10 Epic Days in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the best destinations in the world for nature, outdoor adventure, wellness and wildlife watching! This Costa Rican Itinerary will highlight the best of Costa Rica:

•Tortuguero

•Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna

•Monte Verde

•Manuel Antonio

Each destination is unique and spectacular! You’ll go zip-lining, chase waterfalls, relax in hot springs, and visit Tortuguero, famous for its nesting sea turtles.

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Overview of our 10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary:

Day 1: Fly into San Jose (SJO)

Day 2: Tortuguero

Day 3: Tortuguero

Day 4: Leave Tortuguero & drive to La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano

Day 5: La Fortuna

Day 6: Drive to Monte Verde

Day 7: Monte Verde

Day 8: Drive to Manuel Antonio

Day 9: Manuel Antonio

Day 10: Flight home

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When to visit Costa Rica:

The best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season which runs from December through April. If you are looking to travel when it is less busy and you are okay with some rain, May and June would be a good time. September through November is the height of the rainy season (However, If you are traveling to the Caribbean Coast, it is driest during these months, we came here in October and it was perfect). During the rainy season, there are fewer tourists and you'll find cheaper prices. We’ve travelled during the different seasons and didn’t mind the rainier season (It only added to the adventure). If you hope to see the turtles nesting in Tortuguero, you’ll need to come between July and October.

Day 1

Fly into San Jose. We arrived later in the day so we stayed near the Airport at the Holiday Inn Express Airport. They have free airport shuttles and your breakfast is included. If you arrive earlier consider staying downtown to soak up some of the art and history. You can visit the National Theater, and National Museum or join a walking tour in San Jose. My favorite is the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. It’s a 1.5-hour drive outside of San Jose. They have five waterfalls, hiking trails and an animal sanctuary.

Day 2-3

The first stop on our Costa Rican adventure: is TORTUGUERO!🐢 The lodges in Tortuguero will pick you up from your hotel in San Jose. They have 2-3 night packages that include food and transportation.

Tortuguero is on the Northern Caribbean coast and known as Costa Rica’s “little Amazon”. You can only arrive by boat or plane. Most people come by boat so part of the adventure is getting there. From San Jose, the drive to the dock takes approximately 4 hours. You’ll stop for breakfast along the way. The boat ride through the canals to the lodge takes an additional hour. When you arrive at the lodge, you will have the opportunity to visit the village of Tortuguero where you’ll need to pay the Tortuguero National Park entrance fee. It’s $15 per adult, $5 for kids ages 5-11 and free for younger children.

This was our fourth visit to Tortuguero. The highlight for us is always the boat rides through Tortuguero National Park.

City Slickers take on the Costa Rican Jungle!

On our boat tour, we saw monkeys, caiman, crocodiles, turtles, snakes, iguanas, Jesus lizards, red-eyed tree frogs, dolphins and lots of birds including a pair of toucans flying around our lodge. We also went on a night tour in the jungle in search of Poison Dart Frogs. We saw a bunch of other critters as well.

The main attraction of Tortuguero National Park is the Turtles. Around 20,000 green sea turtles nest in Tortuguero each year making it the largest colony of nesting green turtles in the world. Green Sea Turtles nest on the beaches between July and October. One of the biggest draws to Tortuguero is people wanting to see the turtles lay their eggs. It’s possible to see this during the day, but the majority occur at night. You’ll need a guide to visit the beaches at night (no one is allowed on the beach unaccompanied after 6:00 p.m.). On our guided tour we were excited to see a turtle lay 100 + eggs. Then we watched the turtle make her way back to the ocean. It's an experience I will never forget. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos since they aren’t allowed. The eggs incubate in the sand for 7 to 10 weeks before the babies hatch and dig their way to the surface.

Where to stay:

Laguna Lodge- This was our second stay at the Laguna Lodge. What I love about this lodge is the food and the architecture, it’s inspired by Antoni Gaudi.

This is an ecolodge, so the rooms are rustic. The no-frills rooms have a fan, a safe deposit box and a private bathroom. The rooms do not have television or air conditioning.

Cicily, enjoying a beverage at the Laguna Lodge Pool

Lodge amenities include a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, nature trails, hammocks, and WiFi in some public areas (frequent outages occur in this region). The back side of the lodge is on the Caribbean and the front is canals. It’s not recommended to swim in the ocean because of dangerous riptides and the large bull shark population.

Turtle Beach Lodge- Another great option in Tortuguero and our favorite is the Turtle Beach Lodge. We stayed here on our last visit and loved the location! This is not just a hotel... It’s an experience. It's away from the other lodges which means you won't see a lot of boats when you're in the canals looking for animals.

