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Costa Rica

La Fortuna & Manuel Antonio | 2026

Relive your travels, to inspire new adventures.

AMERICAS
UNITED STATES
COSTA RICA

Costa Rica

05/08/2026 - 05/16/2026

The Roberts Family

5,629

miles travelled

22

places visited

9

unforgettable days

Day 1FROM SAN DIEGO TO SANJOSEDay 2SANCTUARY IN THERAINFORESTDay 3THE HEART OF LAFORTUNADay 4A DAY OF RELAXATIONAT NAYARA TENTED CAMP& HOT SPRINGSDay 5THE WILD COSTA RICA:WHITE WATER RAFTINGAND ATV ADVENTURE.Day 6LEAVING ARENAL TOENJOY THE PACIFICSOUL OF COSTA RICADay 7MANUEL ANTONIONATIONAL PARKDay 8MANUEL ANTONIO CANOPYTOUR AND ZIP LINEDay 9OUR LAST DAY IN COSTARICA
DAY 1 · 05/08/2026

From San Diego to San Jose

WHAT WE VISITED

Aeropuerto Internacional de San Diego

Aeropuerto William P. Hobby

Hotel Courtyard de Marriott • Alajuela

Juan Santamaría International Airport

Arenal Volcano National Park

Costa Rica

Costa Rica reveals its soul in the verdant highlands, where the air thins and the horizon stretches across rolling, emerald-hued valleys. This is a landscape defined by its dramatic topography, where volcanic soil nurtures a lush, persistent wilderness. The architecture here often seeks to frame this natural majesty, blending refined interiors with the wild, botanical patterns of the surrounding rainforest. Within these sanctuaries, the atmosphere is one of quiet repose, marked by the scent of tropical blooms and the soft, filtered light that descends through the canopy. It is a place where the rhythm of the day is dictated by the slow drift of mountain mist and the vibrant, enduring pulse of a land that remains deeply connected to its volcanic origins.

DAY 2 · 05/09/2026

Sanctuary in the Rainforest

WHAT WE VISITED

Alajuela Province

Nayara Tented Camp

La Fortuna

Arenal Volcano National Park

Costa Rica

Nestled within the lush, emerald embrace of Costa Rica’s northern lowlands, Nayara Tented Camp offers a profound immersion into the vibrant heart of the rainforest. Here, the architecture dissolves into the landscape, with elevated walkways winding through a dense canopy of palms and ferns that hum with the rhythmic pulse of tropical life. The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth and blooming flora, a sensory tapestry that defines this corner of the world. It is a place where the philosophy of 'Pura Vida'—a celebration of simple, pure existence—is not merely a local greeting but a way of life. As the sun dips below the horizon, the forest transforms, and the quiet elegance of the camp provides a serene refuge beneath the vast, starlit canopy of the jungle.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Sharing refreshing fruit cocktails in the open-air lounge.

DAY 3 · 05/10/2026

The Heart of La Fortuna

WHAT WE VISITED

Mystic Suspension Bridges

Puentes Colgantes Arenal

La Fortuna Waterfall

Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal

Costa Rica

In the shadow of the Arenal Volcano, the landscape of Costa Rica unfolds as a vibrant tapestry of life. This iconic peak, long dormant after its dramatic 1968 eruption, now stands as a silent guardian over a lush, emerald wilderness. Beneath its slopes, the forest canopy is a world unto itself, where hanging bridges offer a rare vantage point into the high-altitude realm of birds and monkeys. Below, the La Fortuna Waterfall plunges into a crystalline pool, its thunderous roar echoing through the humid air. The region is a sanctuary of biodiversity, where the brilliant flash of a strawberry poison-dart frog against mossy bark reveals the intricate, hidden rhythms of a thriving ecosystem that has reclaimed the volcanic earth with relentless, beautiful vitality.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Crossing the high suspension bridges above the canopy.

DAY 4 · 05/11/2026

A Day of Relaxation at Nayara Tented Camp & Hot Springs

WHAT WE VISITED

Nayara Tented Camp

Costa Rica

Deep within the verdant embrace of Costa Rica’s rainforest, the landscape breathes with a rhythm dictated by the canopy. Here, architecture bows to nature, with open-air pavilions and stone-lined pools that mirror the surrounding emerald foliage. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming tropical flora, a sensory tapestry that has defined this region for millennia. As night falls, the forest transforms; the silence is replaced by a symphony of nocturnal life, where the iconic red-eyed tree frog emerges, a vibrant splash of colour against the dark, towering bamboo stalks. It is a place where the boundary between the built environment and the wild dissolves, inviting a profound connection to the ancient, pulsing heart of the jungle.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Soaking in the natural stone pools amidst the jungle.

