Costa Rica: Our road trip through national parks, wildlife, and the Caribbean coast
Hi everyone,
It took us a long time to readjust after our last trip—the contrast with our daily life was just so stark.
Everything felt so simple and natural there... We were in this green paradise at the end of May 2026.
Our itinerary included: Manuel Antonio National Park and its beaches, Quepos and its marina (with a beautiful pair of scarlet macaws along the way), a photo stop at Crocodile Bridge on the way back to San José, and then the Caribbean coast with Cahuita National Park (an 8 km trail with caimans, sloths, and a tour with a local guide). We wrapped up with Tortuguero, accessible only by boat, before a final stop in the tropical rainforest of Sarapiquí and its stunning Selva Verde Lodge.
Our daily itinerary: |15/05/2026 Day 1|✈ Arrival — Juan Santamaría Airport, San José |16/05/2026 Day 2|🏠 San José |17/05/2026 Day 3|🚗 Road → Monteverde |18/05/2026 Day 4|🌳 Monteverde — Cloud Forest |19/05/2026 Day 5|🚤 Road → Manuel Antonio / Quepos |20/05/2026 Day 6|🦜 Manuel Antonio National Park |21/05/2026 Day 7|🏝 Manuel Antonio — Water activities |22/05/2026 Day 8|🌿 Manuel Antonio — Free day |23/05/2026 Day 9|✈ Juan Santamaría Airport |24/05/2026 Day 10|👨🌾 Road → Cahuita National Park |25/05/2026 Day 11|🐊 Cahuita National Park |26/05/2026 Day 12|🏝 Cahuita — Caribbean culture |27/05/2026 Day 13|🐢 Road → Tortuguero |28/05/2026 Day 14|🐊 Tortuguero — Canals & Jungle |29/05/2026 Day 15|⛺ Road to Sarapiquí |30/05/2026 Day 16|✈ Departure — Juan Santamaría Airport
We documented every step in detail (itinerary, practical tips, animals we spotted) in our travel journal: https://studiodurhone.blogspot.com
Feel free to ask if you have questions about any part of the trip!
It took us a long time to readjust after our last trip—the contrast with our daily life was just so stark.
Everything felt so simple and natural there... We were in this green paradise at the end of May 2026.
Our itinerary included: Manuel Antonio National Park and its beaches, Quepos and its marina (with a beautiful pair of scarlet macaws along the way), a photo stop at Crocodile Bridge on the way back to San José, and then the Caribbean coast with Cahuita National Park (an 8 km trail with caimans, sloths, and a tour with a local guide). We wrapped up with Tortuguero, accessible only by boat, before a final stop in the tropical rainforest of Sarapiquí and its stunning Selva Verde Lodge.
Our daily itinerary: |15/05/2026 Day 1|✈ Arrival — Juan Santamaría Airport, San José |16/05/2026 Day 2|🏠 San José |17/05/2026 Day 3|🚗 Road → Monteverde |18/05/2026 Day 4|🌳 Monteverde — Cloud Forest |19/05/2026 Day 5|🚤 Road → Manuel Antonio / Quepos |20/05/2026 Day 6|🦜 Manuel Antonio National Park |21/05/2026 Day 7|🏝 Manuel Antonio — Water activities |22/05/2026 Day 8|🌿 Manuel Antonio — Free day |23/05/2026 Day 9|✈ Juan Santamaría Airport |24/05/2026 Day 10|👨🌾 Road → Cahuita National Park |25/05/2026 Day 11|🐊 Cahuita National Park |26/05/2026 Day 12|🏝 Cahuita — Caribbean culture |27/05/2026 Day 13|🐢 Road → Tortuguero |28/05/2026 Day 14|🐊 Tortuguero — Canals & Jungle |29/05/2026 Day 15|⛺ Road to Sarapiquí |30/05/2026 Day 16|✈ Departure — Juan Santamaría Airport
We documented every step in detail (itinerary, practical tips, animals we spotted) in our travel journal: https://studiodurhone.blogspot.com
Feel free to ask if you have questions about any part of the trip!