The rooms at the lodge are no-frills… Very similar to the Laguna Lodge. We appreciated the complimentary umbrellas, ponchos, and rubber boots available for hikes on their trails. They had canoes available to us, hammocks, and a turtle-shaped pool. We loved watching the howler monkeys swing tree to tree near the pool (The food & selection are better at the Laguna Lodge).

TIP: Remember to bring lots of small bills for tipping. We used dollars the whole time.

TIP: Tortuguero doesn't have an ATM or bank so plan ahead. We had to pay cash for our turtle tour.

Day 4

You’ll leave Tortuguero by boat then the bus will take you to Selva Tropical Restaurant in Guapiles for lunch. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance with Adobe Rent-A-Car. They’ll meet you at the restaurant with your car (Get an arrival time from your lodge in Tortuguero). You’ll save time by having the rental company meet you at this lunch stop. Otherwise, the driver will take you back to San Jose.

Next stop: La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano- The drive from Guapiles to La Fortuna is two hours. People used to flock here for the lava show but the volcano has been quiet since its last eruption in 2010. It’s still a popular location for those seeking adventure, wildlife, waterfalls and hot springs.

Where to stay:

Luxury:

•Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa- One of the most popular 5-star resorts in the area. The treasure at this resort is the Tabacon Hot Springs- If you don’t stay at this resort you can use the Tabacon Hot Springs by buying a Day Package. It’s $150 per person: Includes hot springs entry, lunch or dinner plus a $100 spa credit. The waters at Tabacon Thermal Resort are naturally heated by the underground magma from the Arenal volcano. Temperatures range from about 98 degrees Fahrenheit to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermal pools are all connected by a series of waterfalls. We came on a day pass the last time we visited and we were in Heaven it’s really beautiful!

•The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal- Beautiful location, right across from Arenal Volcano. Great spa with floating water massages and volcano clay body wraps. You can get a day pass to enjoy the springs if you don’t stay here.

Mid-Range:

•La Mansion Inn- We stayed at La Mansion Inn on Lake Arenal in a private cottage. We reserved the king suite which had two bedrooms and a king bed. We loved this quaint Inn and the amazing views! The breakfast is included and it was delicious! Some of the best food we had in Costa Rica.

•Baldi Hot Springs Hotel & Spa- Great for families! They have 25 geothermal pools, slides, and amazing views of Arenal Volcano. There’s a mix of very hot pools, moderately hot pools, and refreshing cold pools. There is a kids section at the resort that has several "water park" like attractions. There are also 3 fast slides for older kids/adults. Our girls loved the kid section! You can rent a locker for the day for $7. You can also use a towel for the day but you’ll need to make a $10 deposit (you will get this back once you return your towel).

Get your Baldi Hot Springs Day Pass with lunch or dinner here

There are several pools with swim-up bars at Baldi Hot Springs.

Day 5

Activities in La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano:

•La Fortuna Waterfall- The La Fortuna waterfall is one of the top things to do in Arenal, and it’s definitely worth checking out. Visit in the morning or late afternoon hours and you won’t find as many people at the waterfall. It will take 15-30 minutes to hike down the 500 steps. If conditions allow, you have the option to swim in the waterfall or in the Fortuna River. It’s open from 7-5 and costs $18 for adults and free for children up to 8 years. This includes parking and access to restrooms. Plan to spend about 2 hours here.

•Get your skip-the-line La Fortuna waterfall admission ticket here

•Tour 4 in 1 (Rappel, zipline, pool jumping & hike) with lunch and transportation

•Amazing Mega Zip-line (25 lines) over 11 waterfalls

•Sloth Tour in La Fortuna

•Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3

•Tubing in Rio Celeste

•Arenal National Volcano- It’s hard to miss the Arenal Volcano right next to the town of La Fortuna. This small National park has some hiking trails that offer beautiful views of this natural wonder and an opportunity to check out some of Costa Rica’s impressive wildlife. It’s only a 20-minute drive from the downtown area of La Fortuna.

•La Fortuna- Visit for food & souvenirs

Day 6-7

The next stop on our Costa Rica adventure: is Monteverde Cloud Forest!💭🍃 The drive from La Fortuna will take about three hours. Monteverde in Spanish means "green mountain" which makes a lot of sense as you arrive at gorgeous rolling green hills surrounded by a hazy mist. They have over 400 types of birds and the highest concentration of orchards on earth. The history of Monteverde begins with small-town farmers (Quakers and pacifists) leaving the United States in 1950 in protest of the Korean War. Costa Rica's lack of military and Monteverde's cool climate and fertile soil were a perfect match for the group.

Things to see & do in Monteverde:

•The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: I've spent a lot of time flying through clouds but to walk through the Cloud Forest is high on my list of cool things I've experienced and the highlight of my trip to Costa Rica. While walking in the clouds, we could hear thunder echoing in the distance through the mountains and birds twittering. You can explore the trails on your own or hire a guide. We loved our guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. We learned so much and our guide pointed out wildlife that we would have missed.

