White sand beaches, lush rainforests, volcanoes, hot springs, amazing wildlife… All of this and so much more in one small Caribbean country. The list could go on as Costa Rica really has it all and you could hardly find this much diversity in any other similarly sized country. In fact, nearly 6 percent of the world’s biodiversity can be found here together with a unique “pura vida” way of living. Costa Rica is a dream for nature lovers and it’s one of the most beautiful and diverse places we’ve ever visited. Did we mention the food is amazing, too?! Chances are that you’ll never want to leave, but if you only have 10 days in Costa Rica just like us, here’s the perfect itinerary to make the most of your time in this tropical paradise – with a bit of beach relaxation and a lot of adventure time. Even in the rainy season! Now, let’s get into it.
WHO IS THIS 10 DAYS COSTA RICA ITINERARY FOR?
This 10 days Costa Rica itinerary is for those who want to spend their time in Costa Rica in an active way, do some adventurous activities, and don’t mind to drive accross the country to experience its diversity.
When we first started planning this trip, it was supposed to be mostly relaxing beach vacation with some activities, but it soon developed into a 700 km road trip as we were finding more and more places we simply couldn’t miss. Luckily, Costa Rica has an excellent coffee that helps to get you through this packed itinerary! And don’t worry, the beaches are included too, however you’ll be exploring the less developed, more pristine Caribbean side.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a relaxing or resort style vacation, then this itinerary won’t be for you. In fact, there are only few beach front hotels in Costa Rica (on the Pacific side) as the big part of its coastline is protected, meaning instead of the hotels, you can spot monkeys or sloths in the jungles along the beaches!
BEST TIME TO VISIT COSTA RICA
One of the main factors to consider when deciding about the timing of your Costa Rica visit is the rainy season.
Many say the best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April, when the weather is at its driest, but we say – it depends. Costa Rica has many different microclimates, so while there is lots of rain in some parts during the “green season” (May through November), there are other parts that still offer pockets of sunshine even during the rainy months.
This 10 days Costa Rica itinerary is suitable for travellers heading to Costa Rica during the “green/rainy season”, as the Caribbean side stays relatively dry during rainy months. That being said, don’t expect there won’t be any rain as the second half of this itinerary takes you to different parts of Costa Rica where you’ll most likely experience the rainy season.
LOOKING FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR YOUR TRIP?
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IS IT WORTH IT TO VISIT COSTA RICA IN RAINY SEASON?
Costa Rica was on our bucket list for so long, so when we found really good deal for flight tickets for October 2021, we just booked them without researching anything and were so excited to finally go! We soon found out that the reason behind those flight deals was that we were about to go in the rainiest time of a year. We’re now laughing that we didn’t think this through, but it was our very first time planning a trip to Central America, and we decided to make most of it anyways.
Now, you might be wondering – was it worth it? Well, we did get wet (multiple times). Would we change our decision? Nope! We really had the best time and besides having better deals for everything from flight tickets, airBnBs etc. here’s few more reasons why we loved visiting in the rainy season:
» All the rainforests get even more green and waterfalls more powerful during the rainy months. Many locals actually consider this to be their favourite season.
» Mornings are often sunny and rain happens just for few hours later in a day.
» Costa Rica has many different microclimates, so while there is lot of rain in some parts, there are other parts that still offer pockets of sunshine even during the rainy months.
» Less crowds.
» It was an authentic experience, because rainy season is part of Costa Rica’s climate.
GETTING TO COSTA RICA
The majority arrive via one of the two international airports: Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San José and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia.
SJO is just outside of the capital and closer to the Caribbean coast, therefore it’s the starting and finishing point for this 10 days Costa Rica itinerary. We flew to San José from Vancouver with a quick layover in Denver and the total travelling time was around 7 hours.
PRO TIP: Use Google Flights when looking for flight tickets to Costa Rica. It’s the easiest way to compare prices from different airlines and in different dates.
PRO TIP 2: If you’re travelling often and plan your destinations according to a price of flight tickets, Thrifty Traveller Premium is an amazing subscription service for getting cheap flight alerts for your domestic airport right to your e-mail. It literally saves you hundreds of dollars on prices of flights and we even got our subscription with 50% off during their Black Friday deals!
GETTING AROUND COSTA RICA
By Bus
Buses are affordable and reliable way to get around Costa Rica. They run relatively frequently and get you (almost) anywhere – as long as you have time. It’s often impossible to travel from one place to another without having to go back to the capital, so getting around by bus can take much longer, especially if you don’t take the direct routes.
Another option is to book a shuttle bus. These connect most of Costa Rica’s main tourist destinations and are significantly faster. However, they can cost five times as much as the public buses.
By rental car
Renting a car is the ideal option if you’re exploring the country on your own as it gives you the freedom and flexibility. Although it’s more expensive than buses, it saves you a lot of time and if it’s at least two of you to share the costs, we would even think about anything else. This is also the option we chose for this 10 days Costa Rica itinerary and the whole timeline is set up with an assumption that you have a car.
