Our Costa Rica itinerary roundup includes our favorite vacation plans of varying time frames and places to explore. So, whether you have a couple of weeks or a couple of days, we want to help you experience the best of Costa Rica on your trip.
These itineraries also offer a variety of cities that your vacation can center around. As well as airport arrivals and departures from either Liberia or San Jose. Take a hike to local waterfalls or relax and enjoy the sandy beaches. Or opt for a zip lining trip for a bit of adventure. You have so many options for your vacation to Costa Rica, so we will help you narrow it down with some of the top itinerary picks.
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
Winter and early Spring is the best time to visit Costa Rica. Firstly, because the weather being mild and dry, which makes it perfect for exploring the forests or enjoying a sunny beach day. However, the disadvantage is that this is the most popular time of year for tourists looking to avoid the rainy season.
What are the top things to do in Costa Rica?
There are so many things to see and experience in Costa Rica. However, here are are the top things that you should not miss across the various city regions:
- San Jose – National Museum of Costa Rica
- La Fortuna – Arenal Volcano
- Monteverde – Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
- Tamarindo – Tamarindo Beach
- Manuel Antonio – Manuel Antonio National Park
Where is the best place to stay in Costa Rica?
The best place to stay for first time visitors to Costa Rica is in La Fortuna. Although, depending on how much time you have to explore, you can add more cities to your itinerary to visit.
La Fortuna is a great place to stay if you don’t want to move around too much on your vacation. This is because it is in the middle (just under 3 hours driving) from the Liberia and San Jose airports. Plus, it is very convenient to visit a variety of local activities and sites.
How many days do you need to visit Costa Rica?
3 days is the minimum time recommended if you are only visiting one city on your vacation. If you want to add-on nearby sities then you will want at least 5 days. And if you want to explore two major cities, like La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, your will want to have a minimum of 7 days.
Again, this is also very dependent on your style of travel. If you want to see as much as possible, then you can squeeze is a considerable amount in a smaller time frame. Or extend the amount of days to travel slower.
Here are some of the top itineraries for Costa Rica, each with a different amount of time, to help you find your ideal vacation plan:
14 Day Ultimate Costa Rica Itinerary
This grand 14-day journey takes you through all of highlights of Costa Rica. We love this longer trip time frame for Costa Rica, since there are so many unique landscapes to see and activities to do. Plus it really gives you the time to soak in their mantra of Pura Vida.
Overview:
- Day 1: Arrive in San Jose
- Day 2-4: Puerto Viejo
- Day 5-6: La Fortuna
- Day 7-8: Monteverde
- Day 9-10: Manuel Antonio
- Day 11-13: Uvita
- Day 14: Depart San Jose
Be sure to check out the full itinerary and details from Salt in our Hair at the link below.
10 Day Itinerary in Costa Rica
This 10-day Costa Rica itinerary includes stays in five of Costa Rica’s top cities, so you will get a great taste of the country in a short amount of time. We love how they packed in a lot of different options along the way, and give you tips to make the most of your time at each city.
Overview:
- Day 1: Arrive in San Jose
- Day 2: La Fortuna
- Day 3-4: Monteverde
- Day 5-7: Manuel Antonio
- Day 8-9: Limon
- Day 10: Depart San Jose
Be sure to check out the full itinerary and details (including a map!) from Great Wide Travel at the link below.
7 Day Itinerary for Costa Rica
Only have a week in Costa Rica? This itinerary has three city stops, and focuses on exploring the highlights and experiencing each city in a short amount of time. We love that you’re able to explore the jungle, beach and mountain too. Plus, by sticking to the northwest area of the country, you will spend less of your vacation driving.
Overview:
- Day 1 – 3: La Fortuna
- Day 3 – 5: Monteverde
- Day 5 – 7: Peninsula Papagayo
Also, be sure to check out the full itinerary and details from My Darling Passport at the link below.
5 Day Best of Costa Rica Itinerary
This itinerary wastes no time, and sweeps you right out of the airport to the beautiful city of La Paz to explore waterfalls and scenic hiking trails. If you are short on time, but really wanting to still se and experience a lot, this itinerary is for you.
Overview:
- Day 1-2 : La Paz
- Day 3: Arenal
- Day 4: Monteverde
- Day 5: San Jose
Next step, be sure to check out the full itinerary and details from Bobo & ChiChi at the link below.
3 Days in Costa Rica Itinerary
If you only have 3 days in Costa Rica, you will want to spend as little time as possible on the road traveling between cities. This itinerary has you flying from the Liberia airport and enjoying the Guanacaste province.
Overview:
- Day 1: Bijagua
- Day 2: Monteverde
- Day 3: Liberia
Be sure to check out the full itinerary and details from Green Donkey Travel at the link below.
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