8 days in Manuel Antonio & San Jose Itinerary

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

Your day-by-day itinerary now includes Playa Manuel Antonio. Start off your visit on the 1st (Sun): tour the pleasant surroundings at Playa Biesanz and then relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 2nd (Mon): kick back and relax at Playa Manuel Antonio.

Discover how to plan a Manuel Antonio trip in just a few steps with Inspirock's itinerary builder.

San Jose to Manuel Antonio is an approximately 1.5-hour combination of bus, flight, and taxi. You can also drive; or take a bus. In April in Manuel Antonio, expect temperatures between 32°C during the day and 22°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 2nd (Mon) to allow time for travel 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.

Cocos Island National Park has been added to your itinerary. Take a break from the city and head to Poas Volcano and Irazu Volcano National Park. Popular historic sites such as Our Lady of the Angels Basilica (Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles) and Metropolitan Church (Catedral Metropolitana) are in your itinerary. Step out of San Jose with an excursion to La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Vara Blanca--about 1h 25 min away. There's lots more to do: explore the world behind art at Precolumbian Gold Museum, shop like a local with Galeria Namu, look for gifts at Chieton Moren, and get engrossed in the history at National Museum (Museo Nacional).

To see more things to do, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the San Jose day trip tool .

Drive from Manuel Antonio to San Jose in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a shuttle. In April, plan for daily highs up to 33°C, and evening lows to 22°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Sun) to allow time to travel back home.