January 17, 2026

Some biking friends had done this trip a few years ago and recommended their travel agent, so Michael and I booked a 10 -day adventure for January. It was a fantastic itinerary with varied destinations including jungle, mountains and beach, private transfers, upgraded luxury hotels and a wide array of fascinating activities. All the moving parts fit together smoothly thanks to the expert arrangements of Costa Rica Travel Exchange. All the guides were amazing and the hotel staff and drivers were incredibly helpful and took good care of us.

We flew to San Jose, not my favorite place, and stayed one night in town. We tried to walk around and explore a bit but the sidewalks were narrow and busy, and we didn’t feel entirely comfortable. The next morning Juan Carlos picked us up and drove us three hours on spectacular mountain roads to La Fortuna, in the Arenal Volcano area. Our hotel for three nights, Arenal Kioro Spa, was elegant and grand and our room had a fantastic view of the volcano. There was a beautiful winding path through the rain forest to the restaurant, hot springs and pool area. Michael had a bit of trouble with the up-hill parts. Sometimes we walked slowly and sometimes we called for the hotel shuttle to come get us. The breakfast buffet was sumptuous with fantastic coffee, fresh tropical fruits, pastries and sweets and of course beans and rice to go with your eggs. Lunch at the pool café was wonderful as well and I loved having a frozen cocktail in the afternoon while relaxing in the cascading pools of hot springs. I booked a pedicure in the spa, and we even found a ping-pong table and had fun playing on several afternoons. Our activities in La Fortuna included a guided walk through Mistico Park, where we saw birds and snakes and sloths and bounced on hanging bridges, a hike up to the Volcano, and a fun zip line adventure for me, while Michael relaxed by the pool.