Adventure Monger · Costa Rica

Costa Rica, already planned.

Volcanoes, waterfalls, sloths, and jungle hot springs — the exact 5-day trip I've taken twice, with every hotel, hike, restaurant, and booking link done for you.

Get the 5-Day Guideinstant download · start planning tonight
📍 Field-tested twice · 📖 16 pages · 🔗 every booking link included
Sound familiar?

40 browser tabs. Three "best of" lists. Zero decisions made.

You've watched the reels. You've saved the TikToks. You know Costa Rica is THE trip — but between the volcano parks, the six different waterfall hikes, and figuring out if you really need a 4WD (you do), planning it feels like a part-time job.

So don't plan it. Copy mine. I've taken this exact trip twice and perfected every single day of it.

What's inside

Open it, follow it, live it

Guide cover
Day 3 — waterfalls and cold plunges
Packing list page
🗓️ 5 perfect days, hour by hourVolcán Poás → Peace Lodge → Catarata del Toro → Blue Falls → La Fortuna. In the exact order that works.
🔗 Every booking link, ready to tapHotels, canyoning, hanging bridges, the sloth tour — click, book, done.
🎒 The exact packing listEvery item I actually brought, linked — down to the rain boots that saved my toes.
🧠 Know-before-you-go rulesThe 4WD truth, why you never drive at night, the toll-booth cash story, and the snake you'll want boots for.
📸 My real photos on every pageNo stock images. If it's in the guide, I stood there.
✅ Bonus travel checklistA reusable pre-flight checklist for this trip and every one after it.
The itinerary

Five days of pure magic

Breakfast with volcano view
Day 1Land, grab the 4WD, breathe. The adventure starts at sunrise.
Volcán Poás
Day 2Stare into a volcanic crater, then sleep inside a rainforest.
Catarata del Toro
Day 3The best hiking day of my life — waterfalls + cold plunges.
Waterfall rappelling
Day 4Rappel a waterfall, walk the treetops, meet the sloths, soak it away.
River tubing
Day 5One last magic morning, then home with a full camera roll.
Why I made this

A few years ago I was drowning in work anxiety, so I booked a flight to Costa Rica three days before takeoff. No plan, just escape. That trip genuinely changed my life — so I went back and perfected it.

This guide is that trip. The hotel with the jacuzzi on the rainforest patio. The waterfall that made me cry a little. The shuttle driver named Alfredo who stops the bus every time he spots a sloth, still thrilled after a thousand trips up that hill.

You could research all of this yourself. It took me two trips and years of obsessing. Or you could just… have it.

— Amanda · @amandamonger

Amanda mid-adventure in Costa Rica
me, mid-magic, day 3
The 5-Day Costa Rica Guide
$12.99
Launch price — less than one airport sandwich
  • 16-page guide, instant download
  • Works on phone, tablet, printed — links tap straight to booking
  • Packing list + know-before-you-go + travel checklist
  • Yours forever, including updates to this edition
Get the guide nowinstant download after checkout
💚 The Pura Vida Guarantee: read the whole thing, and if it doesn't make your trip easier and better, email me within 30 days — full refund, and you keep the guide.
Questions, answered

FAQ

What about rainy season — will this trip get rained out?

Nope. Rainy season runs May 1 – November 30, and the guide is built for it: mornings for the big hikes, the exact rain gear that works, and honestly — some of the most magical moments happen in the rain. Both my trips hit rain and it never cost me an activity.

Is this trip solo-friendly?

Extremely. I've done Costa Rica solo — the routes in this guide stick to well-traveled areas, the tours are guided and social, and the guide flags exactly where you'll want a guide with you vs. where you're fine alone.

Do I really need a 4WD?

Yes. This is non-negotiable and the guide explains why (Costa Rican mountain roads have opinions). It also tells you which rental company treated me best and which one left me waiting at the airport.

Is it good for couples or families?

The itinerary works for anyone who can walk a trail. Couples: the Peace Lodge night is basically a honeymoon. Families: kids love the sloth tour, hanging bridges, and hot springs — swap the canyoning for river tubing.

What exactly do I get?

A 16-page PDF (instant download) with the full 5-day itinerary, every booking link, my packing list, know-before-you-go rules, and a reusable travel checklist. Readable on any device, printable if you're fancy.

What if I don't love it?

Email me within 30 days and I'll refund every penny — and you keep the guide. I only want your money if it genuinely made your trip better.

Your next 5 days off could look like this.

Catarata del Toro Arenal volcano from Mistico Hanging bridges Jungle hot spring

The waterfalls are already flowing. The sloths are already hanging. The only thing missing is you.

Get the 5-Day Guide — $12.99instant download · Pura Vida Guarantee