If you have one week in Costa Rica for vacation, check out this 1 week Costa Rica itinerary to help you plan your trip.
This sample one week Costa Rica itinerary flies into San Jose International Airport, and goes to the Central and South Pacific coast, specifically the beach towns of Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Uvita.
This Costa Rica 7 days itinerary is ideal for those who want to see beaches, tropical rainforest and nature.
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Day 1: San Jose & Jaco
Important note: this itinerary requires renting a car. There are buses and shuttles but since you are there for only one week, you want to maximize your time and have the most flexibility. Get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra freebies here!
You do not necessarily need a SUV/4wd/4×4 for this itinerary. This entire route goes down a major highway called the Costanera Sur, Route 34, and it is well paved. Stay at hotels in town so you can rent a sedan which will work perfectly fine.
However, if you book vacation rentals or hotels up in the mountains, then a 4×4 will be required.
Land at San Jose International Airport, pick up your car rental and head to Jaco right away, about a 1.5 hour drive. Do note that traffic in San Jose is heavy so it may take you around 2 hours or more depending on the time of day you land.
Furthermore, depending on the time of year and day you land, immigration and customs may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
The busiest times are midday on the weekends during Christmas, New Years, Holy Week and American/Canadian spring break.
Along the way, you can stop at the Crocodile Bridge to walk on the famous bridge to see large crocodiles (roadside, no detour) or Peñon de Guacalillo, a cool cliff side lookout point with coastal views (30 minute detour).
Make sure not to leave any valuables visible, put all luggage in the trunk and park where there are other tourist buses/people. Get more Costa Rica safety tips here.
About Jaco
Jaco is the closest beach town to San Jose. As the most developed beach town in Costa Rica, it has plenty of good restaurants, shops and night life. This beach is famous for surfing as it has constant waves and several breaks, perfect for all levels.
It’s not the most beautiful beach but it’s very easy to get to from San Jose. Rest up, wander around downtown, have a drink during happy hour, watch the sunset on the beach and get ready for day 2!
Where to stay in Jaco
Some of our recommendations are Hotel South Beach, Selina Jaco (hostel/digital nomad hotel), Croc’s Casino and Resort, Oceano Boutique Hotel, Villa Nasua (apartments) and Beach Break Resort.
There are also a ton of Airbnbs and VRBOs in Jaco in condo complexes and towers. Check out Costa Linda, Vista Las Palmas (beachfront), La Paloma Blanca (beach front), Lapa Living (middle of town) and Diamante del Sol (beachfront).
An alternative option for Jaco is Playa Hermosa. This is the ultimate surfing beach in Costa Rica with a few hotels and restaurants. It’s much more laid back and relaxed than Jaco and only a ten minute drive south. Great for those looking for a less touristy and quieter beach.
Another alternative option is Villa Caletas, a gorgeous resort nestled up in the mountains with an incredible ocean view. It is a 20 minute drive north of Jaco. Great for a romantic getaway.
Where to eat in Jaco
Some of our favorite restaurants in Jaco are Grafitti, Soda Rustico, Amancios, Tsunami Sushi, Pizza Shop, Orange Pub, Beer House, Chinita Pacifica, Soda Garabito, Isaga Bar and Restaurante, Taco Bar and Green Room.
Read more of our favorite restaurants in Jaco here. Food in Jaco can run anywhere from $6-20 USD a meal depending on where you go. There are tons of happy hour and drink specials at the bars.
Day 2 of this 1 Week Costa Rica Itinerary: Jaco
Below are our recommendations for things to do in Jaco.
What to Do in Jaco
There is so much to do in Jaco! If you’re up for something besides sightseeing and walking around town, there are many activities. You can read more things to do in Jaco here.
For one full day in Jaco, we recommend to spend the day checking out town and the beach in the morning. If you feel up for it, you can take a group surf lesson which costs around $65 USD per person.
For surf lessons, we recommend to schedule your class beforehand so you know what time you need to get to Jaco to prepare. Recommended Jaco surf schools are Selina, Room2Board, Surfer Factory Surf School and School of the World.
