Costa Rica is a beautiful country and one of the best destinations in Central America. Visitors get to experience the country’s lush nature, diverse wildlife, friendly locals, and thrilling activities.
With ten days in Costa Rica, you have enough time to thoroughly enjoy three distinct areas that feature volcanoes, pristine beaches, and natural hot springs.
I spent two awesome weeks in Costa Rica and here, I share amazing things to do and ways to optimize your trip itinerary. This post covers:
- 🗓️ Two 10-day optimized itineraries
- 📍 Best places in Costa Rica
- ⭐️ Top attractions in the country
- 🗺️ Costa Rica map with key places
- ✏️ Costa Rica trip planner
Planning a trip? Here are things to know about Costa Rica before going.
Disclosure: Lists By Lukiih is readers-supported. If you buy through an affiliate link on this post, I may earn a small commission. Thanks!
7 Essential Tips for Visiting Costa Rica
Before getting into the itineraries, here are practical tips when traveling to Costa Rica.
🚙 1. Determine if you want to drive.
Although many visitors choose to visit the small country through a road trip, Costa Rica is also known for winding and not well-maintained roads.
If you plan to rent a car, be prepared for potholes, one-way bridges, passing (or getting passed), and low cell signal on some main roads. A 4×4 vehicle is highly recommended in some areas.
For all the reasons mentioned, I didn’t get a rental car. If you don’t plan to either, learn about the different ways to get around Costa Rica.
📱 2. Download WhatsApp.
Almost everyone, including hotel concierges, Airbnb hosts, tour operators, taxi drivers and others, communicates through WhatsApp (iOS, Android) in Costa Rica.
Make sure to download the app in advance as it is the best way to communicate with locals.
💰 3. Prepare to budget and tip.
Tourism is Costa Rica’s biggest industry and main source of income, so it’s not surprising that Costa Rica is one of the most expensive countries to visit in Central America. Hotels are usually $100 USD a night and many activities require an organized guided tour, have an entrance fee, or is best with a tour guide.
Costa Rica also has a tipping culture, so expect to add 5% to 10% to all tours and services.
I share all my travel expenses in this Costa Rica trip cost breakdown.
💵 4. Bring cash (USD is acceptable).
A lot of tourist areas accept credit cards, but you’ll want to bring cash for smaller, local businesses and tipping.
The US dollar is widely accepted in Costa Rica, but expect to receive change in Costa Rican Colón and you may not get the best exchange range.
🥭 5. Eat fruits and look for wildlife.
Costa Rica is a great place to eat fresh fruits, so be sure to stop by fruit stalls or order them at restaurants (ask locals what’s in season).
There’s also wildlife everywhere, so even though you’ll have a higher chance of spotting them with a local guide, you can also find them on your own. Some unique animals you’ll be able to see include howler monkeys, toucans, sloths and coatis.
☀️ 6. Pack bug repellent and sunscreen.
The Costa Rican government has run multiple campaigns to decrease the spread of mosquito-borne illness, but some areas still have a lot of mosquitos. Mosquitoes are present year-round, but it’s worst during the rainy season from May to November.
I tend to get bitten and I find that this insect repellent lotion works better than the spray kind (per the CDC: “DEET offers the best protection against mosquito bites”).
Also, since Costa Rica is near the equator, you can sunburn easily. I made sure to bring my face sunscreen to every area I visited.
😵💫 7. Pack motion sickness medication.
Costa Rica has a lot of bumpy and winding roads. If you plan to travel by land and you get motion sickness, bring your medication.
I get car sick and I had to use my medication for almost all my shuttle rides (e.g., from Liberia to Nosara, Nosara to Monteverde, Monteverde to La Fortuna, and La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio).
Learn other practical tips when traveling to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Itineraries
Below are two different itineraries for Costa Rica, covering distinct destinations with varying activities and atmospheres.
These itineraries are the improved versions of my two-week Costa Rica itinerary. I’ve included some of my actual timestamps to give you an idea of how long you might need for each activity and how to efficiently sequence things.
The Costa Rica trip planner below has a one-week itinerary prefilled that you can modify to fit your needs.
10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary (Option 1)
Here’s a great way to spend ten days in Costa Rica if you want to see three of the most popular destinations.
