Pura Vida Road Trip – 10-Day Costa Rica Travel Itinerary

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10-days, 3 National Parks, 3 adrenalin activities and a whole lot of fun… are you ready for an adventure? We hope so, because we’ve curated, tried and tested an incredible Costa Rica travel itinerary and it’s now ready for you. Take a road trip through tropical paradise, from misty cloud forests to palm-fringed beaches, cooling waterfalls to simmering volcanoes. Let’s go!

Costa Rica travel itinerary notes

Itinerary order

We originally created this itinerary as a loop out of San Jose. However, it soon became apparent that flights into Liberia were slightly cheaper. Therefore we changed it up to start in Liberia and end in San Jose.  If you choose to do a loop out of San Jose the driving distance is about the same, but you will need to re-order the days as follows:

Tickets and passes

Almost everywhere you explore in Costa Rica, including National Parks, requires paid admission. This sounds ludicrous on the surface for those of us with free (i.e. tax funded) access to natural spaces in our home countries. However, consider that more than 25% of Costa Rica is protected in Parks and Reserves. Placing an economic value on nature as nature, and not as a resource to be plundered, is part of how you get to these high levels of conservation.

It does, however, remove some flexibility for travellers. You will need to book timed tickets in advance for most attractions and National Parks. You could risk leaving it until the last minute, but this is not advisable in popular locations and travel during high season.

National Park bookings are centralized through the Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) website. You will need to create a free account to get started. The website is available in English and Spanish.

It is quite normal for private companies running tours and adventure activities in Costa Rica to utilize Whatsapp as their main communication tool. Often these companies will offer a discount if you book by sending a message on Whatsapp and paying in cash on the day, rather than using your credit card on their website. When paying cash, some will accept U.S. dollars, others will require Colón—confirm at the time of making your booking.

Getting to Costa Rica

Fly

Most visitors to Costa Rica will arrive by air and there are two major international airports. First, the centrally located, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) and second Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), in the northwest corner of the country.

Renting a car in Costa Rica

Getting around Costa Rica independently and in a short timeframe requires renting a car. Unfortunately renting a car in Costa Rica is costly and more complicated than any other place we’ve been. Here are a few things to look out for before selecting a rental agency and booking your car.

Rent from a reputable company and check the individual rental location. There seems to be a lot of variability in the treatment of customers, not only between rental agents, but between offices of the same rental agency. A big internationally-recognised brand name is no guarantee. Check the reviews carefully.

Pay the extra for an AWD or 4WD. Road conditions in Costa Rica range from freshly paved highways to roughly graded dirt roads. Even some well-travelled and highly touristed locations have poor roadways. Make sure there are no unnecessary complications by paying for an all-wheel or four-wheel drive right from the outset.

You are legally obligated to take out liability insurance in Costa Rica, no matter what other coverage you have with your credit card or travel insurance policy. However, this only covers third-parties. Rental companies will offer supplements for collision damage, vandalism, theft and damage. There’s no way around it, you’re going to have to spend time reading the fine print.

Driving in Costa Rica

As I mentioned, road conditions in Costa Rica can vary wildly, as do local driving habits. Be prepared for everything and anything, especially in wet season. As with all international driving, you should familiarise yourself with local road rules. Allow more time than you think you’ll need to travel between destinations and avoid driving after dark, if possible.

Tip: If you are relying on electronic maps, ensure you download a version you can view offline. Some of this Costa Rica road trip route takes you through areas with little to no cell service.

Climate

Costa Rica’s mountainous terrain creates various climate zones within the small country. For the purposes of this itinerary, I’ll focus on the relevant climate zones on the Pacific Ocean coast, Central Valley and mountaintops.

The Pacific side of Costa Rica has distinct wet and dry seasons. Dry season, from December to March, ranges in temperature from 22-35°C (71-94°F). While during wet season, marketed as “Green Season”, runs May through October and sees temperatures of 23-33°C (74-92°F). March is the hottest and driest month while September-October are the wettest. April and November are brief transition seasons. Rain on the Pacific coast occurs in short bursts, mostly in the afternoons.

Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, is located in the Central Valley which has a more temperate climate. At an altitude of 1100-m (3600-ft), San Jose has a temperature range of 18-28°C (64-83°F) throughout the year. December through April are relatively dry, and May-October receive significantly more rainfall. 

In the humid mountaintops and cloud forests such as Monteverde, temperatures range from 18-29°C (64-84°F) throughout the year. April is the warmest month, and January is the coolest. May through October are wet. Precipitation tapers from November through December and is low in January through April.