For food, recommendations are Soda Rustico Jaco and dinner at Graffiti, Orange Pub or Puddlefish Brewery. You can get ice cream at the El Barco or Pops in downtown.
For sunset, we highly recommend hiking to Miro Mountain for an awesome view of the beach.
Day 3: Manuel Antonio
Today you’ll drive to Manuel Antonio, about a 1 hour drive south of Jaco down the highway. Sleep in, enjoy your breakfast and coffee and leave at check out (usually 11 AM).
About Manuel Antonio
This is a very popular area in Costa Rica because of the Manuel Antonio National Park, white sand beaches, abundant wildlife and incredible views.
Here is where you will have the best sloth spotting opportunities in this one week Costa Rica itinerary.
Along this drive, there are some nice stops on the way. First, make sure to stop at the JACO sign right outside town before Playa Hermosa. You can see the beach town and its a photogenic spot. On Google Maps, it’s called “Mirador de Jaco.”
Another nice lookout spot is Mirador Roca Loca. Sometimes there are Scarlet Macaws in the almond trees which is fun to see.
There are some cool beaches you can stop at as well along this drive, such as Playa Bejuco, Playa Esterillos Oeste and Playa Esterillos Este.
We recommend to stop for lunch or food at Don Toro on the beach of Esterillos Este. Enjoy yummy food and drinks with your toes in the sand.
Safety tip: always bring your valuables with you if you leave the car. Don’t park in empty spots, try to park where there are other cars/tour buses. Always roll up windows, lock doors and don’t leave any valuables visible.
Once you arrive at Manuel Antonio, check into your hotel, relax and hang out by the pool. If you make it before 6 PM, head down to Playa Espadilla Norte to watch the sunset or just chill at the hotel.
For dinner, we recommend Emilio’s Cafe, Raphael’s Terraza, or Cafe Agua Azul.
Day 4: Manuel Antonio National Park
Today is your day to hike and explore Manuel Antonio National Park.
Once named by Forbes as one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, Manuel Antonio National Park has postcard perfect beaches with sparkling turquoise water, fluffy white sand and swaying palm trees.
At the national park you can hike the trails, swim, spot sloths, lay on the beach and hang out with monkeys. I recommend getting to the park early (it opens at 7 AM) to take advantage of the whole day.
The national park entrance fee is $16 + tax USD per adult. Remember to book your park tickets on the SINAC website which is required for all visitors.
You can hike the park by yourself, but if you really want to see lots of wildlife and learn about the flora and fauna, I recommend hiring a guide. You can hire one at the national park entrance if you will be arriving to the park on your own.
IMPORTANT! If you visit the park on your own, make sure you purchase your park tickets on the SINAC website as this is required to enter. If you’re visiting Costa Rica during high season (December to April), buy your park tickets at least 3 weeks before due to extremely limited availability.
We have discounts for Manuel Antonio National Park tours if you would like to book a full tour with roundtrip transportation, park ticket, fruit and bilingual guide included.
Where to stay in Manuel Antonio
Some recommended hotels are Hotel San Bada (right at the entrance of the national park), Selina Manuel Antonio, Hotel Costa Verde and Tico Tico Villas.
There are many hostels in Manuel Antonio or you can splurge for a luxury hotel. Hostels are around $35 USD a bed and upscale hotels run a minimum of $300 USD a night.
If you want to splurge on a hotel for this 7 days Costa Rica itinerary, I highly recommend doing it in Manuel Antonio. Many luxury hotels have a spectacular view of the national park, infinity pools, spas and some with private hot tubs on the balconies.
Some high end hotels are Si Como No, Makanda by the Sea adults only, Tulemar, Arenas del Mar, Parador and Hotel La Mariposa.
Days 5 & 6 of this 1 week Costa Rica itinerary: Uvita
On day 5, you’ll drive to your next destination: Uvita.
Manuel Antonio to Uvita is approximately a one hour drive south on Route 34 and is an easy drive.
About Uvita
Uvita is a small town in the South Pacific, specifically in an area called the Costa Ballena which is made up of two other towns, Dominical and Ojochal.
This area doesn’t see as many tourists at Jaco or Manuel Antonio so you will have the opportunity to enjoy beaches and the rain forest without tons of crowds.
