Here we have listed sample Costa Rica itineraries to help your Costa Rica trip planning.
Feel free to change them up according to your own wants and needs!
Why Should You Trust Our Costa Rica Itineraries?
First, we live in Costa Rica full time.
Second, we have been traveling throughout Costa Rica non-stop for the last 15 years.
Third, Yeison is a Costa Rican and Samantha grew up in the United States so we offer our perspectives from a local and foreigner.
Fourth, Yeison was an itinerary planner at a Costa Rican travel agency as one of his first jobs so he’s really good at it!
Throughout the years, we have created many Costa Rica itineraries for our family and friends from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
With our combined knowledge and perspectives of traveling as a local and a foreigner, we know exactly what important information to include for a safe, stress free and fun trip to Costa Rica.
Destination Information
Each itinerary contains a short snippet of important information about each destination.
These itineraries are to give you a kickstart to your Costa Rica itinerary planning. They also have maps and routes so you can see where exactly you are going.
Transportation
Each itinerary has recommended transportation methods.
Includes distance and driving times from San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport.
Where to stay, what to eat, what to do
Our recommendations for lodging, restaurants, things to do, day tours and important things to know.
Budget
An estimation of how much you will spend for that itinerary.
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 resource.
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.
15 Days Birding and Wildlife
Highlights
Destinations: Sarapiqui, Boca Tapada, Arenal, Monteverde, Tarcoles, Playa Bejuco
Must fly in and out of SJO Airport.
Focuses moderately heavy on birding and wildlife, with some opportunities for beach time and adventure. Best for older families, couples and birders. Goes to less touristic destinations, highlights eco-lodges. Highly recommended to rent a car, although it is also possible to get around by private shuttles.
Read our 2 week Costa Rica birding and wildlife 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, Jaco/Manuel Antonio
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.
11 Days Classic: La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio
Highlights
Destinations: La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio
Fly in and out of SJO Airport
This itinerary visits three classic tourist destinations in Costa Rica, making it an ideal trip for first time visitors. It has a mix of wildlife, relaxation and adventure but isn’t too crazy. Plenty of beach days with a great overall experience at the rainforest and cloud forest.
Click here to read the Costa Rica 11 days 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. Also good for those who want to visit both coasts and want more beach time.
Click to read our 10 days Costa Rica itinerary.
8 Days Itinerary: Tortuguero, Bijagua and La Fortuna
Highlights
Destinations: Tortuguero, Bijagua and La Fortuna
Fly in and out of SJO Airport.
This itinerary goes to three of Costa Rica’s most popular national parks to see wildlife, nature, rainforest and volcano. It’s fast paced, and requires a rental car, though the first part to Tortuguero is with an all-inclusive tour package. Good for couples and solo travelers who are more interested in hiking, nature, wildlife and rainforest as it does not include a beach destination.
Click to read our Costa Rica in 8 days 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 Itinerary: 8 days
Highlights
Two itineraries that fit into spring break (8 days). One for San Jose International Airport. One for Guanacaste Airport.
Itinerary 1 La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio
This itinerary is for those flying in and out of San Jose International Airport (airport code 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.
Click to read our one week Costa Rica family itinerary.
Itinerary 2 Samara and Bijagua
This itinerary is for families flying in and out of Guanacaste Airport (airport code LIR). Great itinerary for all ages. Goes to a beach town, Samara and a small farming town, Bijagua to experience beach, adventure, culture, nature, wildlife and rainforest. Must rent a car.
Click to read our Costa Rica family itinerary for Guanacaste Airport.
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.
2, 3 and 4 Days in La Fortuna
Ideas on how to spend 1, 2, 3 and 4 full days in La Fortuna. Recommendations for half and full day tours, where to eat and hotels to stay at.
Click to read our 3 day La Fortuna itinerary.
1, 2 and 3 Days in Monteverde
Ideas on how to spend 1, 2 or 3 full days in Monteverde. Also includes hotel recommendations, weather tips, packing tips and restaurant recommendations.
Click to read our 1 and 2 days in Monteverde itinerary.
Maggie says
Hello! My husband and I are booking a trip to Manuel Antonio and Punta Islita. We are flight from Quepos to San Jose and then San Jose to Nosara using SansaAir. How long of a layover do you think we should plan for? Our options are 50 minutes or 3 hours. Thank you! Your website has been very helpful for us.
Sammi says
I would personally go with the 3 hours one just in case they have a delay in your first flight
GP says
Hi! For a 5 day – 7 day trip in Late May, would Tamarindo have a better chance of being dry / less rain (flying into LIR) than going to the central pacific Manuel Antonio area (flying into SJO)?
Sammi says
Generally yes and apparently on the news I read that the rainy season won’t really start until about June this year but Manuel Antonio is the tropical rainforest so it’ll probably still rain there but up in the dry tropical forest it’s generally still drier
Tara says
Would you suggest renting a car or just using transportation for hire ? Also, doing sky trek and thinking of doing hanging bridges there versus mystico?
