Costa Rica Itinerary: The Best Road Trip Routes & Highlights

How Much Time Should You Plan for Your Costa Rica Road Trip

When traveling to Costa Rica, it’s a real shame to stay in just one place. That’s why it’s great that you’re thinking about a road trip — and it’s something you should definitely do.

We’ve found that three weeks is perfect for a vacation in Costa Rica. In that time, you can truly soak up the nature and local life at a relaxed pace.

But what if you only have two weeks? That works too! Two weeks should be your minimum, though. In 14 days, you can hit the most important highlights and try the best dishes.

Road Trip in Costa Rica by Car or Bus?

We recommend doing your costa rica road trip with a rental car. With a car, you’re way more flexible and, above all, much faster and more comfortable on the road.

We always compare rental car deals before booking — it’s the easiest way to find the best price for your trip.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
Our tip: Before your trip, download the Costa Rica map on Google Maps or Maps.me so you can use navigation offline.

Also read our tips for trip planning with Google Maps

Of course, you can also do your Costa Rica road trip by bus. The bus system in the country is relatively well developed, you have less responsibility, and it’s cheaper.

The downside, however, is that most journeys take longer and you won’t be able to reach all the more remote spots.

We’ll tell you how to travel through Costa Rica without a car at the end of this article.

Always Start Your Costa Rica Road Trip in San José

No matter which mode of transportation you choose, you’ll always start your road trip in San José. The international Juan Santamaría Airport is located about 12 miles north of Costa Rica’s capital city.

Your best bet is to also pick up your rental car directly at the airport, saving you the bus ride into the city and the hassle of finding the rental car station in San José.

At the end of your trip, you simply drop the car off at the airport station again. It’s really stress-free!

We’ll now walk you through our detailed itinerary for three weeks. After that, we’ll show you which places you can skip if you only have 14 days in Costa Rica.

Our Costa Rica Route for a 3-Week Road Trip with Time for Swimming in the Ocean

Here’s an overview of our route for your 3-week costa rica itinerary:

• Days 1-2: San José
• Days 3-4: Corcovado National Park (alternatively Uvita)
• Days 5-6: Manuel Antonio National Park
• Days 7-8: Santa Teresa
• Days 9-10: Monteverde
• Days 11-12: Arenal Volcano National Park
• Day 13: Rio Celeste
• Days 14-16: Tortuguero National Park
• Days 17-19: Puerto Viejo with Cahuita National Park
• Days 20-21: Poás Volcano National Park, Alajuela, and departure

Route on a Map

So you can see exactly where the road trip takes you and where each place in Costa Rica is located, we’ve marked everything on a map.

Days 1-2: San José

2 nights, one full day
Our hotel recommendation: Hotel Casa 96
On day one, you’ll start by landing at Juan Santamaría Airport. After going through customs, you’ll pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel in San José. You’ll be staying here for two nights.

After the long flight, take it easy at first. We love going out to eat and resting up. Don’t plan too much for this day.

Our tip: Try to stay awake until at least 8 PM. The time difference in Costa Rica is 7–8 hours behind Central European time.
On day 2, your Costa Rica trip can really get going. You’ll kick things off with a sightseeing tour of San José. You can even explore the most important spots on foot.

Our top sights in San José:

• Mercado Central: A weekly market with fresh fruit, meat, and crafts — plus food stalls serving up delicious eats.
• National Museum: A fascinating museum covering Costa Rica’s history and culture.
• National Theater: One of the most beautiful buildings in the city.
• City of Colour Murals: You’ll find some amazing street art here. Located right behind the National Museum.

Honestly, San José doesn’t have a ton of must-see sights. We explored the city in about three hours on a guided tour.

That was more than enough. The tour also takes you to the Central Market to try some Costa Rican specialties.

