Travel guide
Plan your Costa Rica holiday
Explore the main regions, suggested route and practical planning advice.
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Destination collection · Cooee Tours
Explore Costa Rica
Wildlife, cloud forest and Pacific coast. Discover the places, experiences and practical guides for planning your journey.
Explore the guide ↓Arenal Volcano above forest in Costa Rica · Photo: Owen Hills-Klaus / Unsplash
Choose your own pace
Wildlife, cloud forest and Pacific coast
Start with the experiences that matter to you, then connect your bases, accommodation and transfers. These guides help you move from an idea to a considered holiday plan.
Experiences
Things to do in Costa Rica
Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio: What to Do
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Where to Stay in Costa Rica
Compare areas and overnight bases for Costa Rica, with practical advice on location, route planning and the experience each base suits.
Explore →Plan your stay
Where to Eat in Costa Rica
Plan meals in Costa Rica, from useful dining areas to food experiences, with advice on location, dietary needs and fitting meals into your days.
Explore →Plan your stay
Transport in Costa Rica
Plan travel around Costa Rica: arrival transfers, journeys between bases and the connections to confirm before booking.
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Accommodation in Costa Rica
Compare accommodation styles in Costa Rica, with practical checks for rooms, meals, access, inclusions and booking terms.
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| Area | Holiday focus | Planning consideration |
|---|---|---|
| La Fortuna / Arenal | Volcano scenery, hot springs and nature excursions | Compare town convenience with a lodge’s grounds and transfer costs. |
| Monteverde | Cloud forest and guided nature walks | Cooler, mistier conditions call for layers and realistic road time. |
| Manuel Antonio / Quepos | Coastal scenery and a national-park visit | Check the hillside location, beach access and park booking arrangements. |
Build wildlife time into the route
An itinerary designed around nature works best when it includes time to observe rather than just time to arrive. A guided walk early in a stay can help you understand what to look for during later free time. Choose a few contrasting habitats instead of repeating the same activity in every base. Keep expectations realistic: no operator can guarantee a particular wild animal will appear on demand.
An accessible version of a nature holiday
Start by identifying the experience you want—forest interpretation, scenery or wildlife—then ask operators how it can be delivered for your group. Trail surfaces, bridge access, steps and vehicle distances matter more than a broad easy label. A shorter guided visit can be more rewarding than struggling through a longer route. Check the whole day, including bathrooms and restaurant access, before deciding an excursion is suitable.
An outline to adapt
This is a planning framework, not a confirmed tour departure. Adjust it to your arrival and departure flights, interests and current conditions.
| Time | Base | Suggested approach |
|---|---|---|
| Nights 1–4 | Arenal area | Allow arrival time, one guided nature day and one activity or hot-springs day. |
| Nights 5–7 | Monteverde | Use a full day for forest exploring and another for a different activity or slower pace. |
| Nights 8–12 | Pacific coast | Combine a park visit with beach time; return towards the departure airport with a buffer. |
Official planning resources
Research reviewed 13 November 2026. Entry rules, transport, access and operating conditions can change; check these sources again before booking.
Make it your kind of journey
Enquire with Cooee →A little planning. A remarkable holiday.
Tell us your travel dates, interests and preferred pace. Enquire with Cooee Tours about your next journey.