10 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
10 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Costa Rica trip planner
Route & dates
10 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Start: Merida
+2
Fly + bus + shuttle:
12h 45min
1
La Fortuna de San Carlos
— 3 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
3h 30min
2
Monteverde
— 2 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
3h 45min
3
Manuel Antonio
— 1 night
Find places to stay »
Drive:
3h 45min
4
Vara Blanca
— 2 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive + Fly:
11h 15min
End: Merida
Edit
View full calendar
Learn more about your trip
3
nights
La Fortuna de San Carlos
3
nights

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, parks, trails, and wildlife. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the natural beauty of Tabacon Hot Springs, take in the exciting artwork at Galeria Estudio, get interesting insight from Tours, and let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour.
To see more things to do, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read La Fortuna de San Carlos trip app .
Merida, Mexico to La Fortuna de San Carlos is an approximately 13-hour combination of flight and car. Traveling from Merida to La Fortuna de San Carlos, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Monteverde.
Things to do in La Fortuna de San Carlos
Side Trip
Arenal Volcano
Find places to stay Dec 1 — 4:
Highlights from your plan

Tabacon Hot Springs
12:00pm, Mon Dec 2
River Rafting & Tubing
12:30pm, Sun Dec 1
Canyoning & Rappelling Tours
1:00pm, Tue Dec 3
2
nights
Monteverde
2
nights

Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.Start off your visit on the 5th (Thu): tour the pleasant surroundings at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, then stop by Women Artisans Cooperative Santa Elena and Monteverde, and then get to know the resident critters at The Bat Jungle. Here are some ideas for day two: admire the natural beauty at Monteverde Butterfly Garden (Jardin de Mariposas), admire the natural beauty at Monteverde Orchid Garden, and then relax in the rural setting at El Trapiche Tour.
To see more things to do, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read Monteverde trip itinerary builder app .
You can drive from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Monteverde in 3.5 hours. Another option is to take a shuttle. In December, daily temperatures in Monteverde can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 32°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Manuel Antonio.
Things to do in Monteverde
Find places to stay Dec 4 — 6:
Highlights from your plan

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
10:00am, Thu Dec 5

El Trapiche Tour
3:00pm, Fri Dec 6

Monteverde Orchid Garden
1:00pm, Fri Dec 6
1
night
Manuel Antonio
1
night

The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.On the 7th (Sat), tour the pleasant surroundings at Playa Manuel Antonio, then relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour, and then walk around Parque Nahomi.
To find traveler tips, photos, maps, and tourist information, read our Manuel Antonio driving holiday planner.
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. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Sat) so you can drive to Vara Blanca.
Things to do in Manuel Antonio
Side Trip
Quepos
Find places to stay Dec 6 — 7:
Highlights from your plan

Playa Manuel Antonio
10:00am, Sat Dec 7
River Rafting & Tubing
2:30pm, Sat Dec 7

Parque Nahomi
5:30pm, Sat Dec 7
2
nights
Vara Blanca
2
nights

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): get great views at Mirador Huequecura and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Bosque Caricias los Leones. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 9th (Mon): take in the dramatic scenery at Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz.
For traveler tips and tourist information, read Vara Blanca trip maker tool .
You can drive from Manuel Antonio to Vara Blanca in 4 hours. Another option is to do a combination of bus and taxi. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 9th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.
Things to do in Vara Blanca
Side Trips
Bosque Caricias los Leones, Mirador Huequecura
Find places to stay Dec 7 — 9:
Highlights from your plan

Bosque Caricias los Leones
12:30pm, Sun Dec 8
Similar Plans
28 days in Mexico
BY A USER FROM SLOVENIA
December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
17 days in Yucatan
BY A USER FROM ITALY
February, culture, outdoors, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: February, culture, outdoors, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
24 days in Mexico
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, popular sights
PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
30 days in Mexico
BY A USER FROM SWEDEN
April, outdoors, historic sites, wildlife, extra fast, popular sights
PREFERENCES: April, outdoors, historic sites, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Extra fast
31 days in Yucatan
BY A USER FROM MEXICO
December, slow & easy, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: December
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Slow & easy
31 days in Cancun & Yucatan
BY A USER FROM MEXICO
December, slow & easy, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: December
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Slow & easy
6 days in Yucatan
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
May, culture, historic sites, shopping, slow & easy, popular sights
PREFERENCES: May, culture, historic sites, shopping
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Slow & easy
21 days in Yucatan & Quintana Roo
BY A USER FROM MEXICO
November, fast-paced, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: November
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Fast-paced
19 days in Yucatan
BY A USER FROM SWITZERLAND
November, popular sights
PREFERENCES: November
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
9 days in Yucatan
BY A USER FROM TURKEY
February, popular sights
PREFERENCES: February
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
8 days in Yucatan
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
February, popular sights
PREFERENCES: February
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
22 days in Quintana Roo & Yucatan
BY A USER FROM MEXICO
November, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: November
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
View more plans