Ten days is a good amount of time to visit Costa Rica because it will allow you to see a few different areas of the country. This 10-day itinerary starts with one inland destination then visits two different beach towns on the Pacific coast, each with their own feel. Along the way, you’ll see lush jungle, lots of exotic wildlife, beautiful palm-tree-lined beaches, waterfalls, and more. So, let’s jump in!
Itinerary Overview
For this itinerary, you can fly into either SJO Airport near San Jose or Liberia Airport (LIR) in the Guanacaste region. For departure, SJO Airport is best.
Upon arrival, you’ll head to La Fortuna, home to the famous Arenal Volcano. This popular destination is about 2.5 hours from either airport.
After a few days exploring jungle trails, walking on canopy bridges, and soaking in hot springs, you’ll move on to the Pacific coast.
The second stop of your itinerary is the wildlife-rich Manuel Antonio. This is a bit of a long drive at about 4.5 hours, but we’ll break it up with a fun stop or two.
Manuel Antonio is one of the best places in the country for easy wildlife viewing. You can see monkeys, sloths, and parrots right in town.
After a few days in Manuel Antonio, you’ll go an hour south to the lesser-known Dominical-Uvita area. Here, the verdant green mountains meet the sea. In this area, you’ll enjoy uncrowded beaches, waterfalls, and abundant nature before departing from SJO.
First Stop: La Fortuna (4 nights)
Getting There
After arriving at one of Costa Rica’s international airports (SJO or LIR), you’ll make the journey to La Fortuna, also known as Arenal because of the mighty Arenal Volcano.
The drive is about 2.5 hours along paved but curvy roads. We don’t recommend driving long distances after dark (6:00 p.m. year-round) so try to plan your arrival for 2:00 p.m. or earlier. This will allow you time to get through customs and baggage claim and then pick up a rental car.
Rental car prices are confusing in Costa Rica because of a mandatory insurance that is often hidden until arrival. For the best experience, go with a trusted company that has transparent pricing. Our readers get a 10% discount with Adobe Rent a Car, one of the best.
If driving is not your thing, don’t worry, shuttle transfers with professional drivers are available. We book these for clients on a regular basis. A private van from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna starts at around $200, and Liberia Airport to La Fortuna is around $250. These local drivers will make some pit stops for you along the way too.
La Fortuna Highlights
With four nights, you’ll have three solid days of activities in La Fortuna. Here, you can find many of the quintessential Costa Rica things to do.
We like to recommend starting off with a guided hike around the volcano. These tours give you some natural history and background of the area. It will make you really appreciate the giant cone-shaped volcano that is the focal point of town.
From there, you can branch out to other activities. For adrenaline seekers, there are zipline tours, waterfall rappelling, and whitewater rafting. For nature enthusiasts, sloth walks are popular as well as night hikes and more mellow safari floats.
One thing not to miss is a dip in one of the hot springs. The water is naturally heated by the underground volcanic activity and feels so nice after a busy day of hiking or adventuring.
Some hotels in La Fortuna have their own hot springs onsite, which is nice. But if not, don’t worry, you can visit some on your own with a day pass.
For more about the Arenal area, including hotel and restaurant recommendations, see our post, La Fortuna: What to Expect.
Second Stop: Manuel Antonio (3 nights)
Getting There
The drive from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is about 4.5 hours. To break up your time in the car, we recommend a strategic stop along the way. This could be something as simple as lunch at a scenic restaurant or a short tour.
A few ideas area a local coffee tour in San Ramon, a chocolate tour in San Mateo, or a boat ride to see crocodiles and birds along the Tarcoles River. These experiences all have safe parking so your luggage will be secure.
For those shuttling, a private ride from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is around $350. Add a little extra for waiting time if you’d like them to stop at one of the above tours.
Manuel Antonio Highlights
The big highlight in Manuel Antonio is the abundant wildlife. You can see three species of monkeys, two types of sloths, and tons of other jungle dwellers.
For the best wildlife viewing, most people visit Manuel Antonio National Park. Since it is so popular, this is a busy place. In general, arriving early helps, but during peak times (late December to April), heavy foot traffic is inevitable. A private tour guide can avoid some of the most congested trails, plus you’ll learn a ton about the surrounding ecosystem.
