How many days do you need in Costa Rica?

Full disclosure — Costa Rica is one of our favourite destinations, which makes it tempting to tell travelers they need to spend many, many weeks here. But, the truth is, given that this beautiful, biodiverse country is easily accessed from several US cities, it also lends itself well to shorter vacations. With that in mind, read on for the answer to that all-important question — how many days you need in Costa Rica? — with suggestions for where to go and what to do in different timeframes. 

What's the minimum number of days?

The minimum number of days to travel in Costa Rica is around 7 days. With a Costa Rica itinerary for 7 days you get a good mix of beaches, rainforests and diverse wildlife. However, it is not enough to see everything.

Keep in mind that Costa Rica is about the size of Wales in the UK or West Virginia in the US, so you will have to cover considerable distances to travel from one side of the country to the other. 

If you want to see a lot, that also means a lot of time on buses, a rental car or domestic flights.

For a more relaxed trip, we recommend a 10 day Costa Rica itinerary. This way you can explore both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, volcanoes such as Arenal and areas such as Monteverde Cloud Forest. If you have more than 10 days, that would be even better. With 14 days in Costa Rica, you can visit most highlights and even think about combining it with Panama or Nicaragua.

Some people opt for 5 days in Costa Rica, which is doable if you live in the US or close. If you're traveling from Europe or the UK, 5 days is a bit too short.

Costa Rica in 5 days (or less)

As mentioned above, if you’re thinking of spending around five days in Costa Rica, it’s advisable to focus on locations that deliver what you most want from your vacation, be that wildlife-watching, adventure activities, or beautiful beaches.

If you’re into wildlife, you could visit Corcovado National Park — one of the world’s most important refuges for endangered wildlife.

Alternatively, if you’re keen to blend beach time with wildlife and nature, you could curate a trip that takes you from the lush canals of Tortuguero National Park to Manuel Antonio National Park for epic wildlife-watching experiences, and outstanding beaches.

Mention must also be made of the possibility of kicking off an action-packed 5-day vacation around Costa Rica’s Arenal area. Here treks to volcanoes and waterfalls await on all manner of thrilling tours.

While you could easily spend all five days around La Fortuna — gateway to Arenal volcano — you could also opt to head to Manuel Antonio for some beach time at the end. 

Want more ideas? Dive into our detailed 5 days in Costa Rica itinerary. 

Costa Rica in a week

While having a week in Costa Rica gives you more flex than a 4-5-day vacation, it’s still advisable to focus on one or two regions to minimize travel time and the need to get around.

One simple option is to focus on San José and the surrounding area. Alongside visiting the Museo de Oro Precolombino (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum), Museo del Jade and Artisan Market (Mercado Nacional de Artesanías), you can take rewarding day trips to see beyond the city. 

For example, Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are easily accessed from San José. In addition, there are options to venture further afield to Arenal volcano and La Fortuna waterfall (approx. three hours), with Jaco Beach, one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, just an hour or so away from town.

Another great way to spend a week in Costa is detailed in our Costa Rica itinerary for 7 days.

Kicking off in San José, it features a couple of days exploring Arenal Volcano National Park, followed by enjoying stacks of adventure in Monteverde cloud forest. By which we mean taking tours of hanging bridges and zip-lining through the forest canopy.

We then suggest rounding off your vacation with a couple of nights near Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The beaches are out-of-this-world beautiful, and the wildlife is spectacular.

Want more inspiration?  Browse our customizable Costa Rica itineraries.

Costa Rica in 8 to 10 days

If you’re looking to spend around ten days in Costa Rica, consider covering a broader range of the country, in terms of distances, landscapes and experiences.

For example, one of our favourite — and most rewarding —  10-day Costa Rica itineraries covers many of the country’s top nature, wildlife and beach locations in a splendid express trip. 

It begins near Arenal Volcano — an area that’s celebrated for its waterfalls, hot springs and hikes — and winds up at Manuel Antonio National Park.

An alternative way to blend nature and beach experiences across ten days is to plot out a vacation that takes you from Irazú Volcanoes National Park — one of the best in Costa Rica — to Drake Bay, via Corcovado National Park on the incredibly biodiverse Osa Peninsula.

