Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Photo Credit: Four Seasons Resort
The Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Costa Rica each offer fantastic options for eating, lodging and more, but the atmosphere is very different for each.
The Caribbean Coast is best suited to the more adventurous, laid-back traveler. A beautiful but at times trying three- to four-hour drive from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose leads you to miles of pristine beaches south of the port city of Limon.
Far less developed than the Pacific Coast, it affords you a rare chance to come face-to-face with nature in Costa Rica. Puerto Viejo and the areas south provide plenty of surfing, nightlife and reggae-tinged “Pura Vida,” with more rustic sleeping options. Share a beer with the backpackers you met surfing that morning and settle in for a relaxed vacation with no need for a watch.
The Caribbean tends to be drier when the rest of the country is in its September/October rainy season, but it’s also more isolated — it’s easier to reach Panama’s sights (like Bocas del Toro) than San Jose’s.
Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast carries a more varied range of options. You can reach the water in a little more than an hour’s drive from the airport, and the extensive shoreline offers everything from exclusive private resorts with spas and golf (Tamarindo, Jaco, Manuel Antonio) to small fishing towns with cozy bed and breakfasts (Esterillos, Quepos, Montezuma).
The roads are better paved and marked, but this isn’t to say that there isn’t nature and adventure to be had — the Pacific Coast boasts half a dozen national parks along its shores.
Those looking for high-end lodging and upscale dining will be more than thrilled with their options here, including Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Drake Bay Getaway Resort, Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort and El Mangroove, Autograph Collection.
