Planning a bucket list trip to Costa Rica? Here’s exactly how to spend 10 days in Costa Rica!
It’s so exciting that you’re planning to come to Costa Rica for the first time! My first ever solo trip here I devoured everything online I could find about how to plan the most amazing trip for myself. Now, over 12 trips later, I’ve traveled all across the country and currently live in Monteverde with my husband who is from here and I know a thing or two about what activities to do in Costa Rica.
Whether you’re a beach person or love adventure and hiking in the rainforest, there will be something for you to enjoy while visiting this amazing country. I’m so excited to share with you my favorite activities to do in Costa Rica on your 10-day trip!
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10 Days in Costa Rica Quick Overview & Map
I know a jam-packed itinerary like the one below isn’t for everyone...so I wanted to give you a quick overview of how you will spend your 10 days in Costa Rica if you choose to use this itinerary. If you love it, keep reading but I’m sharing ALLLLLLLL the details.
Seriously. By the end of this post, you’ll have your entire trip planned out!
- Day 1: Arrive in San Jose (Optional: Walking Tour of the city)
- Day 2: Drive to La Fortuna & Coffee & Chocolate Tour
- Day 3: Arenal Volcano National Park
- Day 4: La Fortuna Waterfall & Hot Springs
- Day 5: Drive to Monteverde & Take a Night Walk tour
- Day 6: Ziplining and hiking in Monteverde
- Day 7: Drive to Manuel Antonio, beach day, and sunset cruise
- Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park
- Day 9: Day Trip to Isla Tortuga
- Day 10: Depart from San Jose (Optional: Rescate Wildlife Center)
10 Day Costa Rica Itinerary (Allllll the Details!)
Grab your favorite tropical drink and get ready to plan out the most EPIC Costa Rica vacay of all time. I’ve included a FREE printable planner to help you personalize your own itinerary!
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose
- Drive Time: 30 minutes to get to San Jose from the airport (depending on the traffic!)
- Where to Stay: Ruta Verde B&B
Depending on what time you arrive at the airport in San Jose, you’ll want to spend your first day in Costa Rica getting settled in. Start by picking up your rental car and dropping your things off at the hotel. Given you’re not totally exhausted from your travel, you might want to spend a little time checking out the local culture, history, and food.
Sign up for a walking tour where you can get a feel for the city, visit the Central Market, and buy fresh Costa Rican coffee. The tour will also give you the opportunity to learn about local history, art, and culture. It will take you by the National Theatre where there is a really cute coffee shop inside you can grab coffee and dessert!
Then, head back to your hotel in Alajuela, Ruta Verde B&B, which offers a stunning view of the coffee fields and the capital city in the distance.
Day 2: Head to La Fortuna
- Drive Time (Approximately 3.5 hours)
- Where to Stay: Los Lagos Spa & Resort
Wait out rush hour traffic by enjoying a homemade breakfast at the Ruta Verde B&B (not included in the room price – but delicious and worth it!), and leave any time after 10 am to avoid getting stuck in the bothersome traffic the capital city of San Jose is known for.
After you arrive in La Fortuna, you can settle into your accommodations and plan to do an afternoon activity such as a coffee and chocolate tour, which starts at 3 pm and costs $43 per person
Later, treat yourself to a nice dinner out at Don Rufino, a steak and seafood restaurant in town. Be sure to make a reservation in advance on their website for your best chance of getting a table!
Day 3: Arenal Volcano National Park
- Drive Time (20-30 minutes)
- Where to Stay: Los Lagos Spa & Resort
Get an early start and head to Sloffee Coffee Shop which opens bright and early at 7 AM and has delicious hot and iced coffees and snacks.
If you love hiking, it will be worth it to spend a day in Arenal Volcano National Park experiencing this beautiful volcano in close proximity. The park is open from 8 AM to 4 PM and I would try to arrive near when the park opens to make the most of your time and have the best chances of good weather.
To get tickets, buy them in person at the main entrance to the park.
Once inside the park, take the Lava Flow Trail to a viewing area of the volcano! The trail is mostly flat but does get a little more steep towards the lava rocks (wear good shoes!). Patience is key if its a cloudy day, try to wait until the clouds shift for your best chance of seeing the entire volcano.
