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Costa Rica is the ideal getaway for rainforest activities, beautiful beaches, and seeing all kinds of wildlife! This itinerary is best for a first-time visit to Costa Rica. Start in La Fortuna to explore the area around Arenal Volcano then head to the Pacific Coast to soak up the sunshine. Here’s the perfect way to spend 9 days in Costa Rica!
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
When To Visit
The best time to visit Costa Rica is the dry season, which generally runs from December to April. There could still be some rain during this time, especially in areas like La Fortuna, but visiting during the dry season gives you your best chance of sunny days. The rainy season can be a good time to travel to Costa Rica for cheaper rates – just make sure to pack your rain jacket!
What To Pack
Hiking shoes, water shoes, bug spray, and a rain jacket are some of the essentials that you need to bring to Costa Rica. The weather can change fast, so make sure to always carry your rain jacket with you. We also recommend packing sweat-wicking, sun-protective clothes to wear during all of your adventures.
Currency and Tipping
The colón is the currency of Costa Rica. Most places we visited accepted credit cards, but it’s always a good idea to carry some colones with you.
It’s common for restaurants in Costa Rica to charge a 10% service charge. Tipping is not expected.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica. We found that most tour guides, employees, and waiters spoke English where we traveled (La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio), but knowing a bit of Spanish is still helpful!
Outlets
Type A and Type B outlets are used in Costa Rica. These are the same types of outlets used in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
Transportation
We highly recommend renting a car for your trip to Costa Rica. While there are buses and rideshare options available, a rental car gives you greater flexibility and allows you to be in control of your schedule. A car with four-wheel drive is ideal for the below itinerary as you will encounter gravel and muddy roads.
A few tips for driving in Costa Rica:
-For longer drives, always add an additional hour to the drive time that Google Maps gives you.
-Most roads in Costa Rica are windy, hilly, and have one lane each direction. You will need to get comfortable with passing other cars.
-A lot of roads in Costa Rica have potholes and some turn into gravel roads in certain sections.
-Gas stations are full service. Stay in your car, and let the attendant know what type of gas you want. Credit cards are usually accepted at gas stations.
-Never let your fuel level get too low. Depending on where you are in Costa Rica, gas stations can be few and far between.
-There are toll roads in Costa Rica, mainly on the highways between the large cities. These tolls can usually be paid by credit card, but always make sure to carry some colones just in case.
9-DAY COSTA RICA ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN COSTA RICA & GO TO LA FORTUNA
Costa Rica has two main airports: Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose and Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia. For the below itinerary, we recommend flying into San Jose as it’s more central to the areas you’ll be visiting.
After landing and getting through customs, make your way to La Fortuna, ideally while it’s still daylight out. If you’re renting a car, we recommend taking one of the toll route options from San Jose to La Fortuna. There is a non-toll option, known as the La Paz Route, that goes through very curvy roads in the mountains – we don’t recommend it.
DAY 2: LA FORTUNA WATERFALL + HOT SPRINGS
La Fortuna Waterfall
Start off your time in La Fortuna by visiting the iconic La Fortuna Waterfall. It’s 1,000 steps round trip to get to the base of the waterfall and back, but the view is worth it! Depending on how rainy it’s been lately, you might be able to swim there.
Parking is available right by the visitor’s center. If you’re interested in going there with a guide, there are plenty of tour operators that visit La Fortuna Waterfall as part of a combo tour with other La Fortuna attractions. We visited La Fortuna Waterfall as part of a horseback riding tour with Alberto’s Horses.
Hot Springs
After walking all those steps to the waterfall, it’s now time to relax in the hot springs! There are a ton of different hot spring options in La Fortuna including Tabacon, Baldi, and Ecotermales. We purchased a day pass to Tabacon and loved it! There are over 20 natural pools for guests to explore. If you’re looking for a free option, check out El Choyin for public hot springs. Entry is free, but you’ll have to park on the side of the road and sometimes parking attendants will charge you.
DAY 3: HANGING BRIDGES + ARENAL HIKE + COFFEE & CHOCOLATE TOUR
Mistico Hanging Bridges
Mistico Hanging Bridges are a must-do in La Fortuna! The trail through Mistico Park is a little over 2 miles long and has 6 hanging bridges and 10 regular bridges. You can walk through the park on a self-guided tour or pay extra for a guided tour. If you’re interested in seeing a lot of wildlife, go for the guided tour. Tickets for both tour types can be purchased in advance on the Mistico Park website. We recommend getting there as early as you can. We went at 6:30 AM and had the park to ourselves! There were a lot of charter buses and large group tours showing up when we left around 8 AM.
