Hayley in Costa Rica - Wildlife and Wellness

After a night in San José staying at Finca Rosa Blanca to catch up on some sleep after the long flight, I headed back to the airport to catch a small domestic flight down to the Osa Peninsula. The flight was an adventure in itself! I was lucky enough to be sitting on the left-hand side of the plane, which gave me some incredible views of the lush forest stretching down to meet the Pacific Ocean. It was a pretty spectacular way to start the next part of the trip.

On arrival at Golfito airport, we had a short road transfer before a 30 minute boat ride over to Playa Cativo Lodge. The journey was smooth and incredibly scenic, and we even caught sight of some spotted and bottlenose dolphins along the way.

Staying at Playa Cativo was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. It felt like a real paradise for anyone who loves wildlife, with beautiful views across the waters of Golfo Dulce. There was so much to see just around the lodge. I was lucky enough to spot black river turtles, tree frogs, morpho butterflies, coatis, wild pigs, monkeys and plenty of lizards. You never quite knew what you might come across next!

The morning yoga was also a lovely way to start the day, especially in such a beautiful setting.

https://lastfrontiers.com/hotels/costa-rica/san-jose-and-surrounds/rosablanca

https://lastfrontiers.com/hotels/costa-rica/the-osa-peninsula/playa-cativo

I then flew back to San José, where the road trip began, with the first stop being Bajos del Toro in the Central Highlands. I stayed at El Silencio Lodge, a beautiful property tucked away in the cloud forest about 90 minutes from San José. After an afternoon hike to a nearby waterfall, with plenty of bird sightings along the way, I’d definitely worked up an appetite! I had a delicious meal at their Las Ventanas Restaurant, where many of the ingredients come straight from their own organic mini-farm.

Then it was onwards to Arenal for a couple of action-packed days. There was plenty to keep me busy, including sloth spotting, a hanging bridges tour, a night safari and even a traditional Costa Rican cooking class. I stayed at Tabacón Resort and Spa, a comfortable hotel with its own thermal springs. 

https://lastfrontiers.com/hotels/costa-rica/the-central-highlands/elsilencio

https://lastfrontiers.com/hotels/costa-rica/arenal-and-the-north-east/tabacon

I continued by road to Bagaces, where I got to experience the exhilarating zip-lining through the grounds of Río Perdido, my home for the night. As a novice zip-liner, I was a little apprehensive, but the guides were excellent and really put our group at ease. What an unforgettable experience! However, if zip-lining isn't for you, there are many hiking and biking trails to enjoy at your own pace, or simply relax by the pool where the howler monkeys hang out in the surrounding trees.

https://lastfrontiers.com/hotels/costa-rica/rincon-de-la-vieja-and-tenorio/rioperdido

The last two nights of my journey were spent in Nosara a small town on the Nicoya Peninsula renowned for its yoga, surfing and wellness scene. I stayed at Esh, a boutique hotel which really was the perfect place to relax and unwind at the end of such an action-packed trip. Despite travelling during the “green season”, I was lucky enough to enjoy dry weather and blue skies, creating the perfect conditions for a catamaran trip to a beautiful pink-sand island, where we enjoyed some snorkelling. On my final evening in Costa Rica, I was invited to a cacao ceremony. It was a unique and uplifting experience, and something I had never experienced before. It was a lovely way to end my time in Costa Rica, leaving me feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and with a real sense of wellbeing.

https://www.lastfrontiers.com/hotels/costa-rica/the-nicoya-peninsula/esh-hotel