Costa Rican Adventures with Kelly

Costa Rica is a country full of amazing experiences, wonderfully diverse wildlife and so much adventure! It’s a great destination for couples and families alike, and the relatively short driving distances and good roads make it easy to navigate by hire car.

Having visited a few times before, I was thrilled to be heading back to discover some lesser-known parts and see some more of the hidden places of this beautiful country.

Just 40 miles east of San José, we headed to the town of Turrialba, in the shadow of the volcano of the same name. Our journey by road took around two hours, with gorgeous views along the way. The town itself has a lovely laid-back atmosphere, with some great restaurants and is surrounded by spectacular scenery.

Here we hiked through the Burnt Forest, so-called due to the scorched valleys from the most recent volcanic eruption. Set against the vibrant green hills the contrast is striking. While we were here we got stuck into a tortilla making workshop which was great fun! You can also explore a nearby village and learn about the process of making coffee or, if you’re feeling daring, you can try white water rafting on the Pacuare River.

Next we headed to the quaint village of San Gerardo de Rivas. As we ascended into the mountains we really noticed the air cool and the vegetation changing, so refreshing, and the scenery here is simply breathtaking. We visited the Cloudbridge Reserve, a private conservation park on the side of the country’s tallest mountain, Cerro Chirripó, standing at 3,820m high. It’s native name translates to ‘land of eternal waters’ and it’s a hugely rich ecological spot.

There are lots of trails, stunning waterfalls and of course, great wildlife spotting opportunities to keep your eyes peeled for! On clear days if you make it to the top it’s even possible to see across the whole country from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. The village is wonderfully low-key, and there are hot springs nearby if you fancy a relaxing dip. Certainly one for those looking for somewhere a bit different without the crowds.

Now for something extra special to finish our trip, and the first part of the adventure is the journey there. We drove for two and a half hours from Uvita to Puerto Jiménez where we checked in at the office, then travelled two hours further by shuttle bus to our lodge base camp. It was a very bumpy ride with parts of it crossing fast flowing streams, so we were a little relieved to arrive at the part where vehicles can’t access further! We dropped our luggage off then made the rest of our way on foot through the dense jungle.

The journey was absolutely worth it. We were greeted by a stunning beach, totally ours for the duration and backed by lush rainforest, with a very comfortable safari-style tent to settle into. You can hear the sounds of both jungle and ocean from your room. If we needed anything more to give us that really outdoor living feeling, our bathroom was open air – a shower with a view.

Nestled in the Osa Peninsula, this spot offers a unique jungle experience where you can immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. With limited electricity and wifi only in common areas, you can’t help but switch off and be in the moment. The food in the lodge was great – simple, fresh and plentiful, perfect for fuelling our guided hikes through the remote Corcovado National Park. We spotted different species of monkey, Scarlet Macaws and Coatis, among others, and went in search of turtles. This is an unforgettable place, well away from the crowds and more touristy spots of Costa Rica.

To finish off our trip in style, we took a flight back to San José. This was a fantastic way to round up and save us the long return drive to boot. If you have the space in your budget then I would thoroughly recommend including this in your itinerary. Pura Vida!