Your Next Weekend Getaway

One year ago, I was having the best spring break of my life in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.  My mom and I planned a week-long getaway, making sure to experience all the best adventures Costa Rica has to offer.  While we were there, the WHO officially declared the coronavirus as a global pandemic.  We were lucky enough to get home shortly without having to cut our trip short.  Little did we know, that was the last time we would be traveling in over a year, and that life as we knew it was about to be put on hold.  

Now that vaccinations have become more readily available and there is an end in sight, it’s time to start deciding where you plan to visit once travel becomes safe and ethical.  I wanted to share a little bit about the adventures I had in Costa Rica and encourage anyone reading to visit this beautiful country in their next international excursion.  I’ve laid out a travel itinerary in the style of the New York Times 36 Hours Column.  

Arenal Volcano Area / La Fortuna, Costa Rica 

Pura Vida! This warm and friendly salutation is uttered by nearly every Costa Rican you meet. The phrase authentically symbolizes the Costa Rican way of life, which embraces and celebrates the natural beauty of this geographically diverse country. Despite being only the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica boasts world-class beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, hot springs and biodiversity. While there is so much to do and see that a multi-week vacation is reasonable, a weekend in the town of La Fortuna can capture many of the highlights. By virtue of its location at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna is home to hundreds of natural hot springs. A number of hotels and spas feature these hot springs as well as proximity to the rainforests. You can easily rent a car for the three-hour drives from the airports in San Jose or Liberia, but hiring a car service or taking a tourist bus is convenient as well. Just make sure you’ll be arriving in La Fortuna by 6:00 pm as some of the roads are unpaved and quite curvy.  

Friday 

• 6pm: Most of Costa Rica’s revenue comes from tourism, so there are plenty of hotels and resorts available that vary in price and amenities offered.  If you want to get the best bang for your buck, book a room at The Springs Resort and Spa for the weekend. Intimate and exclusive, an episode of The Bachelor was filmed there several years ago.   Natural hot springs, pools, restaurants and a spa are all on-site.  If you’re looking for a less pricey option that has similar accommodations, check out Arenal Springs Hotel.  While not as luxurious, this hotel is actually closer to the Arenal Volcano, creating hot springs that are unusually hot, with some of them reaching 108 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• 7 pm: Regardless of where you decide to stay, each hotel has 3-4 restaurants that vary in cuisine and price range. These resorts house some of the best restaurants in Costa Rica, so treat yourself to a nice dinner before putting on your swimsuit. A trip to La Fortuna is not complete without ordering a drink at a swim-up bar.  Try the national drink, a Guaro Sour, while enjoying a close-up view of the Arenal Volcano. 

Read the rest here: https://www.allisongoldblatt.com/your-next-weekend-getaway/