10 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

Set against the backdrop of the imposing Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna de San Carlos offers visitors a chance to explore diverse natural landscapes and sample some delicious local produce.

La Fortuna de San Carlos is known for nature, adventure, and parks. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: witness a stunning natural landmark at Tabacon Hot Springs, relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour, get impressive views of Arenal Volcano, and skim along the rocks with a canyoning and rapelling tour.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read La Fortuna de San Carlos holiday planner.

Merida, Mexico to La Fortuna de San Carlos is an approximately 12.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus, ferry, and taxi. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Merida to La Fortuna de San Carlos. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) so you can go by car to Monteverde.

Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.

Kick off your visit on the 5th (Thu): tour the pleasant surroundings at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, stop by Women Artisans Cooperative Santa Elena and Monteverde, and then meet the residents at The Bat Jungle. On the next day, admire the natural beauty at Monteverde Butterfly Garden (Jardin de Mariposas), admire the natural beauty at Monteverde Orchid Garden, and then experience rural life at El Trapiche Tour.

To see reviews, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Monteverde trip planner.

Getting from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Monteverde by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle. Expect a daytime high around °C in December, and nighttime lows around °C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Manuel Antonio.

The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.

Kick off your visit on the 7th (Sat): kick back and relax at Playa Manuel Antonio, let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour, and then stroll around Parque Nahomi.

To find more things to do, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Manuel Antonio trip builder site.

Traveling by car from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle and bus; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Sat) early enough to drive to Vara Blanca.

A vacation in Vara Blanca, located in the heart of Costa Rica, offers excellent access to a number of attractions across the area.

Kick off your visit on the 8th (Sun): take in the awesome beauty at Bosque Caricias los Leones. On your second day here, admire the sheer force of Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz.

For more things to do, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Vara Blanca travel planner.

Getting from Manuel Antonio to Vara Blanca by car takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi. On the 9th (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.