2-Week Costa Rica Itinerary
Costa Rica is a Central American country boasting incredibly diverse flora, landscape, and wildlife. No wonder it is one of the most visited and heavily traveled countries on the continent. We've put together the perfect Costa Rica 2-week itinerary to help you narrow down your plans and offer you alternatives to see the best this destination has to offer in only fourteen days.
Costa Rica is so different from other countries in Central and South America that when traveling long term and crossing borders from one country to another, you might get a feeling that you found yourself in a completely new world.
The lifestyle and many other things are quite different, but what is, on the other hand, similar to the countries on the continent is the density of top attractions in Costa Rica.
This is an advantage when planning a trip to Costa Rica - you can never choose the wrong direction as the country is literally packed with beautiful places and photogenic wildlife hiding behind every corner.
Costa Rica is a popular travel and vacation destination for families with kids, retirees, but also surprisingly for backpackers and budget travelers, despite higher prices. The reason is simple - this place is really stunning and offers so much for every type of traveler that it is worth it to spend a bit more than usual.
What else makes Costa Rica different from neighboring countries when it comes to traveling?
For example, it is the travel style as most travelers rent a car to explore the natural beauty of this exotic country. Because of the country's size, it leads to the fact that most of the visitors spend in Costa Rica about ten days to two weeks.
Fourteen days in Costa Rica gives you plenty of time to see a few national parks, explore cloud forests, look for animals, or lie on beaches. However, there are so many things to do in Costa Rica that even two weeks might not be enough.
We've decided to put together the perfect 2-week Costa Rica itinerary that includes places we think every first-time traveler should see.
On top of that, we also share a few destinations we did not have the time or desire to visit last time, so after reading the post, you should be able to create your perfect itinerary that combines all the top places and activities you are interested in.
When in Costa Rica, we stuck to the Pacific side of the country, and we traveled from borders with Panama towards the borders with Nicaragua.
Feel free to follow our steps; even if you land in the capital San Jose, just join our journey elsewhere along the road.
Also, keep in mind that making a Costa Rica itinerary is the same as creating any other travel itinerary. It's essential to make a sensible, not over-ambitious itinerary that includes all travel times.
Two weeks in Costa Rica is plenty of time to get a taste of what this country has to offer, so happy planning!
DAY 1 - 2: CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK
One of the world's most biodiverse regions, Corcovado National Park, is a place not to be missed when in Costa Rica. It was the first destination on our must-see list in the country, and we could not have chosen better.
Prepare to sweat, fight against mosquitos, and wade through mud and rivers, but all those things will only enhance the unique experience that you will probably fully appreciate later, from the comfort of your home.
You can visit the park only for a day if you do not have enough time, but we can tell from our personal experience of a 7-day Amazon jungle trip that further and longer you go, and the more time you spend, the better chance to see wildlife you have.
It is not possible to visit Corcovado National Park without a guide, so book one, forget about your budget for once, and keep your eyes open to see macaws, monkeys, and maybe even a jaguar.
Costa Rica is home to many national parks, and it is often hard to prioritize, but Corcovado should be high on your list, even if it is a detour from your originally planned route.
Where to Stay in Corcovado National Park
Budget: Cabinas The Corner Mid-range | Mid-range: Hotel Inn Jimenez | Luxury: Crocodile Bay Resort
DAY 3: UVITA
Uvita is a destination on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where you can absolutely unwind. Uvita is a pretty little town, a bit overshadowed by its famous surfing neighbors, but totally worth visiting.
The town lies on the edge of Ballena Marine National Park and is most famous for its beaches, especially for Whale Tail Beach, a beach which during low tide uncovers and has the shape of a whale's tail
This fact is is even more exciting because Uvita is a destination where you can book a tour to spot migrating humpback whales every year, so it might not be a coincidence.
If you've arrived in Costa Rica specifically for the beaches, consider spending even more than one day in Uvita, you are not going to regret it. Except for beaches and whale watching, you can visit a few waterfalls, local markets, or hiking.
The place is quite popular among backpackers and free-spirited, yoga-loving travelers, so you might want to spend here even longer if you want to socialize on the road.
Where to Stay in Uvita
Budget: Cascada Verde Hostel | Mid-range: Tropical Beach | Luxury: Oxygen Jungle Villas
DAY 4 - 5: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
Are you looking for a place in Costa Rica which is mixing picturesque white sand beaches, jungle and wildlife watching? Manuel Antonio National Park is exactly the place.
