One week Costa Rica itinerary - 7 Days in Costa Rica

Wondering where to head for a week-long vacation that presents countless opportunities for hiking adventures and time on beautiful beaches? You might want to put Costa Rica to the top of your travel wish list. This Central American treasure — one of the most biodiverse countries on earth — is easily (and quickly) accessed from several US cities. To maximize your experience, read on to discover the best Costa Rica itinerary for 7 days, along with tips on how to plan your trip.

Our recommended 7-day Costa Rica itinerary

Our Costa Rica itinerary for 7 days kicks off in Costa Rica’s capital, San José. Here you can acquaint yourself with Costa Rican history, culture and cuisine before exploring the natural wonders of Arenal Volcano National Park on day two.

Next, the magic — and adventure — of Monteverde awaits. You’ll cross Lake Arenal before embarking on adventure experiences in the cloud forest. From hanging bridge tours to ziplining experiences, this segment of the itinerary is nothing but exhilarating.

The final few days of this itinerary will see you uncover the joys of Manuel Antonio National Park. Located on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, the beaches here are out-of-this-world spectacular, many of which are accessed via nature trails through the park.

To make the most of your time in Manuel Antonio we suggest combining blissing out on said beaches — maybe also treating yourself to time in a spa — with wildlife-watching tours, kayaking and hiking. 

Want more detail? Read on before browsing our customizable Costa Rica itineraries for more inspo.

Day 1: San Jose

Why visit: culture and cuisine in the capital

Surprisingly green — and less crowded and chaotic than many other cities around these parts — San José is easily explored on foot, with several pleasantly landscaped parks and paved-over plazas in the center of town. 

So, after checking into your San José hotel, waste no time in heading out to stroll the likes of Parque Central. This haven of lush palms has an iconic Art Deco kiosk at its heart.

Chances are, you’ll want some food after your flight, so we suggest having lunch at a local restaurant like Soda Tapia, which has been feeding San José folks for around a century.

Located near Parque Metropolitano La Sabana, it’s a great spot to try a casado (a typical dish of rice, beans, plantains and your choice of meat) or gallo pinto.

Come the afternoon, you could visit the Museo de Oro Precolombino (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum) to discover the history of indigenous Costa Rican society from the Neolithic era.

Or how about touring the stunning Teatro Nacional, or visiting the Museo del Jade? Alternatively, head to the Artisan Market (Mercado Nacional de Artesanías) ­— it’s located near Plaza de la Democracia — to buy unique hand-crafted gifts.

Come the evening, you could opt to dine in one of San José’s finest restaurants, such as Grano de Oro. Sited in a restored Victorian mansion in the Hotel Grano de Oro, this elegant eatery blends traditional Costa Rican flavors with modern European flair.

Editor’s tip: not fixed on a 7-day trip? Read our recommended itineraries for 14-day trips to Costa Rica, rewarding 10-day itineraries, and the best ways to spend five days in Costa Rica. 

Day 2: La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

Why visit: hiking and hot springs

It’s hard to decide where to start with what to do in and around La Fortuna — gateway to the natural wonders of Arenal Volcano National Park — but we’ve given it our best shot.

First up, rise early to start your journey from San José to La Fortuna — the fastest way is to take a 30-minute domestic flight. On arrival, spend the rest of your morning hiking some of the park’s best trails. 

Come the afternoon, head to La Fortuna waterfall — one of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica, no less. 

Happily, trips and tours to La Fortuna can be combined with a visit to some of the best hot springs in the area — the perfect way to round off your day in scenic, relaxing style. 

Like the sound of this? Read up on the best Arenal volcano tours.

Alternatively, our expert-curated, customizable Tropical Costa Rica trip and our Beaches and Volcanoes trip both include Arenal volcano, and booking them means you’ll forego the hassle of planning.

Day 3: La Fortuna to Monteverde

Why visit: a scenic lake crossing followed by rainforest adventures 

Come the next morning, we suggest getting from La Fortuna to Monteverde by boat — an experience that’s sure to be a highlight of your 7-day Costa Rica itinerary. 

