Costa Rica trip planner
Plan Costa Rica one region at a time.
Day-by-day routes, the regions worth your nights, and places to stay along the way. Every listing is checked against its own website.
Where to go
Costa Rica, region by region
Most first trips cover three or four of these. Pick by season and by how far you're willing to drive: two nights per stop is the minimum that feels like a holiday.
All regions- 01
Guanacaste
Dry-season beaches, the Liberia airport and volcano hikes at Rincón de la Vieja. - 02
Nicoya Peninsula
Surf towns, the Montezuma waterfalls and turtle nesting at Ostional. - 03
Arenal and La Fortuna
Volcano views, hot springs and an easy first stop from San José. - 04
Monteverde
Cloud forest walks, birding and cool nights up in the hills. - 05
Central Pacific
Manuel Antonio: monkeys and swimming beaches in one morning. - 06
Osa and the South Pacific
Corcovado, Drake Bay and whale season off Uvita. Remote and worth it. - 07
Caribbean Coast
Tortuguero canals, Cahuita and the slower pace of Puerto Viejo. - 08
Sarapiquí
River lodges, lowland rainforest and serious birding. - 09
Central Valley
Hotel Casa de Lis is a small, home-style hotel in the middle of Turrialba, a few minutes' walk from the bus…
Parks and reserves
The national parks worth planning around
Several sell tickets online only, and some need a certified guide. How park tickets and guides work
Arenal Volcano National Park
Best for A half-day walk from La Fortuna or El Castillo
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
Best for A morning hike from Montezuma, Cabuya or Santa Teresa
Corcovado National Park
Best for Serious wildlife watchers; tapirs, scarlet macaws, all four monkey species
Curú Wildlife Refuge
Best for A first wildlife stop after the ferry, or a half day from Montezuma or Tambor
Manuel Antonio National Park
Best for Easy wildlife watching and swimming beaches in one morning
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve
Best for Nature lovers and birders spending a night or two in Monteverde
Ostional Mixed Wildlife Refuge
Best for Travelers staying around Nosara who can shift plans by a few days
Tortuguero National Park
Best for Canal wildlife trips and turtle nesting tours
Where to stay
Choose the town first, then the hotel
- Arenal
- Stay in or near La Fortuna, or in El Castillo for lake views
- Monteverde
- Stay in Santa Elena town, or at a lodge with its own forest
- Central Pacific
- Manuel Antonio, between Quepos and the park
- Osa Peninsula
- Drake Bay on the north side, Puerto Jiménez and Cabo Matapalo on the south
- Caribbean
- Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Cahuita, or a lodge in Tortuguero
Barceló Tambor
Best for Families and groups who want an all-inclusive beach stay
Blue Osa Yoga Retreat and Spa
Best for Yoga travelers, retreat groups and teacher-training students
Clarita's Beach Bar & Resort
Best for Couples, families and event groups who want a full-service beach hotelCloud Forest Lodge
Best for Birders, couples and families who want a forest setting close to town
Before you go
The planning checklist
- Arenal and La Fortuna trip planner: volcano, hot springs and the lakeArenal is Costa Rica's volcano country, and La Fortuna is the town that serves it.
- San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR)? Choosing your Costa Rica airportFly into Liberia (LIR) if your trip is mostly Guanacaste and the northern Nicoya beaches; it's about 1¼ hours from Tamarindo.
- Costa Rica weather: when to go, month by month and region by regionFor most of Costa Rica, the best time to go is the dry season, December to April, when Guanacaste and the Pacific coast see almost no rain.
- Getting around Costa Rica: cars, shuttles, buses, flights and ferriesMost visitors get around Costa Rica by rental car or shared shuttle, and both work well for the main route.
Plan around an interest
Wildlife, surf and diving
How we check
- Official sources only. Each place is checked against its own website, park authorities and transport operators.
- Rechecked every year. Every page shows the date we last looked.
- Nobody pays to be here. Places can't buy a listing or a better spot.