Costa Rica Travel Itinerary: 2-3 Weeks Itinerary
A road trip through Costa Rica is all about spotting wildlife in the country’s incredible national parks. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can encounter four different monkey species in a single trip. And what about toucans and sloths? You’ll see plenty of those too. We spent just over two weeks traveling around Costa Rica and mapped out a route that lets you experience a wide variety of landscapes — from Caribbean beaches to cloud forests and remote jungle. Ideally, you’ll want to allow 2 to 3 weeks for this Costa Rica travel itinerary.
Tip: The first day in every new destination is essentially a travel day. Distances may look short on Google Maps, but driving often takes longer than expected. Plan extra time and make a few scenic stops along the way — although keep in mind that proper roadside viewpoints are limited.
Arrival in Costa Rica: San José (1 Night)
Accommodation: Costa Rica Guesthouse
Activity: Free walking tour
Your journey begins in San José, where you’ll pick up your rental car and drive to your accommodation. We didn’t explore the city ourselves, but we did find an interesting free walking tour that might be worth joining.
If you’re flying in from Europe or North America, spending your first night in San José is a smart move. After a long-haul flight, a good night’s rest helps you start your road trip fresh and ready for adventure.
Puerto Viejo & Cahuita (3 Days)
Accommodation: CariPro Apartments
Activities: Cahuita National Park, Manzanillo, cacao tour, Playa Negro
From San José, it’s a few hours’ drive to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. You can easily spend 2 to 3 days here — or longer if you enjoy relaxing beach time. Playa Negro, just outside town, is a beautiful spot to unwind for a few hours. Make sure to dedicate a full day to Cahuita National Park. The trail is over 8 km (5 miles) long, and you’ll frequently stop to spot wildlife along the way.
La Fortuna (3 Days)
Accommodation: Casa Cristal
Activities: Volcano hikes, Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna is famous for the Arenal Volcano, which was still active as recently as 1969. While you can’t climb the volcano itself, there are plenty of scenic hikes around it. We followed a route that offers a small chance of spotting wildlife, though the main highlight is the volcano view. We skipped the Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall, but one thing we highly recommend is a night tour — it’s an incredible way to see nocturnal wildlife.
Monteverde (2 Days)
Accommodation: Cattleya Family
Activities: Monteverde Cloud Forest or Santa Elena Cloud Forest
Monteverde feels completely different from the rest of Costa Rica — mainly because of the temperature drop. After weeks of tropical heat, 20°C (68°F) felt wonderfully refreshing.
This cloud forest region is often misty, which adds to its magical atmosphere. You can hike in either Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve or Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. We chose Santa Elena because it’s said to be less crowded, and in September it was indeed very quiet. If you’d like to visit both reserves, plan an extra day.
Tip: Stop by the Colibrí Café to see hummingbirds up close.
Manuel Antonio (2 Days)
Accommodation: Apartment Quepos Cozy Studio
Activity: Manuel Antonio National Park
Important: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays — keep this in mind when planning your itinerary.
Manuel Antonio is one of the busiest parks in Costa Rica, and you’ll notice that immediately upon arrival. However, visiting in September made it much more manageable. We booked the first available time slot (advance reservations are mandatory) and were among the first visitors inside. Once we passed the larger guided groups, it felt surprisingly peaceful.
This park is excellent for spotting monkeys independently, and the beaches inside the park are stunning.
Corcovado (2 Days)
Accommodation: El Manantial de Corcovado
Activity: Full-day guided jungle tour
Driving to Corcovado truly feels like heading into the wilderness. Our accommodation was so remote that there wasn’t even mobile reception.
We joined a full-day guided tour and saw more wildlife in one day than during the rest of our Costa Rica trip combined. Within hours, we spotted monkeys, toucans, a sloth, and scarlet macaws. Our guide shared fascinating insights about the animals and ecosystem.
We highly recommend arranging your tour directly through your accommodation. A quick WhatsApp message beforehand is usually enough to organize everything.
Tip: Rent a 4×4 vehicle for your Costa Rica road trip. It makes driving on rough roads much easier.
Uvita (2 Days)
Accommodation: Arboura Eco Cabins
Activities: Marino Ballena National Park, Playa Hermosa
After all the jungle adventures, we wanted to slow down and relax at the beach. Marino Ballena National Park is nearby and known for its famous whale tail sandbar — though you’ll only see the full shape from above (for example, with a drone).
However, based on recent reviews, we chose to spend our beach time at Playa Hermosa instead. It’s free to visit and felt like a safer option at the time of our trip.
Return to San José (1 Night)
After an incredible travel itinerary through Costa Rica, it’s time to return to San José for one final night before flying home — or continuing your journey elsewhere in Central or South America.
This itinerary can also be easily combined with a city trip to Panama City.