Are you looking for sample Costa Rica itineraries? In this post, I have outlined our favorite Costa Rica itineraries for 4 days to 1 month, very helpful for your Costa Rica trip planning.
We have created many Costa Rica itineraries for our family and friends and Yeison was an itinerary planner when he worked for a Costa Rican travel agency, so we know exactly what to include and what information is important. We have written these itineraries to give you a kickstart to your Costa Rica itinerary planning. Feel free to change them up according to your own wants and needs!
What You Will Find In These Costa Rica Itineraries
Destination Information
Each itinerary contains a short snippet of important information about each destination such as what the place is known for and the highlights of the area.
Transportation
How to get around this itinerary. Distance and driving times from San Jose and Liberia Airport. Also has information on how to get around each destination.
Where to stay, what to eat, what to do
Our recommendations for hotels, hostels, lodges and Airbnb/vacation rentals. Also includes recommendations for restaurants and things to do and day tours.
Budget
An estimation of how much you will spend for that itinerary, particularly on hotels and tours.
Extra Travel Tips
Miscellaneous travel tips related to the Costa Rica itineraries. Kid friendly? Better for couples? Things to know about certain destinations, tours, etc. Recommendations for other beaches and towns to visit/stay nearby. What to pack. Weather. All that kind of good stuff so you are prepared for your trip.
Discounts
We include our own Mytanfeet exclusive discounts so you can save money on car rentals, hotels and tours. There are also helpful links to other posts and resources in the itineraries so you can be fully prepared for your trip.
I’ll be updating this post whenever I write new itineraries so don’t forget to check back!
One Month Coast to Coast
Highlights
Destinations: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Playa Hermosa, Samara, Manuel Antonio, Uvita and Drake Bay.
This itinerary goes to both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Costa Rica. Must rent a car for the ultimate road trip adventure. If you don’t rent a car, you will have to book shared/private shuttles.
Must fly into and out of SJO (San Jose International Airport).
For adventure, beach, wildlife and nature lovers looking to experience the best of Costa Rica all in one trip. Ideal for active travelers: solo travelers, couples, backpackers and older families.
Click to read our Costa Rica 1 month itinerary.
Two Weeks Beach, Adventure, Nature, Forest
Highlights
Destinations: La Fortuna, Monteverde, Santa Teresa and Playas del Coco
Fly into LIR or SJO Airport, must fly out of LIR Airport.
Includes beach, rainforest, volcano, cloud forest, adventure and relaxation. Ideal for any traveler as it has a mix of relaxation, beach time and some adventure. Good for solo travelers, backpackers, couples and families. Can get around by public bus, shuttles or driving.
Click to read our two week Costa Rica itinerary.
Two Weeks: Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, Guanacaste
Highlights
Destinations: Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Jaco/Manuel Antonio
Must fly into and out of SJO Airport
This itinerary goes coast to coast so you’ll experience both the Caribbean and Pacific. Includes rainforest, beach, volcano and cloud forest. Plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, relax, and go on adventures. It’s an active itinerary so good for couples, solo travelers and active families. Can get around via tour interconnections, taxi-boat, public bus, driving or shuttles.
Click to read our 2 week coast to coast itinerary.
Two Weeks: Tamarindo, Monteverde, Bijagua and Rincon de la Vieja
Highlights
Destinations: Monteverde, Bijagua, Rincon de la Vieja and Tamarindo. Visits the cloud forest, rainforest, volcano and beach.
Must fly in and depart from LIR Airport. You must rent a car – 4wd or at least a car with high clearance.
Is ideal for those who like hiking and nature – this Costa Rica itinerary goes to just 1 beach town so more rainforest, less beach. This itinerary focuses a good deal on hiking to see the dry and tropical rainforests so travelers need to be active and avid hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Click to read our 2 weeks hiking, cloud forest and beach itinerary.
13 Days Without a Car: Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna & Monteverde
Highlights
Destinations: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, La Fortuna and Monteverde
Fly in and out of SJO Airport
This itinerary was created specifically for those who do not plan to rent a car. It is also geared for those who are more on a budget and/or are backpackers. Has beaches, volcano, rainforest, adventure, relaxation and cloud forest.
Click the link to read our 13 days in Costa Rica itinerary.
