Limon Beach Escapade

Arrive in San José, where a private transfer delivers travelers to a hotel for an overnight rest before continuing to the Caribbean coast. With the evening open, settle in and unwind after long-haul travel, the promise of a full week of beach time waiting just ahead.

A scenic drive crosses the country toward the Caribbean coast, arriving in Puerto Viejo by afternoon. Settle into a beachfront hotel near Playa Cocles, with the remaining daylight left open for a first swim in the Caribbean's warm, calm waters. As evening falls, wander into town for dinner featuring rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, a signature dish of the region, with live calypso music often drifting from nearby restaurants.

A full day at leisure alternates between Puerto Viejo's two signature beaches — the golden sands of Playa Cocles, ideal for swimming, and the striking black-sand shoreline of Playa Negra, known for its quieter, more contemplative atmosphere. A beachfront lunch and an afternoon spent simply reading, swimming, or napping in the shade sets the tone for the rest of the week — this is a trip built for doing very little, very well.

Rent bicycles for an easy, scenic ride along the coastal road to Punta Uva, widely regarded as one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches, its calm turquoise water sheltered by a rocky headland. Spend the day swimming, sunbathing, and exploring tide pools along the shoreline. A relaxed beachside lunch keeps the day unhurried, with the ride back to Puerto Viejo in the late afternoon offering glimpses of coastal wildlife along the way.

A short drive continues further south to Manzanillo, a quieter village bordering the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, where jungle, mangroves, and coral reef meet in one of the coast's least-crowded corners. Spend the day on Manzanillo's calm, reef-protected beach, with an optional gentle snorkel just offshore. Lunch at a simple beachfront soda offers fresh-caught seafood in an unpretentious setting, capping off the most tranquil day of the week.

A short drive north leads to Cahuita, where an easy, mostly flat coastal trail winds along the edge of Cahuita National Park past several inviting swimming spots. A guided snorkeling excursion explores the park's coral reef, home to over 240 marine species in calm, current-free water well suited to relaxed exploration. Return to Puerto Viejo for a final evening, with dinner at a favorite beachfront spot closing out the trip's last full day on the coast.