Arenal Hike
If you’re up for a hike after the Hanging Bridges, head over to Arenal Volcano National Park, Arenal 1968, or Mirador el Silencio. All three spots offer great hiking trails, and depending on the weather, you might get a good view of Arenal Volcano! This is also a great way to spot wildlife. Keep an eye out for monkeys and sloths in the trees!
We went to Arenal Volcano National Park and spent about two and a half hours there. We did the Las Coladas Trail to the Old Lava Flow Lookout and did the El Ceibo Trail on the way back.
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Spend your afternoon learning how coffee and chocolate are made and trying some samples. Check out North Fields Cafe or Don Olivo for great tour options.
If you want to bring coffee and chocolate home as a souvenir, we recommend buying it from these farms instead of airport duty-free.
DAY 4: ATVING + ZIP LINING
ATVing Around La Fortuna
Start off your final day in La Fortuna by ATVing through the trails around Arenal. We went with Outback ATV Tours, and the entire trip took about two hours.
If ATVing is not your thing, there are plenty of other morning activities in La Fortuna. Go on a safari float, try bird watching, or join a guided sloth tour.
Zip Lining
Ready to go zip lining with great views of Arenal Volcano? There are a ton of zip line operators in the La Fortuna area – we highly recommend Sky Adventures. The zip line course consists of seven lines total. Five of the lines are long runs. There are also two short runs that start and end the course. A tram takes you up to the start of the course where you then have a chance to get acclimated to how the zip lining equipment works. If you’re looking to record your adventure, Sky Adventures offers helmets that have GoPros mounted on them. You have the chance to review your footage and decide whether to purchase the videos after the zip lining is complete. Our favorite line was the first long run, which is the tallest zip line in Costa Rica! Tickets can be purchased on the Sky Adventures website or Viator.
DAY 5: DRIVE TO MANUEL ANTONIO
After a fun few days in La Fortuna, it’s now time to head to the beach! Budget at least 6 hours for the drive from La Fortuna to the Manuel Antonio area. If you want a place to stop along the way, check out the Crocodile Bridge in Tarcoles.
If you’re looking to have a nice dinner once you get to Manuel Antonio, make reservations in advance for Le Papillon located at the La Mariposa Hotel. It’s the best place to watch the sunset!
DAY 6: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK + RELAX AT THE BEACH OR POOL
Manuel Antonio National Park
Of course, one of your first stops has to be Manuel Antonio National Park! This is Costa Rica’s most popular national park and is famous for its beaches and wildlife. Get there early to beat the crowds and for your best chance of spotting wildlife. We recommend heading immediately to the Punta Catedral Trail – there’s where we saw the most monkeys! If you’re interested in seeing a variety of wildlife, guided tours are available. Tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park can be bought in advance on the SINAC website. There are a limited number of entry tickets for the park each day, so make sure to reserve your tickets before you head to Costa Rica.
Relax at the beach or pool
Once you’ve had your fix of spotting wildlife, spend the rest of your day relaxing at the beach or the pools at your resort. Some people prefer to stay at the beaches within Manuel Antonio National Park, or you could venture to the public beaches outside the park.
DAY 7: NAUYACA WATERFALLS
For your next day on the Pacific Coast, head down to the Dominical area to visit Nauyaca Waterfalls. The drive there from the Manuel Antonio area takes about an hour and a half. Google Maps lists two different entrances for Nauyaca: Nauyaca Waterfalls and Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park. Both spots lead to Nauyaca – they just have varying services in how you can get there (hike, horseback riding, or truck ride). We went to Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park, but it was expensive at 38 USD per person for the truck ride there and back. If you’re willing to hike, check out the Nauyaca Waterfalls location instead.
There are lower and upper falls at Nauyaca, and you can swim in both. Make sure to pack water shoes as the rocks are slippery.
DAY 8: TORTUGA ISLAND
If you’re interested in an all-inclusive beach excursion, go on a day trip to Tortuga Island, which is about a 45-minute boat ride from Jaco. We went to Tortuga Island with CostaCat Cruises and were able to enjoy snorkeling, hiking, and riding banana boats. They also provided breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic beverages.
Tip: If you plan to do the Tortuga Island excursion, consider staying in Jaco your final night or final two nights. Jaco is closer to San Jose than Manuel Antonio.
If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, there’s plenty of other activities in the Manuel Antonio to keep you busy. Or, you can spend your final day in Costa Rica just relaxing at the beach!
DAY 9: HEAD HOME
Sadly, the trip must come to an end. Make the drive to San Jose (or Liberia, if that’s where your flight departs). Budget about two and a half to three hours for the drive from the Manuel Antonio area to San Jose. Pura Vida!
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited January 2025 | Posted March 2025
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