From SJO it's ~3 hours to La Fortuna. Spend three nights: volcano hike, waterfall, hot springs and a Río Celeste day trip. See our things to do in La Fortuna guide.
Transfer to Monteverde (~3 hours, or jeep-boat-jeep across Lake Arenal). Cloud-forest walk, ziplining and hanging bridges. Cooler weather — pack a layer. Details in La Fortuna vs Monteverde.
Head to the Pacific coast (~4 hours). Manuel Antonio National Park combines rainforest and white-sand beaches, with monkeys and sloths right on the trails. Relax before flying home.
Roads are paved on this route but slow — budget the times above. We handle door-to-door private transfers so you skip the shuttle shuffle.
Want it all arranged? Our multi-day packages cover this route with hotels, transport and tours, or we'll customize your dates.
Yes. Seven days is enough to combine Arenal, Monteverde and one beach destination like Manuel Antonio without feeling rushed, as long as you limit yourself to two or three bases.
Arenal/La Fortuna (3 nights), Monteverde (1-2 nights), then Manuel Antonio (2 nights). Fly in and out of San José.
Private transfers or shared shuttles are easiest for this route since drives are long and signage is limited. A car adds flexibility if you're comfortable with rural roads.
Travel + Leisure asked retirement and wellness pros for the best wellness trip for older travelers — and they all picked Costa Rica. Here is how to do it well from La Fortuna, by the people who guide it.
Choosing the best time to travel to Costa Rica is the most important decision to ensure the success of your adventure according to your goals. Unlike other destinations, the "best time" here isn't universal; instead, it depends directly on what you want to do, see, and spend....
Please feel free to contact us… We will be happy to help you with your vacations in Costa Rica.
