Costa Rica itinerary: 10 days of volcanoes, cloud forest and beaches

Days 1–3: Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

Fly into San José and drive or take a shuttle to La Fortuna, about three hours. If you land late, sleep near the airport rather than driving mountain roads after dark.

On day two, walk the trails of Arenal Volcano National Park for views of the cone, then visit the Arenal hanging bridges, a series of walkways through the rainforest canopy; a guide will spot sloths, toucans and frogs you'd miss. On day three, climb down the steps to La Fortuna Waterfall, then spend the afternoon at one of the town's hot springs.

Days 4–5: Monteverde cloud forest

The drive around Lake Arenal to Monteverde takes 3–4 hours, or choose a shuttle-boat-shuttle transfer across the lake, which is quicker and more scenic. Stay in Santa Elena, the main village.

Book a guided night walk for your first evening to see tarantulas, frogs and sleeping birds. Next morning, walk the Monteverde or Santa Elena cloud forest reserves with a guide for the best chance of seeing a resplendent quetzal. Add a zipline or hanging bridges in the afternoon. It's cooler and often misty, so pack a rain jacket.

Days 6–8: Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast

The 4–5-hour drive to the Pacific coast is the longest of the trip; stay in Manuel Antonio or nearby Quepos. Manuel Antonio National Park has rainforest trails that lead to white-sand coves, with monkeys, sloths and iguanas along the way.

Tickets are sold only online through SINAC, the national parks agency, and entry is capped, so book ahead. The park is closed on Tuesdays. Hire a licensed naturalist guide with a telescope for the best wildlife sightings, and never feed the animals. Spend day eight on Playa Espadilla or take a mangrove boat tour at Damas Island.

Days 9–10: Back to San José, or a Guanacaste version

Drive back to San José, about three hours, and spend your last night near the airport if you have an early flight.

For more beach time, swap Manuel Antonio for Guanacaste: Tamarindo for surf lessons and restaurants, or quieter Playa Flamingo. Monteverde to Tamarindo is about 3–4 hours, and Tamarindo is about 1–1.5 hours from Liberia airport, so fly into San José and out of Liberia, or start in Liberia.

Should you rent a car or use shuttles?

A rental car gives you the most freedom for waterfalls, viewpoints and restaurants. Roads can be narrow, winding and slow, so journeys take longer than the distances suggest. A 4x4 isn't essential for this route on main roads, but ask your hotels about their access roads, especially in Monteverde.

Shared tourist shuttles connect La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio and are a good choice if you don't want to drive, though they're slower because of hotel pickups. Book shuttles ahead for Christmas, New Year and US spring break.

Alternatives: the Caribbean coast and the Osa Peninsula

For a Caribbean trip, Tortuguero has canals and rainforest best seen by boat, and is reached by road and boat or a small plane; give it two nights. Puerto Viejo has Caribbean beaches and Cahuita National Park. The Caribbean side has a different rainy season from the Pacific, so check the weather for your dates.

The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park are the wildest option, with Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez as bases. Corcovado requires a licensed guide. On a first 10-day trip, swap one of the main stops for these rather than adding extra. Check your government's travel advice before you go.

Frequently asked questions