During your drive, you can drive through Dominical to check out the beach town. If you’re hungry, stop by Fuego Brewing Company for beer and bites or Cafe Mono Congo for smoothies and lunch.
You can also take a small detour right before Dominical to visit the Nauyaca Waterfalls. These two amazing waterfalls in the rainforest are not to be missed!
Book the 4×4 truck which offers a fun 15 minute 4×4 ride through the jungle to the falls.
Where to stay in Uvita
These hotels are in town or very close: Los Laureles Cabinas, Tucan Hotel, Yuli Hotel, Whale Tail Hotel and Karandi Hostel. There are also tons of Airbnbs and vacation rentals in the area.
If you have a 4×4 rental, you can splurge on one of the amazing ocean/rainforest view hotels up in the mountains outside Uvita, such as Oxygen Jungle Villas adults only, Kura Boutique adults only and Vista Celestial Boutique Hotel.
These are awesome for honeymooners. There is also a unique glamping hotel called Manoas just a few kilometers from town which we really enjoyed.
You can also choose to stay in Dominical instead of Uvita. There are a ton of gorgeous vacation rentals up in the mountains (4×4 required) or you can find a modest hotel in town like Hotel Villas Rio Mar.
Day 5
This day is open for you whether you want to chill or do some activities.
As Uvita is located in the South Pacific, there is plenty of tropical rainforest, mountains and beaches to explore.
What to Do in Uvita
Some of our favorite things to do in Uvita are humpback whale watching (half day) and Cano Island snorkeling tour (full day). If you want to go ziplining, there is a fun zipline at Hacienda Baru near Dominical.
For those visiting January – March or July – September, definitely take a morning whale watching tour. Uvita is the best place to see humpback whales and those are great months to see them.
Tour is around 3 hours from 830 AM to 1130 AM approximately. After the tour, have lunch in town (lots of restaurants right by the park entrance) and you can spend the rest of the day at the beach in the national park.
If you’re really into snorkeling, the Cano Island snorkeling tour is fantastic during January, February, March, April and July. It’s a full day, starting around 7 AM and coming back around 2 PM with lunch included.
Another option is to visit the Uvita Waterfall in the morning, have lunch at Mosaic Wine Bar right outside the waterfall and then spend the rest of the day at Marino Ballena National Park to walk the long shores, nap and watch the sunset.
Day 6: Back to San Jose (or stay Uvita depending on when your flight departs on Day 7)
Today you’ll head back to San Jose as it’s about a 3.5 hour drive from Uvita to the San Jose International Airport.
If you want to do some city sightseeing, you can leave Uvita in the morning, drop your luggage off at your hotel and explore downtown San Jose.
You can check out the Central Market, National Theater or a museum. Just keep in mind that downtown San Jose to San Jose International Airport is about a 30 minute drive.
If your flight on Day 7 departs in the late afternoon, you could stay in Uvita for Day 6 and then leave early the next morning for the airport.
Drive directly to your car rental agency to drop off your car and they will shuttle you to the airport. If you do this option, we recommend you to leave with LOTS of time to account for traffic, stops along the way and returning your car.
Our recommendation is to leave at least 5 hours before and remember, you should aim to arrive at the airport at least 2.5-3 hours before your departure flight time.
Where to stay by SJO airport
You can get our recommendations for best hotels by San Jose Airport here.
Booking a room at the Adventure Inn? Get 10% off using the promo code “mytanfeet” on their booking page! They are only 10 minutes from the airport, include free hot breakfast and free airport shuttle.
Returning your rental car on Day 6: Many airport hotels offer free airport shuttles so you can return your rental car on this day. You can either drop it off directly at your car rental office or ask them to see if they can arrange car pick up from your hotel. If you rent a car with our Costa Rica car rental discount widget, we will help you arrange all the details to make sure your car rental returns goes smoothly.
To get to the airport on Day 7, you can schedule/call an Uber or arrange an airport shuttle with your hotel if they offer one.
Day 7: Fly Home!
And your Costa Rica has come to an end as you fly home on day 7. This 1 week Costa Rica itinerary gives you a good amount of time to explore 3 different places.
