Costa Rica is one of the best tropical destinations in the world! This lush, welcoming country has volcanoes, incredible wildlife, rainforests, hot springs, and two coastlines to explore. So I’ve created the best Costa Rica road trip itinerary for various travel times and preferences!

The Ultimate Costa Rica Travel Guide

To plan the rest of your Costa Rica trip, check out the best hotels in Costa Rica, how to plan a girls trip to Costa Rica, Costa Rica budget tips, and the top vacation homes in Costa Rica.

Here’s what you need to know to plan an epic Costa Rica road trip itinerary!

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.

 Four Day Itinerary

If you only have four days in Costa Rica, I recommend choosing one of these areas instead of moving accommodations. All four of the places will let you experience the iconic landscapes and activities that Costa Rica is famous for.

Option 1 – Papagayo Peninsula. This region on the Pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the best of Costa Rica’s rainforest and coastline. The Papagayo Peninsula has a range of accommodations, beaches, marinas, and an adventure center for land activities such as ATVing and zip lining.

Option 2 – Puerto Viejo. Located on the Caribbean coast, this laid-back beach town is known for its surfing, diving, snorkeling, mangrove forests, and Jaguar Rescue Center.

Option 3 – Arenal Volcano. This famous volcano is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest interior, and almost every hotel, resort, and glamping site in the area has rooms with views of the volcano. Must-do activities when you’re here are a guided sloth hike, river tubing, and soaking in a hot spring.

Option 4 – 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.

Browse each of these 4-Day itineraries in more detail!

Five Day Itinerary

For a five-day trip to Costa Rica, I recommend visiting one of the coasts for two days and the rainforest interior for three days.

Beach Option 1 – Papagayo Peninsula. This region on the Pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the best of Costa Rica’s rainforest and coastline. The Papagayo Peninsula has a range of accommodations, beaches, marinas, and an adventure center for land activities such as ATVing and zip lining.

Beach Option 2 – Puerto Viejo. Located on the Caribbean coast, this laid-back beach town is known for its surfing, diving, snorkeling, mangrove forests, and Jaguar Rescue Center.

Rainforest Option 1 – Arenal Volcano. This famous volcano is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest interior, and almost every hotel, resort, and glamping site in the area has rooms with views of the volcano. Must-do activities when you’re here are a guided sloth hike, river tubing, and soaking in a hot spring.

Rainforest Option 2 – 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.

Get more details about these 5-Day itineraries!

Six Day Itinerary

If you’re going to spend six days in Costa Rica, I recommend visiting one of the coasts for three days and the rainforest interior for three days.

Beach Option 1 – Papagayo Peninsula. This region on the Pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the best of Costa Rica’s rainforest and coastline. The Papagayo Peninsula has a range of accommodations, beaches, marinas, and an adventure center for land activities such as ATVing and zip lining.

Beach Option 2 – Puerto Viejo. Located on the Caribbean coast, this laid-back beach town is known for its surfing, diving, snorkeling, mangrove forests, and Jaguar Rescue Center.

Rainforest Option 1 – Arenal Volcano. This famous volcano is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest interior, and almost every hotel, resort, and glamping site in the area has rooms with views of the volcano. Must-do activities when you’re here are a guided sloth hike, river tubing, and soaking in a hot spring.

Rainforest Option 2 – 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.

Read my entire 6-Day itinerary for more details and recommendations!

Seven Day Itinerary

For a week-long trip to Costa Rica, I recommend visiting one of the coasts for three days and the rainforest interior for four days.

Beach Option 1 – Papagayo Peninsula. This region on the Pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the best of Costa Rica’s rainforest and coastline. The Papagayo Peninsula has a range of accommodations, beaches, marinas, and an adventure center for land activities such as ATVing and zip lining.

Beach Option 2 – Puerto Viejo. Located on the Caribbean coast, this laid-back beach town is known for its surfing, diving, snorkeling, mangrove forests, and Jaguar Rescue Center.

Rainforest Option 1 – Arenal Volcano. This famous volcano is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest interior, and almost every hotel, resort, and glamping site in the area has rooms with views of the volcano. Must-do activities when you’re here are a guided sloth hike, river tubing, and soaking in a hot spring.

Rainforest Option 2 – 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.

Check out my full 7-Day itinerary!

Ten Day Itinerary

If you have ten days in Costa Rica, I recommend this itinerary:

3 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. The Papagayo Peninsula has a range of accommodations, beaches, marinas, and an adventure center for land activities such as ATVing and zip lining.

3 days in the Arenal Volcano area. This famous volcano is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest interior, and almost every hotel, resort, and glamping site in the area has rooms with views of the volcano. Must-do activities when you’re here are a guided sloth hike, river tubing, and soaking in a hot spring.

2 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.

2 days in Puerto Viejo. Located on the Caribbean coast, this laid-back beach town is known for its surfing, diving, snorkeling, mangrove forests, and Jaguar Rescue Center.

Check out my entire 10-Day itinerary for more details and recommendations!

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