Costa Rica Road Trip Part 3 — The Caribbean Coast, 17-19/11 2025

17 November — Monday

Snorkeling in the Cahuita Nacional park! As the park website said all swimming along the beaches are prohibited, we booked a snorkeling tour to take us to the reefs. Turns out nothing in the actual park says anything about swimming being prohibited and you can easily access the reef from land if you swim for 500 to 1000 meters.

Anyways, it was a really good snorkeling tour. We were allowed to snorkel for several hours and we saw sharks, octopus, massive lobsters, lion fish, and all kinds of coral fish. And you cannot complain on the temperature of the water. I had a blast.

Instead of returning with the boat to the harbor, we were dropped off at the outer tip of the Cahuita Nationalpark and walked back to town. Best decision we made so far, there were animals everywhere. Enjoy another session of master wildlife photography below.

In addition we saw a cayman. The monkeys were curious bastards. While I was digging through the backpack, I turned away for a second and immediately a monkey grabbed my father’s house keys from inside the backpack. Luckily I reacted quickly and grabbed the monkey by its arm and took back the keys.

We walked around the park for a while, enjoying all the animal sightseeings, and we went back to the hotel where I went for a late night beach run. Late night beach bbqs were happening everywhere, I wish I could join in.

The hotel we stayed at was literally located in the jungle. You could see wildlife just sitting around.

18 November — Tuesday

I’m up early to wake around on some smaller trails for a couple of hours trying to spot some sloths. I did not see any, only tons of monkey.

Afterwards we drive to the Refucio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo and walk the 5 km (one-way) trail to a deserted beach. The park is popular among tourists, but everyone stays at the beaches that are close to the entrance.

I explore the island for a while, and enjoy the tiny coral reef that is located between the island and the main coast. We are alone the whole time. Perfect day.

When we are finished at Manzanillo, the long drive to Chirripo — Costa Rica’s highest mountain — beings. On the 20th we will conquer it.

19 November — Wednesday

We continue driving to San Gerado de Rivas, the town from where we will summit Chirripo. To be allowed to enter the National park tomorrow, we have to check in at the rangers office today.

After checking in we visit the absolutely lovely restaurant/little store of Kapi Kapi. It is the best restaurant I have ever been at. They have fully understood the concept of organic and proper food, free from refined grains, sugar and oils. And everything tastes delicious. My favorite, the Caveman smoothie, is made with raw milk, goat Greek yogurt, raw eggs, raw honey, berries and bananas. When I move to France I will be making this every day.

Afterwards, I go for a short walk in the surroundings and then we just relax and rest for the early start tomorrow.