Ultimate 10 Day Costa Rica Itinerary
Costa Rica is a tropical paradise with waterfalls, beaches, and a laid back atmosphere making you never want to leave the country.
With so many beautiful regions, it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time on vacation. So, I’ve put together a 10 day itinerary highlighting all of the must-see places, and best things to do in Costa Rica.
This itinerary will cover where to stay, how to get around, what activities to book, and a few important safety tips.
Here is everything you need to know to plan an amazing 10 day vacation in Costa Rica.
Ultimate 10 Day Costa Rica Itinerary
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Arriving in Costa Rica
The two major airports in Costa Rica are in San Jose and Liberia. I flew into the San Jose airport since flights were cheaper, but you can fly into either for this itinerary. Once I arrived, I picked up my rental SUV.
To get around, I highly recommend renting a car, since most natural attractions require a drive outside of the city. A 4×4 vehicle isn’t necessary, but it will be the most comfortable to drive over dirt roads and the occasional pothole.
If you’re purchasing a rental online, keep in mind that most rental car companies won’t include the LDW (loss damage waiver) insurance in the total price. However, you will be expected to pay this fee (~$10-$30/day) to rent out your vehicle.
I used (and highly recommend) Discover Cars to find the best rental car reviews, and checked the reviews for the best experience.
I highly recommend using Discover Cars to find the best deals, and cross-checking the reviews before booking for the best experience.
Things to do when arriving in Costa Rica
- Get a SIM card installed at an agency store (Claro, Kolbi, etc.) outside of the airport for the best deals, or install an eSIM online from Airalo
- Download Whatsapp for texts and calls over Wifi (so you don’t drain your data!)
- Download WAZE for directions (most reliable & widely-used in Costa Rica)
Day 1-4: Airport to La Fortuna
After picking up your rental car, head to the beautiful town of La Fortuna. La Fortuna is a tropical rainforest town near Arenal Volcano, and around a 2-3 hour drive from both San Jose and Liberia.
The town’s most known for its natural hot springs and waterfall, but that’s not all it has to offer.
Here are some of the best things to do while in La Fortuna.
Visit The Famous La Fortuna Waterfall
The La Fortuna Waterfall is a spectacular 200 ft waterfall tucked in the rainforest that flows into a teal blue natural pool you can swim in.
It’s as gorgeous as it seems in pictures, and it’s no surprise that it’s the town’s most visited attraction!
There’s an easily accessible viewpoint at the top, and over 500 stairs to get down to the base of the waterfall, which you can swim in. Just remember to wear water shoes, since there’s large boulders fringing the pool.
Go On A Sloth Or Coffee Tour
La Fortuna is an amazing place to spot sloths in their natural habitat, and going on a sloth watching tour is the best way to see them.
I went on a sloth tour of the Sloth Watching Trail in downtown Fortuna, and it was one of the most memorable experiences I had.
Our group got to walk through a private nature reserve, and spot sloths, owls, poisonous frogs, and other wildlife through a telescope.
If you’re a coffee lover, there are also a variety of coffee tours available in Fortuna, including combination sloth and coffee tours!
Walk Over Hanging Bridges At Mistico Park
Mistico Park is a private nature reserve nestled in the rainforest, with suspension bridges, and a beautiful view of the Arenal Volcano.
It’s around a 20 to 30 minute drive from downtown, and it’s one of the best places to hike in town, besides Arenal Volcano National Park.
I spent 2 hours hiking in the park and saw a few birds and coatis (Costa Rican raccoons). But in case you miss it, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve also has suspension bridges.
Relax In La Fortuna’s Natural Hot Springs
La Fortuna is most known for its natural hot springs heated by the Arenal Volcano, that you can visit by purchasing a day pass to one of the resorts.
The most popular hot springs are at Tabacon resort, which has a series of 12 heated mineral pools, cascading waterfalls, and a beautiful view of the Arenal Volcano.
Their day pass is the most expensive ($89/person), and there’s a variety of cheaper options if you’re on a budget.
