Big, exciting life events like getting married deserve big, exciting celebrations! And the best pre-wedding celebration we can think of is a Costa Rica bachelorette party trip to the rainforest with your closest friends.
Picture this: waking up to the sounds of nature before a day of delicious food, exciting activities, and plenty of opportunities to lay about at natural swimming holes. When you’re done exploring, you and your girls head back to the lodge for cocktails, bonding games, and an evening of fun.
Sound like your idea of a bachelorette party? Then you need to book your ticket to Costa Rica!
If your adventurous side wants a giant finale before you tie the knot, an exciting Costa Rica bachelorette party with your favorite girls is the ultimate excursion.
Here are our best tips and ultimate Costa Rica bachelorette party itinerary for adventurous brides-to-be!
Why Choose Costa Rica as Your Adventure Bachelorette Party Destination?
- Costa Rica offers diverse activities and environments, from luxury resorts to adventure getaways. As you plan your trip, you can choose one style or a little bit of both.
- A Costa Rica bachelorette adventure is excellent for active brides who want to make memories with ziplines, rivers, beaches, and rainforest beauty over your standard neighborhood bar scene. With untouched beauty and wildlife at your fingertips, it’s non-stop fun and activities all trip long.
- You can enjoy warm weather during colder months in the US! Whether your besties want to jet set right after the holidays or make the most of the dreariest months, a winter bachelorette party in Costa Rica is an extra special treat.
- You don’t have to plan the whole thing by yourself. Many resorts offer trip package deals that cover some of the planning for you! For example, our bachelorette adventure trip packages include transportation from San Jose, rafting or hiking into the lodge, meals, and many fun rainforest and river activities. All you have to do is relax and have fun!
Ready to explore all that Costa Rica can offer your bachelorette adventure? Here’s how to plan the best Costa Rica bachelorette party trip of the century.
Tips for Planning a Costa Rica Bachelorette Party Trip
Set a Budget Before Booking Your Costa Rica Trip
Not everyone has the same budget! The quicker you get this bachelorette trip on everyone’s metaphorical desk, the easier it will be to see what kind of trip you can plan. The dollar stretches about as far in Costa Rica as it does in the United States. That said, there are many ways to enjoy Costa Rica, so you can find one that fits your group’s budget!
Split Up The Planning Process and Start Early
Some people thrive with total planning power, while others find it a tremendous stressor. Don’t want the trip planning to fall on one person? Split it up! Get your girls involved in throwing activity or destination ideas into the mix and helping with logistics. That way, everyone feels heard and has a chance to add their opinion.
The earlier you start the planning process, the smoother the trip will be! Try to get everything booked and ready months before the trip so all you need to do is build anticipation! Planning early also helps you find any holes in the itinerary with plenty of time to sort them out.
Learn Basic Spanish Phrases
Costa Rica is Spanish-speaking, so if you have some Spanish skills to dust off, now is the time! Even though many areas, especially the more touristy areas, have a lot of English-speaking people, having some Spanish phrases in your back pocket helps you connect with locals and communicate when English isn’t an option. When in doubt, download a translation app to have at the ready!
Consider a Planned Adventure
Calling the shots 24/7 can be exhausting. Getting some help planning can take your stress-o-meter from 10 to 2! This can look like working with a travel agent or booking a group package experience. When you book a planned experience, much of the planning falls off your shoulders! Some resorts and eco hostels have packages that include meals, activities, lodging and more, so you don’t have to worry about the who’s, what’s, when’s, where’s and why’s.
Don’t Skip the Rainforest
Yes, our beaches are gorgeous. But let’s face it – beaches are everywhere! The true unique draw to Costa Rica is the wild and untouched rainforest. You can only reach these tall tree canopies, interesting creatures, and endless lush foliage in very few places around the world – so include it in your Costa Rica bachelorette party itinerary for a one-of-a-kind adventure.
Places to Stay for an Adventurous Costa Rica Bachelorette Party
Biggest Adventure: An Authentic, Unique Rainforest Eco Lodge
In our opinion, an eco lodge is the best of ALL worlds. Eco lodges have large gathering areas where big groups can have places to bond. Our accommodations range from spacious private rooms with private bathrooms and balconies to an economical bunkhouse where you can stay with your bachelorette group in rooms of up to eight people.
Eco lodges have comfortable accommodations and amenities while still offering guests a front-row view to untouched rainforest beauty. Rios Lodge is located in the heart of the rainforest, and you can only hike or raft in to reach the lodge.
Our eco lodge on the Pacuare River is an excellent choice for groups that want the whole ecolodge experience without needing to plan transportation, meals, or activities. Our packages cover your room, food, activities and transportation to and from the lodge, so you don’t have to spend hours on logistics.
Our ecolodge experience has easy access to all rainforest activities you should try, from lounging in swimming holes to ziplining to night hikes. Our zipline was even featured in USA Today’s Outdoors Wire as one of the 22 Best Zipline Courses in the World!
Traditional Beach Setting: A Beachfront Resort
Want ultimate comfort and every detail taken care of without lifting a finger? It’s possible at a beachfront resort! This luxury option isn’t as adventurous as other options and comes with a luxury price tag, but beachfront resorts take the cake for creating a curated experience.
