Why Costa Rica’s quiet side is the ultimate winter reset

Words: Lucy Thackray

Daydreaming of winter sun travels, we often have one thing on our minds: a reset. That could mean switching off your smartphone and connecting – instead – with nature, stretching your body and focusing your senses, or even tuning into a new skill, activity or hobby. Costa Rica is a haven for this kind of full-body seasonal reset – a sun-kissed winter destination where each stop on your itinerary has a distinctive, enriching purpose. Staying in a breathtaking cloud forest? You’ll tune out the noise of the daily grind, meditating instead on rich greenery and glimpses of bright wildlife. Swinging by the beach? Dazzling sunrises and the purr of the waves are instantly healing, even before you factor in surfing, snorkelling or exploring the coastal culture. With gently warming sun, flourishing nature and a wealth of ways to move your body each day, Costa Rica has a little bit of everything we’d prescribe this winter.

Morning mist and canopy walks

Away from phone alarms and train commutes, there are many gentle ways to wake up here. With four main national parks, a cloud forest reserve and swathes of coast home to nesting turtles, it’s easy to wake up surrounded by rich, dewy nature, taking advantage of the soothing effect that uninterrupted views of green have on your nervous system. Take Monteverde Cloud Forest, three hours’ drive northwest of capital San José. At a lodge here, you’ll rise to a symphony of birdsong, with a misty haze hanging over the tree canopy. Following a nature trail around your lodge, you might immerse yourself in tall, mossy forest, perhaps spotting a few of the forest’s 400-plus species of bird. Ease into Costa Rica’s soft adventure with a forest walk along hanging bridges, an invigorating zipline ride or exploring a scented coffee farm on foot. The beans on these small farms are said to ripen more slowly than elsewhere, creating a smooth and intense flavour: quite the wake-up call.

Sunrise on the Caribbean coast

Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is well known for its pro-level surf breaks and yoga retreats, but for a more off-the-beaten-track feel, it’s all about the sleepier Caribbean coast. At sunrise, head to the fishing town of Punta Uva, its unmanicured sands framed by palms, before picking up breakfast at a local soda (a small café, usually family-run). Later, rent snorkelling gear or kayaks to explore its twin bays. Or rise early to explore Tortuguero National Park on a sunrise canoe tour, sipping a local coffee before spying turtles, caimans, monkeys and herons as you glide along the waterways. This coast is also a hotbed of Afro-Caribbean and indigenous culture – dig in at Puerto Viejo, with its lively cafés, Caribbean-infused cuisine and reggae-soundtracked bars, or petite Cahuita, gateway to the National Park of the same name. A small selection of boutique hotels – some offering massages or tranquil beach clubs – add to the retreat feel.

The magic of movement

Costa Ricans are famous for their philosophy of pura vida (directly translated as ‘pure life’), which encompasses a spirit of gratitude, positivity and living in the moment. It also champions wellness, and there are seemingly limitless ways to move and reconnect with your body here. Alongside the exhilaration of surfing – in beach towns from Santa Teresa to Tamarindo and Nosara – you’ll find rainforest hiking trails (many leaving right from the door of your rural lodge), wild ocean swims, whitewater rafting tours, kayaking journeys and horse-riding trails. The volcanic area of Arenal is just one hub of hiking and canyoning – unwind afterwards with a soak in its natural hot springs, feeling your heartbeat slow and the unmistakable sensation of being back in your body.

Make it happen

British Airways is the only UK airline to fly direct to Costa Rica, offering a year-round flying programme with five weekly departures in winter and three in summer, making trip planning more flexible and seamless than ever. For maximum hush and a true reset, consider travelling in shoulder season (October to November, March to April), when fewer arrivals keep things mellow along the tourist trail. Book a British Airways Holiday to Costa Rica for low deposits with flexible payment options,* as well as ATOL protection, a generous checked baggage allowance and 24/7 holiday support.

Fly direct to Costa Rica

British Airways flies direct to San José, Costa Rica, from London Heathrow, with five weekly departures in the winter schedule and three in summer.

*Full balance due seven weeks before travel.