# Costa Rica in 2 weeks: Tortuguero to the Osa Peninsula

> Two weeks is enough to cross the country coast to coast: the canals of Tortuguero, Sarapiquí, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula. Use boats and a domestic flight for the remote ends, shuttles or a car for the middle, and book Corcovado guides and Manuel Antonio tickets early.

Source: https://www.travelincostarica.net/costa-rica-itinerary-2-weeks/
Last checked: 2026-10-20
Route: San José, Tortuguero, Sarapiquí, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Drake Bay, fly back to San José
Nights: 1 SJO, 2 Tortuguero, 1 Sarapiquí, 2 Arenal, 2 Monteverde, 2 Manuel Antonio, 3 Osa, 1 SJO
Getting to Tortuguero: road to La Pavona, then a river boat; no road into the village
Getting out of Osa: Sansa flights from Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez to San José
Book early: Corcovado visits need a certified guide; Manuel Antonio tickets are sold online only

With 2 weeks you can see the Caribbean and the Pacific, the volcano and the cloud forest, and still finish somewhere truly wild. This route starts with the canals of Tortuguero on the Caribbean side, crosses the middle of the country, and ends in the Osa Peninsula, the most remote corner of Costa Rica. A domestic flight at the end saves a long drive back to San José.

## The route at a glance

| Night | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alajuela, near SJO | Arrive |
| 2-3 | Tortuguero | Canal boat tours, turtle beaches in season |
| 4 | Sarapiquí | Rivers, birding, a farm-and-forest lodge |
| 5-6 | La Fortuna | Arenal Volcano, hot springs |
| 7-8 | Monteverde | Cloud forest, night walk |
| 9-10 | Manuel Antonio | National park, beaches |
| 11-13 | Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula | Corcovado, Caño Island |
| 14 | Alajuela or San José | Fly back from Drake Bay |

## Day 1: Arrive in San José

Stay near the airport. Tomorrow starts early.

## Days 2 and 3: Tortuguero

There are no roads into Tortuguero. You travel by road to a river dock at La Pavona, then by boat through the canals to the village. Wikivoyage describes the public route as a bus from San José to Cariari, a second bus to La Pavona and a public boat, about 6 hours in total, with the boat alone taking up to 2 hours when the river is low. Most lodges sell packages that include the transfers, which is the simplest way to do it.

In [Tortuguero National Park](/tortuguero-national-park/), the best wildlife watching is from a small boat on the canals early in the morning; a paddled canoe gets you closer than a motorboat. Look for howler, capuchin and spider monkeys, sloths and some of the area's roughly 350 bird species. Green turtles nest on the beach from about July to October, and you can only watch them on a night tour with a certified local guide. Our [Caribbean coast guide](/caribbean-coast/) covers Tortuguero and the beaches farther south.

## Day 4: Sarapiquí

Head back to La Pavona by boat and continue west to Sarapiquí, a lowland area of rivers and rainforest between the Caribbean and Arenal. It's a good place to break the journey. [La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge](/la-quinta-country-inn/) has gardens, a riverside forest and a restaurant serving traditional food, and it holds the top 5-leaf level of Costa Rica's sustainable tourism certificate.

## Days 5 and 6: Arenal

Interbus lists the Sarapiquí to La Fortuna shuttle at about 2 to 2½ hours. Spend your time between [Arenal Volcano National Park](/arenal-volcano-national-park/), the hot springs and the La Fortuna waterfall. The [Butterfly Conservatory](/butterfly-conservatory/) in El Castillo makes a calm half day. See our [Arenal and La Fortuna guide](/arenal-la-fortuna-area/).

## Days 7 and 8: Monteverde

Cross Lake Arenal by jeep-boat-jeep, about 3 to 4 hours according to Wikivoyage. Walk the [Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve](/monteverde-cloud-forest-reserve/) with a guide early in the morning, and book a night tour. Pack a warm layer; Monteverde is much cooler than the coast.

## Days 9 and 10: Manuel Antonio

The Monteverde to Manuel Antonio shuttle takes about 4 hours. [Manuel Antonio National Park](/manuel-antonio-national-park/) is closed on Tuesdays and sells tickets online only, so buy yours before the trip and plan around the closure. Our [Manuel Antonio guide](/manuel-antonio/) explains where to stay.

## Day 11: South to Drake Bay

This is the most complicated transfer of the trip, so start early. Drive or ride south to Sierpe, the river town where the boats to Drake Bay leave. Wikivoyage says boats run twice a day, but not in October. Many lodges in Drake Bay include the boat in their packages, so ask yours to arrange it.

Drake Bay itself is a small village with beach landings: wear sandals and pack light. If you're driving, Wikivoyage says the land route is 4x4 only.

## Days 12 and 13: Corcovado and Caño Island

[Corcovado National Park](/corcovado-national-park/) covers about a third of the Osa Peninsula. Since 2014, every visitor must be accompanied by a certified guide, so you'll go with a tour. Day trips by boat from Drake Bay are the usual choice. Parts of the park close during the wettest months, from July to November, so check before you book.

On the other day, take a snorkeling or diving trip to Caño Island, or simply explore the coastal trail from your lodge.

Where to stay: [Copa de Arbol](/copa-de-arbol/), near Drake Bay, is a boat-access beach resort with 3 meals a day included and many tours leaving from its own beach. On the other side of the peninsula, [Lapa Rios](/lapa-rios/) sits on a private 1,000-acre rainforest reserve near Cabo Matapalo, and [Blue Osa](/blue-osa-yoga-sanctuary-and-spa/) near Puerto Jiménez pairs yoga with the beach. If you base yourself there, you'll fly from Puerto Jiménez instead. Our [Osa Peninsula guide](/osa-peninsula/) compares the two sides.

## Day 14: Fly back to San José

Sansa flies from both Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez to San José. Small planes have tight baggage rules: free carry-on is limited to 4.5 kg, and checked allowance depends on your fare, so check before you pack. Spend the last night near the airport.

## Ways to change it

- **Prefer beaches to canals?** Replace Tortuguero and Sarapiquí with Puerto Viejo and Cahuita on the southern Caribbean. The Interbus shuttle between Puerto Viejo and La Fortuna takes about 6 hours.
- **Short on time?** Drop the Osa and finish with 2 nights near Uvita. See our [10-day itinerary](/costa-rica-itinerary-10-days/).
- **Want a dry-season guarantee?** Remember the Caribbean has its own pattern. See our [weather guide](/costa-rica-weather/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is 2 weeks enough to see both coasts?
Yes. This route spends 3 nights on the Caribbean side and 5 on the Pacific side, with the volcano and cloud forest in between.

### How do I get to Tortuguero without a car?
By public bus to Cariari and La Pavona, then a public boat. Most visitors book a lodge package that includes the transfers.

### Do I need a guide for Corcovado?
Yes. Since 2014, all Corcovado visitors must be accompanied by a certified guide.

### Can I fly back from the Osa Peninsula?
Yes. Sansa flies to San José from Drake Bay and from Puerto Jiménez. Check baggage limits, which are tighter than on international flights.

### When should I avoid this route?
October can be hard: it's one of the wettest months on the Pacific side, and Wikivoyage says the Sierpe boats to Drake Bay don't run that month.