This itinerary minimizes transportation time by focusing on the central region of Costa Rica and takes you through three distinct areas:
- Monteverde to see the world-famous cloud forests
- La Fortuna to experience quintessential Costa Rica activities
- Manuel Antonio to visit one of the best tropical beaches with white sand
📍 Map of Itinerary (Option 1)
🗓️ 10-Day Itinerary for Costa Rica (Option 1)
For this itinerary, it’s best to fly into and out of the San José airport.
| La Fortuna (4 days) | |
| Day 1 | 🍫 Go on a coffee and chocolate tour (10 am–12:30 pm) 🌋 Horseback ride around Arenal Volcano (1–4:30 pm) |
| Day 2 | 🍫 Go on a coffee and chocolate tour (10 am–12:30 pm) 🌋 Horseback ride around Arenal Volcano (1–4:30 pm) |
| Day 3 | 🌳 Visit the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges (7:30–11:30 am) 💧 Visit La Fortuna Waterfall (1–2 pm) 🚡 Go up the La Fortuna sky tram (2:30–4 pm) 🛍️ Explore La Fortuna town (5–7 pm) |
| Day 4 | 🍃 Zip line over La Fortuna (7:30–10:30 am) 🌊 Raft in a whitewater river (11 am–4 pm) ♨️ Enjoy another hot spring or rope swing at El Salto (5–7 pm) |
| Monteverde (2 days) | |
| Day 5 | 🚗 Travel to Monteverde (morning) 🦋 Visit the Monteverde Butterfly Garde (afternoon) 🦇 Go on a wildlife refuge night walk (7:30–10 pm) |
| Day 6 | ☁️ Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest (7:30–11 am) 🦥 Visit the sloth sanctuary (1–2 pm) 🌳 Zip line over a cloud forest (2:30–5 pm) |
| Manuel Antonio (3 days) | |
| Day 7 | 🚙 Travel to Manuel Antonio (morning) 🏖️ Relax or snorkel at Playa Biesanz (2–4 pm) ☀️ Catch the sunset at El Avión (6–7:30 pm) |
| Day 8 | 🐒 Hike and beach at Manuel Antonio National Park (9:30 am–4 pm) ☀️ Catch the sunset at Espandilla Beach (6–7:30 pm) |
| Day 9 | 🏄🏻♀️ Do a day trip to Jaco or Nauyaca Waterfall (all day) |
| Day 10 | ✈️ Travel to the San Jose airport and fly home (all day) |
10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary (Option 2)
Below is another excellent way to spend 10 days in Costa Rica.
This itinerary requires a bit more transportation time and takes you to a more remote beach town with a very tranquil vibe. It takes you through:
- Monteverde to see the world-famous cloud forests
- La Fortuna to experience quintessential Costa Rica activities
- Nosara to visit a top surfing and yoga beach town known for its well-minded vibe and vivid sunsets
📍 Map of Itinerary (Option 2)
🗓️ 10-Day Itinerary for Costa Rica (Option 2)
For this itinerary, it’s best to fly into the San José airport and fly out of the Liberia airport.
| La Fortuna (3 days) | |
| Day 1 | ✈️ Arrive at San Jose airport (morning) 🚗 Travel to La Fortuna (early afternoon) ♨️ Settle down and enjoy a hot spring (4–9 pm) |
| Day 2 | 🍫 Go on a coffee and chocolate tour (10 am–12:30 pm) 🌋 Horseback ride around Arenal Volcano (1–4:30 pm) |
| Day 3 | 🌳 Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges (7:30–11:30 am) 💧 Visit La Fortuna Waterfall (1–2 pm) 🚡 Go up the La Fortuna sky tram (2:30–4 pm) 🛍️ Explore La Fortuna town (5–7 pm) |
| Monteverde (2 days) | |
| Day 4 | 🚗 Travel to Monteverde (morning) 🦋 Visit the Monteverde Butterfly Garden (afternoon) 🦇 Go on a wildlife refuge night walk (7:30–10 pm) |
| Day 5 | ☁️ Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest (7:30–11 am) 🦥 Visit the sloth sanctuary (1–2 pm) 🌳 Zip line over a cloud forest (2:30–5 pm) |
| Nosara (4 days) | |
| Day 6 | 🚗 Travel to Nosara (afternoon) 🌤️ Sunset at Guiones Beach (5:30–6:45 pm) 🎵 Live music and dinner at Beach Dog Cafe (7–8:30 pm) |
| Day 7 | 🏄🏻 Take surf lessons (7:30–9 am) 🚲 Bike and explore Nosara’s town (11 am–1:30 pm) 🧘🏻 Talk a walk-in yoga class (2:30–3:30 pm) 🌙 Dinner and sunset at La Luna (5:30–7:30 pm) |
| Day 8 | 🏄🏻 Take surf lessons (7:30–9 am) 🏍️ Go on an ATV ride tour (10 am–3 pm) ⛅ Catch the sea turtles at Ostional Beach (4–6 pm) 🐠 Dinner and vibes at Harmony Cafe (7–8 pm) |
| Day 9 | 🏄🏻 Take surf lessons (7:30–9 am) 🧘🏻 Do an outdoor walk-in yoga (9:30–10:30 am) 💆🏻♀️ Get an outdoor massage (11 am–12 pm) 🏖️ Spend the afternoon relaxing at the beach (afternoon) |
| Day 10 | ✈️ Travel to Liberia airport and fly home (all day) |
Should You Visit San José?