We rented with Adobe Rent a Car in San José and had a great experience with this local company. Their pricing is fair, transparent and includes all taxes, fees as well as the basic liability insurance which is mandatory in Costa Rica, so there are no surprises when you pick up the car. We rented a 4×4 vehicle as it’s recommended for the roads around Arenal and Monteverde, especially in the rainy season.
GOOD TO KNOW: You cannot rent a car in Costa Rica without the liability insurance as it’s required by law and there is no way to waive it even if you have credit card insurance. If you’re seeing big price differences between car rentals, it’s because some of the quotes might be hiding this insurance that can often exceeds the cost of renting!
Alternative transport methods
Domestic flights, taxis and private shuttles are another ways to get around Costa Rica. That being said – if you have more money than time as these options can get expensive.
COSTA RICA ITINERARY: 10 DAYS IN PARADISE FOR ADVENTURERS
Now that we went over those practical details, let’s get to the itinerary!
Day 1: Arrival to San José
Chances are, your flight will land at Costa Rica’s biggest airport – Juan Santamaria International Airport, which is located just 18 km from the downtown San José.
Depending on your time of arrival, you might want to explore the city a bit, but we arrived in the evening, so we took Uber from the airport and headed straight to our airBnB to get some rest before driving to the Caribbean coast in the morning.
If you have time, you can take a stroll around downtown or take a food tour to sense the local gastronomy right after the arrival!
Day 2 to Day 5: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Pick up your rental car early in the morning and get ready for a drive to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. This is a 218 km long trip that will take you a bit over 4 hours. Make sure to have some Costa Rican colones ready for paying the toll when driving through Brauillo-Carrillo National Park on the highway 32. While there is an alternative route without a toll, we don’t think it’s worth it because it’s longer and Costa Rican tolls including this one are usually just few dollars. Plus drive through this park is beautiful, but expect it to be a rather curvy highway with cars that are going fast. We made a few stops along this 4 hour way to stretch the legs and grab some street food or fresh coconuts.
Once you arrive to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and check-in to your accommodation, make sure to head to Playa Puerto Viejo for a swim in the sea to properly start your 10 day Costa Rica itinerary!
Things to do around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
There are some amazing beaches to relax on in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, but there are also some other amazing things to do and we think that the best way to experience this place is to combine both:
» Visit the Jaguar Rescue Center
This center is a home for ill, injured or orphaned animals that would otherwise be unable to survive in the wild and it was absolutely one of the highlights of the whole trip! Each tour supports the animals and operation of the center and the staff was absolutely amazing.
» Go snorkeling to Cahuita National Park
Cahuita NP located under 20 km from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a coastal paradise with pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs and one of the most wildlife-rich places in the world! We took a snorkeling tour that also included guided hike in the jungle and we saw birds, monkeys, sloths and racoons in the wild nature! Please note, that it is not allowed to snorkel without a guide in the area for the preservation of the reef.
» BriBri Chocolate Tour
The Bribri are an Indigenous people of Costa Rica in Talamanca region and you can learn more about their culture and chocolate making process on a guided tour to their community!
Best beaches around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
While you can always head to the local beach right in the town, we’d highly recommend getting to the beaches around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca as they are way more stunning, wide and quiet.
Arguably the most stunning beach in the region with a rainforest just behind you. It stretches about 2 km and offers great surfing opportunities. Lively vibes thanks to surfers and food stalls!
» Playa Chiquita
Although it’s just a little further from town than Playa Cocles, this beach feels way more secluded and offers calm waters making it ideal for swimming.
Another pristine beach that feels like you have your own slice of paradise. Shallow waters offer great snorkeling opportunities.
» Playa Manzanillo
Manzanillo is a small fishing village close to the Panama borders that offers some beautiful pristine coast and an entrance to the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
Altough it is withing a walking distance from the downtown, Playa Negra is another quiet beach with a unique black sand that stretches 10 km from Puerto Viejo all the way to the Cahuita NP.
Try the local cuisine
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca has plenty of food options from fancier restaurants to cafes and street food, but we highly recommend you to eat in “sodas” as much as possible during your whole Costa Rica trip! These are small local eateries that offer traditional dishes. There are plenty of them around Puerto Viejo, but since they often don’t even have name, we honestly don’t remember which ones we visited. But we can safely say that the food was amazing in all of them. Don’t expect a fancy dining experience, but it is where you can try the local cuisine for great prices.
Day 6 + Day 7: La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
After 4 nights you spend exploring Puerto Viejo, get ready to head back to the inland Costa Rica to explore some volcanoes and waterfalls! Make sure to go for a quick morning swim at Playa Puerto Viejo before you drive to La Fortuna on your Day 6. This is a 270 km long drive that will take you approx. 4.5 hours.
Once you get to La Fortuna, check in to your accommodation (we stayed in this cool glamping airBnB) for the next 2 nights and take a stroll around the downtown and Parque De La Fortuna to soak in the volcano views!
Day 7 is a busy day where you pack in a hike, hot springs, waterfall and a coffee farm tour! There is so much to do in La Fortuna and it’s pretty crazy you can do all of this in just one day. Diversity is all what’s Costa Rica is about.