After lunch, you can try kayaking on the beautiful Arenal Lake with the volcano as your stunning backdrop. Simply visit the lake and rent a kayak on spot to enjoy a self guided tour.
To wrap up the day, you might want to enjoy dinner with a view of the beautiful sunset in La Fortuna by heading to Jalapas Restaurant, which serves traditional Costa Rican cuisine.
Day 4: La Fortuna Waterfall Hike & Hot Springs
- Drive Time (30 mins)
- Where to Stay: Los Lagos Spa & Resort
Take advantage of the morning by visiting the powerful La Fortuna Waterfall, which is about a 10-15 minute drive from town and costs $20 per person. Beware, there are a lot a lot of stairs! I promise you though, experiencing the waterfall is totally worth it. If the staff deems it safe, you can also take a swim in the waterfall.
After several days packed full of adventure, you’re probably ready to spend your afternoon and evening in total relaxation. The best way to do that is by visiting the hot springs, natural springs made hot like a jacuzzi due to the volcanic activity close by. Los Lagos Hotel has natural pools available to guests supplied directly from rainforest springs.
The hotel also offers therapeutic massage and personal care treatments if you’re interested in some extra pampering!
Day 5: Head to Monteverde
- Drive Time (4-4.5 hours)
- Where to Stay: Amalú Monteverde (See more of my favorite places to stay in Monteverde here!)
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, the road from La Fortuna to Monteverde is bumpy! Investing in a 4-wheel drive vehicle isn’t a bad idea especially if you’re coming during the rainy season. That said, it’s totally worth it once you arrive at one of the most beautiful places in the entire world, the cloud forest of Monteverde.
Check into your hotel and then head to Kapi Kapi for a relaxing and delicious lunch with the view of the mountains.
In the evening, after you arrive and settle into your hotel, you have to experience a night walk. The majority of the wildlife in the jungle is actually most active at night. On a night walk, you’ll be able to experience the thrill of exploring the rainforest after dark (with a trained guide of course!)
Check pricing and availability of your Monteverde Night Walk below!
Day 6: Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Drive Time: 20-30 mins
- Where to Stay: Amalú Monteverde
There’s no question that you won’t find opportunities for ziplining anywhere in the world like in Monteverde. Actually, the zipline tour at 100% Aventura has a cable that is almost 1-mile long!
After ziplining and eating a quick lunch (I highly recommend Stella’s Monteverde!), you’ll want to spend your afternoon hiking in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where you can experience the stunning suspension bridges that Monteverde is well known for.
Finish your night off with a romantic dinner at Morpho’s Restaurant, where you’ll also have a beautiful view of the sun setting over the town. It’s one of my favorite places to eat in Monteverde!
Day 7: Head to Manuel Antonio
- Drive Time (~4 hours)
- Where to Stay: Shana by the Beach
At this point in your vacation, if you love the beach, you’re probably dying to see the coastline! Well, hop into the car for a few hour drive to Quepos and Manuel Antonio where you’ll be able to get your fix.
It’s a long drive, so after you arrive at the hotel, it’s a good idea to head to the beach or pool, or you can also take advantage of some of the spa treatments the hotel offers. They offer massage and personal care therapies like body scrubs, facials, manicure, pedicures, and other cosmetic treatments.
If you’re up for it in the evening, take a sunset boat tour and get a chance to see Costa Rica’s magnificent marine wildlife. If you’re lucky and it’s the right season, you might spot dolphins or even whales!
Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park
- Drive Time: 30 mins
- Where to Stay: Shana by the Beach
Prepare to spend the entire day in Manuel Antionio National Park where you should go with a trained naturalist guide to experience the wildlife there. While you can visit the park without a guide, you simply will not see as much wildlife as I’m sure you’d like to. The guides will also share in-depth information about the environment, history, and culture of the area you won’t want to miss.
The tour costs $45 per adult and on the 4 hour hike you can expect to see wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds like toucans and hummingbirds.
It’s very important to keep in mind, often the tour does not include entry to the park and you need to book that separately. You want to get your park entry fees in advance if you can (1-2 weeks), because they can go quick. Log into Costa Rica’s national park website to get your entry ticket.