Sammi says
Hello Tara, our team has emailed you with more info
Rebecca says
Hi there,
This is a last minute trip to CR and our first time. We are flying into LIR on 1/27 and staying in Santa Teresa for 9 days. Where would you recommend we visit while there? On the 9th day we are flying to San Jose and will drive to Guacimo for the remainder of our stay. What would you recommend on that side of the island that isnt too far from our hotel (no more than 3 hours)? I really appreciate the feedback.
Sammi says
Hi there, you can check our Santa Teresa, Costa Rica guide for more information. I’m not sure which island you’re going to though since Santa Teresa is on a peninsula and Guacimo is inland.
Anju Lashkari says
Hi there! My husband and I are planning a 1st time trip in April for 9 nights. After reading through your many recommendations, I believe the following is reasonable but would love your guidance. Land in San Jose; spend the night and head out the next morning to Arenal/La Fortuna; then onto Monteverde; and finally to Manuel Antonio area and finally making our way back to San Jose to fly back to the US. My questions really have to do with does this route make sense, and how do I find private drivers for the main city to city transportation? Also, is it easy to get around Arenal/La Fortuna, Monteverde, sights from the hotels without a rental car? Where is the best white water rafting area? Thanks for your guidance. P.S. I love your site! Thank you for all the information!
Sammi says
Hello Anju, you can check this itinerary which is exactly where you want to go: Costa Rica 11 days itinerary
If you’d like to book private shuttles, feel free to contact us, it is perfectly fine to book private shuttles and not a rental car as long as you book a hotel in town/tourism hub and not far out. Pretty much all tours will include transportation in case you want to do some excursion.
For white water rafting, La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio have the best.
We offer discounts for tours in both places which you can check on this page here:Costa Rica discounts page
Theresa L. says
Hi Sammi.
Thanks for your blog. So much great information. Question regarding car rental from Adobe. Our flight is scheduled to land at SJO around 10:30pm. By the time we get through customs, I assume it will be 11:30pm or later. Is it still possible to pick up our car rental that late? I understand Adobe will deliver the car to our hotel for no extra charge if we stay at a hotel within 12 or so miles of the airport. But they won’t deliver it until 7:30am at the earliest. Any suggestions on how we can get the car earlier so we can get an early start on our vacation activities? Thanks.
Sammi says
Hi Theresa, that is OK if your flight lands late, if you want to get the car when you land at 1030 PM, Adobe will station an agent to wait for you so you can collect the car when you land that night. You will just need to write a quick note in the comment section of the reservation page that you want the car when you land at that time, you can use the widget on our Costa Rica car rental discount booking page and write the note in the comment section
Tracey Picasso says
Hi Sam – thanks for your fabulous site – it’s been sooo helpful.
My family are travelling to CR in January and I have drawn up an itinerary for 14 days but I’m worrying that it might be too much time spent on the road?
San Jose – Fortuna
Fortuna – Monteverde
Monteverde – San Jose (1 night)
San Jose – Tortuguero
Tortuguero – Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo – San Jose
I am being too ambitious? We will be renting a car.
Any advise you can give me would be very much appreciated.
Thank you
Sammi says
You can do this itinerary although you’d really only be able to spend like 1-2 full days in each destination so if you don’t want to be on the move constantly or if you want to have more time in one place, I’d spend just 1 day in Monteverde or cut it out and then choose either Tortuguero or Puerto Viejo depending on how many days you plan for each.
Julie Riley says
Hi
My husband and I are looking at spending 4 weeks leisurely touring CR, from middle of January, and am enjoying this wonderful site. Two query’s perhaps you can advise.
Where are the best snorkelling areas?
If we wanted a few nights with perhaps live music which city would be best?
Thank you
Julie
Sammi says
Hi Julie, best snorkeling would be up in Gulf of Papagayo, Cano Island, Cahuita (during certain times of years) and around Flamingo. There isn’t really great snorkeling right off the beach, the best would be to take a boat to go out into snorkel spots
Any big tourist town like Jaco, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio has live music, bars, etc.
Amanda Abel says
Hi!
We will have 10 nights (not including two nights in Alajuela for flights). We plan to do 4 nights in Tamarindo, 2 or 3 in La Fortuna and 1 day of rafting in the Pacuare. Where else should we go for 3 nights?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Amanda, you can check our post for Best places in Costa Rica
But looking at your destinations and your in/out bound airport, I recommend Monteverde or another beach town like Playas del Coco
Tara M says
In the picture above, with the heading embedded ‘1 Month Itinerary’, where was that rafting/float picture taken? Thank you!
Also, amazing site, thank you so much!
Sammi says
That was from the Pacuare River, the 1 day white water rafting trip class 3 & 4 (you can read more about it and and we also have a small discount for this tour One day Rio Pacuare white water rafting)