After arrival, you will pick up your rental car (following the instructions received before departure) and head to your accommodation. You don't have to worry about driving in this country at all. Traffic is mostly calm and drivers respect the rules. Even though some roads are harder to navigate, the main ones are in good condition, and you don't need to worry about the places I'm taking you, except during the rainy season.

Safety Recommendations: When traveling around Costa Rica, follow basic safety precautions and pay particular attention to your personal belongings. Never leave documents, money, electronics, or luggage unattended, and ideally use guarded parking lots. After dark, avoid abandoned, remote, and poorly lit places, and plan longer car trips during daylight if possible. Drive carefully, as roads can be narrow and winding, and potholes or closures can appear during heavy rains. In nature, stay on marked trails and respect the instructions of parks and local authorities - you may encounter venomous snakes in most parts of the country; keep a safe distance and you won't have anything to worry about. On beaches, watch out for strong rip currents, observe warning flags, and do not swim alone in remote locations. You don't need to be afraid, but it is good to follow the rules and behave with respect.

• Prices in this itinerary may change; always verify them yourself on the official websites of the locations.

For accommodation after your arrival, I recommend choosing the town of Alajuela. It's close to the airport and, unlike the capital, it's not chaotic. Use your time to relax, perhaps head to one of the local restaurants to get to know Costa Rican cuisine, or take a trip to the nearby Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm.

A former recreational park that hasn't been used in a long time. You can reach the waterfalls by crossing private land - park at the entrance shack, the owner will point you across their pastures, and you give them a small tip of your choice as a thank you. Then, a roughly 15-minute descent awaits you to two waterfalls, where you'll most likely be all alone. 

The Monteverde region is a cloud forest area stretching across both sides of the Cordillera de Tilaran mountain range. It is characterized by lower temperatures, high humidity, and immense biodiversity. There are several reserves here crisscrossed by trails for visitors, and some even feature observation towers and hanging bridges.

High-quality coffee is grown in the area, and you can taste it in one of the local cafes. I personally recommend Café Monteverde, which you can find either right in the center of Santa Elena or about a kilometer before the entrance to the Monteverde Reserve.

You'll arrive in Santa Elena by early afternoon. Check into your accommodation and head over to the Ranario, or frog pond. It's a series of terrariums where you can hunt for and admire poison dart frogs and more. Your ticket is valid for two visits: one guided tour and one self-guided walk. I recommend taking the guided tour first so you'll know where to look for the frogs during your second visit.

This reserve offers the same experience as the better-known Monteverde, but it's much less crowded, giving you more peace to admire all sorts of plants and, with a bit of luck, some animals too. There are several trails of various lengths in the park, the shortest being 1.5 km; all are marked, so you can explore them without a guide. One trail even leads to a lookout tower, from where you'll have a view of the Arenal volcano if the weather is nice. But even if the humidity builds up and it starts drizzling—which isn't unusual in this area—you'll still enjoy the trip. With the mist and the ghostly trees and plants, you'll feel like you're in one of Zeman’s films.

The Four Waterfalls area – each one different, but every one more beautiful than the next. You pay the entrance fee at a small shop before turning off the main road, where you’ll also get a small map. Drive about one kilometer to the parking lot and then head down the trail. Make sure to give yourself enough time: there’s a rest area with picnic tables at Rainbow Falls, so grab some snacks and have a picnic. You won't regret it!

An absolutely incredible beach with calm water, lined with dozens of palm trees and almost undiscovered by Western tourists. Enjoy morning walks, afternoon swims, and evening sunsets. At one end, a small river flows into the ocean, and swimming is prohibited at its mouth due to crocodiles (I didn't see any), but just walk a few dozen meters further and join the locals in the water. Or head to the very other end (a beautiful 3 km walk on the sand under the palm trees) and you'll have calm water for swimming and a view of the coastal hills all to yourself. 

I run out of superlatives to describe this beach. Mel Gibson, who owned a ranch up on the cliff, wanted access here to be reserved for him alone. That's how enchanted he was by it. He didn't succeed, so now you can lounge in the shade of the palms, watch hermit crabs, and let the waves wash over you.

It would be a shame to leave the Nicoya Peninsula without seeing this beach. While it might not be as stunning as Barrigona, it's definitely worth a visit. Plus, turtles nest here from May to November. Even if you visit at another time, go for a walk, say hi to the local fishermen, and take a dip. There's also a marked trail through the forest starting from the info center near the parking lot that you can explore.

This is the destination for today. Your accommodation will make you feel like you're in a botanical garden, where you can relax in a hammock surrounded by lush nature after your journey or take a dip in the pool. If you'd like, however, the paid Rio Negro Hot Springs are just nine kilometers away (I haven't tried them myself, so I can't personally recommend them, but they have very good reviews :-))

It's better to buy your park tickets in advance on the official website. There are several trails in this park that lead around still-active volcanoes. I recommend combining two of them. The easy three-kilometer Las Pailas Circular Trail takes you among bubbling, steam-releasing mud pots—where temperatures in some can reach up to 106°C—and past a waterfall. From there, you can connect to the trail leading to La Cangreja waterfall. This route is longer, 5 km each way, so consider your stamina carefully. But if you're physically fit, I highly recommend going all the way to the end to enjoy the view of the stunning waterfall. And if you're as lucky as I was, you might even spot some coatis.

A quick stop by the bridge, where you're guaranteed to see crocodiles lazing around in the mud.

The starting point for visiting Costa Rica's most popular national park, Manuel Antonio. Check into your accommodation and, if you have time, head over for a swim at one of the beaches.

The capacity of this national park is limited to 2,000 visitors per day, so be sure to buy your tickets in advance on the official booking website. I recommend going as early as possible. There won't be as many visitors in the park yet, allowing you to better enjoy the magic of the beaches, and the wildlife is more likely to appear (with the exception of capuchins, which are ubiquitous mainly near the snack stands). You can't get lost in the park; there are well-marked trails throughout.

A kilometers-long beach where you probably won't do much swimming due to the waves, but where you'll most likely be able to enjoy the ocean, sand, and sun all to yourself...

A small national park where you can stretch your legs during an hour-long walk. You'll see leaf-cutter ants marching in lines with pieces of leaves, some small mammals, and if you're lucky, even macaws.