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.
Giorgia says
Hi! First thing first thank you for the informations! Very nice blog.
I’m planning my trip for November and I’m struggling bc I can’t decide:
For the first days of my trip I have 2 options:
Alajuela-La Fortuna-Monteverde
or
Alajuela-Sarapiqui-La Fortuna (skipping Monteverde)
I am very attracted from Sarapiqui region bc of the kind of tourism (more susteinable, less touristy), but I am afraid to miss smth important not going to Monteverde. Any advices?
In Sarapiqui I’d would like to stay in an eco-lodge.
Sammi says
Hello Giorgia, Sarapiqui is very nice if you would like to visit somewhere a little bit more local, this canton is very spread out so it doesn’t feel as crowded but there are a lot of school groups and tourists in Sarapiqui as well. I would say that you would miss out on seeing the cloud forest if you skip Monteverde which is very different than the tropical rainforests that La Fortuna and Sarapiqui are. I’d personally go to Monteverde rather than Sarapiqui because you can see and do similar things in La Fortuna and Sarapiqui except La Fortuna has the volcano. If you don’t care about seeing Arenal Volcano, you could do Sarapiqui and Monteverde instead. Sarapiqui and La Fortuna both have cooking classes, birdwatching, night walks, white water rafting, ziplining, chocolate tours and nature walks if those were the things you wanted to do.
Caroline says
Are there any of these itineraries you would specifically recommend for November? Thanks!!
Sammi says
They are all great but as November is the tail end of rainy season, if you want drier weather, I’d go with an itinerary based more in the Guanacaste coast or Nicoya Peninsula. The rains tend to start letting up a lot in November in those areas. You could check like this one: 8 days Costa Rica itinerary or 2 week Costa Rica itinerary
Pallavi says
I am interested in planning a 7-8 day trip (including travel) end of Nov 2024 to Costa Rica with my husband and 2 girls (ages 12 and 15). I want this to be a relaxing trip along with doing some of the usual stuff – hiking, zip lining, viewing wildlife, coffee or chocolate estate, hot springs, beach (if possible). We will be flying in and out of San Jose. The most basic itinerary I found includes Arenal, Montevede and Manuel Antonio. Are all 3 doable? I am having a hard time to choose only 2. Based on distances/travel time and the weather (rainfall in Nov end?) – what is your recommended itinerary?
Thanks in advance for your response.
Sammi says
HI Pallavi, yes we have an itinerary with exactly those destinations: https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-travel-tips/costa-rica-11-days-itinerary/
However for only 7-8 days, I’d personally take out one destination (Monteverde is usually the one taken out due to location and distances) or just spend 1 night in Monteverde. It’s a bit rushed if you do it that way though so for more of a relaxing trip, two destinations is better.
Deanna Zaharia says
Hi, My family of 4 is spending 33 days in Costa Rica. We rented a car to get around. We would really like to go to Tortuguero. My big question is how do I get there without going on a fancy tour? Are there boat companies that could take us from La Pavona (Embarcadero a Tortuguero)? How would we arrange this?
We will be staying in Puerto Viejo for 7 nights. Could we do a boat tour from there? Is it too far for a day trip?
Thoughts?
Sammi says
You can check our post which literally answers your questions: how to get to Tortuguero
Christine says
My husband and I are thinking about visiting Costa Rica the end of July for 6 days. What itinerary would you suggest? We’re in our mid 50’s, don’t want to spend too much time driving, would like to see both forest and beach, maybe some guided tours, like snorkel, kayak, wildlife, etc. Not interested in nightlife or crowds, more low key. Would like to fly into Liberia, as it has better flight options for us. Thanks for any suggestions!
Sammi says
Hi Christine, our itinerary for Playas del Coco and La Fortuna would be great for you. https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-travel-tips/8-days-costa-rica-itinerary/ We have also sent you an email with more information
Miranda Engelken says
What itinerary would you suggest for four night in Dominical? We are in Dominical for five days and then head to Drake Bay via boat from Sierpe. We know we want to see Marino Ballena National Park and Nauyaca Waterfalls. We are still on the fence if we want to visit MA. We will spend one day exploring and doing surf lessons. Any suggestions on our free day?
