Costa Rica is one of my favorite destinations because it offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation! There are volcanoes to hike, incredible wildlife to see, rainforests to explore, hot springs to soak in, and beaches to lounge on. So I’ve got everything you need to know to plan a 5-day trip to Costa Rica.

The Ultimate Costa Rica Travel Guide

For a 5-day trip to Costa Rica, I recommend spending two days on one of the coasts and three days in the rainforest interior. So I’ve got two beach and two rainforest options for you. All four of these places will let you experience the iconic landscapes and activities that Costa Rica is famous for.

Here’s how to plan a five-day trip to Costa Rica!

Beach Option One

2 Days on the Papagayo Peninsula

This region on the Pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the best of Costa Rica’s rainforest and coastline. Check out the best hotels on the Papagayo Peninsula and my stay at the Andaz Papagayo!

Day 1: Arrive at your accommodation, check in, and enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s amenities – pool, beach, spa, etc. Then in the evening, do a sunset catamaran tour along the Peninsula’s coastline.

Day 2: Spend the morning at Diamante Eco Adventure Park ziplining and visiting an animal sanctuary where you can see jaguars, pumas, toucans, butterflies, and Lucy the Sloth. If heights aren’t your thing, head to Papagayo Explorers instead. Here, you can go ATVing, mountain biking, and nature hiking.

Day 3: Enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s pool or beach until you head to your rainforest destination.

Beach Option Two

2 Days in Puerto Viejo

This laid-back beach town is located on the Caribbean coast and is the perfect tropical retreat!

Day 1: Arrive at your accommodation, check in, and enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s amenities – pool, beach, spa, etc. Then, in the late afternoon and evening, do a sunset catamaran tour along the coastline that includes snorkeling.

Day 2: Spend the morning at the Jaguar Rescue Center, where you can see most of Costa Rica’s iconic wildlife in one place. Then head back to your accommodation to eat, drink, and sit pool or beachside for the rest of the day. Puerto Viejo is famous for its yoga and surf classes, so you could also do one of these this afternoon.

Day 3: Enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s pool or beach until you head to your rainforest destination.

Rainforest Option One

3 Days near Arenal Volcano

This famous volcano is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest interior, and it’s one of the most iconic destinations in this hemisphere!

Day 3: Arrive at your accommodation, check-in, then head to the Sky Adventure Arenal Park to hike the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges Trail. Then spend the evening enjoying your hotel or vacation home’s amenities – pool, hot springs, spa, etc.

Day 4: Spend the day at The Club Rio Adventure Center. Here, you can do a combination of river tubing (my favorite), horseback riding, rock climbing, river kayaking, a wildlife sanctuary tour, and soaking in natural hot springs. There’s a riverfront restaurant, complimentary lockers, changing rooms, and towels.

Then head back to your accommodation to watch the sunset behind the volcano.

Day 5: Enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s pool and views until you have to head home.

Rainforest Option Two

3 Days in Monteverde

This mountain town is located in Costa Rica’s highlands and is home to the famous “Cloud Forest.” It’ll be colder and rainier here year-round, but bringing extra layers is worth the experience of hiking through the rainforest on swinging bridges.

Day 3: Arrive at your accommodation, check-in, and enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s amenities – pool, hot springs, spa, etc.

Day 4: Spend the day at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, hiking through the Cloud Forest and over its famous suspension bridges. Then spend the afternoon soaking in hot springs. If you’re not staying at a hotel with hot springs on-site, you can get a day pass to a resort that has natural hot springs.

End the day back to your accommodation to watch the sunset over the rainforest.

Day 5: Enjoy your hotel or vacation home’s pool and views until you have to head home.

Getting Around Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a relatively small country, so it doesn’t take long to drive between destinations. A road trip is the best way to see the country, and you can either use public transportation, rent a car, or book shuttles.

Public transportation is usually very safe in Costa Rica and is very budget-friendly, but it has the least flexibility and takes the most time.

Renting a car will cost approximately $70 a day, plus you’ll need to pay for insurance, gas, and parking, which usually brings your rental total up to more like $100 a day. Having your own car provides the most flexibility because you can stop anytime. Roads in Costa Rica are (for the most part) well-marked and well-maintained, but you’ll still want to have a GPS and a cell phone with service, just in case.

Shared shuttles are around $60 per person, and private shuttles are about $150 per person. This is the most expensive form of transportation in Costa Rica. But it could be a good option if you don’t need to drive often during your trip. And while you don’t have as much flexibility with a shuttle van, this also means you don’t have to drive; you can just enjoy the rides.

When To Go

December-April is Costa Rica’s dry season. This is when the weather is at its best, so it’s also when tourist numbers and prices peak. The coasts will be warm and sunny, with daytime highs in the 80 and 90s. The rainforest interior will be slightly cooler but more humid. There’s always a chance of rain in the rainforest (even in the dry season), so always have a rain jacket with you.

The shoulder season in Costa Rica is May-August. These months are HOT and HUMID, but the weather should still be mostly dry and sunny on both coasts. In the rainforest, afternoon showers are common but don’t usually last long. Tourist prices and numbers are slightly less than in the peak months, with May and August being your best bets for saving the most money.

The rainy season in Costa Rica from September to November usually has daily afternoon downpours, a high risk of landslides, muddy hiking conditions, and flooding on roads. But if you’re willing to risk the weather, you can score great accommodation and tour rates during these months. The Caribbean side (which is already the more budget-friendly coast) is usually much drier than the rest of the country, so it’s a great choice in the off-season.

What To Wear

Choose comfortable, casual, and quick-drying clothes when packing for Costa Rica. On the coats, you’ll want shorts, tank tops, swimsuits, and cover-ups. In the rainforest, you’ll want shorts, leggings, swimwear, and t-shirts.

No matter what time of year you visit, bring your most comfortable shoes! You’ll want sturdy closed-toe shoes for activities like hikes and ziplining and water shoes that fully attach to your feet for tubing, rafting, boating, chasing waterfalls, and wading in hot springs.

What To Pack

Costa Rica is a tropical country with a generally pleasant climate. But temperatures vary depending on elevation. And you’ll always want a rain jacket with you.

The coastal areas tend to be warmer throughout the year, while the mountainous interior can get cool at night and in the early mornings, even during the summer months.

So, if you’re visiting during the rainy season, bring warm clothes and layers everywhere you go, even to the coasts. If you’re visiting during the dry season or summer, still bring a couple of layers for the evenings and mornings in the higher elevations.

If you’re doing any treks or hikes in either season, make sure you have any specialized clothing or equipment you might need.

Electrical outlets in Costa Rica are Types A and F. So, if you’re from the U.S., you won’t need an outlet adaptor. But British, European, and other travelers will need an adaptor.

I applied bug spray every day and still got some bites, so I recommend always having a can with you.

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