There are so many beautiful areas of Costa Rica to see, it can be hard to narrow down what to do, and to research all the options. The good news is, you don’t have to! Get a proven itinerary below, based on my most recent trip to Costa Rica. This itinerary includes 3 main areas of Costa Rica: La Fortuna (Arenal National Park), Monteverde, and Jacó.
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1656767111055541" crossorigin="anonymous"></script><!-- Square Display Ad - Post Pages --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1656767111055541" data-ad-slot="9818233047" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script>Day 1: San Jose to La Fortuna
Fly into the San José airport – this is the main airport in Costa Rica, so it typically offers the best flight options. From there, you can either rent a car or book a transfer. There is also a public bus to La Fortuna but I wouldn’t recommend it as it doesn’t leave from the airport and you cannot book tickets ahead of time.
I believe that renting a car is the easiest way to get around Costa Rica. It allows for a lot more freedom to travel from place to place and easily get to hikes. Some of the roads are a bit tough, with lots of potholes and some dirt roads, but if you stick to the main highways and busy roads, it’s pretty easy!This itinerary only travels on main roads where a 4×4 vehicle isn’t necessary.
If you aren’t comfortable driving around, there are plenty of private shuttles available for you to book from place to place. And many local tours include transportation from your accommodation.
Day 2: La Fortuna | Explore the area and do some hiking
In the morning, check out the Rio Fortuna Waterfall. This amazingly beautiful waterfall is only a 10 minute drive from downtown La Fortuna, so it’s very easy to get to, and you are able to swim in the lake below! The hike is short at only 0.6 miles roundtrip, but it is mainly a staircase so be ready to breathe a little heavy.
After that, do some hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park. Try one this hike or this hike from the main entrance of the park. If you are looking for something slightly more off the beaten path, try this hike. They are all pretty flat and short, so they won’t be very strenuous.
After a good day of hiking, grab some dinner in town! There are many great local dinner options. If you want to go out for a drink, check out Lava Lounge to meet some very nice locals and enjoy some live music.
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Go Ziplining! Costa Rica is famous for it’s ziplining through the rainforest, and the ziplining at Arenal did not disappoint. There are several options in the area, but I think the best two are Arenal Ecoglide and Sky Adventures. I personally loved Arenal Ecoglide because they were great with everything, very safe and slightly less expensive than the popular Sky Adventures Park. It took place on the volcano so it had amazing views. Plus, they offer the ability to do a Tarzan Swing with the ziplining, which is so much fun (if you are up for an adrenaline rush!)
The ziplining should only take about 4-5 hours, so you can have the rest of the day to explore more! If you are an animal lover, check out the Sloth Sanctuary. Or you can check out one of the many local hot springs. Options range from luxurious to free. Some options include the Tabacón Resort, which is one of the most luxurious and includes spa options, and EcoTermales, which is more mid-range and offers an option to include lunch or dinner.
Day 4: Drive to Monteverde
This is about a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from La Fortuna. For an added bonus, try stopping at Tenorio Volcano National Park on the way! It adds about an hour detour but it is absolutely worth it. The Rio Celeste Waterfall & The Blue Lagoon hike in the park is so beautiful and definitely one of those Instagram-worthy views. It’s pretty short and easy at 3.4 miles, but also includes a staircase down to the waterfall so there is a little steepness.
If you get an early start to the day, you should have time to grab dinner in Monteverde. The San Lucas Tree Top Dining is a unique and fun dinner experience. You can make reservations for up to 6 people at either 5 pm or 8:30 pm. It’s a 7-course prix fixe meal with locally sourced ingredients (and usually a fun little story for each course!) You will get your own glass dining box for your party, and each one sits in the trees so you can look out over the town below.I would definitely recommend the 5 pm seating if possible so that you can really experience the views.
Day 5: Explore Monteverde & Drive to Jacó
In the morning / afternoon, take some time to explore the beauty of Monteverde! You can check out the Monteverde Cloud Forest for a couple hours. There are many hike options, and pretty much all of them are flat and easy. If you look closely, you might catch some wildlife! There are typically many different kinds of birds and monkeys in the trees.On your way out, check out the store to grab some local coffee or chocolate!
Another option would be to do a coffee and chocolate tour or a Monteverde Cheese Factory tour, both things that the area is known for.
After exploring during the day, start the 2.5 hour drive to Jacó.
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There are several options for both catamaran companies and places to explore. If you want a longer, all-day tour, try visiting Tortuga Island about an hour off the coast of Jacó. This tour is about 8-9 hours which gives you plenty of time to rest on the island, or join in some of the activities they offer, like banana boat rides, snorkeling or a short hike.
For a shorter option, try a day or sunset tour to Playa Fantasia. These are 4-5 hour tours that visit a slightly closer beach, but still offer activities like snorkeling or boogie boarding.
Day 7: Hang out in Jacó!
Take some time to relax on the beach, or do a water activity like paragliding, jet skiing or maybe even surfing lessons. Explore some local restaurants during the day, and if you’re interested, visit a club at night! Jacó is known for its nightlife.Just make sure to catch a sunset on the beach, it’s unbeatable!
If you’d like to do more exploring this day, you could check out Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s about a one and a half hour drive from Jacó. You can explore the park yourself or do a guided tour where you could learn more about the wildlife in the park.
Day 8: Drive back to San Jose & Fly home
If you have time before your flight, check out one of the many museums in San José, like the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum or Museo del Jade.
