pura vida costa rica destination guide

We’ll take you on a Costa Rica hiking adventure through Arenal Volcano National Park, where you’ll get up close and personal with one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Walk through a wonderland of lava fields, old lava rocks and lush forests, all backed by stunning views of the volcano and Arenal Lake, the largest lake in Costa Rica.

You’ll feel the Pura Vida way of life take over as soon you arrive in San Jose, the charming capital of Costa Rica. Take in all the highlights on a San Jose sightseeing tour with us, as we go from Barrio Amón, lined with colonial mansions converted into trendy art galleries, to Barrio Escalante, the best place in the city to grab a bite to eat.

We’ll be listening out for the collective gasps of amazement as we climb high into the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a nature lover’s paradise. It’s home to around 2.5 percent of the world’s plants and animals so keep your eyes peeled for sloths, toucans and monkeys as you walk along the treetop bridges… you might even spot a super rare Quetzal!

If you're visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest, you can't miss the Sky Tram and Sky Trek. We hopped on board a gondola and flew among the trees, keeping watch for all the wildlife. At the end of the Sky Tram, you can either glide back to the starting point or get an adrenaline rush on the Sky Trek, where you fly over the forest on a series of ten ziplines. All the ziplines give you a 360° view of the rainforest and it's definitely an experience I'll never forget!

Guanacaste has some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica and they're perfect for swimming, surfing or simply lazing on the sand. Some of my favourite beaches were Playa Flamingo, which had the most incredible fine white sand and crystal clear waters, and I also loved Playa Tamarindo, the famous surfing beach where I had a go at riding the waves!

We visited a real working farm in Monteverde and got to see all kinds of crops including oranges, bananas, sugarcane and coffee plantations. We got to learn how liquor is made out of sugarcane and how they make coffee from bean to cup. Best of all, we got to taste all the delicious products!