You can spend an entire day in the park looking for playful monkeys and spotting elusive birds, almost invisible tree snakes, frogs and insects, and once tired, you can hit one of several beaches within park's area.
Keep in mind, that although this national park is the smallest in Costa Rica, it is also the most popular one.
And getting to the park, especially during high season can be a challenging task - read our detailed post on Manuel Antonio National Park to avoid disappointment.
You can spend the second day by only lazing on the beaches outside the national park, or you can book a night tour to explore the jungle and see animals living within its borders from a different perspective.
Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio National Park
Budget: Wide Mouth Frog | Mid-range: La Foresta Nature Resort | Luxury: Los Altos Resort
DAY 6 - 7: JACO
Jaco is a city on the Pacific Coast, one of the biggest we've visited in Costa Rica, as we tried to be as close to nature as possible most of the time, but traveling to Jaco was an inviting change.
Jaco has a lovely long city beach, where you can spend time before hitting the streets in pursuit of finding something good to eat or something nice to buy. Jaco is also known as a perfect place for outdoor activities because there is a jungle and many waterfalls around.
You can sign up for ATV tours or try one of the adventure activities such as bungee jumping, ziplining, or canyoning. We decided to try canyoning in Jaco, and it was one of the best days we've had in Central America.
Another thing you can do close to Jaco is to visit Carara National Park and the famous crocodile bridge nearby. This is exactly what we did.
We dedicated the first day in Jaco to rappelling down waterfalls and enjoying the city life.
While the other day, we traveled independently to Carara National Park and tried to look for perfect photo opportunities on our own, and thankfully, we were successful.
Where to Stay in Jaco
Budget: Selina Jaco | Mid-range: Bamboo Boutique Hotel | Luxury: Best Western Jaco Beach All Inclusive Resort
DAY 8 - 9: MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST
Monteverde is the most popular cloud forest in Costa Rica. Visiting the inland park is also a welcoming change, especially if you are not exactly a beach lover.
Traveling to Montverde is quite easy, although the road is bumpy, just head in the direction of Santa Elena. Once you enter the park, you'll be surrounded by impenetrable greenery dripping with moisture, and the cloud forest will most likely look like you had ever imagined it.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is an awesome place to admire fauna and flora - no wonder it's been known as a paradise for birders for years.
The only downside of visiting this place is the expensive admission fee, $25 per person.
You can easily spend two days in Monteverde, as you can visit the cloud forest, go for a night tour to see nocturnal wildlife, do ziplining, try to walk on hanging bridges, visit a coffee farm or do horseback riding.
Where to Stay in Monteverde
Budget: Sleepers Sleep Cheaper Hostel | Mid-range: Camino Verde Bed and Breakfast Monteverde Costa Rica | Luxury: Chira Glamping Monteverde
DAY 10 - 11: ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
Arenal Volcano is another significant landmark you can visit in Costa Rica. The national park protecting the area carries the same name, and you can admire the perfectly conical-shaped volcano from one of the park trails or from a boat when cruising Lake Arenal.
You can easily spend two days in Arenal as activities in the area are endless.
The town of La Fortuna is usually the base for visiting Arenal Volcano National Park, but the town itself does not feel very inviting, so we recommend creating a packed itinerary unless you want to spend your time by the pool.
To be honest, no matter how beautiful the region is, we found the destination a bit overpriced for regular travelers, but the reason probably was that we traveled long-term at the time, and we've seen many similar places in much cheaper countries.
On the other hand, we cannot deny that the view of the volcano is breathtaking, and if you are on a week-long vacation, you should not miss it.
During our visit, the volcano was often hidden in clouds, so be prepared for this option as well to avoid disappointment.
Where to Stay in La Fortuna
Budget: Arenal Xilopalo | Mid-range: Princesa de la Luna Ecolodge | Luxury: Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa
DAY 12: RIO CELESTE
Rio Celeste in Tenorio National Park is the new must-visit place in Costa Rica. So far, we have included most of the shining stars in our itinerary, but this is a new addition that travelers to Costa Rica only start to learn about.
Rio Celeste has not been known for long, rather contrary, but the word about otherworldly blue waters of Rio Celeste has spread out (mostly thanks to pictures on social media).