Sample 1 Week Costa Rica Itinerary Map
Here is an interactive map where I’ve included our hotel and restaurant recommendations, driving routes and relevant guides. (Use the sidebar to find the filters and key map)
Alternative Ideas
This itinerary is a bit quick. If you don’t want to move around as much, you can skip Uvita and add a day to Jaco and Manuel Antonio.
If Jaco doesn’t sound like your kind of place, you can skip Jaco, and go straight to Manuel Antonio, Dominical or Uvita instead.
Another idea is to just pick one destination to use as a home base and take day trips. This is less stressful since you won’t have to move or drive every couple days.
You can perfectly stay in Jaco, Manuel Antonio or Uvita and use it as your home base.
Best Time for This One Week Itinerary
We recommend the dry season, December through April. For the least amount of rain, January, February and March are your best options.
December and April may have some rain at the beginning and end of the month as they are more like transition months. Christmas, New Years and Holy Week are extremely crowded and busy.
We would avoid doing this itinerary in October, which is the rainiest month for the destinations in this itinerary. There are possibilities to get caught in tropical storms, lightning storms, floods and daily downpours as the Central and South Pacific coasts tend to rain quite a bit.
Some businesses may close in October due to the low season. But you will get the cheapest prices and least amount of people in October.
Read more about Costa Rica weather here.
Estimated 1 Week Costa Rica Itinerary Cost
For this 7 day Costa Rica itinerary, the cost for 2 people will greatly vary depending on your style of travel. An average can be roughly $2000-2500 for 2 people without flights or car rental. Let’s say you’re staying in hotels that cost about $150 USD a night, spending about $120 USD a day on meals and drinks, doing 2 tours around $100 USD each.
This doesn’t include the car rental which can be around $800 USD a week depending on the model, time of year, insurances, gas, tolls and extras you get. Nor does this price include flights, tips, groceries, souvenirs or any other things you buy.
You can do it much cheaper by staying in hostels/budget places, eating at cheap places and skipping tours. However, we do recommend doing at least one fun tour during your time in Costa Rica.
The most expensive time of year for this itinerary would be high season, December through April. Peak tourism season with the most expensive prices are the week of Christmas and New Years and Holy Week.
If you’re on a tight budget, visit during the lowest tourism months of September or October. Flights, hotels and car rentals are cheaper at that time.
For more of an idea, check out this one week Costa Rica travel budget to see how much we spent in Jaco and Playas del Coco.
Check out other Costa Rica itineraries!
2 week Costa Rica itinerary: Arenal, Monteverde, Santa Teresa and Playas del Coco
14 day itinerary: Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, Guanacaste
10 day itinerary: San Jose, Puerto Viejo and Arenal
8 day Costa Rica itinerary: Tortuguero, Bijagua and La Fortuna
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels. Save more money with our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Brady says
I notice on here that you only mention staying in hotels. We are seeing lots of cool looking houses to rent. What is your opinion on renting a private space vs. staying in a hotel? Any reasons we would not want to try that?
Sammi says
You can definitely stay at an Airbnb, lots of cool ones in that area. It’d be best to rent a car and then make sure to check whether you need a 4×4 or not.
Sumana says
We planed our 6 nights costarica vacation based on information you have shared. Excellent recommendation. We enjoyed the driving and everything costarica has to offer. Gratitude
Sammi says
Hi Sumana, thanks for your comment and feedback, we’re glad you had a great time in Costa Rica!
Angela Szentes says
Thank you for all the great information! My husband and I have visited CR 3 other times and will be going back in July for 8 days. My personal favorite is Monteverde but we are taking your recommendations to see Manuel Antonio area just to experience a new part of CR. My question is: Do you recommend that we take the same roads back to San Jose airport after visiting Playa Hermosa, Manuel Antonio, and finally Uvita? Is going back through San Isidro de El General not recommended? Is there anything worth seeing going that way on the way back?
