Itinerary 1: Costa Rica Express - Animals & Beaches
This itinerary gives you ten days to cover the best of Costa Rica's beaches and animal encounters. You’ll start at Arenal Volcano, enjoying its waterfalls and hot springs. Then, cross Lake Arenal to Monteverde's cloud forest for some thrilling ziplining and wildlife spotting. Wrap up your trip on the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio.
Itinerary overview
Kicking off in dramatic style, this 10-day Costa Rica itinerary begins near Arenal Volcano — an area that’s celebrated for its waterfalls and hot springs.
After crossing Arenal lake, the magic of Monteverde’s cloud forest awaits — along with stacks of wildlife and ziplining adventures — before you head to Manuel Antonio’s beautiful beaches for the last leg. Read on for more inspirational detail.
On the first day of your trip, your driver will meet you at the airport and take you to La Fortuna — gateway to the wonders of Arenal Volcano National Park.
On day two, you’ll have the chance to explore the national park and soak in its rejuvenating hot springs, with day three heralding immersion in the natural wonders of La Fortuna — one of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica, no less.
You’ll also have time to dig deeper into Arenal Volcano National Park, exploring volcanic terrain on incredible trails, and watching out for wildlife.
On day four, you’ll board a boat to cross Lake Arenal — the first stage of your journey to Monteverde, with day five devoted to a day of adventure in Monteverde, including a forest canopy tour.
More forest magic is in store on day six when you’ll experience the nocturnal wonders of the Monteverde Reserve on a night-time nature tour, before transferring to Manuel Antonio on day seven.
Days eight and nine are dedicated to exploring Manuel Antonio National Park, when a naturalist guide unveils the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coastline.
You’ll also get to enjoy a sunset catamaran excursion before returning to San Jose to depart on day ten.
Want insider intel on planning a trip to Costa Rica? Based on his own trips to Costa Rica, our Content Manager has written a personal guide to exactly that.