Therefore, more and more people have been adding this natural attraction to their Costa Rica itineraries.
You can allocate only a half-day to visit the waterfall and the river if you have a car, and later explore lush green hills around Tenorio National Park.
But we had to rely on our legs to get to the park; that's why it took us all day. The nearest village where you can stay before visiting Rio Celeste is Bijagua.
Where to Stay in Bijagua
Budget: Cabinas Las Nubes | Mid-range: Finca Amistad Cacao Lodge | Luxury: Origins Lodge
DAY 13 - 14: SAN JOSE & VOLCANOES
It depends where you are traveling from, but if you are coming to Costa Rica by plane, the chances are that San Jose will be the first or the last destination on your trip.
San Jose, Costa Rica's capital, doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to safety, and it also does not boast many architectonic gems, but like in every capital city, there is always something special and noteworthy, you only need to give this city a chance prove itself.
Also, you can visit two active volcanoes close to San Jose. Volcano Poas and Volcano Irazu.
You can reach both of them when you have a car or take a tour or public transport, but in that case, you would need more than one day if you decide on visiting both.
Poas Volcano has been really active in the past couple of years, and rules for the visit are more strict, so do not forget to obtain your permission in advance when visiting independently.
Where to Stay in San Jose
Budget: Costa Rica Backpackers | Mid-range: Exe San Jose Center | Luxury: Hotel Grano de Oro
HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND COSTA RICA
When planning the realistic Costa Rica itinerary, one of the first questions you should answer is how to get around the country, as it will define your travel style and the number of places you'll be able to visit.
Costa Rica is a specific country in Central America. It has a reputation for being a much safer country than others in the region.
Plus, it has better roads (although still far from perfect), distances are not that great, and those two factors impact the way travelers can explore it.
Rental Car
The most popular way to get around the country is by rental car for the reasons mentioned above, but also because the demographics of visitors in Costa Rica are a bit different.
It is a paradise for American holidaymakers, especially for families with young kids, who appreciate a certain level of comfort, and because of limited time, they want to get from one place to another quickly and efficiently.
It is easy to rent a car in San Jose, the capital.
If you prefer this style of traveling, you should only remember one thing - do not leave your belongings in the car, and always use a secured parking lot if there is one, as opportunistic thieves have lately targeted rental cars.
Public Transport
We found traveling by public transport easy in Costa Rica, and the big advantage was that it usually ran on time, which was a nice change.
Buses are not somehow modern, and they lack air-conditioning, which was quite challenging at times, but overall, public buses were an excellent way to get around, and tickets were surprisingly cheap.
Shuttles
If you do not drive or generally do not want to have a car as your responsibility during your holiday, but traveling by bus seems too slow and complicated, there is another solution.
The third option for getting around Costa Rica is using tourist shuttles.
Local companies run their shuttles between major tourist destinations, and you can book services online or without prior reservation in all heavily visited towns.
COSTA RICA SAFETY
Costa Rica is a safe country and stands out among its neighbors and countries in Central America overall.
Of course, San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, is a bit different. But that's the case in almost every big city in the world.
So it's better to watch out for your belongings, and you shouldn't walk around unknown neighborhoods after dark, or at least stick to well-lit streets.
People are generally friendly, and they often speak at least basic English, especially in often visited places.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHAT TO SEE IN COSTA RICA
We were traveling from Boquete, so we crossed borders from Panama to Costa Rica close to the Pacific Coast, and it is also where we mostly stayed during our entire visit.
If you have more time or simply want to see more of this country, there are still countless places you can visit, and we bring you more suggestions on how you can extend your itinerary.
For example, a beach town Puerto Viejo or a wildlife haven Parque Nacional Tortuguero is worth checking when traveling on the Caribbean Coast.
If you are heading deeper inland and want to do some serious hiking, you can sign up for an overnight hike to Cerro Chirripo, the highest peak of Costa Rica.
Also, for a more laidback atmosphere and even more beaches, you can carry on to the Nicoya Peninsula of the Guanacaste province.
As you can see, possibilities are endless, and it is only up to your preferences how your ideal itinerary will look like, although we hope we inspired you to includes at least some of the places on your list.
Finally, we crossed the borders from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, where we continued our journey.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
