Planning a Costa Rica itinerary for 10 days feels exciting until you open a map and realize how much there is. Which regions do you visit? What do you skip?
We have designed this itinerary after planning dozens of Costa Rica trips for first-time and repeat travelers. It gives you a clear route, hotel picks, activity ideas, and daily plans. No guesswork. No wasted days.
This guide covers everything from landing in San José to your last morning before the flight. We have done the hard work. Follow the plan.
Trip Overview
This trip follows a simple loop starting and ending in San Jose. You spend one night in San Jose on arrival, three nights in Quepos and Manuel Antonio, two nights in Jaco and Los Sueños, three nights in La Fortuna, and one final night back in San Jose before departure.
The flow makes sense. You start on the Pacific coast with beaches and wildlife, move into the surf scene in Jaco, then head inland for volcanoes and rainforest before returning to the city.
December to April is the dry season and the busiest time to visit. May to November brings rain, lower prices, and fewer crowds. A rental car is the best way to get around. Accommodation is a mix of beach hotels on the coast and jungle lodges near La Fortuna.
Trip Highlights
- Days 1 to 3: Manuel Antonio beaches and wildlife. Stop at Tarcoles Bridge for a crocodile sighting on the way in. Spend three days spotting howler monkeys, sloths, and iguanas inside the national park, then finish each afternoon on a quiet beach.
- Days 4 to 5: Surf, activities, and marina life in Jaco and Los Sueños. Try a surf lesson, book an ATV ride or zipline tour, and spend time around the marina. Two full days here keep things active without feeling rushed.
- Days 6 to 8: Arenal Volcano and rainforest in La Fortuna. Base yourself at the foot of the volcano for three days. Cover canyoning, waterfall rappelling, hot springs, and a volcano hike. This is the most varied stretch of the whole trip.
- Days 9 to 10: San Jose and departure. Drive back to the capital, walk through Mercado Central, eat at a local soda, and see a few city spots before dropping off the rental car and heading to the airport.
