Costa Rica is a country you’ll always want to return to. In 2025, our travel specialist Meike visited Costa Rica again, giving her the chance to explore even more of this beautiful country. But what would she highlight from her tour? Read about her experiences below.
It’s almost impossible to pick a single highlight from my two weeks in Costa Rica. This small, wonderfully diverse country had me hooked already during my very first visit with my family, and I’ve dreamed of returning ever since. At last, that day arrived. Back in Costa Rica’s natural paradise, I didn’t just take in Manuel Antonio and Uvita; I also explored the Osa Peninsula with its impressive Corcovado National Park. And ‘experienced’ really is the word: the boat trip, the lush scenery, and the flight back in a small Cessna — every moment felt like an adventure. This remote gem isn’t just a travel destination, but an experience you feel with all your senses.
From Sierpe, it’s about an hour by boat to Drake Bay, a small, secluded spot on the Osa Peninsula. The moment we arrived, it was clear we were well and truly off the beaten track. There was no jetty: we stepped out of the boat barefoot, rolled up our trouser legs, and waded ashore through the warm sand. The village’s only road wasn’t paved, and as soon as we were back in the car, we drove into an overwhelming riot of green: tropical flowers, dense shrubs, and the hum of the forest enveloped us on all sides. For a nature lover like me, it was the perfect start to the adventure.
The next morning, the alarm went off at the crack of dawn, and by 6am, we were up and out. After a breakfast of toast with scrambled eggs, muesli, juice, and coffee, we were back on the boat, ready to explore Corcovado National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse parks. The journey along the coast at sunrise was magical: light danced on the waves, sea spray hit our faces, and two dolphins accompanied us for part of the way – it felt almost unreal. My friend and I kept swapping stunned looks: yes, we really were here!
Corcovado’s diverse ecosystems revealed themselves straight away; after just 100 metres, we spotted a tapir right beside us in the undergrowth. Our guide was thrilled, and our group of eight continued our walk in high spirits among the towering trees, all while keeping an eye on the branches overhead and the rainforest around us. We saw scarlet macaws, sloths, howler and capuchin monkeys, iguanas and basilisks, an owl, a snake, toucans, and crocodiles. I could list far more if I named every creature we encountered, but the spider monkeys captivated me the most. With their round bellies, they dangled from their long tails, hands, and feet, moving between the trees and building bridges for their young. I could have watched them all day.
Unfortunately, my plan to surprise my colleagues with a photo of a jaguar didn’t quite go to plan. Although the big cats have been spotted fairly regularly of late, I didn’t manage to see one myself. Maybe that’s the perfect excuse to go back again?
I adore the ocean and the life beneath the surface, so snorkelling in this area was another real highlight for me. I was keen to see sharks again – which made my friend a little nervous, as she had neither snorkelling experience nor quite the same enthusiasm for sharks as I do. We swam among shoals of fish and large sea turtles, and our guides were attentive throughout, making sure we had plenty of time to spot all the wildlife. After two snorkelling sessions and a break on an idyllic beach, we had lunch. It was served right by the sea, with views of swaying palms, the Pacific, and beautiful rock formations.
On the boat trip back, we also spotted a humpback whale. The skipper cut the engine straight away so we could watch the young male for a few minutes as he glided calmly through the water. We were here in September. It’s the wettest month, but it’s also peak season for humpback whales.
A couple of days earlier, we’d had the chance to watch a humpback mother with her calf for almost an hour off Manuel Antonio; that time, though, we’d set out specifically to go whale watching. This completely unexpected encounter on our snorkelling trip off Corcovado—so close, so intensely real—turned the experience into another memory we’ll surely never forget.
Back in Bahía Drake, we rounded off the day with pure relaxation. At a little café, we found the perfect spot to savour one of Costa Rica’s loveliest qualities: Pura Vida. With a chilled drink in hand, we soaked up the view of the lush greenery, let the day’s experiences sink in, and indulged in perhaps the world’s finest idleness. The country is so diverse and fascinating that I can only recommend making time along the way for special moments like these.
