Road trip adventure tips: Costa Rica

Fort Rouge

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/07/2025 (334 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If Central America is on your bucket list but seems a little out of your comfort zone, here are a few tips that could help you break out of your shell!

My wife and I travelled for 10 days at the beginning of April, which is the beginning of the dry season. The weather was hot (35 Celsius average), so drink lots of water.

Flights from Winnipeg through Toronto to Liberia, Costa Rica, weren’t too long — maybe five hours from Toronto. We rented a car to pick up at the airport upon our arrival. The insurance is pricey, although the roads in certain areas are gravel and full of large potholes and even the paved ones are up and down and all around, so you really don’t want to be stuck with car troubles or unwanted fees for damage.

From Liberia, we found our first Airbnb in the mountains of San George and enjoyed a traditional meal of pork chop with rice and beans. The rice and beans are a Costa Rican staple with any meal. The northern region in the province of Guanacaste has many extraordinary waterfalls. We warmed up with the Llanos de Cortez waterfall where we arrived at 8 a.m. and had the place to ourselves for a short amount of time before tour buses arrived. Next, we drove 90 minutes and then hiked to the Rio Celeste waterfall, which is the most stunning turquoise water we’ve ever seen.

We visited the Jungle Life wildlife sanctuary, and the tour was amazing as our guide pointed out snakes, frogs, sloths, monkeys and more. Make no mistake, the jungle of Costa Rica can be a dangerous place. But if approached safely, it will reward you with unique experiences. Do not casually lean on trees while hiking. Small but lethal snakes may be lurking, such as the eyelash pit viper — our guide pointed one out nestled in some foliage shoulder height.

We spent the last six days on the beach. The chilled out surf town of Santa Teresa had consistent waves and relaxed atmosphere. Nosara was much busier and more touristy. Finally, Tamarindo was way too busy for us, although a lot of people like it, as it is more developed and has more comfortable amenities.

All in all, brush up on your Spanish and take the plunge into Central America — you won’t regret it.