Here are some of the best options available in town.
- Tabacon Resort: $89/person, open till 10pm
- The Springs Resort (2 DAY PASS): $105/person, open till 10pm
- Baldi Resort: $47/person, open till 10pm
- Ecotermales: $47/person, open till 10pm
- Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites: $33/person, open till 8pm
- Los Lagos (CHEAPEST): $25/person, open till 10pm
Swim In El Salto (Rope Swing)
El Salto is a free natural swimming hole, located underneath a bridge in the heart of Fortuna. It has cascading streams and a large natural pool with a rope swing that people use to jump into the water.
This is one of the coolest places to visit for free, and you only have to pay a few dollars for parking alongside the bridge.
Chase Nearby Waterfalls
Beyond the iconic Fortuna waterfall, there are many amazing waterfalls within a 2 hour drive of Fortuna. If you have time, you can go on a day trip to the famous Rio Celeste Waterfall, or visit waterfalls in the Bajos del Toro region.
Rio Celeste is a stunning bright turquoise waterfall located in Tenorio Volcano National Park, which is around a 1.5 hour drive from Fortuna.
Bajos Del Toro is a small town, 1.5 to 2 hours from Fortuna, that’s home to Catarata Del Toro, the Blue Falls of Costa Rica, and a few other waterfalls. I took a detour on the drive to La Fortuna (from San Jose), to visit Catarata Del Toro.
This is a breathtaking 300 ft waterfall that flows into a volcanic crater, and it shares the same ticketing office to the Blue Falls of Costa Rica.
The Blue Falls are seven bright turquoise blue waterfalls that look very similar to Rio Celeste, but you can actually swim in them!
All of these waterfalls require a bit of a hike, so you’ll want to wear comfortable hiking shoes, and use water gear (umbrella, waterproof cases, poncho) if visiting during the rainy season.
Day 5-6: Monteverde
After relaxing in La Fortuna, head to Monteverde to spend 2 nights in the cloud forest. Monteverde is a cloud forest town at an elevation of 4,600 feet, with a misty cool environment year round.
This unique environment makes it incredibly biodiverse, and it’s home to thousands of different plant and animal species.
Here are some of the best things to do while in Monteverde.
Hike At The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the most popular private nature reserve, located high up on the mountain (~20 minutes from Santa Elena).
It’s famous for its suspension bridges that hang above the clouds, and it spans 26,000 acres, with thousands of interesting plant and animal species. If you’re wondering where to go hiking in Monteverde, this is the place to go.
If you prefer less crowds, you can hike at the Santa Elena Cloud Forest or Reserva Curi Cancha.
The Santa Elena Cloud Forest is a beautiful private nature reserve with hiking trails, and an observation tower overlooking the mountains.
Reserva Curi Cancha is another smaller private nature reserve that’s amazing for birdwatching. These are great alternatives to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, but keep in mind that neither have hanging bridges.
Watch The Sun Set At Mirador Valle Escondido Preserve
As the sun starts to set, head to the Mirador Valle Escondido Preserve to watch the sunset. This is a beautiful overlook of the valley and mountains, with benches you can sit on.
There’s no designated parking at the overlook, but it’s just up the street from a few restaurants that you can park at safely.
Go On A Night Time Jungle Walk
Explore even more of the cloud forest’s biodiversity on a night time walk through Monteverde’s Wildlife Refuge.
This is a small private nature reserve that’s home to everything from sloths to tree frogs, tarantulas, and more.
They offer night tours where you’ll use flashlights, and be accompanied by a naturalist guide to spot all kinds of fascinating wildlife.
See The Fig Root Bridge (Ficus La Raiz)
Before leaving Monteverde, check out Ficus La Raiz. This is a collapsed fig root tree that resembles a bridge in Santa Elena.
It has a large parking lot, and a donation box at the entrance where you can leave the $2 USD entrance fee to visit. It’s just a short hike to see the collapsed fig tree, and it makes for great photos!
