9 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

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

On the 8th (Sun), stop by Hummingbird Gallery and then look for all kinds of wild species at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 9th (Mon): identify plant and animal life at Curi Cancha Reserve, then admire nature's wide array of creatures at The Bat Jungle, and then whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Monteverde using our trip planner.

Chicago, USA to Monteverde is an approximately 12-hour combination of flight and shuttle. You can also do a combination of flight and bus; or drive. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Tue) so you can drive 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.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Tue): admire the sheer force of La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Vara Blanca trip itinerary planning tool .

You can drive from Monteverde to Vara Blanca in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In April, plan for daily highs up to 86°F, and evening lows to 66°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Wed) to allow time to drive to La Fortuna de San Carlos.

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.

Get in touch with nature at Tabacon Hot Springs and Arenal Volcano (Volcan Arenal). There's much more to do: take a memorable tour with Tours, admire the sheer force of La Fortuna Waterfall, look for all kinds of wild species at Arenal Natura Ecological Park, and take in the natural beauty of Baldi Hot Springs.

To find where to stay, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, read La Fortuna de San Carlos planning tool .

Drive from Vara Blanca to La Fortuna de San Carlos in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sat) so you can travel 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 14th (Sat): look for gifts at Beso Loco Boutique de Playa and then identify plant and animal life at MidWorld Costa Rica.

To find where to stay, ratings, reviews, and tourist information, read our Manuel Antonio attractions planner .

Traveling by combination of taxi and flight from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Manuel Antonio takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a shuttle. April in Manuel Antonio sees daily highs of 82°F and lows of 67°F at night. On the 15th (Sun), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.