Sightseeing and food tasting tour

Days 3-4: Corcovado National Park

2 nights, one full day
Our hotel recommendation: Danta Corcovado Lodge
On day 3, the road trip kicks off. You’ll drive all the way down to the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, to Corcovado National Park. Your destination is Puerto Jiménez.

Take the drive at a relaxed pace, because at around 250 miles, this is the longest stretch you’ll drive in one go on your trip. Plan on at least six hours without breaks.

The small town of Puerto Jiménez is the perfect base for your tour through Corcovado. It’s the largest national park in Costa Rica, with a dense rainforest.

On day 4, you’ll do the guided tour through the national park. You can’t enter without a guide — but you can easily book the tour online in advance.

Full-day tour of Corcovado National Park with lunch

In our separate article, we explain everything you need to know about getting there, the alternative base of Drake Bay near Corcovado (a bit more adventurous), and more.

Alternative: Day Trip from Uvita

If you don’t feel like making the long drive to Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay, you can also drive just as far as the beach town of Uvita. That takes about four hours.

From there, you can also do a day trip into Corcovado National Park.

Our hotel recommendation: Tamandua Homes

Day trip to Corcovado National Park from Uvita

Days 5-6: Manuel Antonio National Park

2 nights, one full day
Our hotel recommendation: Hotel Plaza Yara
On day 5, you’ll drive from Corcovado (or Uvita) to Manuel Antonio, which takes about 3.5 hours (one hour from Uvita). You’ll also be staying there overnight.

On day 6, head out early in the morning to Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s the smallest, but also the most popular, national park in Costa Rica.

With a guide, you’ll get the most out of your visit and can spot countless birds, insects, and sloths. And you’ll get incredibly close to monkeys here.

After your tour, you can stay in the park for the afternoon, hike to viewpoints, and chill out on one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, swim in the ocean, snorkel, and relax.

Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park

Days 7-8: Santa Teresa

2 nights, one full day

Our hotel recommendation: Casa Cecilia Beach Front
On day 7, you’ll continue heading north to Santa Teresa. The drive from Manuel Antonio takes about six hours.

This small coastal town is a popular hotspot for surfers. And that’s exactly what you should take advantage of in the afternoon — grab a surfboard and give it a try.

Surf lesson in Santa Teresa

On day 8, you can take a day trip to Montezuma. The drive only takes 30 minutes.

There you’ll find the Montezuma Falls — three waterfalls stacked on top of each other that you can actually jump into. And the best part: it’s completely free!

In the afternoon, stroll through the small village before heading back to Santa Teresa for one more night.

Days 9-10: Monteverde

2 nights, one full day

Our hotel recommendation: Camino Verde B&B Monteverde
On day 9, you’ll wake up in Santa Teresa one more time. We recommend starting the day with a yoga class and some surfing — Santa Teresa has plenty of options for both.

Then you’ll drive to Monteverde, more specifically to the town of Santa Elena. The Monteverde region has three cloud forest reserves — and it’s seriously mystical there, really cool!

Relax a bit in the afternoon, stroll through Santa Elena, and make sure to grab a coffee. We had the best coffee of our entire trip in Santa Elena.

On day 10, you’ll explore the rainforest. Our recommendation: hike through the Santa Elena Reserve in the morning — it’s the more affordable and less touristy alternative to the well-known Monteverde Reserve.

Because in the afternoon, you’ll get to experience that same forest from above on a zipline tour over the treetops. We got more of an adrenaline rush here than anywhere else in Costa Rica.

Zipline tour in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Days 11-12: La Fortuna

3 nights, two full days (with a day trip)

Our hotel recommendation: Hotel Roca Negra Del Arenal

On the morning of day 11, you’ll drive from Monteverde to Arenal Volcano National Park.

You’ll drive past Lake Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica, and suddenly Arenal Volcano rises up before you — the park’s crown jewel. Absolutely one of a kind!

Most hotels are in La Fortuna, the town right next to the national park. The drive takes just over 2.5 hours.