Sammi says
I’d personally still take Route 34 along the coast, the 2 is a beautiful drive but it is extremely windy, curvy and normally slow due to tons of congestion and really slow trailers trying to up the hill. It also comes out the side near Cartago, you will not be close to SJO Airport, so then you have to drive all the way through the cities to get to the airport, and that can take a long time due to tons of traffic in rush hours. I would only recommend Route 2 if you plan to stay a night or two along the way like at San Gerardo de Dota and that you will be arriving to SJO the day before your flight. We do not recommend driving Route 2 on the day you fly out as sadly car accidents are not uncommon on Cerro de la Muerte and this route can take a lot longer driving and be more stressful. Route 34 is a straight road up the coast, easy to drive to the airport area.
Sylvie says
Hi,
thank you too much for your amazing blog, very helpful.
I like the idea you suggested for 5 days trip around the Manuel Antonio National Park. we do not want to rent a car. How would I be able to do the trip by bus?
Are what would you suggest as a trip for 6 days by bus only?
Gracias, pur vida
Sammi says
Hello, sure you can check all our Costa Rica itinerary ideas on that page
dawn christy says
We Are looking to do an ATV tour in manual Antonio. There are several companies. Would you have one you’d recommend. 4 adults
Thanks
Sammi says
Hello Dawn, we have sent you an email with ATV tour information
Kalpna says
Hello,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge about Costa Rica. It’s a huge help for first timers like us. We are flying in and out of Liberia during our 8 days and 8 nights trip to CR. We will spend 3 nights in La Fortuna in the beginning and spending 3 nights in Tamarindo area at the end. We are debating what to do for the two nights after Arenal, go to Monteverde or Sarapiqui.
Any preference or other suggestions? Thank you.
Sammi says
I’d go with Monteverde personally
Laura Alexander says
Hi! Love your site – full of very useful information. We have rented a home later this year for a month near Bejuco beach (b/w Jaco and Quepos) (would have loved to have been on the pennisula, but better options for reasonably priced larger homes here). Do you think this will be ok for a ‘home base’ for the month? Enough to do in the area to occupy our time and get a feel for the local culture? Any recommendations for ‘off the beaten’ path types of things to do for visitors who will be there a longer amount of time?
Sammi says
Bejuco can work as a homebase but you have to rent a car, mandatory to get around.
Tracy says
Hi there:
We are travelling from Liberia airport to Manuel Antonio by rental vehicle, wondering where a good pit stop would be.
Also:
We are planning on doing the snorkeling tour at Cano island. Is there shuttle pick up or is it easy to drive and get parking in Uvita.
Thanks
Sammi says
You can stop in Jaco, has a lot of good restaurants.
The company we work with doesn’t provide transportation, you have to meet them at their office in Uvita and there’s parking in town (street ).
Holly says
We’re on our last night of our 9 day trip and we’ve been to Poas Volcano, Arenal, Manuel Antonio and a few nights in Ojochal. Lots of rain last night and wild thunder and lighting tonight but no rain yet. We’re already planning another trip down here for March 2022 if we don’t come back sooner. Pura Vida !!
Michele z says
Whats you thoughts on which areas are more pet friendly? Jaco, Manuel Antonio or Uvita? Also, suggestions for pet friendly accommodations (2B house or Air BNB?)
Sammi says
I would say Jaco and Manuel Antonio just because they have more options for accommodations and rentals, I know in Jaco that Oceano is pet friendly and in Manuel Antonio, Hotel Shana, posada & Jungle, San bada and mango moon are pet friendly.
Michelle says
I love this one week plan but we may have an additional week. We are traveling with our 13 and 15 year old teens (boy and girl). Where would you recommend extra time or what additional stop would you add to this plan? Is the turtle beach too far away and are they even out at the time we plan to visit (July 16-30th)? We are flexible kids want adventure, beaches and animals!
Sammi says
You could do a rainforest before Jaco like La Fortuna after San Jose. I would definitely stay more days in each place too since you have more time.
VanessaZ says
Hello! First & foremost, thank you for your site. It’s very informative & has been a great resource for me. My family & I (2 adults/2 teens) will be in CR in early March & I’m looking for a recommendation for places to stay in Jaco. I’d really like to stay in a nice hotel/resort-like property. There’s so many choices and I’m a bit overwhelmed by it. Thanks in advance and keep up the great work!
