I’m excited to share more about where to go in Costa Rica for a long weekend getaway!
I have wanted to visit Costa Rica for as long as I can remember. Growing up on Folly Beach, a surf town, people were always heading to Costa Rica to surf the larger waves. I remember hearing stories about the beaches, and of course, the rainforests.
I finally got the opportunity to visit Costa Rica for a long weekend in January a few years back. There is nothing better than heading south when the weather gets cooler at home! While this was much different than a surf trip, we had the best time enjoying the luxuries of Costa Rica. Although it was a short trip, I got a taste of the “pura vida” lifestyle and am eager to go back to explore this beautiful country.
Pura Vida translates to pure life in English. It’s more than simply a phrase, but a way of life in Costa Rica. You will quite literally hear these words any time you speak to a Costa Rican. It’s a beautiful sentiment that celebrates their way of life.
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Where is Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in Central America sharing borders with Nicaragua and Panama. It is sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea to the East and Pacific Ocean to the West. Costa Rica is known for its biodiversity featuring volcanoes, rainforests, and beaches. It’s also home to exotic wildlife including parrots, sloths, and monkeys! Costa Rica is a peaceful country that does not even have an army! There’s really something to that Pura Vida, after all.
You can easily travel to Costa Rica for a long weekend from the USA via their two international airports in San Jose (SJO), the capital, or Liberia (LIR) for easy access to the west coast. For exploring the beaches of Guanacaste, you’ll fly into LIR and for the Caribbean, central, and southern parts, SJO is your best choice.
The Basics
- Language: Spanish and English – there are tons of ex-pats from USA and Canada.
- Currency: Costa Rican Colon
- Adapters: US travelers do not typically need a converter!
- Costs: Costa Rica is more expensive than you think, but nothing that costs more than home in the US.
- Safety: Costa Rica is very safe, but like anywhere be aware of your surroundings. There are unsafe neighborhoods and people in every country.
Best Area to Stay in Costa Rica for A Long Weekend
Trying to decide which part of Costa Rica to visit and then where to stay was a bit overwhelming. It’s a large country with SO many options. It’s like trying to decide where to go in the US for the first time. We narrowed it down to the Guanacaste region after determining we wanted to be on the Pacific side and from there explored the best hotels. There are lovely properties like the Four Seasons, Andaz, and the Westin, but there was one hotel that was riiiiiight up our alley!
Best Hotel in Guanacaste Region
Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas is an adults only hotel located above the beautiful town of Las Catalinas. The town is a fairly new development with villas, dining, shopping, and is completely walkable – no cars allowed! I wrote a whole post about our experience if you’d like a deep dive!
Casa Chameleon is perched above the town on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It’s the perfect intimate spot for your tropical getaway to Costa Rica! They picked us up from the airport and stocked the car with cold beers to enjoy for the hour ride. On arrival, we were greeted with fresh fruit skewers and a welcome juice before being escorted to our suite.
The Rooms
The accommodations are ultra luxurious villas tucked seamlessly into nature. You walk into the king bed room with a large bathroom to the side, complete with shower that leads to the patio. The large deck features your own infinity plunge pool with lounge chairs and room for yoga! My favorite thoughtful feature is the room keys shaped like chameleons.
The Pool
The infinity pool at Casa Chameleon is absolutely one of the highlights. It’s stunningly beautiful to lounge, take a dip, and drink margaritas! At sunset, there are flames lit around the perimeter making it even more gorgeous. Since we are on the West Coast, the sun sets over the ocean – my favorite!
The Food
The main restaurant at Casa Chameleon is great! Breakfast was included so we dined there each morning to the freshest fruit and more! You can also enjoy an authentic dinner at Sentido Norte – more on that below!
Getting Here
Getting to Las Catalinas from the US is pretty simple. You will fly into Liberia airport which is about a one hour drive from the town and Casa Chameleon Hotel. Be sure to ask the hotel to arrange transportation.