You can spend the rest of that day and all of day 12 however you like. There’s really a lot to do around the national park.

Our highlights around Arenal Volcano National Park:

• Hike through the national park: The trails are very well marked. Plan on about three hours.
• Hot springs: You’ll find them mainly at the many spas & resorts in the area — super relaxing after a day packed with adventure.
• Mistico Hanging Bridges Park: Experience the rainforest from above and walk across the bridges. A great spot for great travel photos.
• Coffee and chocolate tour: Both are incredibly good in Costa Rica and the tours are really interesting. Combo tours are available too.

Our tip: You can discover the hike, hot springs, and hanging bridges all in one combo tour — it saves time! Just book the coffee and chocolate tour separately. Best done in the afternoon on day 11.

Combo tour: Volcano + Hanging Bridges + Hot Springs

2.5-hour coffee and chocolate tour

Day 13: Day Trip to Rio Celeste

Day 13 is for a day trip to Rio Celeste. Translated, it means sky-blue river — and that’s exactly what it is. Rio Celeste is a beautiful turquoise-blue river that ends in a waterfall.

It’s located north of La Fortuna and takes just over an hour by car. Rio Celeste sits within Tenorio Volcano National Park.

It’s open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM, with last entry at 2 PM. Admission costs $12. We recommend going early to beat the crowds.

Afterward, you’ll head back to La Fortuna and spend the night there.

If you’re doing your road trip without a car, you can also book a guided day tour.

Day tour from La Fortuna to Rio Celeste

Days 14-16: Tortuguero

2 nights, one full day

Our hotel recommendation: Budda Home
Day 14 is here. Wow — in two weeks of your Costa Rica road trip you’ve already experienced so much. And trust us, it stays just as good! Next up is Tortuguero National Park.

If you’re traveling between July and October, you have the chance to watch giant sea turtles laying their eggs. For us, this was one of the most beautiful experiences on the entire trip — a total highlight.

But Tortuguero is one of the most stunning places to visit in Costa Rica any time of year. The national park is truly unique, with its many waterways and canals.

But back to getting there. Your first destination with your rental car on this day is La Pavona. From La Fortuna to La Pavona takes about three hours.

There you’ll need to leave your car in a parking lot. It costs $20 per night and is monitored.

After that, you’ll continue by boat to the town of Tortuguero, which sits right in the middle of the national park. The last boat departs at 4 PM.

Day 15 and the morning of day 16 you’ll be in Tortuguero, where you can explore the national park thoroughly. By the afternoon of day 16 at the latest, you’ll need to take the boat back to La Pavona.

From there, you’ll drive all the way to the south of Costa Rica: to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. Plan for about four hours of driving. You’ll also be spending the night there.

Our highlights in Tortuguero National Park:

• Turtle watching: You can only do this on an evening tour. We recommend booking a tour for your first evening. If you don’t see any turtles, you can try again the next day.
• Boat tour on the canals: A tour lets you experience the national park from the water. Make sure to do it early in the morning!
• Hike through the national park: A relaxed walk through the rainforest and along the beach.
• Hike to the summit of Cerro Tortuguero: The panorama over the national park is breathtaking.

Day tour in Tortuguero National Park with turtles, boat tour & hike

Days 17-19: Puerto Viejo and Cahuita

3 nights, two full days

Our hotel recommendation: Cabinas Montesol
On day 17, you’ll wake up on the Caribbean coast. A day full of palm trees, sand, ocean, and coconuts. Bliss! In the small coastal town of Puerto Viejo, you can unwind for two days (almost) at the end of your road trip.

Just grab a bicycle, ride along the coast, and discover the many beautiful beaches. Our favorite is Playa Punta Uva.

Or kick back in a hammock with a coconut. And make sure to go to the Tiki Bar Puerto Pirata in the evening. They serve the best Piña Coladas, with a view of the most beautiful sunset.

