10 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

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, and parks. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take a memorable tour with Tours, explore the galleries of Onirica Art Gallery, take in the natural beauty of Ecotermales Fortuna, and soothe aching muscles at Tabacon Hot Springs.

For where to stay, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, go to the La Fortuna de San Carlos travel planner.

Chicago, USA to La Fortuna de San Carlos is an approximately 11.5-hour combination of flight and shuttle. You can also drive. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Monteverde.

Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.

Kick off your visit on the 24th (Mon): look for gifts at Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Keep things going the next day: take in nature's colorful creations at Jardin de Orquideas San Bosco, kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, then relax in the rural setting at El Trapiche Tour, and finally learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at The Bat Jungle.

Start your trip to Monteverde by creating a personalized itinerary on Inspirock.

Getting from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Monteverde by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Tue) so you can go by car to Jaco.

A seaside resort town with plenty of entertaining distractions along its attractive coastline, Jaco has long been a major tourist destination on the central Pacific coast.

On the 26th (Wed), kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks and then get interesting insight from Tours.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Jaco trip itinerary builder app.

Getting from Monteverde to Jaco by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Manuel Antonio.

The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.

Start off your visit on the 27th (Thu): enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Manuel Antonio and then identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas.

To find photos, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Manuel Antonio trip planner.

Drive from Jaco to Manuel Antonio in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Tortuguero.

One of Costa Rica's least accessible destinations, Tortuguero sits within an eponymous national park and remains accessible only by plane or boat.

Start off your visit on the 28th (Fri): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Tortuguero National Park.

To find where to stay, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read Tortuguero driving holiday app.

Getting from Manuel Antonio to Tortuguero by car takes about 5.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus and ferry. In May, daily temperatures in Tortuguero can reach 86°F, while at night they dip to 73°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Fri) so you can drive to San Jose.

A trip to San Jose, the capital, commercial center, and cultural hub of Costa Rica, gives you a chance to experience the lively atmosphere and rich cultural past of this vibrant country.

Start off your visit on the 29th (Sat): explore the world behind art at Museo de Arte Costarricense.

To find reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the San Jose trip itinerary planner.

You can drive from Tortuguero to San Jose in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. Traveling from Tortuguero in May, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit cooler in San Jose, with lows of 67°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 29th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.