Costa Rica road trip itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Liberia

Day one of your Costa Rica travel itinerary, arrive in Liberia and pick up your rental vehicle. Check into your Liberia accommodation for the night. Save time by staying close to the airport. There are car rental offices and reputable hotels right opposite close to the terminal.

Overnight stay: Liberia

Day 2 – Rio Celeste

Rise early and hit the road to Bijagua de Upala, about 1.5-hrs drive in good conditions. Pick up some breakfast or an early lunch, along with water, snacks and fuel if required.

Drive an additional 20-30-mins to the entrance of Tenorio Volcano National Park. There is a parking lot that will cost CRC2000 (USD3.80).

You will need to have pre-purchased your admission and timeslot on the SINAC website. Tickets are allocated in 40-minute intervals with the last Park entry at 2pm.

Take a self-guided hike on moderately-rated, out and back trails. Enjoy the impossibly-blue Rio Celeste, its famous waterfall and fascinating El Teñidero, where two rivers meet. The total hike is 5.8-km/3.4-mi.

You might be feeling the temptation to swim in the amazing Rio Celeste, however swimming in the River within the National Park is not allowed. So… next up we depart the Park to take a tubing adventure!

There are various companies offering similar tubing excursions on the Rio Celeste, such as: Go.Adventure Arenal Park, Onca Tours, Rio Celeste Aventuras and Rio Celeste Nature. Do some research and book the one that is right for you.

Stay overnight in the Katira area. There is one resort plus lots of B&Bs and cabins in the area. Some of these are located  on farms—we really enjoyed our night in a cabin, located on a cacao farm.

Overnight stay: Katira

Driving distance: 110-km (69-mi), about 2.5-hours drive time

Day 3 – La Fortuna

Start the day by driving from Katira to La Fortuna. On arrival, store your luggage stored at your hotel—it’s generally safer than having it sit in your unattended car while you go sightseeing.  Then make your way to Arenal National Park. The Park has two sectors, the Volcano Sector and Peninsula Sector. Prioritise the Volcano Sector. Here you have the option of 3 hiking trails: Las Coladas (1.7-km/1.05-mi), El Ceibo (2.3-km/1.5-mi) and Las Heliconias (610-m/0.4-mi).

I encourage you to explore these trails as much as possible. Las Coladas will take you across the hardened lava flow of the 1968 eruption, and leads to a lookout point with views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. El Ceibo takes you through older growth rainforest. Take it slow and quiet through the forest for lots of wildlife viewing opportunities. Las Heliconias is a short bridging path that links the two main trails.

If you’re not up for a hike, you can drive to the principal Volcano lookout, just keep driving up the one road from the parking lot and continue to the end.

Note: There are several privately owned parks around the Volcano that offer hiking trails, and some of the names are similar. Look for the National Park specifically.

Finish up the day with a soak in hot springs—there are lots to choose from at different price points.

Overnight stay: La Fortuna

Driving distance: 97-km (61-mi) for the longer, allow 2.5-hours drive time without stops

Day 4 – La Fortuna

The following day, spend some time exploring the cool adventure activities available out of La Fortuna. We chose rappelling and ziplining excursion that was a lot of fun!

In the afternoon, explore the Bogarin Trail on a guided tour to see sloths and birds. The Trail is close to town, in fact we could walk from our accommodation. A guided tour is highly advisable if you want to spot the well camouflaged wildlife.

Overnight stay: La Fortuna

Driving distance: 23-km (15-mi), about 1-hour driving

Day 5 – Santa Elena

Begin by driving from La Fortuna to Santa Elena (aka Monteverde) along the shores of Lake Arenal.

On arrival, grab some lunch and visit a coffee farm for a bean to cup tour. This makes for a relaxing and informative afternoon, which usually includes some coffee tasting too! There are various coffee farms offering tours in the Monteverde area. Being a little more serious (and snobby) about our coffee, and having toured coffee plantations in Jamaica and Colombia, we selected El Pueblo Coffee for a smaller, family-run farm experience.

Note: Coffee and cacao (chocolate) grow best at different elevations. So, if you’re a serious lover of either or both, take separate tours in their respective locations e.g. cacao in Katira or La Fortuna, and coffee in Santa Elena/Monteverde.