If you have 8-10 days, we also recommend embarking on an unforgettable self-drive Caribbean adventure in Costa Rica. 

Offering the chance to enjoy wildlife-watching trips on the canals of Boca Pacuare, you could also tour a sea turtle conservation project before driving to Puerto Viejo on the shores of the southern Caribbean Sea.

Visit an iguana conservation project lead by the indigenous Bribri before heading to hike in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Reserve.

If that wasn’t enough, this route can also cover visiting a Jaguar Rescue Center, seeing Costa Rica’s biggest archaeological site — the Guayabo National Monument — and exploring the Marta Reserve. 

Trying to arrange a Costa Rica vacation? Read our Content Manager’s personal guide to planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica in two weeks

If you’re looking to spend two weeks in Costa Rica, you could simply expand the suggestions outlined above. That way, you can rest up in between all those hikes and adventure tours — or enjoy more of said tours — along with having time to truly embrace the country’s pura vida ethos.

On the subject of pura vida, if a two-week trip is on the cards, we have to highlight this epic eco-adventure itinerary. Put simply, given that Costa Rica has pioneered sustainable travel for decades, there are few places better to travel more responsibly in such rewarding style.

With lush jungles, tropical beaches and national parks as its jaw-dropping backdrop, this 14-day adventure begins with a stay in Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort near San José.

Also covering Puerto Jimenez, the Osa Peninsula National Refuge, Manuel Antonio National Park, and sea adventuring in Quepos, you’ll also have the chance to play a part in Costa Rica’s re-forestation programme.

Alternatively, you could enjoy an epic coast to coast vacation that’ll take you from the calm Caribbean Sea to the wild Pacific, winding up in Tamarindo to surf, sail and chill.

Want more ideas? Read our recommended itineraries for 14-day trips to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica in three weeks

Planning to visit Costa Rica for three weeks? Lucky you! Bearing in mind you could adjust how many days you spend in each location depending on your interests, here’s one way to see a huge range of the country in those three weeks.

Week 1: San José, Tortuguero, La Fortuna and Arenal

After arriving in San José, spend your first full day exploring the city before traveling to Tortuguero National Park, either by plane or a combo of bus and boat.

Devote the next couple of days to exploring Tortuguero’s canals to see turtles, caimans, and countless birds. 

Visiting Tortuguero Village is also recommended, as is hiking in the national park, and — depending on the season — going on a guided night turtle walk.

The remainder of your first week will be dedicated to La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano National Park. After hiking some of the trails, be sure to leave time to soak in hot springs before dinner.

We also suggest devoting a day to visiting La Fortuna waterfall, with options to zip-line, cave, and go white-water rafting also on hand for adventurous travellers.

Week 2: Monteverde and Guanacaste

Week two kicks off in Monteverde. With several ways to get from La Fortuna to Monteverde, take a little time to consider your options.

We suggest spending a couple of nights in the area, allowing time to explore the cloud forest, walk the hanging bridges, and take a zip-line tour. 

You could also embark on a night walk to spot nocturnal wildlife before transferring to Guanacaste on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula — your base for the next few nights.

Consider booking accommodation in Tamarindo or Playa Conchal. Among the best beaches in Guanacaste, these top surf spots are also ideally located for taking tours covering everything from snorkelling and diving, to sunset catamaran cruises.

Week 3: Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula

Nature awaits in week three — along with outstanding beaches — when you’ll spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park.

While hiking nature trails and relaxing on the beaches aren’t to be missed here, you could also go kakaying and take an ATV tour.

Finally, this suggested three-week itinerary in Costa Rica winds up on the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park. Fly to Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay and join a guided tour from one of these access points.

Given that Corcovado National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth — home to tapirs, jaguars, and hundreds of bird species — be sure to book a wildlife-watching tour with a local guide.

We also recommend taking a snorkeling or kayaking trip to Cano Island.

Want more inspiration? Browse our customisable Costa Rica itineraries or contact our local Costa Rica experts.

You might also want to get your hands on The Rough Guide to Costa Rica.