Click here for a guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.

•Selvatura Park: We purchased the gold package which includes the zip line and suspension bridges. I recommend booking your tour ahead of time since it can sell out. There are 13 cables of various lengths and eight suspension bridges. It was thrilling to go so fast and be so high. Don't miss the Tarzan swing it was a rush! A canopy tour is a must-do on your 10-day Costa Rica Itinerary, especially while in Monteverde. After the Canopy Tour walk over to the Treetop Walkway which is a beautiful 1.9-mile trail through the cloud forest. The trail has 8 bridges that range from 170 ft to 560 ft in length.

Buy your tickets to Selvatura Park here. This is the Gold Package we purchased, which includes zip lines & suspension bridges.

•Sky Walk & Sky Tram Monteverde: Option for young children (We did this when our kids were young). The Sky Walk is a combination of suspension bridges and walking trails. They have a Sky Tram you can take high above the canopy. It was fun to see the cloud forest from a different perspective.

•Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena: For a magical cloud forest hike. Santa Elena is less busy than Monteverde Cloud Forest. There are several trails you can take with varying lengths and views. We did a big loop trail around the park.

Where to stay:

•Hotel Belmar- We stayed at Hotel Belmar in Monteverde. The owners once lived in Europe and built the Austrian Chalet in Costa Rica to remind them of their time spent in Austria. The highlights for our girls were seeing the ducks in the pond and lots of playful Howler Monkeys on a nearby hike.

•Jaguarundi Lodge, Monteverde- We’ve also stayed at this lodge. It’s in the middle of the jungle but at the same time near all of the amenities. The Jaguarundi Lodge’s claim to fame is it’s the location of the first zip line in the world. It’s a simple no-frills lodge with a free breakfast.

•Morpho’s Restaurant- We loved the food and the great atmosphere!

Day 8-9

Today’s drive is around 3 hours to MANUEL ANTONIO.🐒 It's located on the Central Pacific Coast... a great stop for your rainforest & beach fix. Manuel Antonio is a small seaside town and one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beach destinations. It is best known for its stunning beaches, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking views.

•On the way to Manuel Antonio stop at the crocodile bridge, located above the river Tarcoles. This bridge has giant crocodiles sunbathing and swimming below. You can park right off the main highway and walk onto the bridge to see them yourself. Car break-ins are common here so take turns having someone in your group stay with your car.

Another option:

•Take Jose’s Crocodile🐊 River Tour in Tarcoles. This is an action-packed riverboat adventure on the Tarcoles River. We saw lots of crocodiles and it was a fabulous nail-biting experience! ✨ You won’t be disappointed and this just might be the highlight of your trip!

•Parador Nature Resort and Spa- This was our second stay at this resort and we love it! It sits on a cliff overlooking the Pacific and the views are spectacular! We enjoyed the trails at the resort and nearby Playa Biesanz Beach. Breakfast is included in your stay and the food is good!

•Another unique place to stay: Costa Verde… a vintage 1965 Boeing 727 turned hotel. It’s not every day a flight attendant finds a plane turned hotel in a jungle🤷‍♀️! It’s pretty cool!✈️

•Don’t miss Manuel Antonio National Park. It has nature trails, wildlife and three beautiful beaches. Forbes named it one of the world’s most beautiful parks. You’ll need to buy a timed entry ticket online between 7-4 (closed Tuesdays). I recommend going in the morning, so you can spend the entire day enjoying the beach. Buy your Manuel Antonio National Park tickets here- You’ll need to create a login, and then choose the time you want to enter the park. After you buy these tickets you can reserve a guide. The advantage of booking a guide is that you can see the most species of wildlife possible and learn about the different flora and fauna in the park. They’ll also take you through the best hiking trails and leave you with time to visit the beach. If you would like a guided tour of Manuel Antoni National Park click here. This tour doesn’t include entrance tickets to the National Park.

•For yummy food and views check out El Avion Restaurant in an historic airplane. It’s a Fairchild C-123 and was part of the biggest scandal in the 1980s, the Iran-Contra affair. Come for the views and beautiful sunsets!

Day 10

The drive back to San Jose Airport is about 3 hours. Try to get a later flight out of San Jose. If you have an early flight you’ll want to spend your last evening in a hotel near the San Jose Airport (SJO) and return your rental car the night before.

10 Epic Days in Costa Rica

Overview of our 10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary:

Before you start packing your bags checkout my

Favorite Amazon Travel Accessories:

When to visit Costa Rica:

Day 1

Day 2-3

Where to stay:

Day 4

Where to stay:

Day 5

Activities in La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano:

Day 6-7

Things to see & do in Monteverde:

Where to stay:

Day 8-9

Day 10

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