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One Week Best of Costa Rica Itinerary

Best of Costa Rica One Week Itinerary

We designed this one-week Costa Rica itinerary to give you the best overview of the country in a short amount of time. 

Some beach vibes and some jungle vibes. A bit of relaxing and a bit of action.

It’s all about the balance here!

So, are you ready for swimming under waterfalls, volcano views, beautiful beaches, unique wildlife, and more?

Overview

Airport Area (day 1) → Manuel Antonio (day 2, 3) → Jaco (day 4) → La Fortuna (day 5, 6) → Airport Area (day 7) → Leave paradise (day 8)

DAY ONE – Land in San Jose / Tour a coffee farm or visit Poas Volcano

DAY TWO – Drive to Manuel Antonio/ See Crocodiles / Playa Biesanz / Sunset Dinner

DAY THREE – Manuel Antonio National Park / Playa Espadilla

DAY FOUR – Drive to Jaco / SUP / Sunset Cocktails

DAY FIVE – Drive to La Fortuna / Waterfall swimming / Hot Springs Chilling

DAY SIX – Tubing / Hiking / Natural hot springs

DAY SEVEN – Cacao tour / Drive back to the airport area

DAY EIGHT – Leave Paradise….for now

Transportation Info

We designed this Costa Rica itinerary to be done by rental car.

Having a car makes transportation a whole lot easier in this country.

It is possible to do this itinerary without four-wheel drive but we suggest at least renting something with decent clearance (as in a SUV).

All of the roads you will encounter are paved, but there are some steep hills in the Manuel Antonio area and on your drive to La Fortuna.

If you are looking for a great car deal, we have partnered with our favorite rental car company in Costa Rica, Adobe, to give you a 10% discount, free extra drivers, a free cell phone to use, free roof racks, and more! 

Book Your Trip: Our Go-to Travel Companies

When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Win-win! 

Rent a Car

via Adobe & save 10%

Book a Flight

via Skyscanner

Book a Hotel

via Booking.com