Last Updated: October 2, 2025
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 Costa Rica 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 Guanacaste Airport (LIR) near Liberia. 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 zip-line 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 are 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, zip lining, rappelling adventure combos, horseback riding, rafting, sport fishing, and kayak or boat tours 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: Costa Rica’s Wildlife Beach Town.
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 (many vacation rentals) 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 $325.
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.
Pin it for later!
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 can help answer your next question, when should I visit?
Itineraries: View more sample Costa Rica itineraries for one- and two-week trips, traveling with kids, limiting drive time, and more.
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.
I stumbled on this site through Google. I have been struggling how to make my trip to Costa Rica. I had heard LA Fontuna and Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve were the places to go at the time of year I’m planning. It is for my 70th birthday. I was thinking to go first week in December after Thanksgiving or mid November? I hadn’t heard of your last destination. I wasn’t sure what is best rent a car or take shuttles? There will be three adults. My husband and a dear friend. I love Nature and was hoping to see Sloths, baby sea turtles as well as exotic birds. I do NOT want to stay in a resort! We were thinking of renting Airbnb or something semi private like that. The mountains sound stunning and we would like some beach time. I haven’t seen any rentals on the beach. Your itinerary sounds lovely. I thought we might have to spend the first night in SJ because of the drive. I heard we shouldn’t drive at night. From what I read you think best to spend the last night of trip there. I could make it 11 days if needed. Thank you in advance for this!
Hi Valerie, Manuel Antonio is a good choice for late November/early December. La Fortuna can be a little rainy in late November or early December. Not always, but I wouldn’t say it’s reliably dry that time of year. I would skip the last destination in this itinerary (Uvita/Dominical) because it can be rainier that time of year (it will be transitioning to dry season from rainy season). For a mountain destination, most of the country will be just coming out of rainy season so much of the mountains can still be a little rainy. However, this year, we are having a strong El Nino so it has been much drier. Monteverde Cloud Forest would be a good mountain option.
For transportation, here’s a link to our Transportation Guide with info on taking shuttles vs. renting a car.
Hello, we have loved all your articles and learned so much – thank you! We are planning a multi generational trip the first week of June. Our group includes early 50’s, a 22 year old, and my in laws, late 70’s but active. We are flying into SJO, and are thinking of following your 10 day itinerary, however with 3 nights in La Fortuna staying at Volcano Lodge, 4 nights in Manuel Antonio at Hotel Playa Espadilla and 2 nights in Uvita. I was curious what you think of this plan and hotels, and what hotel you recommend in Uvita. We keep going back and forth on whether to do the 4 nights in La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio. We had considered a vacation rental for Uvita, but have decided we rather be in a hotel. My mother in law would like to snorkel and we want to visit the whales tail so Uvita is important. Thank you! Have a lovely day!
Hi Heather, I think that sounds like a great plan for a multigenerational trip. I’d probably do 4 nights in La Fortuna since there is so much to do there. For Uvita, we have some recommendations in our Dominical and Costa Ballena posts for hotels. I know you said you’d rather stay in a hotel, but Canto del Mar is a nice gated option right off the highway. It’s a small residential community with an amazing ocean view. For snorkeling, keep in mind that conditions around the Whale Tail in June might not be that good if it is rainy. You’d be better off going offshore to Cano Island, which is available from Uvita. Hope that helps and your family has a great trip!
We are a family of 4 with 12 and 14 year old planning a 9-10 day trip in April (arriving to SJO on Easter) and were thinking about doing La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. I am trying to decide if we should skip Monteverde or not. We will have a rental car but don’t want to spend too much time in the car vs. spending our days doing actual adventures. Is Monteverde worth it (we also have a daughter who gets car sick, but usually controllable with Dramamine)? If we skipped Monteverde, perhaps we could do Rio Celeste or even day trip down to Uvita with the extra time. What do you think?
