19 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

Surfing remains the main reason to take a trip to Tamarindo, as the beachside town is mostly known for its excellent waves.

Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Tue): take a memorable tour with Tours, enjoy the sand and surf at Tamarindo Beach, and then look for gifts at Organic Products by Coco Beauty Spa. Here are some ideas for day two: wander the wide-open spaces of Pura Aventura and then kick back and relax at Playa Conchal.

To find other places to visit, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Tamarindo trip itinerary builder website.

Dusseldorf, Germany to Tamarindo is an approximately 17-hour combination of train and flight. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Central Standard Time (CST), which is usually a -7 hour difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) 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.

Start off your visit on the 5th (Thu): tour the pleasant surroundings at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Ranario Monteverde Frog Pond. Keep things going the next day: look for gifts at Women Artisans Cooperative Santa Elena and Monteverde, then 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 meet the residents at The Bat Jungle.

To find reviews, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Monteverde trip itinerary app.

Getting from Tamarindo to Monteverde by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi; or take a shuttle. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Fri) so you can 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.

Change things up with these side-trips from Manuel Antonio: Jaco (Costa Rica SUP'ers & Canyoning & Rappelling Tours). And it doesn't end there: enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Manuel Antonio, get interesting insight from Tours, and walk around Parque Nahomi.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Manuel Antonio road trip planning app.

You can drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio in 4 hours. Another option is to take a bus. On the 9th (Mon), you'll have the morning to explore before heading off to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca offers a wealth of entertainment by the sea, attracting a lively international crowd of revelers while maintaining a bright and breezy coastal charm with a local feel.

On the 10th (Tue), stroll through Nature Observatorio and then get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. Keep things going the next day: explore the striking landscape of Cahuita National Park and then admire the natural beauty at Finca La Isla.

To find more things to do, maps, and other tourist information, use the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca trip itinerary builder website.

Getting from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by car takes about 7 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Wed) 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 12th (Thu): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Tortuguero National Park.

To find other places to visit, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, read Tortuguero itinerary planning app.

You can drive from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Tortuguero in 4.5 hours. Other options are to take a shuttle; or take a bus. In March in Tortuguero, expect temperatures between 34°C during the day and 24°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Thu) 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.

La Fortuna de San Carlos is known for nature, adventure, and parks. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: witness a stunning natural landmark at Tabacon Hot Springs, trek along Natura Eco Park Costa Rica, view the masterpieces at Wood & Art Gallery, and skim along the rocks with a canyoning and rapelling tour.

To find photos, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, read our La Fortuna de San Carlos trip itinerary maker app.

You can drive from Tortuguero to La Fortuna de San Carlos in 3.5 hours. Other options are to take a shuttle; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Mon) to allow time to 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.

Explore Vara Blanca's surroundings by going to Los Chorros Waterfalls (in Grecia), Poas Volcano (in Poas Volcano National Park) and Sarchi (Else Kientzler Botanical Garden & Mariposas Sarchi). There's much more to do: admire the sheer force of Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz, join in the after-dark buzz at Souvenir Muy Tranquilo, and stroll through Tirimbina Biological Reserve.

To find ratings, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, refer to the Vara Blanca online tour planner.

Drive from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Vara Blanca in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.