Overnight stay: Santa Elena

Driving distance: 112-km (70-mi), 3.5-hours drive time

Day 6 – Santa Elena

Day six of your Costa Rica travel itinerary, spend some time with your head in the clouds. There are two main Cloud Forest parks in the Monteverde area:

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is the most popular option, because it is lower in altitude. This makes it less cloudy, wet and dense, so wildlife spotting is a little easier. It’s important to know that most of the mammals in these forests are nocturnal. Unless you book a night tour, there is a limit to how many you will likely see. Birdlife is abundant though and the forest is gorgeous! Due to its popularity, you must book your timeslot ahead or risk missing out.

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is slightly higher, cloudier and more dense. Despite seeing less wildlife, the forest itself is beautiful and worth exploring the trails. It is easier to get tickets to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve on the day of your visit.

In the afternoon, exchange the forest floor for the canopy! Take a ziplining tour and explore suspension bridges, such as those at Selvatura Park. Each offers a unique experience as the ziplining sends you whizzing over the treetops at high pace, the suspension bridges allows you to take your time and really see the forest.

Overnight stay: Santa Elena

Driving distance: Local driving only—distances depend on the location of your accommodation. It’s about 5.5-km drive southeast from the centre of town to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. Selvatura Adventure Park is approximately 6.5-km drive northeast of the town centre.

Day 7 – Manuel Antonio

We finish up this Costa Rica travel itinerary with a couple of well-deserved beach days. Drive from Santa Elena to Quepos, the town outside Manuel Antonio National Park. Pause in the surf town of Jaco for lunch along the way. On arrival, spend an afternoon on the beach.

Overnight stay: Quepos. I recommend staying down the far end of Quepos, as close to the National Park entrance as possible. Parking down there can be a hassle, which makes it super convenient to be able to walk to the Park, restaurants and the beach from your accommodation.

Driving distance: 185-km (115-mi), 4-hrs drive time

Day 8 – Manuel Antonio

You have a full day to explore Manuel Antonio National Park and languish on the beach. Try to book an early timeslot for the National Park, before the heat of the day really turns it up a notch. Enjoy a guided wildlife spotting tour, then cool off with a swim in the beaches inside the National Park. I highly recommend water shoes, as there are quite a few rocks on the seabed. Also, be wary of strong currents.

Return to town for lunch and spend the afternoon on Espadilla Beach and Manuel Antonio Beach.

Overnight stay: Quepos

Driving distance: Local driving only

Day 9 – Nauyaca Falls

First thing in the morning, make your way to Nauyaca Falls, an absolute must-visit of Costa Rica. There are two ways private parks with access to the Falls. For this itinerary, use the closest one about 45-mins drive from Quepos. If you have time, stop in Dominical for brunch along the way.

Make sure you have your Falls ticket booked in advance and an early timeslot to avoid crowds. Also, you still have a fair drive ahead of you back to San Jose, so it’s a good idea to get an early start.

Once you have spent your time at the Falls, drive back to San Jose. Return your rental car and check into your accommodation. We had an early return flight, so we chose to stay near the airport, at a hotel with a free airport shuttle for convenience.

The rental car pick-up and return are offsite in San Jose, rather than right at the airport. Rental car providers generally offer shuttles to and from the airport.

Overnight stay: San Jose

Driving distance: 215-km (134-mi), 4.5-hours

Day 10 – Depart San Jose

Return your rental car if you didn’t already, and depart San Jose.

Costa Rica road trip map

Places we ate, drank and loved in Costa Rica

Little Lucha Taqueria, Liberia – Great dinner spot, straight off the plane in Liberia.

Café y Restaurante Semilla, Bijagua de Upala – Great little pit stop for coffee and breakfast.

Travesia, La Fortuna – Book ahead or go for an early dinner.

Arabigos Coffee House, La Fortuna – Best coffee in La Fortuna, and we tried a few.

The Open Kitchen, Santa Elena – Great for any meal and their coffee is awesome.

Kapi Kapi Restaurante, Monteverde – Best as a sunset dinner spot.

Perezoso Coffee House, Quepos – Refuel here after your hike in the National Park.

En Todas, Quepos – So good we ate here both nights we were in Quepos. Look for the old school bus!

Café Mono Congo, Dominical – Beautiful riverside local for breakfast and coffee before visiting Nauyaca Falls.

Cafeteria Botanika, San Rafael Norte – Roadside lunch stop in a combined nursery, garden store and café.

Volcanos. Check! Sloth-spotting. Check! Amazing waterfalls. Check! Tropical beaches. Check! If we missed any of your must-sees from our Costa Rica itinerary, let me know in the comments below. Also, make sure you download my printable packing list for Costa Rica to make preparing for your trip faster and easier.

Peace, love and sunshine,

Madam ZoZo