Hi Megan, I think you could totally skip Monteverde and probably have a better trip overall. It’s a lot less driving if you eliminate that stop, and as you say, then you could do Rio Celeste or a day trip to Uvita, both of which would be really nice. You can do basically all the same activities in La Fortuna that you could do in Monteverde. The main difference is the cloud forest environment. That’s all you would be missing.
Not the OP, but had the same question and would like a little more insight. I understand that we can do the “same activities” in La Fortuna as we could do in Monteverde, but what about the environment and intangibles.
Would the experience of being in Monteverde be significantly different than the experience of being in La Fortuna?
If the purpose of our visit is to experience the country and its diversity, would Monteverde add value?
(if it matters we are visiting end of April and are an active, mid-60’s couple)
Thank you
We’re planning on a 10 day trip soon. Love the idea of finishing the trip in a smaller coastal town like the Dominical or Uvita. However, we are not renting a car but taking shuttles and car services. To enjoy the Dominical/Uvita area, would it require a car? Or there enough fun things to do without one.
Hi Terry, It’s definitely easier to have a car for Dominical/Uvita but it is possible to get around without one. We would just stay near town (either Uvita or Dominical) on the beach side so that you can walk to restaurants and the beach. Taxis are available to get to activities. Another option is to rent a car for only your time in that area and return it before going to San Jose. Adobe Rent a Car has an office right in Uvita and could deliver the car to your hotel or Airbnb for free. Here’s a link to our rental car discount page for 10% off through Adobe if you decide on this option.
Hi Tim, I am adding below your follow up question sent separately for others to see. I wanted to keep the thread together so that people can see what you were replying to originally. Here is your follow up. I will respond after.
Comment from Tim:
I attempted to ask this question by replying to a previous post. I’m not sure if that failed or if it just needed to be moderated. I understand an answer may take a week or two based on other dates I saw, so please forgive me if this ends up being a duplicate.
Someone asked you the question about visiting La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio in a 10-day itinerary. I had the same question because none of your itineraries include Monteverde. Your response said (in part) “…The main difference is the cloud forest environment. That’s all you would be missing.”
How different is the cloud forest environment from the rain forest environment. If the purpose of our trip is to experience *all* the uniqueness of Costa Rica, would you still recommend skipping it and allocating those days to either La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio?
Our current plan for nights is La Fortuna (4), Monteverde (2), and Manuel Antonio (3) flying in and out of SJO. We are essentially adding 5 hours of travel to gain the experience of Monteverde. Disregarding the discomfort of travel, is the experience of Monteverde “worth” the 5 hours we “spend”?
Response by Two Weeks in Costa Rica:
Hi Tim, We were answering the question before for a family with a child who gets car sick. They were also looking to maximize their time for adventures and minimize driving. To avoid a longer drive and give them more time to spend in their destinations, we suggested that they skip Monteverde.
For you, if your goal is to experience all of Costa Rica’s diverse environments, then we would definitely say to visit Monteverde. The cloud forest is very unique. Many of the activities are the same as we said but the experience will be a little different. Plus the feel of the two towns are different as well. You may want to take a night from La Fortuna and put it on Monteverde so that you have 3 nights there. Since it takes a while to get to Monteverde, it would be nice to have 2 full days to spend.
Great post. My wife and I agree with the accolades for the Dominical/Uvita area. We’ve been to Costa Rica 5 times, 4 of them in this area. It is very relaxing with lots to do, or not do! After 4 area visits, there are still things we will do for the first time when we visit again. We took one of the crocodile boat tours on the Tarcoles last year on the drive from SJO to Dominical, and it was really enjoyable. We have seen some recent declines in quality at the butterfly house at the Uvita waterfall, and Hacienda Baru is under new management that are working to make needed improvements to basic infrastructure, but the on-site restaurant continues to be very good!
Hi Brian and Juli, Thanks for the feedback! Glad you enjoy the Dominical/Uvita area too. We were actually just back at Hacienda Baru and the trails do need some maintance but it was still fun albeit very muddy 🙂 Good to know about the butterfly encosure at the Uvita Waterfall. Hope you get back for another visit soon!