With both 10-day itineraries above, you could also spend some time in the capital city, San José. However, based on my experience and the recommendation of several other travelers, it’s not worth visiting San José unless you want to be in a big city.
Costa Rica is unique for its wildlife and outdoor sceneries. With ten days, I recommend maximizing your time in other areas of the country.
With More Time: A Longer Costa Rica Itinerary
If you have an extra two or four days in Costa Rica, you can visit four regions instead of three. This is more similar to what I did during my two-week trip.
📍 Map of Itinerary (12-14 Day Trip)
🗓️ 12 to 14-Day Itinerary for Costa Rica
With 12 to 14 days in Costa Rica, you can visit the western and central regions of the country during your first visit. A great two-week itinerary in Costa Rica can look like this:
| Days | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Days 1-4 | Nosara |
| Days 5-6 | Monteverde |
| Days 7-10 | La Fortuna |
| Days 11-14 | Manuel Antonio (Maybe spend a bit of time in San José) |
For a more off-the-beaten-path experience or during your second visit, you can head east to the Caribbean coast and visit amazing places like Tortuguero National Park. You can also head south to check out Corcovado National Park. Both the eastern and southern regions are harder to get to, but are great for nature lovers.
Costa Rica Map With Recommended Places
This Costa Rica map has all the recommended places pinned.
4 Amazing Areas To Visit in Costa Rica
Here are four destinations in Costa Rica that have different atmospheres and experiences for a complete trip.
These are some of Costa Rica’s top destinations featuring a mix of breathtaking volcanoes, authentic food, and beautiful beaches.
1. La Fortuna
La Fortuna is one of Costa Rica’s most visited destinations. It’s known for classic Costa Rica activities and it’s main attraction is the active volcano in Arenal National Park that heats the many surrounding hot springs.
🌟 Top Attractions in La Fortuna
The small town of La Fortuna features many attractions and activities, including:
- The famous Arenal Volcano National Park, which you can take a horseback riding tour around
- The multiple suspension bridges at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
- Whitewater rafting with class I to IV rapids
- Chocolate and coffee tours
- The swimming and walking area around La Fortuna Waterfall
- The stunning Rio Celeste with an intense blue color
Here are La Fortuna’s top attractions and how to plan a trip there.
📍 Getting to La Fortuna
Located in the Northern Highlands of Costa Rica, La Fortuna is two and a half hours away from the country’s two international airports in Liberia and San José.
You can get to La Fortuna by rental car, shuttle, taxi, bus, or domestic flight (the town has a small airport).
🗓️ How Long To Spend in La Fortuna
You’ll want to spend at least three days in La Fortuna. That’ll give you enough time to enjoy walking around the town, going on two tours of your choice, and visiting a hot spring.
I spent a week in La Fortuna, which I enjoyed, but would recommend a maximum of five days for most people if they have limited time in Costa Rica.
🍀 My Take on La Fortuna
La Fortuna was my favorite place to visit during my trip to Costa Rica because of how many activities it offered, how pedestrian-friendly the town area was, and how well it integrates locals and tourists in a small town.
One of the best things about La Fortuna is also the abundant of delicious and affordable local food.
2. Monteverde
Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is famous for its cloud forests and cooler climate.
Cloud forests are tropical rainforests that have a persistent cloud cover at the canopy level, giving the forest a mystical look.
🌟 Top Attractions in Monteverde
Monteverde’s main attractions and activities include:
- The cloud forests, which are Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, and Bosque Eterno de los Niños
- Zip lining over a cloud forest
- Visiting a sloth sanctuary
- Visiting the butterfly garden, bat jungle, and frog pond
Here are Monteverde’s top attractions and how to plan a trip there.
📍 Getting to Monteverde
Sitting at 4,600+ feet above sea level on a mountain range, Monteverde is two and a half hours away from both countries’ international airports in Liberia and San José.
Monteverde is known to be much colder and rainier (sometimes dipping into high 50°F when everywhere else is above 70°F). Make sure to pack some light warm layers and a light rain jacket or rain poncho.
