Costa Rica - Panama
Day 1: We take a scheduled flight from Hamburg via Frankfurt to San José , the capital of Costa Rica. Since we land early in the morning and can check into our hotel right away, we rest for a while. After regaining some energy from the long journey, we use the time for a stroll around the city . First, we wander through the area around Avenida Central with its central market . Then we make a quick photo stop at the Iglesia La Soledad . Next, we head to the Plaza de la Libertad Electoral and the National Monument . We also check out some of the famous street art graffiti . Finally, we take a photo at the National Museum , where you can still see the bullet holes from the civil war (1948). At dinner, we realize for the first time that Costa Rica has a rather high cost of living. It's not for nothing that the country is considered the Switzerland of Central America. Back at the hotel, we're still struggling to fall asleep due to the seven-hour jet lag.
Day 2: Today we meet our English-speaking tour guide. This is our first time on a tour conducted entirely in English , and we can already say that we don't want to do it again . As non-native speakers, a 16-day trip conducted solely in English is very tiring. Anyway, we leave the capital today and head towards the Caribbean coast. The drive takes us through vast banana plantations to the boat dock, and from there we continue by boat along canals and waterways to Tortuguero and a jungle lodge. This boat trip to the lodge is fantastic and definitely worth doing. In the afternoon, we have an excursion along the beach to the nearby village of Tortuguero . The two large wooden birds there make for a fun photo opportunity . There's also a turtle museum .
Day 3: Today's program focuses on exploring the canals of Tortuguero National Park and its impressive flora and fauna . A morning canal cruise and a hike through the rainforest offer opportunities to spot crocodiles, caimans, freshwater turtles, iguanas, bats, and undoubtedly a wide variety of birds. After lunch, we'll take another boat trip through the canals and the park's stunning natural landscape. The rest of the day will be spent relaxing at the lodge.
Day 4: We return to the boat dock by boat and continue by bus to Siquirres . We drive along the Caribbean coast to the Selva Bananito Lodge. The last stretch to the lodge is quite an adventure. We have to drive through a river and even switch to a larger, more robust off-road vehicle. We reach the lodge via a very eroded and bumpy road. The Selva Bananito Lodge is an eco-lodge in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica and specializes in ecotourism. Everything is geared towards sustainability; there is solar-heated water and no electricity (so hairdryers and razors won't work). Sharing a meal by candlelight amidst nature is a truly unique experience.
Day 5: Today we simply want to enjoy the seclusion of nature around us. In the morning, we'll take part in a guided hike through the rainforest . Afterward, we'll go to a nearby stream to play. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love being by streams and tidying them up a bit—removing wood from the streambed, rearranging stones so the water flows better... you know, the usual stuff. The lodge's sheepdog accompanied us and helped diligently. In the afternoon, we'll sit on a horse for the first time and go for a long ride around the lodge grounds. All in all, a wonderfully peaceful and relaxing day in nature.
Day 6: After breakfast, we head back to civilization. The lodge's jeep drops us off at an intersection in Bananito Sur , where we wait for our connecting transfer. It's quite desolate there, so we get a slightly strange feeling while we wait. After a while, our driver arrives in a cloud of dust, and we head towards the border with Panama. Crossing the border into Panama is a highlight in itself. We have to walk across a rickety, disused old railway bridge over the Río Sixaola with our luggage. We have to be careful not to fall, as some of the wooden planks are missing. By far the most adventurous border crossing. We arrive safely on the other side of the bridge, where our driver is waiting for us with a rather peculiar smile. He probably occasionally has to take guests to the hospital instead of to their hotel. In any case, we're off to the port city of Almirante . From there, we take a speedboat to the small town of Bocas del Toro on the main island of Colón . During the journey along the small and larger islands, it becomes clear that this region is considered Panama's Caribbean island paradise.
Day 7: In the morning, we enjoyed our free day on Bocas del Toro by the hotel pool. With the weather being slightly overcast, I skipped sunscreen, a decision that would prove disastrous. After relaxing by the pool, we went into town. There are several cozy bars, restaurants, souvenir stands, and shops. The atmosphere was relaxed and typical of the Caribbean. However, my skin felt tight. Back at the hotel, I took off my shirt and discovered I had a terrible sunburn. I completely underestimated the weather and the clouds this morning. Unfortunately, the pain severely disrupted my sleep.
