Itineraries
There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Costa Rica, as you might have noticed when reading about the different regions and checking out the highlights map. Making choices is not that easy and might make it difficult for anyone to design the perfect itinerary. Therefor, I will describe a couple of generic itineraries. This way you will not get lost in the endless possibilities, it gives you an idea of the best order of the different destinations and with all the information on this website including the highlights map you can fine-tune these generic itineraries to your own wishes.
Itineraries and routes to explore Costa Rica
Itinerary Builder
The itineraries I have described can be followed in the opposite direction. San José Airport is the start and end of each itinerary, but Liberia Airport is visible on the maps to enable you to alter the itineraries to this airport.
If you are travelling by car these itineraries are in perfect order, but if you are travelling with public transport note that there is not always a direct connection between two consecutive points and/or that you will need more time to get to places compared to driving yourself. Check the Travelling in Costa Rica page for more information on how to get around in Costa Rica, and the Routes & Roads page for maps and descriptions for the main routes and roads in between regions and highlights.
20 Main Itinerary Points
1 San José - Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
2 Tortuguero NP
3 Cahuita - Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Manzanillo
4 Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
5 Boca Tapada
6 La Fortuna - Arenal NP
7 Río Celeste - Volcan Tenorio NP
8 Rincon de la Vieja NP
9 Liberia - Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR)
10 Playas del Coco - Playa Brasilito - Playa Flamingo - Tamarindo
11 Nosara - Samara - Ostional Wildlife Refuge
12 Santa Teresa - Cabuya - Montezuma - Refugio de Fauna Silvestre Curu
13 Paquera - Isla Tortuga
14 Monteverde - Santa Elena
15 Jaco - Río Tarcoles
16 Manuel Antonio NP - Quepos
17 Dominical - Uvita - Marino Ballena NP
18 The Osa Peninsula - Drake Bay - Corcovado NP - Puerto Jimenez
19 Cartago - Irazu NP - Orosi - Tapanti NP - Turrialba NP - Guayabo NM
20 San Gerardo de Dota - Los Quetzales NP
The Full Itinerary
This itinerary shows how you would ideally travel between all the 20 main itinerary points. Note that visiting all of them is unrealistic unless you are planning on staying over a month. However, this itinerary is designed in such a generic way that, with La Fortuna and San José Airport as an exception, you are able to eliminate any point without having to alter the route, simply just connect the arrow with the next point in line.
On your way from San José (1) to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (3) you can alternatively stay in the Cartago area (19) for one or two nights to visit Irazu NP, the Orosi valley with Tapanti NP, and the Guayabo National Monument. Some people prefer to visit Tortuguero NP (2) first after arrival in San José Airport (1) and then proceed to the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca area (3), which is no problem.
If you are skipping the main Guanacaste area (8, 9, 10), from La Fortuna (6) to Monteverde (14) is a common route for shorter itineraries.
On your way back from the Osa Peninsula (18) to San José Airport (1) you ideally break up the long drive by staying for a night at somewhere along the pacific coast (Jaco 15, Manuel Antonio 16, Dominical 17), and skipping that location on the way to the Osa Peninsula. You can also choose to go inland to San Gerardo de Dota (20) or the Cartago area (19) to overnight in the mountains on your way back to the airport.
You can drive from The Osa Peninsula (18) to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (3), or vise versa, and overnight in the area of San José (1), however it might be nicer to overnight in the Cartago area (19) and visit a couple of highlights there.
The East - West Itinerary
This itinerary is interesting for people who want to visit both the Caribbean side and the Pacific side. The reggae vibed Caribbean side and Laid-back beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula, with the iconic Arenal volcano and Monteverde cloud forest in between. You might incorporate the Osa Peninsula if you have the time, but be aware that the south Pacific receives a lot of rain during September through November.
On your way from San José (1) to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (3) you can alternatively stay in the Cartago area (19) for one or two nights to visit Irazu NP, the Orosi valley with Tapanti NP, and the Guayabo National Monument.
After arrival in San José Airport (1) some people prefer to visit Tortuguero NP (2) first and then proceed to the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca area (3), which is no problem. You might even consider making an organized tour to Tortuguero including shuttle service, hotel and trips and get your rental car afterwords. Check with your rental car company if you can arrange to pick up your rental car at La Pavona or Guapiles and check with your tour company to drop you off at the right spot. This is better than to go all the way back to San José for your rental car and drive all the way back to the Caribbean.
You can travel from La Fortuna (6) to Rio Celeste (7) to Monteverde (14), or you can stay in La Fortuna (6) and visit Rio Celeste (7) as a day trip.
Most people prefer to visit Monteverde (14) after La Fortuna (6) or Rio Celeste (7), however you can travel from La Fortuna (6) to the Nicoya Peninsula (11, 12, 13) first and on your way back via Monteverde (14) to San José Airport (1). This way you have more diversification in your itinerary, going from the inland of La Fortuna to the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula back to the inland of Monteverde.
The Pacific Itinerary
This itinerary is interesting for people who want to avoid the Caribbean side and stick to the Pacific. I have focussed the itinerary on the Nicoya Peninsula all the way down to the Osa Peninsula, but you can easily add places like Rincón de la Vieja (8) and Playas del Coco or Tamarindo (10).
You can travel from La Fortuna (6) to Rio Celeste (7) to Monteverde (14), or you can stay in La Fortuna (6) and visit Rio Celeste (7) as a day trip.
Most people prefer to visit Monteverde (14) after La Fortuna (6) or Rio Celeste (7), however you can travel from La Fortuna (6) to the Nicoya Peninsula (11, 12, 13) first and on your way back via Monteverde (14) to San José Airport (1). This way you have more diversification in your itinerary, going from the inland of La Fortuna to the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula back to the inland of Monteverde.
On your way back from the Osa Peninsula (18) to San José Airport (1) you ideally break up the long drive by staying for a night at somewhere along the pacific coast (Jaco 15, Manuel Antonio 16, Dominical 17), and skipping that location on the way to the Osa Peninsula. You can also choose to go inland to San Gerardo de Dota (20) or the Cartago area (19) to overnight in the mountains on your way back to the airport.
The Small Itinerary
This itinerary is very commonly applied by people who have a limited amount of time in Costa Rica and want to see the common highlights of La Fortuna with the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, Jaco and Manuel Antonio.
Alternatively, the triangle Tamarindo or Playas del Coco (10), La Fortuna (6), Monteverde (14) and even Jaco (15) or Manuel Antonio (16) is applied by people landing in Liberia Airport. Note that since these highlights are very popular, they might be crowded during high season.
You can travel from La Fortuna (6) to Rio Celeste (7) to Monteverde (14), or you can stay in La Fortuna (6) and visit Rio Celeste (7) as a day trip.
