.
  • Spa finish: Xandari Resort & Spa works with any option below. It sits on a coffee plantation above Alajuela, 20–30 min from the airport, and has a spa village and a sunset pool.

3 optionsWhat to do on the last morning?

Poás crater
Poás crater · Photo: MongeNajera
AAs planned
Poás Volcano

Look straight down into one of the world's largest active craters, often with a turquoise acid lake. It's about an hour from the airport.

  • Spectacular when it's clear
  • A short drive from the airport
  • Still open after an eruption in Aug 2026, but daily visitors are halved and helmets are required
  • Can close at short notice, and clouds often hide the crater after mid-morning
  • Book a time slot online
1 h from Alajuela · 1 h to the airport
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
La Paz Waterfall Gardens · Photo: diego_cue
B
La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Trails and stairs past five waterfalls, plus a hummingbird garden, butterflies and rescued wildlife. It's close to Poás.

  • Works in any weather
  • Easy, and a good backup if Poás is closed
  • More of a park than wild nature
  • Expensive entrance fee
1 h from Alajuela · 1¼ h to the airport
Coffee plantations in the Central Valley
Coffee plantations in the Central Valley · Photo: Pigment-Ink
C
Coffee farm tour

A morning tour of a working coffee plantation, such as Doka Estate on the slopes of Poás, from the plants to the roasting, with tastings.

  • Relaxed, with no early alarm
  • No weather or volcano gamble
  • Pairs well with a last night at Xandari
  • Less dramatic than a volcano crater
30 min from Alajuela · 30 min to the airport

Where to stayHotel suggestions

Last night (Dec 7), near the airport
  • Xandari Resort & Spa$$$ Splurge
    Villas on a coffee plantation, with a spa village and a sunset pool. About 20–30 min to the airport.
  • Hotel Buena Vista$$ Comfortable
    A hilltop boutique hotel with views of three volcanoes and a free airport shuttle. 15 min to the airport.
  • Fairfield by Marriott Airport$ Simple
    Practical, 4 km from the airport, with a good breakfast buffet.

Practical tips

Car

A 4x4 or SUV is worth it for the gravel roads around Río Celeste and Monteverde.

Mandatory local insurance often doubles the online quote, so compare final prices. Picking up in Liberia and dropping off in San José may cost a one-way fee, so ask when booking.

Driving

Use Waze, and avoid driving after dark. There are potholes, no streetlights and animals on the road. It's dark by about 17:30.

Early starts

Wildlife is most active, and the weather is clearest, in the morning.

Book early

Early December is the start of high season, so rental cars and popular tours fill up. National park tickets, including Poás and Río Celeste, are usually bought online in advance.