Costa Rica: Itineraries

Long weekend Spend a day in San Jose; visit the jade or pre-Columbian gold museums, as well as the National Theater. Choose between day trips to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, the Rainforest Aerial Tram on the Caribbean coast, or Isla Tortuga. Head to the Pacific coast (Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park) for beaches, bird-watching, and other ecotourism activities – you’ll even encounter some nightlife. Top it all off with a trip to Arenal National Park (north of San Jose) to view an active volcano, followed by a dip in the mineral waters at Tabacon, Las Fuentes, or Baldi Hot Springs.

One week Start with a day in San Jose before heading to the Pacific coast for one or 2 nights in and around Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. Head back north of San Jose to visit Arenal National Park and then make for the Caribbean coast, where you can sample Creole cooking and Jamaican-style “liming” in Puerto Limon. Finally, tap into the ecological treasure chest that is Tortuguero National Park.

Two weeks Spend 3 days in and around San Jose: Go sightseeing in town and enjoy day trips to Las Paz Waterfalls, Rainforest Aerial Tram, Isla Tortuga, or the Poas volcano. Plunge deep into the jungle and stay at Rara Avis Rainforest Lodge & Reserve for two days and nights. Spend your 6th and 7th days at Arenal National Park or Monteverde Cloud Forest. Get some rest and enjoy a dash of civilization at a Guanacaste beach resort on the Pacific coast (Playa del Coco or Playa Ocotal). Then head further south for Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. For your last 2 full days, hit the Caribbean coast in Limon and Tortuguero National Park.