Besides wildlife, Manuel Antonio has a long list of other fun activities for just about everyone. There are catamaran/sailing cruises, ziplines, rappelling adventure combos, horseback riding, rafting, sport fishing, and kayaking through a nearby mangrove.
One of the most unique activities in the area is a spice farm tour. You can learn how vanilla, cinnamon, black pepper, and other spices are grown. This includes a delicious tasting at the end!
Manuel Antonio is also nice for just relaxing. Many of the hotels have beautiful ocean or jungle views, and wildlife often tromps right through the properties. For a list of hotel options for all budgets, see our Manuel Antonio Hotel Guide.
For more about the town, including restaurants and other activities, see our post, Manuel Antonio Trip Planning.
Last Stop: Dominical or Uvita (3 nights)
Getting There
Your final destination is only about one hour south of Manuel Antonio. There are two towns to choose from, Dominical or Uvita (15 minutes farther).
Dominical is a laid-back surf town with quiet accommodations (mostly Airbnbs) in the hills and a cluster of restaurants and shops near the beach and river mouth.
Uvita is a bit more built up with a lot of restaurants and businesses on both sides of a small highway. Uvita’s main highlight is the fin-shaped sandbar known as the Whale Tail.
For either option, the drive from Manuel Antonio is easy along the paved coastal highway. For those taking shuttles, a private van from Manuel Antonio to Dominical or Manuel Antonio to Uvita is around $115.
Tip: If you’re using shuttles, keep in mind that the Uvita-Dominical area is spread out so best with a rental car. You could always rent one locally in Uvita and return it before you leave for the airport.
Dominical and Uvita Highlights
This area, known as the Costa Ballena (Whale Coast), is a special spot. With jungle-covered mountains full of wildlife, miles of beaches, and some epic waterfalls, you will surely stay busy.
Whichever town you choose, they are close to one another and the activities can overlap.
The stunning Nauyaca Waterfalls is one of the top attractions in the area. It’s a gorgeous two-tiered waterfall in the mountains near Dominical. The Uvita Waterfall is another easier to access cascade that’s fun for swimming and jumping in.
Surfing is very popular too, especially in Dominical and Dominicalito, but can be done from Uvita. There are also boat tours to see dolphins and whales (whales are seasonal) and snorkel and dive tours to an offshore island.
Playa Uvita at Marino Ballena National Park (National Whale Marine Park) is probably the area’s most special beach. Here, you will find a giant rocky sandbar in the shape of a whale’s tail. At low tide, you can walk out to the tip of the tail and get a great view of the gorgeous coastline.
With all these activities, you will definitely need to refuel. Luckily, restaurants in this area are top notch. You’ll find some in our Uvita Restaurant Guide and others in our Dominical Locals’ Guide.
We love this area so much that we spent about five years living there. We still visit often.
Getting Back to the Airport
With lots of adventures and experiences behind you, you’ll already be planning the next trip. But for now, you’ll need to get back to the airport.
The drive from Dominical or Uvita to SJO Airport is around 3.5-4 hours. This works well if you have an afternoon departure. If not, you may want to consider staying overnight on your last day. Our post, Best Hotels Near SJO, has some recommendations.
For shuttles, a private shuttle from Dominical to SJO Airport and Uvita to SJO Airport is around $300-320.
Conclusion
We hope this 10-day Costa Rica itinerary has inspired you to book those tickets and make your trip happen. We know that a lot of the stress comes from this initial planning stage but with this framework, you’re sure to be off to a good start.
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Have a question about this 10-day itinerary for Costa Rica? Leave us a comment below.
Looking for more information to help plan your trip? Check out these posts:
First-Time Visit to Costa Rica: Why You Should Go, What to Expect & Tips to Plan – This post may answer your next question, when should I visit?
Driving in Costa Rica: What to Know Before You Go – While it can seem scary to drive in a foreign country, this post will teach you what to expect so there are no surprises.
Tour Bookings: We book tours all around Costa Rica, including in La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, and Uvita/Dominical. Save our Tours page for later on in your planning.
Safety Tips for Your Next Trip to Costa Rica – If you are nervous about safety while traveling in Costa Rica, this post should help. We lay out the most common crimes and make suggestions to help avoid them.