Selina La Fortuna

Get ready for a stunning week of scenery, wildlife, and relaxation! You'll spend your time in 3 areas of Northern Costa Rica: the majestic Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, the cloud-kissed forests of Monteverde, and the sun-soaked beaches of Tamarindo. 🧳Trip summary Day 1 - Travel day Day 2 - La Fortuna (hiking & swimming) Day 3 - La Fortuna (wildlife & hotsprings) Day 4 - La Fortuna + Monteverde (hanging bridges & night hike) Day 5 - Monteverde (canopy tour & excursion options) Day 6 - Monteverde (cloud forest) Day 7 - Tamarindo (excursion options) Day 8 - Tamarindo (beach day) Day 9 - Travel day This itinerary is perfect for a Saturday through following Sunday week-long trip, but could be adapted to any date range. The trip is laid out with stops in three popular Northern cities, but any city could be added or removed to extend or shorten the trip. The itinerary assumes you have rented a car to travel between each destination, but there you can also find plenty of options to take shuttles between each city. Why this guide? 🎟️ Advance ticket purchase recommendations. Avoid the lines - and disappointment - by booking tickets ahead of time. You'll be guaranteed entrance and will enjoy walking straight in, past any lines for ticket purchases. Special call outs for combo tickets to bundle and save will also be included where available! 🧾 Location-specific packing list. This won't be a comprehensive list (surely you've remembered your socks), but it will cover some key items to toss in your bag for a truly great experience at your destination. 🏆 Honorable mentions. Unless you booked a one way ticket (jealous!), you've only got a limited time to explore. The suggested itinerary includes my opinions of the best choices for first time visitors with general interest. Feel free to swap those out with any of the honorable mentions. ✨ And finally... If you are looking for a more tailored experience with a unique twist based on your interests, travel dates, and more, a custom itinerary may be best. I look forward to helping bring your vacation vision to life!

My guide to backpacking Central America is finally here! This guide is based on hundreds of hours of research, my own 4 month long trip, and some extras that I wasn't able to get to but would still highly recommend based on reviews from trusted friends! This guide serves as an essential list of the best attractions in each country and what not to miss! The route in the guide is laid out North to South, starting in Belize and ending in Panama, but it can also be used in reverse. The guide includes information for how to get between locations; however not in great detail as the schedules and prices change frequently and let's be honest, the busses are never on time in Central America! The best way to get between places depends on your timeline and budget of your trip: if you have months to explore, take the local "chicken busses" for a more affordable and immersive experience; if you only have weeks, take the more direct shuttles; and if you're tight on time, take the more direct and upscale coaches. Whichever option you choose, the locals are always willing to help with chicken busses, and shuttle busses and coaches are very easy to book throughout Central America at your hostel, any tour operator, or online. Where possible, I included accommodation recommendations for places that I personally stayed at and can vouch for, or know someone who did. In addition, there are links for booking hostels in each region! I hope this guide provides some help and inspiration to backpack Central America, it's one of my absolute favourite places on Earth! Need a custom trip planned for Central America? Reach out, I can help you!