Costa Rica itineraries: 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks

Match the trip to the days you actually have, not the days you wish you had. Costa Rica's roads are slow and mountain roads wind, so a route with four stops in a week means most of it is spent in a shuttle. The parent country guidance is the same: three bases, not six.

Use the table to pick a shape, then read the step-by-step below for the nights and the transfers.

Seven days is the classic first trip and the one most people ask about. Land at San José (SJO), sleep one night near the airport or in the city, then shuttle or drive to La Fortuna the next morning — about 4 hours. Three nights gives you the volcano, one hot-springs evening and the waterfall. Then transfer to Manuel Antonio, again about 4 hours, for three nights of beach and the park. Return to San José the night before your flight, or fly out of Quepos if the schedule works.

Ten days adds Monteverde between La Fortuna and the coast. The La Fortuna to Monteverde leg is the slow one: the direct road around Lake Arenal takes about 3–4 hours, and the jeep-boat-jeep crossing across the lake is quicker and more scenic. Two nights in Monteverde covers a cloud-forest reserve and a night walk. Then continue to Manuel Antonio, about 4 hours.

Two weeks lets you swap Manuel Antonio for Guanacaste, or do both. Guanacaste beaches (Tamarindo, Sámara, Nosara) are drier and better for surf, and Liberia (LIR) is the gateway — flying into SJO and out of LIR saves the drive back. Four or five nights on the coast is the point of the trip; don't cut it to fit another stop.

Three weeks is where the Caribbean or the Osa Peninsula fits. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita are a different country: Afro-Caribbean food, reggae, cheaper rooms, and the best window is September–October and February–April. Tortuguero, reached by boat, is a two-night add for canals and turtles (July–October for nesting). The Osa and Corcovado need three or four nights and a domestic flight or a long drive, so treat it as its own trip.

Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America, and tours are the big line item. Mid-range travellers spend roughly US$150–250 a day; backpackers US$55–80 using dorms, sodas and public buses. A casado at a soda is ₡3,500–5,500 and an Imperial beer ₡1,500–2,500.

Transport is the other variable. Shuttles run US$55–80 per leg and are the easy option if you don't want to drive. A rental car with mandatory insurance adds US$45–110 a day, and deposits of US$1,000–5,000 can be blocked on a credit card if you decline the rental company's cover. Public buses are cheapest but slow and rarely line up with a tight itinerary.

Park tickets and guided walks add up: Manuel Antonio entry is about US$18 plus tax for foreigners (check), and a guided walk US$35–65. Arenal hot springs day passes run US$40–100. Book the popular parks and hot springs ahead in the December–April high season.

The single biggest mistake is too many stops. Every transfer costs half a day once you count packing, the drive and check-in, so a 7-day trip with five bases is mostly a bus tour. Three bases in a week, four in two weeks, is the right rhythm.

Season matters more than route. December–April is the dry season and the busiest; May–November is greener, cheaper and wetter, with afternoon rain on the Pacific side. The Caribbean coast runs on its own clock — driest in September–October. Check the best-time page before you lock dates.

Entry rules, currency and tipping are covered on their own pages; sort the visa question and your card limits before you book the rental car. This is general planning information, not a booking service — confirm times, prices and park rules with the operator or the official park service before you travel.