For a unique dining experience with good food and gorgeous views, head to El Avion, a converted cargo plane now restaurant. El Avión is especially well known for its delicious sea food options and amazing sunset view. I recommend you get there before 5:30 PM for a chance of experiencing the sunset.
Day 9: Day Trip to Isla Tortuga
- Drive Time: 1.5 hour drive from Manuel Antonio to Jacó
- Where to Stay: Hotel Club Del Mar
Start your day early and take a catamaran tour to the amazing Isla Tortuga, famous for it’s crystal-clear turquoise waters and white sand beaches. The tour involves a light snack for breakfast, full lunch, and activities like snorkeling, a banana boat tour, and short hike to experience the wildlife on the island. I really loved the tour with Costa Cat Cruises and highly recommend them!!
You’ll probably be exhausted when the catamaran returns to Jacó at approximately 4 pm. The hotel pool is the perfect place to relax until the end of the day or take an evening walk on the beach as the sun sets.
In the evening, head over to Jaco Walk, an open air mall where you can check out different restaurants serving dinner, sushi, wine, and more!
Day 10: Return to San Jose & Rescue Center
- Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Finish up your fabulous Costa Rica Vacation by heading back to San Jose and catching your flight back home. It’s a quick drive back to San Jose from Jacó, which gives you time to enjoy some pool or beach time before leaving.
If you have time before leaving, try to visit the Rescate Wildlife Center, where you can see more wildlife you likely did not have a chance to see (jungle cats, for example) and also learn more about conservation efforts in Costa Rica.
I highly recommend doing the guided tour, as they’ll really go in-depth and tell you about the stories of the animals and conservation of Costa Rican fauna and flora.
Planning a Trip to Costa Rica (FAQ’s)
Should I rent a car for this 10-day Costa Rica itinerary?
Yes! This adventurous itinerary covers a.lot.of.ground. Having your own rental car is important to maintain the flexibility. You’ll be able to pick up your rental right from the San Jose airport. Just be sure to bring a form of payment, a valid driver’s license, and your passport.
If you are very uncomfortable driving in a different country, you could hire private drivers each day (but this is of course going to be much more expensive).
What are the roads like in Costa Rica? Any driving tips?
Driving in Costa Rica can be different from driving in the US. Some of the biggest differences are the sheer amount of motorcycles and the chaos around rush hour and while merging. I would recommend renting a car with four-wheel drive for this itinerary as the road to and from Monteverde can be rough.
When is the best time to plan this 10 day Costa Rica vacation?
The best time to visit Costa Rica totally depends on what kind of vacation you’re after. If you want to spend all your time at the beach swimming and snorkeling, you’ll be disappointed if you visit Costa Rica during it’s rainy season (May-November). That said, if you’re an adventure lover looking for cheaper rates on hotels, you might love the rainy season with it’s decreased crowds, lower prices, and lush, green landscapes.
Check out our super detailed month-by-month guide to help you pick the right time to visit!
10 Days in Costa Rica Recap
Hopefully you’ve had an amazing time in Costa Rica and you understand why there is nowhere else in the world like here. No matter how long I’ve lived here, I always am discovering new things every day. So you never know, maybe we will see you again here in Costa Rica someday soon! Pura vida!
10 Days in Costa Rica Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in San Jose (Optional: Walking Tour of the city)
- Day 2: Drive to La Fortuna & Coffee & Chocolate Tour
- Day 3: Arenal Volcano National Park
- Day 4: La Fortuna Waterfall & Hot Springs
- Day 5: Drive to Monteverde & Take a Night Walk tour
- Day 6: Ziplining and hiking in Monteverde
- Day 7: Drive to Manuel Antonio, beach day, and sunset cruise
- Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park
- Day 9: Day Trip to Isla Tortuga
- Day 10: Depart from San Jose (Optional: Rescate Wildlife Center)
Lindsay Gantz lives in Monteverde, Costa Rica with her husband who is Costa Rican. She helps visitors plan trips to Costa Rica and also organizes small group trips for solo female travelers. You can reach her on Instagram or by email at [email protected]
