5 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

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): soothe aching muscles at some of the top local wellness centers and then enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Manuel Antonio.

To see traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, read our Manuel Antonio trip itinerary builder.

Newark, USA to Manuel Antonio is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Newark to Manuel Antonio due to the time zone difference. Prepare for much warmer weather when traveling from Newark in December: high temperatures in Manuel Antonio hover around 78°F and lows are around 66°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 27th (Wed) so you can travel 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.

Get some cultural insight at Precolumbian Gold Museum and National Museum (Museo Nacional). Step out of the city life by going to Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Change things up with these side-trips from Vara Blanca: San Jose (Jade Museum & Galeria Namu).

For where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Vara Blanca sightseeing planner.

Getting from Manuel Antonio to Vara Blanca by combination of taxi and flight takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. December in Vara Blanca sees daily highs of 82°F and lows of 65°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 30th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.