30 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Created using Klarna Trips Costa Rica trip planner
Start: San Jose
Drive
1
Cartago
— 1 night
Bus to San José, Shuttle to Tortuguero
2
Tortuguero
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
— 3 nights
Drive
4
Manuel Antonio
— 3 nights
Drive
5
La Fortuna de San Carlos
— 7 nights
Drive
6
Monteverde
— 4 nights
Drive
7
Tamarindo
— 4 nights
Drive
8
Nosara
— 3 nights
Shuttle
9
Santa Teresa
— 2 nights
Drive
End: San Jose
Sat, Mar 25 - Sun, Apr 23
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View full calendar
Cartago — 1 night
©
Kick off your visit on the 25th (Sat): admire the natural beauty at Jardin Botanico Lankester and then pause for some serene contemplation at Santuario Nacional Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles.
To see other places to visit, photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Cartago online trip itinerary builder.
San Jose to Cartago is an approximately 1-hour car ride. You can also take a bus; or take a train. In March, daily temperatures in Cartago can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 21°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 26th (Sun) to allow time for travel to Tortuguero.
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To see other places to visit, photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Cartago online trip itinerary builder.
San Jose to Cartago is an approximately 1-hour car ride. You can also take a bus; or take a train. In March, daily temperatures in Cartago can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 21°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 26th (Sun) to allow time for travel to Tortuguero.
Find places to stay Mar 24 — 26:
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Tortuguero — 2 nights
©
Costa Rica's Amazon
Start off your visit on the 27th (Mon): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Tortuguero National Park. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: head outdoors with Outdoor Activities and then examine the collection at Sea Turtle Conservancy.
For where to stay, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read Tortuguero trip itinerary maker website.
You can do a combination of bus and shuttle from Cartago to Tortuguero in 3 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. In March, daytime highs in Tortuguero are 34°C, while nighttime lows are 24°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
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For where to stay, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read Tortuguero trip itinerary maker website.
You can do a combination of bus and shuttle from Cartago to Tortuguero in 3 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. In March, daytime highs in Tortuguero are 34°C, while nighttime lows are 24°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Find places to stay Mar 26 — 28:
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Puerto Viejo de Talamanca — 3 nights
©
Walaba
Start off your visit on the 29th (Wed): enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Puerto Viejo. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 30th (Thu): explore the striking landscape of Cahuita National Park.
For traveler tips and tourist information, read Puerto Viejo de Talamanca trip planner.
Getting from Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 31st (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Manuel Antonio.
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For traveler tips and tourist information, read Puerto Viejo de Talamanca trip planner.
Getting from Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 31st (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Manuel Antonio.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Mar 28 — 31:
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Manuel Antonio — 3 nights
©
Escape the urban bustle at MidWorld Costa Rica and Playa Biesanz. The adventure continues: look for all kinds of wild species at Mulguri Adventure.
To see photos, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Manuel Antonio day trip planner.
Getting from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Manuel Antonio by car takes about 7 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Mon) so you can go by car to La Fortuna de San Carlos.
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To see photos, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Manuel Antonio day trip planner.
Getting from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Manuel Antonio by car takes about 7 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Mon) so you can go by car to La Fortuna de San Carlos.
Find places to stay Mar 31 — Apr 3:
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La Fortuna de San Carlos — 7 nights
©
Step out of the city life by going to River Rafting & Tubing and Ecotermales Fortuna. There's still lots to do: indulge in some personalized pampering at Tabacon Hot Springs, identify plant and animal life at Natura Eco Park Costa Rica, Head underground at Venado Caves, and cool off at Termales Los Laureles.
To see ratings, other places to visit, maps, and more tourist information, go to the La Fortuna de San Carlos online trip planner.
Getting from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna de San Carlos by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Monteverde.
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To see ratings, other places to visit, maps, and more tourist information, go to the La Fortuna de San Carlos online trip planner.
Getting from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna de San Carlos by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Monteverde.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Apr 3 — 10:
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Monteverde — 4 nights
©
Visit Ecological Sanctuary and Santa Elena Skywalk for their historical value. Get outdoors at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and Curi Cancha Reserve. There's much more to do: kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, trot along with a tour on horseback, learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at The Bat Jungle, and admire the natural beauty at Monteverde Orchid Garden.
To see more things to do, other places to visit, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Monteverde day trip planning website.
Traveling by car from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Monteverde takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) so you can drive to Tamarindo.
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To see more things to do, other places to visit, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Monteverde day trip planning website.
Traveling by car from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Monteverde takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) so you can drive to Tamarindo.
Find places to stay Apr 10 — 14:
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Tamarindo — 4 nights
©
Get in touch with nature at Tamarindo Beach and Scuba & Snorkeling. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Playa Conchal and Playa Hermosa. Venture out of the city with trips to Playas del Coco (Rojas Bros Boruca Indigenous Arts & Iglesia Catolica de Playas del Coco). The adventure continues: kick back and relax at Playa Avellana, wander the wide-open spaces of Pura Aventura, and step aboard Kingpin Sportfishing.
To see maps, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, read our Tamarindo itinerary tool.
You can drive from Monteverde to Tamarindo in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or take a shuttle. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Nosara.
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To see maps, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, read our Tamarindo itinerary tool.
You can drive from Monteverde to Tamarindo in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or take a shuttle. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Nosara.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 14 — 18:
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Nosara — 3 nights
©
Relax by the water at Samara Beach and Playa Guiones. Take a break from the city and head to Barrigona Beach and International Animal Rescue Costa Rica. There's more to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary and browse the exhibits of MAEL's ABSTRACT ART GALLERY.
To find traveler tips, maps, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Nosara sightseeing planner.
Traveling by car from Tamarindo to Nosara takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) early enough to catch the shuttle to Santa Teresa.
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To find traveler tips, maps, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Nosara sightseeing planner.
Traveling by car from Tamarindo to Nosara takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) early enough to catch the shuttle to Santa Teresa.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Apr 18 — 21:
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Santa Teresa — 2 nights
©
Start off your visit on the 22nd (Sat): kick back and relax at Playa Carmen, take in the dramatic scenery at Montezuma Falls, and then look for gifts at Tica Surf Bikinis. On your second day here, enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Santa Teresa and then enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Hermosa.
To find more things to do, maps, photos, and other tourist information, use the Santa Teresa travel planning app.
Traveling by shuttle from Nosara to Santa Teresa takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Sun) to allow time to drive back home.
more
To find more things to do, maps, photos, and other tourist information, use the Santa Teresa travel planning app.
Traveling by shuttle from Nosara to Santa Teresa takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Sun) to allow time to drive back home.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Apr 21 — 23:
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Costa Rica travel guide
Tiny in terms of land area, Costa Rica is astoundingly diverse when it comes to culture and natural attractions. In a country called "Rich Coast", it's no surprise most Costa Rica vacations dedicate at least a few days to picturesque Pacific and Caribbean beaches, ideal for water sports and relaxation. Few small countries offer such a range of landscapes, allowing tourists to observe towering volcanoes while soaking away their worries in a hot spring, or hike into dense rainforests in the morning and surf at a modern resort in the afternoon. A trip to Costa Rica also lets you discover pristine national parks, ensuring plenty of chances to view wildlife from the comfort of eco-friendly lodges packed with amenities even ardent nature lovers secretly desire.
