Thanksgiving Weekend In Costa Rica
Volcano Hikes, Rainforest Ziplining, Hot Springs, and the Most Chaotic Flight Home Ever
There is something about Costa Rica that keeps pulling me back.
This was my second trip to Costa Rica, but this time I skipped the beaches and surf towns and headed straight into the rainforest mountains of La Fortuna for Thanksgiving weekend instead.
My first trip to Costa Rica was centered around San José and learning how to surf in Jaco, but La Fortuna ended up feeling like an entirely different side of the country. It was humid, rainy, muddy, adventurous, and honestly, one of the most fun weekend trips I have taken in a long time.
I worked a half day on Wednesday, flew out that night, spent Thanksgiving hiking volcanoes and sitting in hot springs, zip-lined through the rainforest in the pouring rain while completely hungover, and somehow still made it back home in time for work Monday.
Well... eventually.
Because the flight home turned into absolute chaos.
Budget Breakdown
One of my favorite things about Costa Rica is that it can feel adventurous and luxurious at the same time without requiring a massive budget.
Full Budget Breakdown
Shuttle transportation: $100 roundtrip
Hostel: $131
Volcano tour: $95
Zip lining: $57
Chocolate tour: $36 planned but did not have time
Airport lunch: $10
Food and drinks: about $100 cash
Total Trip Cost: $493
For a Thanksgiving international trip packed with excursions, transportation, and activities, honestly not bad at all.
Where I Stayed: Arenal Backpackers Resort
I stayed at Arenal Backpackers Resort in La Fortuna, and it honestly ended up being one of my favorite hostel stays I have had anywhere.
The property feels much more social and resort-style than a traditional backpacker hostel. There is a huge pool area, lounge chairs, hammocks, tropical landscaping, and direct views of the Arenal Volcano from different parts of the property, which somehow never stopped feeling unreal.
The atmosphere made it very easy to meet other travelers naturally, especially because everyone seemed to return from excursions around the same time each evening and gather near the pool or bar area.
The rooms themselves were simple but comfortable, and honestly after full days hiking volcanoes and zip lining through the rainforest, all I cared about was having a clean bed, good air conditioning, and a hot shower.
The location was also incredibly convenient because you could walk directly into downtown La Fortuna within minutes for restaurants, bars, cafés, pharmacies, and tour pickups.
One thing I especially appreciated was how easy the hostel made transportation logistics. Most tours offered direct pickup from the property, which made planning significantly easier without needing rental cars or expensive taxis.
For a budget-friendly stay in La Fortuna, I honestly thought it balanced affordability, comfort, and location perfectly.
Wednesday: Late Airport Shuttle and Dinner in La Fortuna
Wednesday honestly started off more stressful than expected.
Our shuttle from the airport to La Fortuna ended up running late, and what is already a long drive somehow felt even longer once we started winding through narrow mountain roads in complete darkness.
The drive from San José to La Fortuna takes several hours, and parts of the route climb through steep rainforest mountains with sharp curves, fog, and tiny roads that honestly make you grip your seat a little tighter at night.
By the time we finally arrived in La Fortuna, we were exhausted, starving, humid, and immediately ready for food and drinks.
We ended up eating dinner directly across from our hostel at Soda and Restaurante Rodríguez, where I had some of the best red fish of the entire trip alongside cocktails while listening to the sounds of rain and motorcycles passing through town.
And honestly, that first dinner ended up setting the tone for the entire weekend.
Warm food, tropical air, rainstorms rolling through the mountains, and absolutely nowhere to be except Costa Rica.
Thursday: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Hot Springs, and Thanksgiving in the Rainforest
Thursday was our biggest excursion day and easily one of the highlights of the entire trip.
We booked a full-day volcano and hot springs tour that included transportation directly from the hostel, lunch, waterfall access, hiking, and hot springs all in one day.
Our tour guide, Jason, and driver Don Pedro honestly made the experience even better. They were hilarious the entire day while also teaching us about Costa Rican wildlife, plants, volcano history, and local culture throughout the drive.
One thing I loved about La Fortuna is how alive everything feels. The rainforest is loud in the best way possible. Birds everywhere, sudden rainstorms, steam rising from the earth near volcanic areas, waterfalls hidden inside the jungle, and greenery so bright it almost looks fake.
We spent the morning hiking near Arenal Volcano before heading toward the famous La Fortuna waterfall area.
The trails can get muddy quickly, especially after rain, so proper hiking shoes are absolutely essential here. This is not the kind of trip where cute sneakers survive long.
At one point, we also hiked near Cerro Chato, the dormant volcano known for the famous green crater lake at the top. The area surrounding it is incredibly lush and honestly feels like stepping directly into a movie scene.
Later that afternoon, we visited the Tabacón river hot springs area, which ended up being one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip.
The naturally heated volcanic water flows directly through the rainforest river, and sitting in steaming hot water while rain falls around you somehow feels unbelievably relaxing after hours of hiking.