Total DIY: A Private Home Vacation Rental
Create your own experience in Costa Rica! Vacation rentals can give you a homey feel and grant you access to living rooms, kitchens, private pools, you name it. Larger groups tend to gravitate towards this option so everyone can be under the same roof and enjoy some gathering places. Remember that vacation rentals aren’t as regulated as other accommodations and definitely lead to doing all your own planning. They can be a great option for those who are happy to do a DIY trip and pave their own way.
Best Areas for an Adventure Bachelorette Party in Costa Rica
#1 Adventure Setting: Central Caribbean Rainforest – Pacuare River
Many destinations have access to bars and beaches. But a remote, unique, stunning getaway to the Pacuare River will grant you access to views and experiences only a few people have had.
The Pacuare River is a completely underrated part of Costa Rica, making it much less crowded and overrun by tourists than other locations in the country.
This hidden gem area has some of the best whitewater rafting in the world, where you will enjoy wild rainforest views as you drift by. It’s also home to beautiful wildlife, like tropical birds, tree frogs, otters, iguanas, howler monkeys, and even sloths!
Nestled in all of this wild beauty, you can find an ecolodge that lives in harmony with nature while still offering a comfortable stay to guests.
Traditional Nightlife Scene – Tamarindo
Tamarindo is the best place for nightlife on the Guanacaste Peninsula. This famous tourist beach town has bars and restaurants with fun drinks, live music, and social activities. If your group is looking for parties, Tamarindo should be your first stop for pool parties, dance clubs and wild bars.
Traditional Beach Scene – Nosara
Nosara is a fantastic option if your bachelorette group is more into the waves than the bar scene. Picture yoga retreats, surf getaways, and other international travelers seeking nature and wellness. Nosara is a tough-to-reach area worth the effort for excellent waves, early mornings, and a rejuvenating retreat.
Things To Do At Bachelorette Parties in Costa Rica
Go Ziplining!
If you are one for heights (and even if you’re not!), a Costa Rica zipline adventure is a must-do whenever you come to Costa Rica. You and your girls will be able to scream and whoop as you soar over beaches, treetops, or rivers.
Go Rafting!
Costa Rica is famous for stunning white water rafting for all levels, warm rivers, and incredible scenery. Its most famous river, the Pacuare River, is rated one of the top 10 rivers in the world by National Geographic. Rafting on the Pacuare River to get to and from Rios Lodge is an extraordinary experience that adventure travelers revel in. You and your friends will never forget this kind of amazing bachelorette travel style!
Add Spa Experiences
Does your group need some TLC? There are plenty of opportunities for spa days and interesting treatments across the country. From full luxury spa experiences to simple private treatments that show up at your door, there are several ways to have some RnR. Eco lodges like ours are more than happy to plan a spa afternoon for your bachelorette group.
Add a Yoga Retreat
Some bachelorette groups are on the same page when it comes to bonding over early mornings instead of late nights and prioritizing poses over parties. That’s when you plan a yoga retreat! Costa Rica yoga retreats usually create an experience around fresh food, mindful activities, nature experiences, and, of course, multiple yoga practices a day. Our Ecolodge has covered and uncovered yoga areas where your group can stretch and practice with a view of the surrounding rainforest and river. Rios Lodge can customize your bachelorette party with an expert, certified yoga instructor – no problem!. Contact us to get that started!
Rainforest Hikes
When in the rainforest, you need to do some exploring! If you’re at a rainforest ecolodge, there are many opportunities for guided tours of waterfalls, swimming holes, nature trails and even night hikes to find creepy crawlies and nocturnal wildlife.
Headed to the Beach? Add a Snorkeling Tour and Surfing Lesson!
Snorkeling
If you’re along the coast, snorkeling is a fun and easy activity that you can do in between beach hangs. Snorkeling tours will guide you to the best underwater scenes in the area, and many resorts have gear for rent, so you can hop in the water and pave your way whenever it suits you.
Surf Lessons
Try catching some waves! There are rentals and surf instructors at every beach with regular waves, and you and your friends will love testing out your skills or laughing at each other while wiping out.
The Ultimate Costa Rica Bachelorette Itinerary for Adventurous Brides
Here is a perfect Costa Rica bachelorette party itinerary for adventurous groups ready to see the best of our stunning country!
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring downtown San José, visiting the National Theatre and Pre-Columbian Gold Museum.
Day 2-5: Transfer to Pacuare River
Depart early for the Pacuare River, where our team will pick you up from your hotel for the trip to the rainforest. After a car ride, we’ll get you in a raft for your whitewater adventure to Rios Lodge. If your group doesn’t want to raft, you can also hike.
You’ll spend the next three days exploring the rainforest! This includes tubing, hiking, games, yoga, ziplining, enjoying drinks, eating delicious meals, and anything else you want to do with your bachelorette group.
Day 5-7: Rafting and Transfer to Beach Location
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before another thrilling rafting adventure (or easy hike) back to the take-out point. Then, take the three-hour trip to Tortuguero to stay at another eco hostel on the coast.
Here, you can take in beautiful beach views as you relax along the beach. Take a few days to explore the neighboring national park. Walk along the beach, kayak, snorkel, and enjoy many happy hours.
Day 8: Return to San José and Departure
Following breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer back to San José. Spend any remaining time in San José for last-minute shopping or sightseeing before heading to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) for your departure.
Are you sold on a Costa Rica Bachelorette party trip? Reach out to our team! We’ll help you plan your bachelorette party vacation into the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest. We hope to see you rafting or hiking into our stunning riverside lodge soon!