Best Things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica for a Long Weekend
You will not want to leave your villa at Casa Chameleon, but if you do, here are my favorite things to do during a long weekend in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province.
1. Surf with Mojo Adventures
If you read from the beginning, you’ll know I’ve always wanted to catch a wave in Costa Rica. Tim (our Canadian expat surf coordinator) picked us up and we drove towards Tamarindo picking up our surf instructor and some roadside fruit on the way. We had the best morning with our local Costa Rican surfer at Playa Grande and Tim photographed the whole day to our surprise. Afterwards we had them drop us off in Tamarindo to have lunch. Tim actually left us with a somewhat questionable water taxi that drove us across the river and dropped us off right on the shore at Tamarindo beach (no dock, you just hop out in the water).
Surf tours in Costa Rica:
2. Explore Tamarindo
As I mentioned above, our surf instructor dropped us off at Tamarindo. We wanted to explore and see what the hype was about. They did tell us the locals call it “Tamagringo” and it was quite touristy, but glad we checked it out. Enjoy lunch beachside and enjoy the people watching!
3. Paddleboard
The bay at Las Catalinas is the perfect place to paddle board as it’s protected from much of the wind.
4. Sunset Sail
I love to get on the water whenever I visit coastal destinations. It’s always so beautiful from the ocean’s perspective. We sailed to Catalina Island where we were able to swim and snorkel. On the way we saw fish and dolphins while the crew came around to serve drinks and snacks. Ask the hotel to set this up for you.
5. Pool Time
It will be hard to leave your villa pool, but the main pool is so nice to relax and have margaritas brought to you! Be sure to pop up here for a stunning sunset when they light the flames around the pool. Ask in advance if you can hit the gong!
6. Beach Time
Playa Conchal is one of the most beautiful beaches covered entirely in seashells. It’s a fun place to check out and see wildlife including monkeys and iguanas! The beach at Las Catalinas is great for soaking up the sun and swimming in the calm bay.
7. Rainforest and Sloth Sanctuary
The hotel will also setup rainforest excursions for you. As much as I wanted to see a sloth, we did not visit the rainforest since it’s a long drive. We decided to relax and enjoy the hotel and coast this trip.
8. Yoga
Yoga and Pura Vida just go together! Be sure to catch a yoga class on the rooftop.
9. Massages
While Casa Chameleon does not have a spa, they can bring the spa to your villa. We had massages on the porch overlooking the ocean!
10. Arenal Volcano Day Trip
Take a day trip to experience this incredible volcano and national park.
11. Monteverde Cloud Forest
Visit this incredible forest on a day tour from Guanacaste. You will get to experience this incredible ecotour that takes you into the misty forest spotting frogs, lizards, butterflies, and other wildlife. It is one of the most biodiverse regions in Costa Rica.
Where to Eat in Costa Rica
1. Limonada at Las Catalinas
We enjoyed tuna burgers and sweet potatoe fries at Limonada after a fun morning of paddle boarding. There are lots of monkeys around to keep you entertained!
2. Sentido Norte at Casa Chameleon
Since you will not be leaving the hotel much, it’s a good thing they have an excellent restaurant. Sentido Norte is an award winning restaurant featuring Costa Rican classics in the best atmosphere.
3. Beachside restaurants in Tamarindo
Stroll along the beach until you see something that looks good! We had tacos and pina coladas while we people watched.
What to Pack for Costa Rica for A Long Weekend
Costa Rica is perfect to visit year round with average temps between 75-90 depending if you are on the coast or in the mountains. December through April is the dry season. We traveled in January and it was perfect, but the landscape along the coast was not very lush and green as you would expect due to the lack of rainfall.
Packing List:
And, be sure to read my full guide about what to wear in Costa Rica!
- Sundress
- Skirts and tops
- Swimsuit and coverups
- Sandals
- SPF
- Hats
- Free Fly shirts
- Exercise Set
- Tennis shoes
- Waterproof boots for rainforest