Not only it is incredibly scenic, but it’s also the fastest route, and affordable with it. 

It takes around 20-30 minutes to reach the dock from most accommodation in the La Fortuna area, with the 30-minute boat ride serving spectacular views of Arenal volcano.

Then follows a road 1-5-hour journey to Monteverde, with undulating roads traversing majestic mountain scenery. En route, you could stop off at a cocoa plantation to sample local chocolate.

On arrival, spend the afternoon relaxing in your accommodation near Monteverde cloud forest before going on a guided night-time nature walk to see the forest’s nocturnal wildlife.

Day 4: Monteverde

Why visit: hanging bridges, zip-lining, and soaring above the forest canopy

Day four of this Costa Rica itinerary for 7 days is devoted to outdoor adventures in Monteverde. 

Spend the morning visiting Selvatura Park Hanging Bridges on an experience that’s as packed with epic views at it is with wildlife-watching possibilities. 

With eight suspension bridges spanning the treetops, this provides an immersive experience in the cloud forest canopy.

Another similar option is to head to the Monteverde Sky Walk, which combines trails and suspension bridges.

Come the afternoon, the adventure ramps up with opportunities to zipline. 

For example, boasting 13 cables and 15 platforms, the Selvatura Park Zip-line Tour offers one of the most extensive zip-line experiences tours in Costa Rica, which is really saying something. 

You’ll get to fly through the cloud forest at exhilarating speeds, crossing deep ravines and valleys as you zoom by.

Alternatively, Sky Adventures’ Sky Trek experience includes riding an open-air tram to the top of the mountain. From here, you’ll descend via a series of thrilling zip lines.

Day 5: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

Why visit: beach downtime and national park adventures

The next stage of this 7-day itinerary in Costa Rica will see you transfer to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast.

Small but perfectly formed, Manuel Antonio National Park is among Costa Rica’s top attractions. 

Known for its pristine beaches, lush rainforest, and abundant wildlife, it’s certainly one of the most beautiful of Costa Rica's national parks.

Leave Monteverde early, and you’ll arrive by lunchtime (it takes 3-4 hours), which will give you time to chill out on some of Manuel Antonio's best beaches in the afternoon. 

Alternatively, book a beach-hopping tour in the company of a local guide who'll point out wildlife as you walk the park's trails, before you'll head to some of those beautiful beaches.

Editor’s tip: to take the hassle out of planning, you could visit Manuel Antonio National Park as part of our customisable Costa Rica Eco Adventure trip.

Day 6: Manuel Antonio

Why visit: hiking, beaches, and a kayaking trip

Day 6 of this 7-day Costa Rica trip will have you hiking trails in the morning followed by taking to the water in the afternoon.

It’s to fair to say going on a guided nature hike is one of the best Manuel Antonio National Park tours — expect to see masses of monkeys and colorful tropical birds, plus sloths and reptiles. 

Another way to immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the area is to book a boat tour to Damas Island to explore the mangroves. 

In the afternoon, you’ll the hit the Pacific on a kayaking and snorkeling tour. After paddling your way along the scenic coastline, you’ll plunge into the ocean to meet marine life and see extraordinary reefs.

Day 7: Manuel Antonio

Why visit: soak in the sun, spa pampering and sunset-cruising

After all that adventure, we figured the best way to spend your last day in Costa Rica is to reward yourself with soaking up the sun on a Manuel Antonio beach, possibly throwing in a spa-pampering experience.

Then, to say goodbye to Costa Rica in awe-inspiring style, take a sunset catamaran cruise. Get lucky, and you’ll get to see dolphins at play at the sun slips down while you sip sun-downers on the deck. 

What a way to round-off your 7-day vacation in Costa Rica.

Just starting to plan your trip? Find out how many days are best to spend in Costa Rica depending on your goals.

