5 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
5 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Costa Rica Trip Planner
Start: Newark
+2
Drive to Newark Liberty International Airport, Fly to Tobias Bolanos International Airport, Drive to Manuel Antonio
1
Manuel Antonio
— 1 day
Drive
2
Vara Blanca
— 3 nights
Fly
End: Newark
Tue, Dec 26 - Sat, Dec 30
Edit
S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
See full calendar
1
day
1
day

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 27th (Wed): stroll through Playa Manuel Antonio.
To find reviews, traveler tips, photos, and tourist information, go to the Manuel Antonio day trip planning tool.
Newark, USA to Manuel Antonio is an approximately 18.5-hour combination of car and flight. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Newark to Manuel Antonio due to the time zone difference. Cap off your sightseeing on the 27th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Vara Blanca.
Things to do in Manuel Antonio
Find places to stay Dec 26 — 27:
Highlights from your trip
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3
nights
3
nights

A vacation in Vara Blanca, located in the heart of Costa Rica, offers excellent access to a number of attractions across the area.Take a break from the city and head to Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz and Poas Volcano. Get some cultural insight at Jade Museum and Museo Nacional De Costa Rica. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Vara Blanca: San Jose (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum & Galeria Namu).
To find where to stay, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Vara Blanca driving holiday planner.
Traveling by car from Manuel Antonio to Vara Blanca takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 30th (Sat) to allow time for travel back home.
Things to do in Vara Blanca
Side Trips
Find places to stay Dec 27 — 30:
Highlights from your trip
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Costa Rica travel guide
Tiny in terms of land area, Costa Rica is astoundingly diverse when it comes to culture and natural attractions. In a country called "Rich Coast", it's no surprise most Costa Rica vacations dedicate at least a few days to picturesque Pacific and Caribbean beaches, ideal for water sports and relaxation. Few small countries offer such a range of landscapes, allowing tourists to observe towering volcanoes while soaking away their worries in a hot spring, or hike into dense rainforests in the morning and surf at a modern resort in the afternoon. A trip to Costa Rica also lets you discover pristine national parks, ensuring plenty of chances to view wildlife from the comfort of eco-friendly lodges packed with amenities even ardent nature lovers secretly desire.