10-day itinerary
Whether you’re booking your trip independently or through a travel advisor, here are helpful ideas of what you may like to see if you want to discover more about Costa Rican culture.
day 1
arrive in San José
Touch down at Juan Santamaría Airport. After your flight, make your way to your hotel, eat some great food and relax.
arrival at juan santamaria airport
hotel check-in and relaxation
day 2
explore the capital
San José is the capital and the biggest city in Costa Rica. Enjoy the atmosphere of Avenida Central. Check out the historic post office building. Take a photo in the Catedral Metropolitano. Visit the National and Melico Salazar Theaters. And stroll through the Central Market to grab a traditional meal. You could also grab food and have a picnic in La Sabana Metropolitan Park. Explore the interesting museums and art galleries to get a fuller picture of local life and history.
explore avenida central
catedral metropolitano
exploring the national theater
melico salazar theater
san josé central market
la sabana metropolitan park
museums and art galleries
day 3
la paz waterfall
Discover this paradise in Vara Blanca, Heredia. You’ll find five waterfalls in La Paz Waterfall Garden: El Templo, Magia Blanca, Encantada, Escondida and La Paz. On your excursion, you may see monkeys, sloths, snakes, frogs, wild cats, hummingbirds and butterflies.
Nearby, you can stop by Poás Volcano, which boasts one of the largest craters in Central America. Make your reservation in advance. When you arrive, you’ll watch a safety video and then take a short scenic walk to the crater.
la paz waterfall gardens
poás volcano
day 4
volcán irazú national park
Breathe in the fresh air at Costa Rica’s highest volcano. At 3,432 meters above sea level, the vistas are incredible. On a clear day, you can even see both coasts. Irazú has five craters, and the largest and most visited crater contains a stunning iridescent green lake.
volcán irazú national park
day 5
quick stop in limón
On your way to Puerto Viejo, visit Limón to sample delicious Afro-Caribbean cuisine. Walk to Parque Vargas on the east end of the city to take in stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and enjoy the town’s unique architecture. Then continue on to Puerto Viejo.
sample afro-caribbean cuisine in limón
visit parque vargas in limón
day 6
puerto viejo
Puerto Viejo (“old port”) is a colorful city with one of the most popular beaches on the Caribbean side, Salsa Brava, where many people go to surf. You can also visit the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
surfing at salsa brava beach or puerto viejo beach
gandoca manzanillo wildlife refuge
day 7
day trip to bribri indigenous reserve
Talamanca is full of nature and mysticism. Ancient indigenous cultures, such as Cabécar and Bribri, intersect here. The Association of Bribri Indigenous Tourist Guides of Talamanca (AGITUBRIT) offers local-guided tours of their attractions, such as cacao farms, medicinal plants, waterfalls and beautiful hikes.
visit a cacao farm
medicinal plants tour
waterfall hike
days 8-9
tortuguero national park
Visitors can only reach Tortuguero by plane or by boat. Book a two-day expedition through the canals to take in the impressive biodiversity. Incredible species you may see here include green sea turtles, green frogs, caymans, darters and jacanas. Take a hike through the jungle, paddle your own kayak or ride on a motorized boat through the waters. In town, sit down for a delicious local meal.
canal expedition
jungle hike
kayaking adventure
local meal
day 10
departure from juan santamaría international airport
Head back to San José to catch your departing flight and start planning your next trip to Costa Rica.
departure
