Exploring La Fortuna and Playa del Coco, Costa Rica

La Fortuna Waterfall cascades gracefully into a rocky stream, enveloped by a rich tapestry of lush vegetation.

Getting to Costa Rica

Since we’ll be ending the trip in Coco, it’s best to fly into Liberia instead of San Jose. The main airport serving Liberia is the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR).

Where to stay

Water flows across a terraced spring in a rainforest.

Hotels in La Fortuna

The first half of the trip will be spent in La Fortuna, a beautiful town located about 20 min from Arenal Volcano.

A breathtaking view of a turquoise and azure sea, embraced by a sandy shore dotted with beach goers, set amidst a forested island.

Hotels in Coco

We’ll end the trip by the beach in Coco which is only about 40 minutes from the Liberia airport.

Renting a car

The drive from Liberia is about 3 hours so it’s best to rent a car for your trip. The drive is pretty easy and also beautiful as it will take you around Lake Arenal.

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As the sun sets, a mystical ground fog envelopes the lush forest surrounding the Arenal Volcano, while a cloudy sky overhead casts a warm glow over the stunning landscape.

What to do

Day 1 – Arrive in Liberia

Pick up your rental car – I always rent from Adobe
Grab some snacks and head to La Fortuna – it’s about a 3 hour drive
On the way, stop to take some pictures – you won’t regret it!

Day 2 – Arenal Canopy Adventures Tour

I really like excursion days because you get to accomplish a lot of staple activities in one day
Book a tour with Arenal Canopy Adventures
The tour includes: hanging bridges in rainforest, La Fortuna waterfall, lunch, Arenal Volcano hike. and hot springs with dinner
Be prepared for a full-day of adventures!

Day 3 – Relaxation & Culture Day

Head over to La Case de Las FLores y Verduras Sarchisenos – its a farmers market for fruits and veggies. Grab your favorite fruits and maybe try some new fruits!
Stop by Red Frog Coffee Roast for some delicious iced coffees. They also have food and souvenirs!
Book a cooking class – this was probably one of my favorite Costa Rican activities I’ve ever done (and I’ve been 5 times).

Day 4 – Head to Playa del Coco

Start your day with breakfast nearby then hit the road! I recommend leaving La Fortuna by 10am to avoid traffic.
Check in and grab dinner at Cafe de Playa, a stunning boutique beach front with yummy cocktails and pretty good food. I recommend the Rosemary Hibiscus gin & tonic and Ceviche.

Day 5 – Beach Day

Lounge, lounge and lounge some more. You’ve earned it!
Later that night we were determined to find a homemade Costa Rican meal and we came across Soda Teresita and it was such a win. I ordered a whole fried fish and I was beaming from ear to ear. It was so seasoned, flaky, & hot.

Day 6 – Boat Day

A trip to Costa Rica is never complete without a boat day. We booked a 4 hour excursion of island hopping & snorkeling in the Gulf de Papagayo.
Our captain picked us up in his boat at the beach and took us all around. After some snorkeling, we stopped at another island to hang out, read, sunbathe, eat, dance, you name it! This day was a non-negotiable and I am so happy we planned it.
You guys are not going to believe me when I tell you where we went for drinks and dinner but…you guessed it! Cafe de Playa and Soda Teresita.

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