If you’re looking for a luxury getaway or trip with a lot of adventure (or both!), Costa Rica is one of my top recommendations. Costa Rica is an incredible country filled with rainforests, beaches, river valleys, and exotic wildlife. It is also been a great place to vacation because of its luxe resorts, restaurants, and nightlife.

If you’re thinking about heading to Costa Rica, check out my ideal Costa Rica itinerary below!

Day 1 - Arrive in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two international airports, San Jose and Liberia, and both airports accept flights from the United States daily. I recommend flying into San Jose because it is closer to Nayara Resorts, which is my top pick for Costa Rica.

Head to Nayara Springs or Nayara Tented Camp where you’ll be staying for the next four nights. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the resort and enjoy the natural hot springs, your private plunge pool, and their gardens. Next, head to Amor Loco for an unexpectedly upscale dinner, which makes the most of the hotel's organic vegetable garden as well as fresh seafood.

Days 2-4 - Explore the Arenal Volcano Area

There are plenty of activities and things to do in the Arenal volcano area. Arenal, near Lake Arenal, is Costa Rica’s best-known volcano and looms over the green hillsides below it. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in the area:

Soar through the rainforest on the Sky Tram and enjoy views of wildlife and Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica Sky Tram — Soar through the rainforest on the Sky Tram and enjoy views of wildlife and Lake Arenal.

Take in the views from the Sky Tram and Sky Trek ziplining tour
Soar smoothly through the rainforest on the slow-paced Sky Tram gondolas. You’ll enjoy views of the rainforest, wildlife, and Lake Arenal. After reaching the observation deck and taking some time to enjoy the views, you can either return to the base by taking the Sky Tram back down or the Sky Trek zipline. The zipline is a great adrenaline rush and offers views like no other!
Go Canyoning and Waterfall Rappelling
Experience the thrill and natural beauty of Costa Rica by canyoning through the rainforest. Canyoning is an adventure sport, which involves going through natural obstacles in a canyon and rappelling down waterfalls. It is truly is an amazing experience and one you’ll never forget!
Tour the Hanging Bridges
Plan some time at the famous hanging bridges if you want to enjoy the rainforest from a bird’s point of view. You’ll have a chance to see lush vegetation and exotic animals that live in the trees. You can do a self-guided tour or to do a group tour with a naturalist guide.
Explore Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge
Many consider Cano Negro the third most important wetland in the world. It is a must-see place in Costa Rica and is home to many of the world’s rare plants, animals, and birds. The most common way to experience Cano Negro is through a guided boat tour.

Day 5 - Head to Guanacaste

On day 5 head to Guanacaste. This is one of Costa Rica’s most popular provinces and is a tropical paradise with a pristine shoreline, beautiful mountain ranges, and several volcanoes. You’ll enjoy exploring this area, snorkeling, ATV tours, hiking, horseback riding, and more.

On your way towards Guanacaste, I recommend stopping to do an excursion. Plan on doing a white water rafting tour, the Jungle Cruise at Palo Verde National Park, or a wildlife encounter.

After your excursion, head to your resort. There are a variety of resorts in the Guanacaste area and I’ll recommend a resort for you depending on your budget.

Days 6-7 - Explore Guanacaste

Take some time to explore the Guanacaste area. Below are some of my favorite things to do.

Chocolate Rainforest Experience
With the Arenal Volcano in the backdrop, enjoy the sweetest rainforest experience. Take a private guided tour of the Cacao Rainforest where you’ll discover the secrets and origins of the Cacao tree.
Private Catamaran
Enjoy snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing on a private catamaran excursion.
Beach Time
Not only does Guanacaste have some of the best beaches in Costa Rica, but you can also enjoy plenty of water activities. Take some time to snorkel, kayak, jet ski, or just relax.

Day 8 - Depart Costa Rica

Time to say farewell to Costa Rica and head to the airport. If possible, I recommend flying out of Liberia International Airport, which is in the Guanacaste Region.

Costa Rica Tours & Excursions
Headed to Costa Rica soon? Search for tours and excursions below.

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Ready to check Costa Rica off your travel bucket list? We’re here to make the planning process easy and provide you with a custom itinerary.

Cheers to all things travel!