Sammi says
Hi, as for resorts, there is the all inclusive Croc’s which is nice. You can read more recommendations in our Jaco, Costa Rica. guide.
Nita says
Great travel guide! Can we do this trip in late April and early May 2019 without making reservations at hostels or low budget paces beforehand? We thought about just securing a place when we arrive. We maybe wanted to leave our schedule more flexible. If you think it is better to secure, we will. We will be traveling by bus for 9 days 4-22 through 5-2.
Sammi says
Hi Nita, I would book for at least the first part of your trip because Easter is on April 21 and the week before and after are pretty busy because all the locals are on vacation. You might be able to swing it at end of April/beginning of May and be more flexible, especially if you’re not going to the super popular coastal destinations like Tamarindo, Coco, Samara, Jaco or Manuel Antonio.
Jani says
Hi there!! We are a group of 6 adults and we will be going to Costa Rica in April for 1 week. We will rent a car and we are thinking staying 4 nights near Jaco (Bejuco, Hermosa, Esterillos, or other) so we can easily access to Manuel Antonio and boat taxi for Montezuma. Then we would go for 2 nights near Monteverde. We would like to hike in the national park and if possible, we would like to go to hotsprings somewhere nearby. Last day, we’ll get back near the airport. Is this itinerary reasonable or it might be too much? Thank you so much for your help!!
Sammi says
Hi Jani, that is fine, just know you would have to spend one half day driving from Jaco to Monteverde as it’s around a 4-5 hour drive but you don’t really need a ton of time in Monteverde, you could even spend 2 nights and have 1 full day and that would be fine.
Danny says
Hey quick question. What are the bus companies there? For 1 week would you recommend Arenal then Jaco then Manuel antonio? Or not?
Sammi says
Hi Danny, for 1 week, 3 destinations is a kind of a lot since you’ll only be able to stay like 1-2 nights in each place. I would stay in Jaco and then take a day trip to Manuel Antonio, or just skip Jaco (unless you want to surf or be in a more developed beach town) and stay in Manuel Antonio. There are many bus companies here since it is a private industry so there are various companies.
Lizzie says
Very a-ma-zinggg! Costa Rica is on my bucket list for this year(2018) , i will definitely check back this itinerary to plan my trip! I want to come Central American one time
Angie Pike says
Hi! I love all the info on this page, thank you! I’m looking for somewhere to go as a family (2 girls, 16 & 8 yrs) that is totally different. Warm, beautiful, fun. CR seems perfect. I like the looks of your 1 week itinerary. There seems to be interesting things to do, little of everything. But I feel a trip to the La Fortuna is a must as well, wit the volcano. I really have no interest in sightseeing San Jose, but will need to be our travel in and out location. Here are some things I would love the girls to experience as well as us adults. Beach, rainfall seeing all the wild life, volcano, more of the things you can’t see. But yet kid friendly. I’m looking into February 7-10 days vacation, do you have any suggestions? Places? My other concern is traveling with my girls safety wise. Is there anything a parent should know first? Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Miranda! I have written a post about things to do in Dominical and Uvita which is the South Pacific/Costa Ballena but since you have a car, you can easily drive around the area as there are a ton of things to do.Since you guys are staying in the beginning of Osa Peninsula, I definitely recommend visiting Corcovado. You can take a day trip, many tour companies run this and they normally go to San Pedrillo Station by boat or since you have a car and you’re more in the Osa than Costa Ballena, El Tigre is a trail you can get to by car. You do need to get permits and a guide for Corcovado National Park so for the holiday season, you will need to book in advance as it gets very busy and they only allow a certain number of permits a day.
Sierpe Mangrove is also a really cool place to do a boat ride/kayak/SUP and see wildlife. It’s one of the biggest mangroves in Central America and you can see a ton of wildlife. For food, Ojochal actually has some great international cuisine but is very expensive.
There is a really cool waterfall tour with Rancho Di’Andrew that goes around to hidden waterfalls in the South Pacific or you can visit some on your own like Casacada El Pavon or Uvita Waterfall.
If you like more cultural/off the beaten track things, there is a cool sphere museum called Finca 6 where you can learn about the ancient culture of indigenous people of Costa Rica and the stone spheres. You do need a guide though if you don’t speak Spanish since the tour and the entire museum is in Spanish.