Day 7-10: Manuel Antonio/Quepos
Quepos is a gorgeous region on Costa Rica’s central Pacific Coast, with the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, and an array of beautiful white sand beaches. It’s a 3.5 to 4 hour drive from Monteverde that’s primarily on the highway.
Manuel Antonio was one of the nicest regions I’ve visited in Costa Rica, and seeing all four species of monkeys at the national park was the highlight of my trip!
It’s only a 2.5 hour drive from San Jose, so it’s the perfect place to stay for your last 3 nights (if you’re flying out of SJO).
Here are some of the best things to do in and around Manuel Antonio.
Spot Wildlife At Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is the most visited national park in Costa Rica, and my favorite place I visited on my trip. It’s incredibly biodiverse and has eleven hiking trails that lead to viewpoints and the beaches.
It’s one of the best places to spot wildlife without a guide, and you’re almost guaranteed to spot a capuchin monkey on Manuel Antonio Beach.
I spent 3 hours hiking in the park, and was able to spot multiple species of monkeys, deer, lizards, birds, and even a sloth by the beach!
For complete information on what to do in the park, check out our guide to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Hike To Nauyaca Waterfall
The Nauyaca Waterfall is an enchanting 2-tiered waterfall located in Dominical, around an hour east of Manuel Antonio.
It’s a 5 mile round trip hike to get to the waterfall, and you’re allowed to swim in the large natural pool underneath the fall. It took me 2 hours to get to the waterfall but it was well worth it.
If you’d rather skip the hike, they offer horseback riding, 4×4 tours, and partial trolley tours as well. For more details on how to get there, check out our complete guide to visiting Nauyaca Falls.
Zipline Through The Jungle
If you’re seeking an adventure, go ziplining through the jungle for nearly a mile in Manuel Antonio.
This is one of the longest ziplines available in Costa Rica, and you’ll get to enjoy a home-cooked Costa Rican meal to end the tour!
Go On A Mangrove Boat Tour
For even more wildlife watching, go on a mangrove boat tour through the Damas Island Estuary.
This is a mangrove estuary located just outside of Manuel Antonio, and home to everything from crocodiles to toucans, monkeys, coatis, and more. On the tour, you’ll get to spot tons of wildlife with a guide, and admire the beautiful scenery.
Other Fun Things To Do In Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is very tourist-friendly, and offers everything from chocolate tours to ATV tours, sunset cruises, and more.
It’s also within an hour’s drive from many beautiful beaches, including Playa Blanca, Playa Dominical, and the famous whale tail-shaped beach of Playa Uvita.
For more ideas on how to spend your time in town, check out our 2 day Manuel Antonio itinerary.
Visit The Crocodile Bridge
On the way from Manuel Antonio to the airport, stop by the Crocodile Bridge off of highway 34. This is a highway bridge over the Tarcoles River, where you can spot crocodiles along the river banks.
I visited while it was raining so I unfortunately didn’t see any crocodiles, but you’ll have a great chance of spotting at least one.
Just remember to bring cash, as there’s parking attendants that will ask for a few dollars to park by the bridge.
Summary
Costa Rica is a dream destination for anyone who loves relaxing and spending time in nature. In my experience, 7 to 10 days is the ideal amount of time to stay, given there’s natural attractions packed in nearly every corner of the country.
If you’re flying out of Liberia, you may want to consider staying in Guanacaste rather than Manuel Antonio for the last days of your trip.
Guanacaste has tons of natural attractions, and beautiful beach towns, within a 1-2 hour drive of the Liberia airport.
I personally preferred Manuel Antonio over Guanacaste, but keep in mind that it’s a 4.5 hour drive from the Liberia airport. However, you won’t struggle finding something fun to do regardless of where you stay!
Related articles you may be interested in:
- Ultimate Costa Rica Vacation Itineraries: 5 Day & 7 Day
- Essential Costa Rica Packing List
- Unique things to do in Liberia Costa Rica
- 8 Stunning Costa Rica Waterfalls You Can Swim In