You should dedicate one morning to Cahuita National Park. It’s one of the oldest and smallest national parks in Costa Rica, but for us one of the most interesting. It’s only 20 minutes away by car.

Our tip: Cahuita National Park is home to the largest intact coral reef in the country. You can do a really cool snorkeling trip out there — just combine it with a hike while you’re at it.

Combo tour with hiking and snorkeling in Cahuita

On day 19, you’ll head back north, more specifically to Alajuela. That’s where you’ll spend your last two nights in Costa Rica. Plan for about 4.5 hours of driving.

Days 20-21: Alajuela, Poás Volcano & Departure

2 nights, one full day

Our hotel recommendation: Alice y Juancito Boutique Hotel
On day 20, you’ll drive over to Poás Volcano National Park in the morning. The drive takes about one hour.

Don’t let the touristy and rather ugly entrance throw you off. Because you’re about to experience something you can barely find anywhere else in the world.

Poás has one of the largest and most active craters in the world. And the best part: it’s one of the few craters you can still get truly up close to.
In good weather, the crater is seriously impressive. In bad weather, you won’t see a thing! We’re keeping our fingers crossed for you.

Since Poás only takes about an hour, you could also head over to the La Paz Waterfall afterward — it’s only about half an hour away by car.

In the evening, you’ll spend one more night in Alajuela.

Last Day in Costa Rica

Your last day has arrived. Enjoy your breakfast in Alajuela and get everything ready for your return flight. If you have time, take a stroll around the area.

In Alajuela, you can watch the everyday life of the locals or sample exotic fruits at the weekly market.

The great thing about Alajuela: the city center is only about 2 miles from the airport. By car, it takes about 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.

We still recommend leaving plenty of time for the drive — you’ll also need to return your rental car.

Alternatives for Your Three-Week Road Trip Through Costa Rica

We know that some of the drives are pretty long — if you want to travel at a more relaxed pace, skip one or two destinations.

And if you really want to see turtles: between July and October, you can spot them in Tortuguero. If you’re traveling at a different time, the turtles are on the Pacific coast.

Your best chances are from December to March, when they can be found on the beaches of Samara and Tamarindo. You have two options:

#Option 1: Instead of going to Santa Teresa, head to Samara or Tamarindo.

#Option 2: Cut Tortuguero from your itinerary and extend your time on the Pacific after Santa Teresa, heading to Samara or Tamarindo (or both). After Monteverde and Arenal Volcano, drive directly to Puerto Viejo.

Our Costa Rica Route for a 2-Week Road Trip

Only 2 weeks for your Costa Rica road trip? No problem. We’ve also put together an ideal travel itinerary for 14 days.

• Day 1: San José
• Days 2-4: Corcovado National Park (or Uvita)
• Day 5: Manuel Antonio National Park
• Day 6: Monteverde
• Days 7-8: Arenal Volcano National Park
• Days 9-11: Tortuguero National Park
• Day 12: Puerto Viejo
• 13-14: San José

2-Week Road Trip Through Costa Rica on a Map

For a better overview, we’ve also marked all the stops on your 14-day Costa Rica route on a map.

What Changes on the 2-Week Costa Rica Road Trip:

• You’ll only be in San José on the day you arrive and the morning of the second day.
• You’ll skip Santa Teresa and go straight from Manuel Antonio National Park to Monteverde. You’ll also spend less time there.
• You’ll skip Rio Celeste. Or you’ll spend less time at Arenal Volcano.
• You’ll only spend one day in Puerto Viejo.
• You’ll skip Alajuela and Poás Volcano. That’s a shame, but the Poás visit is very weather-dependent anyway.
• Instead, you’ll head back to San José and can do one more tour. This way you’ll have seen the most important things in the capital.

Of course, there are many other route alternatives. You can also skip Tortuguero and head to the northern Pacific coast — Santa Teresa, Samara, and Tamarindo. Especially if you want to see turtles during the dry season.

