Where to spend 6 weeks in Costa Rica in early 2026 for a retired couple?

We’re a retired couple in our 70s looking to spend six weeks in Costa Rica between mid-January and mid-March 2026. We’d like to stay in comfortable bungalows (2x3 weeks) and rent a car for the entire period. We enjoy light hiking and some beach time, but we also love relaxing on a shaded veranda, reading, and unwinding. Which places would suit these preferences? We have a lot of experience with this kind of stay in the French West Indies or Indian Ocean islands but have never been to Central America. Does anyone have good tips?

Costa Rica perfectly combines comfort, nature, hikes, beaches, and relaxation. Here are a few suggestions for places you might enjoy:

The Nicoya Peninsula region (Santa Teresa, Nosara, Samara) has beautiful beaches since it's on the Pacific coast, along with small hikes to do—all with a laid-back vibe.

The Manuel Antonio region is very touristy, with a national park, a lovely beach, and hikes.

The Central Valley (San Gerardo de Dota, Cerro de la Muerte) is more mountainous, with hikes, wildlife and flora observation, but no beaches.

Check out our travel journal for Costa Rica if you'd like some visit ideas. And when visiting this country, don’t miss all these typical dishes to try—they’re part of the experience too!

Hi Bernard, Costa Rica, which I traveled for a month in 2023, is really diverse.

I loved the Caribbean coast, around Cahuita—much wilder and cooler than the Pacific side, which felt too "Americanized" for my taste. The downside is that the weather there is more unpredictable.

On the Pacific side, we loved Bahia Drake *because* Americans don’t go there. Access is trickier if you’re driving, but it’s doable...

Both spots are perfect for hiking, the beach, and just "chilling." The other areas are nice, but I wouldn’t recommend them for a long stay.

Manuel Antonio: two days is enough—too touristy and too expensive. Monteverde: too much rain. San Gerardo: great for quetzals and hikes, but not for three weeks.

Thank you so much for this valuable information. It’ll really help us make our choices. Best wishes to you and yours, Bernard

Hello, Having been to both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, I’d recommend staying in Nicaragua for several reasons—it’s much more relaxing, charming, less touristy, and, most importantly, more affordable. Best regards, Jean Pierrez

Hi Bernard, Your plan sounds wonderful. For a mix of beach, nature, and relaxation without too many tourists, I’d recommend: Bijagua, San Gerardo de Dota (there are lots of lodges in the cloud forest there), and on the coast, Junquillal or Playa Negra.

Thank you so much for this valuable information—we’ll definitely keep it in mind. Wishing you all the best going forward.

Hello Bernard,

We’re interested in the replies to your post. We’re in the same situation—we’re planning our first trip to Costa Rica in January or February.

We’ve traveled a lot on our own before, but never in Latin America or Central America.

We’re a retired couple (68 years old) and are also looking for a somewhat relaxed trip—beaches, exploration, and friendly encounters with locals.

Hope we’re not bothering you.

Best regards, Nicole & Rudy

Hello, Lots of ideas in the different posts in this thread. Just a heads-up: Costa Rica isn’t a budget-friendly destination compared to Asia.

Hi there, I used this solidarity network for 4x4 rentals and some accommodations (not all). Competitive prices, and a French-speaking welcome from French hosts—voilà! 😉 https://www.toutcostarica.com/

Thanks Runi for your message. In the end, we’ll be going with good old Guadeloupe. I know, it’s not always amazing, but all in all, it suits our daily routine pretty well at this stage of our lives. Wishing you the best possible trip in Costa Rica, Bernard

Thanks for the info and all the best to you

Hello, I also stayed for a week in a very peaceful spot in Monteverde at Cabañas La Pradera, and I’ve got plenty more suggestions if you’re interested 😊

Good evening Bernard,

Thanks for your message, that’s really nice of you! We’ve finally decided to go to Mexico—there’s so much more to discover there. Like you, it works well for us as a first taste of Central America. Nature, beaches, cities, and cultures—it’s all there. We’re very aware that these wonderful trips won’t last forever, so we’re making the most of them while we can.

All the best,

Nicole & Rudy

Hello, Mexico is vast with varied vegetation. I still have some Mexican pesos left—would you be interested in buying them at cost price? Best regards, JPBRIERE

Hello, we’ve been on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica for 3 months, 17 km from Jaco. There’s so much to see. **WARNING:** IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO RENT A CAR AFTER 70 YEARS OLD. As soon as you enter your age, suddenly no vehicles are available—or they’re offered at outrageous prices, like 3 to 4 times the regular rate.