19 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
19 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Costa Rica Trip Planner
Start: Porto
Fly to Juan Santamaria International Airport, Drive to Vara Blanca
1
Vara Blanca
— 2 nights
Drive
2
Tortuguero
— 1 night
Drive
3
Manuel Antonio
— 5 nights
Drive
4
Monteverde
— 4 nights
Drive
5
La Fortuna de San Carlos
— 5 nights
Fly
End: Lisbon
Mon, May 1 - Fri, May 19
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See full calendar
Vara Blanca
— 2 nights
©
A vacation in Vara Blanca, located in the heart of Costa Rica, offers excellent access to a number of attractions across the area.Start off your visit on the 1st (Mon): tour the pleasant surroundings at Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: get a taste of local nightlife at Souvenir Muy Tranquilo and then take in the dramatic scenery at Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz.
To see traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Vara Blanca trip site.
Porto, Portugal to Vara Blanca is an approximately 21-hour combination of flight and car. Traveling from Porto to Vara Blanca, you'll gain 6 hours due to the time zone difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Tortuguero.
Things to do in Vara Blanca
Side Trips
Highlights from your trip
Tortuguero
— 1 night
©
Costa Rica's Amazon
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 3rd (Wed): explore the striking landscape of Tortuguero National Park.
To see maps, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Tortuguero journey site.
Traveling by car from Vara Blanca to Tortuguero takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi, bus, and ferry; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and ferry. Expect a daytime high around 35°C in May, and nighttime lows around 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Manuel Antonio.
Things to do in Tortuguero
Highlights from your trip
See timeline
Manuel Antonio
— 5 nights
The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.Spend the 8th (Mon) on the water with a fishing tour. And it doesn't end there: get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour, let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour, look for gifts at Beso Loco Boutique de Playa, and skim along the rocks with a canyoning and rapelling tour.
To see other places to visit, reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Manuel Antonio travel route builder app.
You can drive from Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio in 5.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of ferry and bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Monteverde.
Things to do in Manuel Antonio
Side Trip
Highlights from your trip
Monteverde
— 4 nights
©
Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.Monteverde is known for adventure, parks, and nightlife. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: stroll through Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, look for gifts at Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery, whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, and take in nature's colorful creations at Monteverde Butterfly Garden (Jardin de Mariposas).
For photos, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Monteverde trip itinerary planner.
Drive from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Sat) early enough to go by car to La Fortuna de San Carlos.
Things to do in Monteverde
Highlights from your trip
La Fortuna de San Carlos
— 5 nights
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: relax and rejuvenate at Tabacon Hot Springs, explore the activities along Lake Arenal, take in the natural beauty of Baldi Hot Springs, and take in the views from Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park.
To see other places to visit, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the La Fortuna de San Carlos trip itinerary planner.
You can drive from Monteverde to La Fortuna de San Carlos in 3.5 hours. Another option is to take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Thu) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in La Fortuna de San Carlos
Side Trip
Costa Rica travel guide
Tiny in terms of land area, Costa Rica is astoundingly diverse when it comes to culture and natural attractions. In a country called "Rich Coast", it's no surprise most Costa Rica vacations dedicate at least a few days to picturesque Pacific and Caribbean beaches, ideal for water sports and relaxation. Few small countries offer such a range of landscapes, allowing tourists to observe towering volcanoes while soaking away their worries in a hot spring, or hike into dense rainforests in the morning and surf at a modern resort in the afternoon. A trip to Costa Rica also lets you discover pristine national parks, ensuring plenty of chances to view wildlife from the comfort of eco-friendly lodges packed with amenities even ardent nature lovers secretly desire.