Leaving something out will naturally make your trip less hectic. If we had to choose, Tortuguero would be the first thing we’d cut due to the long journey there, as long as it’s outside turtle season.

Otherwise, Manuel Antonio or Monteverde.

The two drives all the way south to Corcovado or Puerto Viejo also take up a lot of time. But those are places we truly wouldn’t want to miss — they’re definitely among our top picks on the entire trip.

Costa Rica Road Trip by Bus

If you don’t want to rent a car, you can do both routes by bus as well.

The bus system in Costa Rica is pretty well developed, and when you add up the bus tickets, they’re cheaper than a rental car. In our Costa Rica travel guide, we share a bit more about our experiences with the buses.

What does personally annoy us a bit: San José is the hub for almost all bus routes. That means you’ll pretty much always have to go back to San José to get to the next destination.

Only a few routes have alternatives. So for both itineraries, you’ll need to budget more time if you’re getting around Costa Rica without a car.

We’ve compiled the most important bus routes with prices in Costa Rica in one overview.

Most tickets can be purchased directly on-site at the bus terminal.

Our tip: On almost all routes in our itineraries, shuttle buses are also available. They’re more expensive than regular buses, but they’re faster and you avoid the detour through San José. You can easily book them through the booking platform 12Go.

Shuttle buses on 12Go

What Is the Best Time of Year for a Road Trip in Costa Rica?

The best time to visit Costa Rica is from December to April. That’s the dry season — it barely rains and the sun shines almost every day. That said, we think you can plan your Costa Rica road trip year-round.

We were in Costa Rica in June and July, right in the middle of the rainy season, and the weather was genuinely great most of the time. Plus, during the rainy season the national parks are especially lush and green, prices are lower, and the turtles are in Tortuguero.

In a separate article, we’ve written up everything about the climate, dry and rainy seasons, and the best time for turtles, hiking, swimming, and more in Costa Rica:

How Safe Is an Independent Road Trip?

Costa Rica is generally considered a safe travel destination. That said, crime does exist here, and there are some places where you should be particularly careful and aware of your surroundings.

Things you should always keep in mind to avoid dangerous situations in Costa Rica as much as possible:

• Avoid being alone on the street after dark in San José and especially in tourist areas.
• Also avoid walking alone on isolated paths during the day whenever possible. Unfortunately, sexual assaults have occurred from time to time in the past.
• If you’re traveling solo, try to always join up with a group.

When traveling by car:

• Never leave valuables in your rental car. Even in monitored parking lots.
• The biggest danger when driving actually comes from road conditions. They can sometimes be rough: no guardrails, gravel roads, bumpy and winding. Drive defensively and err on the side of going too slow rather than too fast.

When traveling by bus:

• Try to avoid traveling in the dark, especially if you’re a woman traveling alone.
• Also be careful when getting into a taxi after a bus ride. Don’t get distracted and keep an eye on your belongings.
• Keep your valuables in a money belt that you wear under your clothes at all times.
• Always keep a close eye on your bags at bus stations. If you had to store your bag in the luggage compartment underneath or on the roof, keep an eye on it at every stop.

Our tip: Try to bring your backpack inside the bus with you. Sometimes there are free seats where you can set it down. If you’re only traveling with carry-on luggage, it’ll often fit between your legs. It’s a bit less comfortable, but it makes for a much more relaxed bus ride.

Of course, these are all worst-case scenarios and are not meant to discourage you from traveling to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is truly a great destination for solo female travelers, and thankfully the sexual assaults are rare exceptions. Still, it’s important to stay cautious. We never felt unsafe as women.

Before your trip, make sure to check the current travel and safety advisories for Costa Rica. These can change at any time.

Read more about safety in Costa Rica

In our Costa Rica travel tips article, we share even more advice for your vacation. Find out everything about entry requirements, costs, vaccinations, typical food, and much more.