14 days
Coast to coast in 14 days
Two weeks across the whole country: Tortuguero's canals, Arenal, the cloud forest, Manuel Antonio and the whales of Uvita.
At a glance
Route
- Central Valley and Poás 1 night
- Tortuguero and the Caribbean 2 nights
- Arenal and La Fortuna 3 nights
- Monteverde 2 nights
- Manuel Antonio 2 nights
- Uvita and the Osa Peninsula 3 nights
- Who it is for
- Travelers who want the full picture, both coasts in one trip, on the classic two-week route. It also suits families with kids from about 8, old enough for the long Corcovado day.
- Tours on this route
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- Two Days in Tortuguero: Canals and Sea Turtles
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hot Springs
- Río Celeste Waterfall Hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park
- Guided Night Walk in Monteverde
- Monteverde Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
- Monteverde Zipline Canopy Tour
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
- Whale and Dolphin Watching in Marino Ballena, Uvita
- Corcovado National Park Day Trip
Day by day
Central Valley and Poás 1 night
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Day 1
Arrive in San José
Land at San José airport (SJO) and spend the night at a hotel close by. Tomorrow starts early.
Tortuguero and the Caribbean 2 nights
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Day 2
By road and boat to Tortuguero
About 2.5 to 3 hours by road to the La Pavona dock, then 1 to 2 hours by boat along the river to Tortuguero, a village with no roads.
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Day 3
Canals at dawn, turtles at night
A sunrise boat tour through the national park's canals, looking for caimans, sloths and monkeys. From July to mid-October, a night walk on the beach to watch green turtles nest.
Stay: Pachira Lodge $ Simple
Arenal and La Fortuna 3 nights
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Day 4
By boat and road to La Fortuna
Back by boat to La Pavona, then on by road to La Fortuna, at the foot of Arenal Volcano. A long travel day that ends in the hot springs.
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Day 5
Arenal Volcano, waterfall and hot springs
A full day with a guide: a swim at the foot of La Fortuna Waterfall, a hike over the 1968 lava flows and an evening in the hot springs.
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Day 6
Río Celeste
A forest hike to the turquoise Río Celeste waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park, about 1.5 hours from La Fortuna.
Stay: Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa $$$ Splurge
Monteverde 2 nights
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Day 7
Across Lake Arenal to Monteverde
By jeep, boat and jeep to the cloud forest. In the evening, a guided night walk to look for sloths, frogs and tarantulas.
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Day 8
Hanging bridges and zipline
A morning on the hanging bridges at treetop height, and an afternoon flying over the forest on the ziplines.
Stay: Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde $ Simple
Manuel Antonio 2 nights
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Day 9
Down to Manuel Antonio
About 4 hours by road to the Pacific coast, in time for a swim before sunset.
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Day 10
Manuel Antonio National Park
A guided hike with a naturalist and a spotting scope to find sloths and monkeys, then a swim on the park's beach. The park is closed on Tuesdays, so I plan around it.
Stay: Hotel Costa Verde $ Simple
Uvita and the Osa Peninsula 3 nights
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Day 11
South to Uvita
About an hour down the coast to Uvita, with a free afternoon on a quiet beach.
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Day 12
Whales or the Whale's Tail
From July to November and December to March, a boat trip to watch humpback whales in Marino Ballena National Park. Outside whale season, walk out on the Whale's Tail sandbar at low tide.
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Day 13
Corcovado by boat
An early boat ride of about 1.5 hours to Corcovado's San Pedrillo sector, for a guided hike in a rainforest where tapirs, scarlet macaws and all four of the country's monkey species live.
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Day 14
Back to San José
About 4 hours by road to San José airport (SJO), or a short domestic flight, for your flight home.
Stay: La Cusinga Lodge $ Simple
Make it yours
Pick what you'd change and send it. I'll adjust the route to your dates.
