Costa Rica road trip: Guanacaste to Arenal Volcano
The 1189.5 km route covers the key regions of Costa Rica: the province of Guanacaste, the coastal cities of Nosara, Las Catalinas and Ojosal, the Balena National Park with unique beaches, the Arenal volcano and the resort town of Uvita. The journey shows the diversity of the country's landscapes from rainforests to the seaside.
- Distance
- 1189.5 km
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Orosi, Costa Rica
- End
- Arenal Volcano
- Stops
- 8
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Orosi, Costa Rica
- Guanacaste — Region where the speaker prepared dinners; main direction for expat relocation
- Uvita — Coastal city visited by the speaker during their month in Costa Rica
- Nosara — Home to a world-renowned yoga institute and center of yoga culture; expat destination
- Las Catalinas — Expat settlement and coastal community
- Ojochal — Expat destination in the Uvita/southern zone region
- Ballena Marine National Park — Costa Ballena region; whales migrate to Costa Rican beaches; part of 29 national parks
- Arenal Volcano — Iconic natural wonder; represents the volcanic landscape of Costa Rica
Useful for your trip
- Tip
- 25% of Costa Rica's territory is national parks (29 parks). The rainforests are home to half a million species of animals, 950 species of birds, and 15,000 species of butterflies
- Where to stay
- The main regions for expats to live in are the province of Guanacaste and the Costa Balena region, including the cities of Las Catalinas, Nosara, Ojojal and Uvita
- Tip
- Costa Rica is located between two oceans. The country is smaller than Portugal, about the size of Lake Michigan in the United States
- Tip
- The local jungle is inhabited by poisonous scorpions and other dangerous animals. Nature here is full of wonders and real dangers, this is not a tourist park
- Tip
- 99% of Costa Rica's energy is produced from renewable sources. The country does not produce oil and has remained unarmed for more than 75 years
- Food
- In Costa Rica, the state is actively fighting for organic farming instead of using pesticides for the health of local residents
- Tip
- The local philosophy of life is called 'Pura Vida' – joy in simplicity. This is the basic principle that makes the people of the country happy
- Where to stay
- The Yoga Center in Nosar has been instrumental in the development of the place as a world center of yoga culture. Retreats and wellness programs are now popular here
- Tip
- The country has a 'Blue Zone' – a region where people live longer and happier thanks to lifestyle and ecology
- Avoid
- The road infrastructure in Costa Rica has significant problems. Roads require careful driving and extra travel time
- Tip
- Costa Rica attracts more than 40 million digital nomads. The country ranked first among countries for expats last year
- Where to stay
- Luxury hotels of the Four Seasons, Marriott, Hyatt, InterContinental and Waldorf Astoria chains are under construction. Airports and runways for private jets are being developed
Video on this route
Costa Rica: One of the Best Countries to Live in | Letaev Vlog