Last Updated: October 3, 2025
Costa Rica may look small on a map, but don’t be fooled, you can’t see everything in just one week. With some careful planning, however, you can still have a vacation of a lifetime that showcases what Costa Rica is all about: nature, adventure, and pura vida. Here’s a one-week itinerary that will give you just that.
Overview
This one-week Costa Rica itinerary has you flying in and out of San Jose Airport (SJO). Note: If it’s easier, you can fly into Guanacaste Airport (LIR) instead. LIR is about the same distance to your first destination.
From the airport, you’ll first head inland for a stop at the majestic Arenal Volcano. Here, you’ll enjoy amazing rainforest views and hikes along old volcanic lava flows and atop hanging bridges. After all the activity, you’ll be able to enjoy soaking in the area’s well-known hot springs.
After spending three nights in Arenal, you’ll go to the central Pacific coast for some beach time. Manuel Antonio has a gorgeous main beach, tons of wildlife at its famous national park, and many things to do. It has a convenient setup, with restaurants, hotels, and the beach just a short drive from one another.
The itinerary has you spending three nights in both La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, allowing for one night on either end of the trip near the airport.
Here’s a map showing the itinerary
Tip: If you fly in late, stay near the city of Alajuela, which is close to the airport. Buena Vista Chic Hotel, in the hills nearby, is a great option for those looking for a peaceful escape and panoramic views. For more recommendations, check out our post Best Hotels Near SJO Airport.
One-Week Costa Rica Itinerary – Volcano and Beach
Day 1: San Jose to La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano)
From the San Jose Airport, rent a car, take a shuttle van, or bus it to the town of La Fortuna. Along the way, you will traverse rolling green mountains of coffee plantations, cattle fields, and the occasional dense forest. The narrow road winds through small cities and quaint towns. Getting closer to La Fortuna, you’ll start to see the volcano in the distance.
Once you arrive, settle into your accommodations and take in the view. La Fortuna has a very walkable downtown complete with a charming central park. Explore the streets and shops before you grab dinner at one of the many restaurants.
Tip: La Fortuna/Arenal is more spread out so it can be nice to have a rental car unless you’re staying right in the downtown. Check out our discount through Adobe Rent a Car as you’re shopping around. Our readers get 10% off, a free second driver, and other extras like a free cooler, car seats, and a surf rack.
Day 2: Volcano Hike
Although you can see Arenal Volcano from all around town, it’s fun to get a closer look and walk the old lava flows.
Several different reserves in the area offer volcano hikes. Arenal Volcano National Park is a good all-around option. It encompasses an impressive 29,692 acres (12,016 hectares) of land and has a viewing platform for an up close volcano view.
If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, there’s Mirador El Silencio Trail. This reserve has trails through the thick jungle and a rugged lava flow trail that gets you eye to eye with the volcano.
Both reserves have parking available for your rental car or a taxi can drop you off.
It takes a few hours to hike the national park or Mirador El Silencio. For the rest of your day, you could drive around Lake Arenal, check out the gorgeous Fortuna Waterfall, or do a short coffee/chocolate tour to learn about some of Costa Rica’s most important crops.
Day 3: Hanging Bridges and Relaxing Hot Springs
Hanging Bridges
You might be a little sore after your volcano hike yesterday, but you’ll want to power through to see Mistico Hanging Bridges.
Mistico has 16 bridges of varying lengths from 26-322 feet (8-98 meters). The trail and bridges will take you high up in the rainforest canopy, giving a spectacular view and the chance to spot birds and wildlife less visible from the ground. Make sure to charge up your camera battery for this one.
For more information, including trail conditions, read our post Mistico Hanging Bridges: A Treetop Rainforest Experience.
Not sure about hanging bridges? Don’t fret, La Fortuna has so many choices for things to do. Zip-lining is one of the most popular adventure activities. Waterfall rappelling and whitewater rafting are also really fun. For wildlife tours, the safari float near town will show you things like monkeys and crocodiles, while sloth tours will get you a close view of these curious creatures. Our post 19 Unique Things to Do in La Fortuna has more ideas.
Hot Springs
After you’re done, it will be time to reward your body with Arenal’s famous thermal hot springs. Several are available depending on your budget.
Tabacon Resort has a beautiful facility, which you can explore for US $100 a day.