10 Days Chasing Waterfalls: Bijagua, Bajos del Toro and Manuel Antonio
Highlights
Destinations: Bijagua, Bajos del Toro and Manuel Antonio
Fly into LIR Airport, fly out of SJO Airport
This itinerary is dedicated to waterfall hikes and goes to some of the most popular waterfalls in Costa Rica. You will be extremely busy as there is a significant amount of driving time and lots of hiking/walking. Renting a car is required. This itinerary is not for those looking to relax or be at the beach the whole time – it is for active travelers who love hiking, waterfalls and rainforest.
Click to read our Costa Rica 10 day waterfall itinerary.
10 Day Itinerary: San Jose, Puerto Viejo and Manuel Antonio
Highlights
Destinations: San Jose, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Manuel Antonio
Fly in and out of SJO Airport.
This itinerary goes to both Pacific and Caribbean coast, stopping in each destination for a few days so you will also see the city of San Jose. Can get around by shuttles, driving or public bus. You will have beach, nature, wildlife, city, culture and relaxation in this specific itinerary. Good for solo travelers, couples, families, backpackers.
Click to read our 10 days Costa Rica itinerary.
One Week Itinerary: Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Uvita
Highlights
Destinations: Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Uvita
Fly in and out of SJO Airport.
This one week itinerary goes fast as you are visiting three destinations in 7 days. Luckily, they are all a short drive of each other. You will experience beach, rainforest and nature but you will not have a ton of time to do excursions so you need to manage your time and choose your activities wisely. Good for couples, backpackers and solo travelers who want to see more places in less time and don’t care too much about doing tours.
Click to read our one week Costa Rica Central and South Pacific itinerary.
Costa Rica Family Itineraries: 7/8 days (2 itineraries)
Highlights
Two family itineraries in one post.
Itinerary 1 La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio
Fly in and out of SJO Airport. Good for all families of all ages, including multi generational families. Has the mix of rainforest, volcano, relaxation, adventure, culture and beach. Goes to two of the most touristic destinations in Costa Rica so plenty of hotels and services, well paved roads in the routes and lots to do. Can travel via car or private shuttles.
Itinerary 2 Samara and Bijagua
Fly in and out of LIR Airport. Good for families looking for lesser touristic destinations. Samara is still touristy but not as busy or touristy as other beach destinations. Bijagua is a small rural farming town home to the Tenorio Volcano National Park, many hotels have a working farm so it’s great for kids to interact with livestock and learn about Costa Rican farm life. Limited hotels to choose from in Bijagua. Will need to rent a car.
Click to read our Costa Rica family itineraries (7/8 days).
Costa Rica Itinerary 8 days: Playas del Coco and La Fortuna
Highlights
Destinations: Playas del Coco and La Fortuna
Fly in and out of LIR Airport.
Ideal itinerary for first timers or anyone who wants a simple trip to plan. Lots of hotels and things to do and see with a mix of rainforest, volcano and beach. Great for any traveler, all families, couples, solo travelers, backpackers, luxury travelers. Can rent a car or book shuttles. Can also use public transportation but must plan carefully between Playas del Coco and La Fortuna as it requires 3 buses.
Click to read our Costa Rica 8 days itinerary.
Tamarindo 5 Days (1 week total)
Highlights
Fly in and out of LIR Airport.
Total 1 week itinerary but day 1 is flying in, day 7 is flying out so this itinerary has 5 full days in Tamarindo.
Great for families who only have 1 week (like spring break) or those who want to stay at the beach as a home base.
Click to read our Tamarindo 5 days itinerary.
Guanacaste 5 Days
Highlights
Fly in and out of LIR Airport.
This sample 5 day Guanacaste itinerary helps you decide where in Guanacaste to stay, what to do and how to get around.
Main areas discussed in this post: Papagayo Peninsula/Playas del Coco, Tamarindo/Flamingo, Samara/Nosara and La Cruz.
Click to read our Guanacaste 5 days itinerary.
San Jose 5 Days
How to spend 5 days in the capital city of Costa Rica: San Jose
Click to read our San Jose 5 days itinerary.
5 Days Arenal and Monteverde
This sample 5 day itinerary in Arenal and Monteverde helps you figure out where to stay, what to do, how to get around and how many days to stay in Arenal and how many days to stay in Monteverde.
Click to read our Arenal and Monteverde 5 days itinerary.
