Where Jungle Meets the Tide

From palm-lined beaches to misty volcano flanks, our Costa Rica overland felt like living inside a nature documentary — except the animals showed up at our tent, not the other way around. We spent almost every night under palms, often right on the sand, waking to scarlet macaws gliding overhead, toucans dropping by, and the deep, rolling bellow of howler monkeys announcing the dawn. Wild camping here isn’t a sideshow; it’s the main event.

Because we slept where the land wanted us, we saw things other travellers pay for: a raccoon inspecting the hood of our Toyota by starlight, a sloth curled above our camp, parrots choreographing the morning, and even the surprise of free coconuts at our feet. Nights felt safe high in the rooftop tent — handy for snakes and for the extra peace of mind that comes from sleeping above the jungle floor.

The roads stitched the story together: gravel tracks, river crossings, rugged approaches to secret coves and rainforest clearings. Our spots were special and close to life — not posed zoo encounters but real, everyday wildlife showing up to the campsite. In this post we’ll share our highlights so you can taste the colors, the noise, and that salty-green feeling that made Costa Rica unforgettable.