Normally, I find it hard to say goodbye to special places like Bahía Drake and move on. This time, though, parting was easier thanks to a truly special experience. Instead of leaving by boat, as we did on the way in, we chose to fly back on a small plane. A driver took us to a tiny airport which, in our case, was run by a single person. As I stood looking at the simple runway surrounded by rainforest, my sense of anticipation grew. As soon as all ten passengers were on board and the pilot lifted the Cessna into the air, any nerves vanished and were replaced by pure excitement: a spectacular panoramic view opened up beneath us; the coastline was breathtaking, and we simply couldn’t get enough of it.
After everything we’d experienced in Manuel Antonio and Corcovado, I could hardly believe it was possible. But there below us, in the deep blue Pacific, another humpback whale glided quietly and gracefully past, as if to bid us farewell one last time.
Thinking back to the start of this travelogue, I have to admit, it’s impossible to single out just one highlight of this tour. Each day brought its own little wonders. But Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula touched me in a very special way. The remoteness, the closeness of the jungle, the roar of the ocean. Here, you feel closer to nature than anywhere else. Anyone who loves wildlife and untamed nature should experience this place at least once in their life.
Meike
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
Get right up close to Costa Rica’s stunning scenery and wildlife in Tortuguero National Park, at Arenal Volcano and in Monteverde Cloud Forest, and end the tour at Playa Sámara’s beautiful beach.
Discover Costa Rica’s breathtaking scenery and wildlife on a visit to Tortuguero National Park, the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest, and relax on Manuel Antonio’s beautiful beaches.
Explore Costa Rica’s magical landscapes in your own car, taking in Tortuguero National Park, the iconic Arenal volcano, Monteverde’s cloud forest and Playa Sámara’s idyllic beach.
Experience the highlights of Costa Rica on this self-drive holiday to Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manuel Antonio’s stunning beaches.
Discover Costa Rica’s unique nature and exciting wildlife at Arenal Volcano and in Monteverde’s Cloud Forest. Round off the tour with relaxation at Manuel Antonio’s stunning beaches.
Enjoy Costa Rica’s unique nature and diverse wildlife in Tortuguero, at Arenal volcano, in Rincón de la Vieja and in Monteverde Cloud Forest. Discover lovely beaches in Sámara and Manuel Antonio.
Look forward to unique unspoilt nature and wildlife in Costa Rica’s national parks with less visitors: Cahuita and Corcovado. Round it all off at Manuel Antonio’s wonderful beaches.
Get right up close to Costa Rica’s stunning scenery and wildlife in Tortuguero National Park, at Arenal Volcano and in Monteverde Cloud Forest, and end the tour at Playa Sámara’s beautiful beach.
Discover Costa Rica’s breathtaking scenery and wildlife on a visit to Tortuguero National Park, the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest, and relax on Manuel Antonio’s beautiful beaches.
Explore Costa Rica’s magical landscapes in your own car, taking in Tortuguero National Park, the iconic Arenal volcano, Monteverde’s cloud forest and Playa Sámara’s idyllic beach.
Experience the highlights of Costa Rica on this self-drive holiday to Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manuel Antonio’s stunning beaches.
Discover Costa Rica’s unique nature and exciting wildlife at Arenal Volcano and in Monteverde’s Cloud Forest. Round off the tour with relaxation at Manuel Antonio’s stunning beaches.
Enjoy Costa Rica’s unique nature and diverse wildlife in Tortuguero, at Arenal volcano, in Rincón de la Vieja and in Monteverde Cloud Forest. Discover lovely beaches in Sámara and Manuel Antonio.
Look forward to unique unspoilt nature and wildlife in Costa Rica’s national parks with less visitors: Cahuita and Corcovado. Round it all off at Manuel Antonio’s wonderful beaches.
