Costa Rica road trip: Jungle beats and ocean waves

You've got a tingling in your stomach and a pillow behind your head as your plane takes off for the tropical paradise of Costa Rica. As you glide over the endless blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, your destination draws ever closer. The deep green colour of Costa Rica's untouched jungle shines out at you from afar, and you can feel the excitement within you building to no end.
More than ready to hit the jungle, it's hello, San José! Your plane lands, you pick up your hire car right at the airport then drive to your accommodation. After safely parking your trusty new companion for the next few weeks, it's time to put your feet up. You settle in in peace and quiet and dream of all the adventures to come. Tomorrow, you're off into tropical paradise!

If chocolate and cream are totally your thing, then definitely pay attention here: in the small, super cozy garage café 'Miel', you can treat yourself to a shake right before you get into today's adventure (optional, payable on site – but hey, it's worth it). And then? It's time for your DIY city tour! First stop: Plaza de la Cultura. It's where all the city's streets converge and the place to be in downtown San José. This spot is absolutely buzzin': jugglers, musicians, locals, pigeons – pure vibes! Just go with the flow and soak up the colourful chaos around you. Next, drift through the streets, check out the cool Victorian buildings, snack your way through the various eats in the Mercado Central and pause for a sec to admire the fancy mosaic tiles in the Catedral Metropolitana – talk about Insta-worthy! Then head to Barrio Amón to catch the sunset. The old-town energy there is simply chef's kiss, and the local OG coffee plantation owners' wooden Caribbean-style houses have been renovated and transformed into true eye-catchers boasting their own unique style. It's simply magical!

With your sunglasses on and your bags in the boot, you crank up your hire car early in the morning and enter the next destination into your sat nav. And if you're up for a little detour, the first thing you type is Llanos de Cortés Waterfall. From the car park, it's just a short walk to the rushing cascades, which pour into a wide plunge pool – perfect for a picnic with a stunning view or a dip in the cool water. Then it's time to keep moving; after all, you've still got several miles of roadtrippin' ahead of you. Bienvenido a Tamarindo! The small coastal town with its 1.5-mile beach right on the Pacific Ocean instantly has you shook. Right after you check in, you're already out the door, waltzing through the alleyways and past small boutiques and cafés. The sunsets here are an absolute highlight, so when you finish exploring, off you go to Playa Tamarindo. And if the weather's good as the sun dips into the sea, you can see the clouds reflected on the waves in a gorgeous orange-pink hue. Sounds beautiful, doesn't it?

Your motto for the day: Surf. Beach. Repeat. Tamarindo is a true surfer's paradise, and just yesterday, you spotted some of them in the distance catchin’ some waves. Today, it's your turn! There are a few shops right on the beach, where you can hire a board at a reasonable price and, if you're a beginner, you can also hire a surf instructor (optional, payable on site). Then it's time to go with the flow! After that, it's off to Las Baulas National Park to hit the mangrove trails and explore the forests. With a bit of luck, you might even spot some wild animals, such as white-faced capuchin monkeys, exotic birds or iguanas – the perfect selfie companions! And if you'd rather do something else, you can always go in search of leatherback turtles on the Playa Grande Trail. But please note that our shelled, aquatic friends mustn't be disturbed in their habitat.