» Arenal Volcano 1968 Trail
Start the day with hiking around Arenal Volcano! Arenal Volcano 1968 is a small ecological reserve with 2 hiking trails that take you to the hills formed by lava during the Arenal Volcano 1968 eruption. The entrance fee is currently 25 USD per person in 2024, which is rather a hefty price, but from what we understood, there is no free hiking in Arenal Volcano area. You might want to do your research on other alternatives, but we loved the views in this park and hiking through the lava. Make sure to start with the Lava Flow Trail as that’s the one with better views and add the second one if you have a spare time.
» (Free) hot springs
Thanks to the region’s geothermal activity, there are dozens of hot springs with most of them being hidden in resorts. However there is one free hot spring (or actually hot river to be precise) called El Choyin. Now, be prepared that this is a busy spot since it’s for free and there are no facilities around.You might also have to deal with one unpleasant thing – the parking mafia. There is no official parking fee to access this hot river, but sometimes there are scammers requesting the parking fee for “guarding” your car. They usually only want few dollars, so we thought it’s not worth it to not pay and leave the car vulnerable, but this technically makes the free hot springs not free anymore. Just something to be aware of, but you might be lucky and they won’t be there.
» La Fortuna Waterfall
Another stop is the La Fortuna Waterfall which is an absolutely stunning 70 meter high blue waterfall located in a biological reserve. The best part? You can swim in the pool below the waterfall, so make sure to pack the swimsuit! The route consists of about 530 steps down, so it is a good leg workout. The entrance fee (yes, again) is currently 20 USD in 2024 (are you even surprised at this point?).
» Coffee Farm Tour
La Fortuna is one of the best places to take a coffee farm tour and learn more about the process of making everyone’s favourite drink. We caught a pouring rain during our tour, so we had to hide under the shelters a bit more, but it was still so interesting!
Head back to your accommodation to get some rest before the morning drive to Monteverde.
Day 8 + Day 9: Monteverde
Get ready for some bumpy roads! The drive from La Fortuna to Monteverde is only 115 km, but note that it might take you close to 3 hours because there are lots of bumpy and gravel roads in Costa Rican highlands. The views though? Oh so amazing! Grab a breakfast in La Fortuna and start your drive in the morning so you have time for the next stop:
» Viento Fresco Waterfall
This is a beautiful quiet reserve with 4 waterfalls approx. halfway between La Fortuna and Monteverde which makes it a great stop for breaking your drive. After you pay the entrance fee of 17 USD per person at the reception, you’ll be given a map and directions to the trailhead. Note that even though it’s a short drive, it is a very bumpy and uneven road and we wouldn’t recommend it without a high clearance vehicle. But the whole thing felt like an amazing adventure and we loved this stop. You’ll need around 1-2 hours for hiking to the waterfalls and exploring the reserve.
Once you arrive to Monteverde, check-in to your accommodation for the next 2 nights.
» Hiking in Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve
Start your Day 9 with hiking in the clouds. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve is a magical place, especially on a cloudy, rainy day. The entrance fee is currently 26 USD per person and there are multiple hiking trails and one suspension bridge (sadly, it was closed due to construction during our visit in 2021).
» Zip-lining above the cloud forest
This is a bucket list experience in Costa Rica and something we recommend you to splurge on! There isn’t many cloud forests left on the planet anymore and seeing it from above is a once in a lifetime experience. We did the Canopy Tour at Selvatura Park with 15 different zip-lines, but there are multiple options in the area.
Day 10: Departure from San José
Check-out of your accommodation in Monteverde and drive back to San José. This is a 140 km long drive that will take you around 2.5 hours.
Depending on the time of your flight, you might be able to spend some extra time in Monteverde in the morning or some extra time in San José in the afternoon. Either way, the last day of this 10 Day Costa Rica itinerary is for checking-out of your accommodation in Monteverde, returning the rental car in San José and heading to the airport.
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING COSTA RICA
» It’s not so cheap anymore
Costa Rica has a well-developed and booming tourism sector and although it’s still possible to travel around on budget, things do cost more than you might expect. In fact, it is the most expensive country in Central America.
» It’s generally safe
Costa Rica is generally considered safe for travellers with petty theft being the most common crime. That being said, you should never leave your valueable unattended and keep them out of sight.
» Make sure to have some cash
While lots of places accept USD, you’ll always get a much better rate when paying in Costa Rican colones. And if you want to try the street food, you can forget about paying with your card.
» Eat in “sodas” and try casado
These are small eateries offering delicious local food for great prices. Make sure to try different variations of casado – Costa Rican national dish.
» Expect to pay the entrance fees for nature sights
Free hiking isn’t really a thing in Costa Rica and you simply have to accept that most of the trails require a fee if you want to visit them. Some prices were surprisingly high, but there is not much to do about that!
» It can get chilly in the highlands!
Make sure to pack some layers as it can get cooler in higher elevation places, especially on a rainy day. We had fleeces and light waterproof jackets and we were happy to both of these in Monteverde!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’ve made it this far – we hope this 10 day Costa Rica itinerary helps to make your planning easier and you will get to enjoy the best trip through this amazing country. Do you have questions we haven’t answered? Let us know in the comments below and make sure to browse in our other travel guides category!
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