You can get to Monteverde by rental car, shuttle, taxi, or bus. Monteverde does not have a nearby airport.
🗓️ How Long To Spend in Monteverde
Most people recommend spending two to three days in Monteverde. I spent two days there and I thought that was a sufficient time to do a lot of the big attractions.
🍀 My Take on Monteverde
Monteverde offers a lot of the same activities as La Fortuna, so its primary uniqueness is the three mystical-looking cloud forests that warrant a visit.
Zip lining over the cloud forest was one of the most magical experiences I had in Costa Rica and Monteverde offers the longest zip line in the country that’s about a mile long.
3. Nosara
Nosara is a beach town known for its world-renowned surf and yoga culture, beautiful beaches with stunning sunsets, and an international community of local Ticos, expats, and digital nomads.
It’s the perfect place for a relaxing and tranquil beach vacation that’s a bit more remote.
🌟 Top Attractions in Nosara
Nosara’s top activities include:
- Taking surfing and yoga lessons from world-renowned practitioners
- Catching the vivid sunsets
- Seeing the famous Olive Ridley sea turtles’ arrival
- Enjoying the town’s relaxed and tranquil atmosphere
- Riding an ATV through the nearby mountains and waterfalls
An alternative to Nosara is Santa Teresa, a beach town further south on the peninsula, that’s also known for surfing, but has a more backpacker-friendly environment.
📍 Getting to Nosara
Located in the Nicoya peninsula, Nosara is 80 miles south of the closest international airport, Guanacaste Airport in Liberia.
You can get to Nosara by car rental, shuttle, taxi, bus, or plane (the town has a small airport).
The road leading to Nosara is winding and has a lot of potholes, so it’s a good idea to be well prepared if you are driving yourself.
🗓️ How Long To Spend in Nosara
You’ll want to spend at least three days to make the trip to Nosara worth it.
Many visitors who want to commit to a longer surf or yoga course or focus on relaxing stay a week or longer.
🍀 My Take on Nosara
Thanks to its wellness-minded vibe, beautiful beaches, and vivid sunsets, Nosara was the most relaxing area I visited during my trip to Costa Rica.
Nosara is not the most convenient location to get to, so I recommend only going if you can afford three days to a week there (many people stay much longer).
Here are Nosara’s top attractions and how to plan a trip there.
4. Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is a coastal village known for its white sand beaches and lush jungles. It ranks as one of Costa Rica’s most popular beach towns.
Compared to Nosara, Manuel Antonio has a much more crowded and touristy atmosphere combined with your typical relaxed beach vibe.
🌟 Top Attractions in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio’s top attractions and activities include:
- Visiting the Manuel Antonio National Park, which features well-maintained trails, wildlife, and beautiful white-sand beaches
- Catching the sunsets at restaurants (e.g., El Avion) and beaches (e.g., Espadilla Beach)
- Snorkeling in the warm waters of tropical beaches surrounded by beautiful scenery (e.g., Biesanz Beach)
📍 Getting to Manuel Antonio
Located on the Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio is 104 miles south (about a three-hour drive by car) of San José’s international airport.
You can get to Manuel Antonio by rental car, shuttle, taxi, bus, or plane. The road to Manuel Antonio is mostly flat, so it’s an easy drive if you’re doing it on your own.
🗓️ How Long To Spend in Manuel Antonio
Two to three days is a good amount of time to spend in Manuel Antonio. You can add one to two more days if you want to do day trips or tours to nearby beach towns like Jaco.
🍀 My Take on Manuel Antonio
While this was my least favorite area out of the four destinations I visited in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio has no doubt some of the best beaches I have seen.
This area is also much easier to get to from San José compared to Nosara, so it’s a great option if you don’t want to travel far for a quintessential beach town.
Costa Rica Trip Planner
To make your travel planning easier, download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information as well as an itinerary, packing list, and map with key places pinned.
The trip planner is built on Notion, which is what I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free.
If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below.
Costa Rica Travel Guides
- ✈️ Planning A Trip to Costa Rica: 13 Things To Know
- 🦥 10 Amazing Days in Costa Rica: 2 Itinerary Options
- 💰 Costa Rica Trip Cost: 2023 Travel Expense Breakdown
- 🌋 La Fortuna Guide: Top Things To Do + 3-5 Day Itinerary
- 🌳 Monteverde Guide: Itinerary + 5 Great Things To Do
- 🏄🏻♀️ Nosara Travel Guide: 8 Great Things To Do + Itinerary
🧋 This site is run entirely by me, Lukiih. I spend hours researching each destination to ensure its accuracy. If you find my tips helpful, say thanks by buying me bubble tea!