DAY 5 · 05/12/2026

The Wild Costa Rica: White Water Rafting and ATV Adventure.

WHAT WE VISITED

Tirimbina Biological Reserve

Río Sarapiquí

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a land defined by the raw, untamed energy of its volcanic landscapes and the relentless vitality of its rainforests. Here, the earth feels alive, shaped by ancient geological forces that have carved deep river canyons and fertile valleys. The rivers, fed by tropical rains, surge through dense corridors of emerald foliage, their currents a testament to the island’s powerful hydrological cycle. These waterways have long served as the lifeblood of the region, sustaining a staggering biodiversity that thrives in the humid, oxygen-rich air. Whether navigating the rugged, mud-slicked trails that wind through the canopy or braving the turbulent, white-water rapids, one encounters a terrain that demands respect and rewards curiosity with unparalleled natural beauty.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Navigating the turbulent rapids of a tropical river

DAY 6 · 05/13/2026

Leaving Arenal to enjoy the Pacific Soul of Costa Rica

WHAT WE VISITED

Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica

Where the dense, emerald canopy of the Costa Rican rainforest meets the vast expanse of the Pacific, the coastal town of Jacó serves as a vibrant gateway to the country’s wild heart. The landscape is defined by dramatic cliffs that plunge into the surf, offering panoramic vistas of a coastline shaped by ancient volcanic activity and the relentless tides. Within the lush forest fringes, white-faced capuchin monkeys navigate the treetops with agile grace, while open-air pavilions, crafted from local timber and woven fibers, provide serene sanctuaries for reflection. This is a place where the rhythm of the ocean dictates the pace of life, blending the raw, untamed energy of the jungle with the quiet, sun-drenched stillness of the shore.

DAY 7 · 05/14/2026

Manuel Antonio National Park

WHAT WE VISITED

Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort

Quepos

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Where the dense, emerald canopy of the rainforest meets the crystalline Pacific, Manuel Antonio National Park stands as a testament to Costa Rica’s commitment to the wild. Within this coastal sanctuary, ancient trees draped in lianas provide a sanctuary for three-toed sloths, which move with a deliberate, meditative grace through the high branches. Below, the forest floor is a labyrinth of dappled light and shadow, where the scent of damp earth and salt air mingles. Hidden streams, tinted a milky, ethereal blue by volcanic minerals, carve through the undergrowth, while black-striped iguanas cling to sun-drenched trunks. The park’s coastline is defined by dramatic headlands and secluded coves, where the rhythmic pulse of the tide shapes the fine, pale sands of a landscape that feels untouched by time.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Posing for portraits on the pristine tropical shoreline.

DAY 8 · 05/15/2026

Manuel Antonio Canopy Tour and Zip line

WHAT WE VISITED

El Santuario Canopy Adventure Tour

Manuel Antonio Beach

Costa Rica

The lush, verdant heart of Costa Rica reveals itself through a tapestry of ancient rainforests and pristine Pacific shores. High above the forest floor, the canopy serves as a vibrant, living bridge where the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and tropical blooms. Here, the rhythm of life is dictated by the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of hidden wildlife. Descending toward the coast, the landscape shifts to the rhythmic pulse of the Pacific, where the tide meets sand in a timeless dance. This is a land defined by its profound biodiversity and a deep-rooted culinary heritage, where the simple, smoky aroma of fresh tortillas cooking on a traditional comal connects the present to generations of agricultural tradition.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Ziplining through the dense tropical rainforest canopy.

DAY 9 · 05/16/2026

Our last day in Costa Rica

WHAT WE VISITED

Arenas del Mar

Playitas Beach Club & Restaurant

Costa Rica

Last night in Costa Rica with a special BBQ at Playitas Beachfront Restaurant. A special surprise during dinner........ baby turtles hatching on the beach. Pura Vida!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Helping get the baby turtles safe to the ocean

Here's to many more stories waiting to be written together.

Stephanie Roberts
+1 925-250-5526
stephanie@sharonwalterstravel.com

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