Sammi says
That’s pretty good for four days. 1 day for Nauyaca, 1 day for Marino Ballena National Park , 1 day for explore and surf, 1 day for Manuel Antonio
Paul says
This is such a great website, thanks for all the info. We are going to be in Costa Rica first week of June for 8 full days on the ground (10 days if you count the days we fly into and out of SJO). Traveling with two middle school children, and possibly renting a car. Would it be too much to fit La Fortuna, Monteverde, and then Manual Antonio NP? Alternatively we could do La Fortuna, Monteverde, and then stay at a Marriott resort in Los Suenos near Jaco (with hotel points for free)–though I don’t know if it’s worth going to Los Suenos only for that reason.
If you think three locations is too much, then we could spend more time in La Fortuna and Monteverde areas, or perhaps find something in between there and SJO. We would love to see the turtles in Ostional, but not sure if it’s worth going that far just for the (low?) possibility of seeing the turtles or not.
Sammi says
For just 8 full days with kids, I’d pick just two destinations, like La Fortuna and then Los Suenos. You could fit in Monteverde but you’d only be able to really stay one or two nights and it’d be a lot of travel time in between destinations, I’d do just La Fortuna and Los suenos/Manuel Antonio and enjoy with enough days in between travel days, especially as June is the start of our rainy season. Ostional is quite far from where you will be, I don’t recommend it especially since you plan to fly in and out of SJO.
Laura says
We are visiting Playa Hermosa with a rental car and staying at a Vrbo. We want to snorkel and see rinco de la vieja. What other places do you recommend around this area? Thank you. Your website is very helpful.
Sammi says
Hello Laura, you can check our guide (it works for Hermosa GTE too): day trips from Playas del Coco. Our favorite snorkeling tour you can read about here: Boating in Playas del Coco and here is our guide to Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Heidi says
Hi, my family of 5 is flying into San Jose late, spending the night, and then driving to LaFortuna. We stay there 1 night, then drive to Guanacaste for 2 nights. Then drive to Manual Antonio for 4 nights. Is this doable or too much.
Sammi says
Hi Heidi, we’ve sent you an email with more information but personally it’s not worth going to Guanacaste for only two nights and then La Fortuna for only one night, that’s way too short. Better do just La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, we have an itinerary exactly like that: https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-travel-tips/costa-rica-itinerary-for-families/
Hugo Armstrong says
Hi, I am travelling south America but have managed to squeeze in a week or so in Costa Rica. I am a confident and outgoing 18 year old solo traveller and so would like to be surrounded by like minded individuals, however not too fussed on their age.
Of course I like to party but am not interested in overly touristy nightclub based sort of towns, I would like to strike a good balance in-between an authentic and engaging experience with also the social aspect of backpacking.
What would be your recommended itinerary, based off my brief description?
Sammi says
Hello Hugo, definitely La Fortuna and if you want a beach town, I’d recommend Puerto Viejo de Talamanca or Uvita. Uvita is pretty quiet though so if you want something a bit livelier, perhaps Manuel Antonio.
marie says
Hi, we intended to have 4 nights in downtown SJO on arrival prior to our tour….first night flight arrives in the evening so no plans, however my concern is that you shouldnt walk around at night. We will want to eat out and would usually wander around until we find somewhere with atmosphere but now Im put off staying so long. What do you think ?
Many thanks
Marie
Sammi says
Hi Marie, I would personally say 4 nights in San Jose is a bit too much unless you are planning to use it as a home base for day trips from San Jose. But if you are only staying to see the city, I would say 2 nights, max 3 is plenty enough as the city is not that big and you can actually see downtown and many cultural sights in just one day.
As for getting around at night – Uber unless you are walking just one block or so from your lodging. Otherwise, definitely Uber.