Planning your Costa Rica trip

When it comes to planning your trip to Costa Rica, you’ll need to decide what you most want to see and do, and then plan your itinerary around that, considering how you’ll get from A to B, or else going down the hassle-free route of booking a tailor-made trip.

The next main factor is deciding when to go, bearing in mind the weather in relation to the activities you have planned, along with considering whether you’re happy with peak season crowds and prices. 

A word of warning, as revealed in our Costa Rica travel tips, you’ll want to book well ahead if you’re thinking of visiting in December.

More detail on all these important planning factors are covered below, with on-the-road insights from our Content Manager shared in his personal guide to planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Editor’s tip: feeling overwhelmed by the thought of planning? Browse our customizable Costa Rica itineraries, and contact our local Costa Rica experts.

Best time to visit Costa Rica

If you’re wondering when’s the best time to visit Costa Rica, that all depends on what you most want to do, and your budget.

As a general rule, the best time to visit is during the dry season that runs from mid-December to April. This period offers optimal conditions for enjoying outdoor adventures, and blissful beach vacations. 

Note that the December peak season sees crowds flock to popular attractions, and a rise in prices.

We’ll also let you in on a little secret from our local expert, Roberto — Costa Rica experiences a mini-dry season in July or early August. Known as the veranillo (little summer), this offers a great window to enjoy Costa Rica's awe-inspiring outdoors while avoiding peak-season crowds (and prices).

How to get to Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two international airports. Juan Santamaría (SJO), just outside San José, receives the majority of flights, with daily direct flights departing from several US cities.

For example, you could reach San José on direct flights from Miami (around 2hr 45min), Orlando (around 3hr), Houston (around 3hr 40min), Dallas (around 4hr), Denver (around 5hr 15min), New York (around 5hr 30min) and Los Angeles (around 6hr).

Also note that Daniel Oduber Quiros (LIR), near Liberia, now handles increasing routes from the US and Canada. This is a great option of you’re planning to vacation in Guanacaste.

How to travel around Costa Rica

As revealed in our guide to getting around Costa Rica, if you’re not traveling as part of an organized tour, getting around Costa Rica by bus is the most commonly used option, and by far the cheapest way to travel.

Note that while much of the country is covered by bus routes, San José is the hub for virtually all services, which means it’s sometimes impossible to travel from one place to another without backtracking to the capital.

If you’re short on time and are keen to travel faster, you could opt to take one of the shuttle bus services that connect most of Costa Rica’s main tourist destinations. While these tend to cost around five times more than public buses, they’re quick and more comfortable.

Alternatively, when it comes to flexibility and convenience, renting a car might be your best bet, especially if you plan to venture off the beaten track. 

A word of warning, though, while Rica's main roads are generally in good condition, you should be prepared for less maintained roads in rural areas, and a 4x4 is recommended if you're heading to the mountains or remote beaches.

Do you need a visa?

Good news ­— US nationals don’t need a visa to Costa Rica. 

However, you will need a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica within 180 days, either to return to the US, or another country.

Note that your US passport must be valid for a minimum of one day from the day you enter Costa Rica, and you can only stay for 180 days. To stay longer, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit.

Safety in Costa Rica

While Costa Rica is considered a safe destination for tourists, here are a few common sense safety guidelines.

First up, it goes without saying that it’s best to be alert to pickpockets in the likes of markets, bus stations, and tourist attractions. Related, use the safe in your accommodation to store passports, money, and other valuables. 

As a general point, while tap water is generally safe to drink in most urban areas, it’s advisable to drink bottled or filtered water in rural areas.

Chances are, your Costa Rica vacation is likely to involve plenty of outdoor exploration, so be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to protect against mosquito bites and chiggers when hiking. 

It’s also important to be cautious of local wildlife — Costa Rica has a fair few venomous snakes — and always follow your guide’s instructions.

When booking adventure tours to do the likes of zip-lining, white-water rafting and diving, check operators are certified.

Want more inspiration? Browse our customizable 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