My Favorite Part of Solo Travel
After soaking in the hot springs and finally getting back into town Thursday evening, we stopped for happy hour drinks before dinner and ended up meeting two other travelers completely by chance, one solo female traveler and one solo male traveler who were both also spending Thanksgiving weekend in La Fortuna.
What started as a quick cocktail somehow turned into hours of talking about travel stories, bad flights, favorite countries, and all the random ways people end up meeting while traveling. One of my favorite things about staying in hostels and traveling this way is how quickly complete strangers can turn into people you spend the entire night with.
We all eventually grabbed food together before ending the night dancing at Chichas with live music, drinks, and people packed into the streets outside. It was one of those nights that was never heavily planned but somehow ended up becoming one of the most memorable parts of the entire trip.
And honestly, spending Thanksgiving dancing in Costa Rica after a full day of volcanoes and hot springs felt like the exact opposite of normal holiday stress in the best possible way.
Friday: Ziplining Hungover Through the Rainforest
Friday morning started painfully early, considering how late the night before ended.
And yes, we absolutely went zip-lining hungover.
Honestly, though, once you are flying through the rainforest over waterfalls and jungle canopy, the hangover becomes significantly less important.
The zip lining course included 16 different platforms, massive jungle views, suspension bridges, and eventually rappelling down the side of a cliff waterfall in the rain.
And somehow the rain made everything even more fun.
The rainforest felt louder, greener, and more dramatic once the weather rolled in. Mist moved through the trees while we zipped over the jungle canopy, completely soaked and laughing the entire time.
One thing I appreciated most about this excursion was how safe and organized everything still felt despite the weather. The guides kept the energy fun while making sure everyone felt comfortable during the higher or faster sections.
After zip lining, we spent time in nearby thermal pools before eventually grabbing coffee and slowing the pace down a bit before heading back toward San José later that afternoon.
That night, we grabbed ramen and drinks before preparing for our overnight airport departure.
And honestly, we thought the hardest part of the trip was over.
We were very wrong.
Saturday: The Most Chaotic Flight Home Ever
Our flight with Viva Air was supposed to leave around 2 a.m.
Instead, it turned into one of the most chaotic travel experiences I have ever had.
First, the flight was delayed. Then cancelled. Then rebooked. Then delayed again.
At one point, it looked like we were potentially going to be stranded in Mexico for two extra days, so naturally, we did what every exhausted group of travelers would do and attempted to rent a car to drive back toward Texas ourselves.
That idea lasted about five minutes.
Several police officers warned us that the roads at night were extremely dangerous, especially for tourists unfamiliar with the area, and honestly, our rental car looked like it was barely surviving life itself anyway. The rearview mirror was practically falling off, random dashboard lights kept flashing, and none of us fully trusted the vehicle to survive the drive.
We also realized we did not have enough cash for highway tolls and kept getting stuck trying to figure out toll booths, which honestly felt like the universe repeatedly telling us to stop making terrible decisions.
So eventually we returned the car, accepted defeat, and went back to the airport lounge instead.
Five margaritas later, we were significantly less stressed and emotionally prepared to just wait for the next available flight home.
And honestly, despite how chaotic it all was, it somehow became one of the funniest memories from the entire trip.
Places To Eat
A few standout food spots from the trip:
Soda Tita Rosa
Soda and Restaurante Rodríguez
The Sloth Restaurant de La Fortuna
Late-night ramen in San José before the airport
Costa Rican sodas especially ended up being some of my favorite meals because they felt homemade, affordable, and comforting after long excursion days.
What to Pack for Costa Rica During Rainy Season
Costa Rica's weather changes quickly, especially around La Fortuna, so packing correctly makes a huge difference.
Things I was especially glad I packed:
Waterproof hiking shoes
Poncho or lightweight rain jacket
Quick-dry athletic clothes
Swimsuits for hot springs
Portable charger
Waterproof bag or phone pouch
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Reusable water bottle
Tripod with remote for solo photos
Foldable Souli travel sandals for hostel showers, thermal pools, and walking around the hostel after long hiking days
Hostel Essentials I Never Skip
For hostel stays, especially in humid or rainy destinations, there are a few things that make travel significantly easier.
Things I never travel without now:
Microfiber towel
Shower shoes
Lock for hostel lockers
Satin pillowcase
Hanging shower caddy
Portable charger
Noise-canceling headphones
Eye mask
Ear plugs
Reusable water bottle
Wrapping Up Costa Rica
Costa Rica reminded me that sometimes the best trips are the ones that feel slightly chaotic, slightly unplanned, and completely unforgettable.
Between volcano hikes, hot springs, rainstorms, jungle zip lining, late-night dancing, and a truly disastrous airport experience, this trip somehow managed to feel adventurous from beginning to end.
And honestly, that is exactly why I loved it.
Because even with the delays, cancelled flights, soaked clothes, and airport margaritas, I would do the entire thing all over again tomorrow.