Day 8: We used our second free day to relax and, of course, to pamper ourselves. After our time there, we have to say that Bocas del Toro is a truly wonderful place. We highly recommend a visit or a longer trip there.
Day 9: After breakfast, we returned to Almirante by boat. After a short ride, we reached the "famous" border crossing at Sixaola . We wobbled across the rickety railway bridge once again, trying not to fall. Back in Costa Rica, two drivers met us for the trip to Puerto Viejo . During the drive, we had a strange feeling that something wasn't quite right. We couldn't understand why two drivers were taking us in a private car, especially since they didn't speak a word of English, had no travel agency sign in the car or on their shirts, and were behaving rather oddly. Everything turned out fine, but we were probably a little too caught up in the holiday spirit. We relaxed a bit on the beautiful beach in Puerto Viejo before being picked up for our excursion to Cahuita National Park . We hiked through Cahuita National Park with a nature guide. The guide shows us various spots between Cahuita Peak and the town of Cahuita with different types of snakes, sloths, capuchin and howler monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, raccoons, beautiful butterflies, birds and various plants.
Day 10: Today's excursion takes us around Puerto Viejo . First , we 'll visit an iguana farm and a medicinal plant garden in the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve . A small indigenous family here is dedicated to breeding the green iguana, which was once threatened with extinction and was saved thanks to this and similar initiatives. Afterward, we'll visit another family in the Bri-Bri Indigenous Reserve , where we'll have the opportunity to learn about the properties and uses of various plants. It's wonderful to see people who still live in such harmony with nature. Chocolate is very important in Bri-Bri culture; it's used in cleansing rituals, as well as for food and medicine... I always knew it, chocolate is medicine! Together with the family, we'll make our own chocolate and discover that raw cacao doesn't taste good at all . It takes quite a bit of sugar to achieve the classic chocolate flavor. Finally, we'll hike to a waterfall where we'll take a refreshing dip right below the falls and enjoy some fruit . We eat an incredibly delicious pineapple. Our amazing tour ends at a local restaurant where we enjoy a tasty, typical Caribbean meal.
Day 11: Today we leave Puerto Viejo. We drive via Limón to Turrialba . In this hilly, picturesque region, sugarcane is the main crop, along with coffee. Our hotel is located north of Turrialba in Santa Cruz, overlooking the valley. We've booked a canyoning and canopy tour for the afternoon, without really knowing what to expect. We zip down zip lines and rappel down waterfalls through stunning scenery. It's a truly wonderful experience, if only it weren't so cold and wet. The water in the mountains is quite cold, and without wetsuits, it becomes unpleasant, especially during the zip line descents. Back at the hotel, we practically tear our wet clothes off, jump into bed... and then it slowly gets warmer, and our spirits return.
Day 12: This morning we'll first visit the Irazú volcano . You can easily walk right up to the rim and take some beautiful photos . Afterwards, we'll travel via Cartago and Alajuela to La Fortuna .
Day 13: Today in La Fortuna, two beautiful tours await us. Our excursion begins early in the morning at the " Hanging Bridge Reserve ." The trail leads across several 50-meter-high metal bridges, offering magnificent views of the forest's biodiversity. Here, you can observe birds, and sometimes monkeys, koalas, and sloths. It's also simply fascinating to walk right through the treetops. After lunch, we head to Arenal National Park and the Ecotermales hot springs . Even though the eruption of Arenal was several decades ago, it remains Costa Rica's most active volcano. Since 1968, small eruptions have been regularly observed, with glowing lava fragments tumbling down the mountain. In the national park, we'll hike short trails through secondary forest and across lava fields. It's also possible to enjoy a relaxing soak in the park's hot springs.
Day 14: We drive back to the Central Valley to San José . As on the first day, we use the time for a leisurely stroll through the city before heading home tomorrow. In conclusion, we have to say that the landscape in Costa Rica is truly beautiful. For nature lovers, it's definitely a dream destination. As already mentioned, Costa Rica is not a "cheap" travel destination when it comes to the cost of living.