Ecotermales is a smaller, less expensive facility ($48). It’s one of our favorites.
Baldi is a large, affordable resort ($40) that’s great if you’re traveling with kids.
For the budget-minded, don’t fret. The springs are naturally occurring so there are some free options as well. Just ask a local to point you in the right direction.
For more information and hotel recommendations, read our posts La Fortuna: What to Expect from Costa Rica’s Most Popular Destination and La Fortuna Hotel Guide: Where to Stay Near Arenal Volcano.
Day 4: La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio
Get up early and grab some gallo pinto (the Costa Rican breakfast of champions) because you’ve got a long journey to the Pacific coast ahead. Don’t worry, though, it’s well worth the 5-hour drive.
Looking for a fun stop on the way to Manuel Antonio? The Tarcoles River Bridge is famous for the huge crocodiles that live below. See them for free from the bridge or do a short crocodile tour for a closer look.
If you leave La Fortuna mid-morning, you’ll arrive in Manuel Antonio in the mid-afternoon. Travel days like this are the reason it’s tough to see the whole country in a limited amount of time. Don’t try to accomplish too much in one day. Pair your travel day with a relaxing dinner or a beach chair, that way you’ll be charged up to enjoy your next day.
Day 5: Manuel Antonio National Park
For your first full day in Manuel Antonio, head to its famous national park.
Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s most visited park and for good reason. Here, you can easily see monkeys, sloths, birds, butterflies, and much more wildlife. As an added benefit, there are beautiful beaches for swimming. Be sure to get there early, though. Not only will you have a better chance to see wildlife, but you will beat the crowds.
After the park, grab lunch at one of the restaurants along the beach, and spend the rest of your day splashing in the waves on Playa Espadilla.
Tip: If you’re looking for a more off-the-beaten path hike near Manuel Antonio, check out Rainmaker Park, about 30 minutes away. Rainmaker has a 2-mile hike through pristine rainforest, along hanging bridges, and to waterfalls. Learn about more lesser-known activities like this with our post on Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to Do Near Manuel Antonio.
Day 6: Catamaran Cruise and Sunset Dinner
Catamaran/Sailing Cruise Down the Coast
The views of Manuel Antonio’s gorgeous rainforest-filled coastline from a boat are hard to beat!
Several tours companies offer half-day experiences that take you from the marina in nearby Quepos along the coast to the marine portion of Manuel Antonio National Park. They serve drinks and a meal, and stop in a calm bay for some time to snorkel.
One of our favorite tour options is Sunset Sails, a family-run catamaran. For a bigger boat that offers more of a party experience, there’s the Ocean King. And for a more intimate sailing experience, try Brisa Elegante.
Not interested in a catamaran cruise? You could take a mangrove tour to see monkeys, visit a local spice farm, tour a wildlife sanctuary, or even visit a bee farm. Our Top Things to Do in Manuel Antonio post has more options.
Dinner
For dinner, head to one of the many restaurants in Manuel Antonio with a sunset view. One of our favorites is Ronnie’s Place. This outdoor restaurant is located on a narrow peninsula between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Be sure to make a reservation to get a good table for sunset (around 5:30 p.m. year-round).
For more restaurant recommendations in Manuel Antonio, check out our Manuel Antonio Restaurant Guide.
Day 7: Back to Reality
Hopefully your trip was a success and you can reminisce about the wonderful sights, generous people, and beautiful nature you experienced while you travel back to San Jose. A one-week vacation surely isn’t enough, so when you book your next trip, make sure you read our post Costa Rica: Your Two-Week Itinerary.
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Have a question about this Costa Rica itinerary? Ask us below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Itineraries – Not sure if this is the right itinerary for you? Our Itineraries page has options for limiting drive time, going off-the-beaten path, and lots more.
Costa Rica Itinerary with Osa Peninsula – This itinerary will show you how to fit the remote Osa Peninsula into your trip. The Osa is one of the best places in Costa Rica for wildlife.
Costa Rica with Kids: A 10-Day Itinerary – This family itinerary builds in time for adventure and beach time at some of the best swimming beaches.
Costa Rica Rainy Season Itinerary: Coast to Coast – If you’re traveling during the rainy season, this itinerary will take you to spots with better weather.
Destinations Guide – Check out all the towns/cities we cover on this website (more than 50) on our Destinations page. Includes short summaries and an interactive map to jump-start your planning.