I recommend bringing a rain jacket as that area can still rain even in the dry season and December is our transition month. When we visited in February once it poured for 5 days straight! And bring a ton of bug repellent as that area is suuuuuper humid. If you’re bringing heavy camera gear like DSLR’s or video equipment, bring some micro-fiber towels to protect them from the humidity and make sure to have water proof equipment.
Have a wonderful time, we love that area and there’s so much to see and do. Just keep in mind that that area is more rugged and undeveloped so go to the supermarket early and stock up, make sure to exchange some money into colones (though US are widely accepted it will be better for colones in small towns for taxis, souvenirs, etc.).
Miranda says
Hello! My family and I are planning a trip to Costa Rica over Christmas and New Years this year and will be staying on the neck of the Osa Peninsula (very South Pacific). We have our rental car and villa, but are wondering if you have any tips about staying in the South. We would love to visit Boruca for the Fiesta de Diablitos and snorkel Cano Island, but we aren’t sure about other excursions. DO you have any tips for the very South Pacific? Thanks in advance! Love your blog – it has been super helpful planning our trip!
Vanessa says
Hello,
Thank you for all the detailed info! We are taking a trip to Costa Rica in July and mainly following your itinerary here for the Central and South Pacific, but we are wondering whether Utiva is a must. We’d prefer not to have to be on the road so much, but I don’t want to miss out on a great experience especially since this is our first visit to Costa Rica.
Sammi says
Hi Vanessa, Uvita is pretty amazing to be honest and you will get to experience a beach/jungle area in CR that is not super touristic because Jaco and Manuel Antonio are very touristy. Uvita also has the Marino Ballena NP so if you like whales or water activities without crowds, that is the place to go. Cano Island, which is about 45 minutes boat ride from Uvita is also the best place for snorkeling down in that area – the snorkeling around Jaco and Manuel Antonio isn’t good. So it’s up to you but I would definitely make the drive down if you have time- it’s worth it! So many hidden waterfalls to enjoy as well 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Helen, we like June because there isn’t quite as many people and it’s the beginning of rainy season so everything turns green and is cooler. You can read more about best times to visit Costa RIca here: Best time to visit Costa Rica
Helen says
Thank you for all your great information.
Is June an ok time to visit CR?
Bruno B @ Geeky Explorer says
This is a-ma-zinggg! Costa Rica is on my bucket list for next year, will definitely check back this itinerary to plan my trip!
Sammi says
Awesome! Hope you get to visit one day 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Crystal, May is not bad as it’s the transition or shoulder month from dry to rainy season. You can read more about Costa Rica weather here: Costa Rica weather
We personally love traveling in rainy season! THere are less tourists, it starts getting a lot greener from the rains and it’s cheaper. You just need to make sure you pack appropriately for rainy season because it is a tropical country. Here are our tips: Rainy season packing list Costa Rica
I would contact the hotel how the bus system works to their place, they usually have a “how to get here” section on their website. They may also offer shared shuttles if you don’t want to drive.
As for driving… it is crazy in the city. Outside the city, it’s fairly easy (just gotta go slow for the bumps).
Crystal says
Hi there! Great blog on Costa Rica. Really enjoying all your content. I was trying to plan a trip to Costa Rica end of May, but I’m seeing that it’s the start of the rainy season. Is the rainy season in Costa Rica pretty bad? Is it on and off rain or all day rain? Also, I wanted to stay at the Tree House hotel in San Carlos, but I’ve heard that driving conditions are pretty crazy there and not sure if I’m able to handle that. Are there buses of some sort that go that way that you know of? If not, is it pretty crazy to drive out there for a first-time traveler to Costa Rica? Thanks so much for your help!
Nika says
Great guide! Now I just need the time to get going!
Sammi says
Thanks!
Mai Nomura says
Great Costa Rican itinerary! I’m loving how inexpensive it is to do these things! Great guide!
Sammi says
Thank you 🙂
Rosemarie Driscoll says
Amazing trip! I’d love to follow the itinerary you laid out. Great article guide!
Sammi says
Thanks!