White clouds float over green mountains. Hanging bridges sway deep inside mist covered tropical forests. Ocean waves crash on pristine beaches. White waterfalls plunge into turquoise pools. There is never a dull scenery in Costa Rica!
The abundance of natural resources in the country and a conscious effort of conversation also make it home to several species of birds and animals. It comes as no surprise that this Central American country is a bucket list travel destination for many people around the world.
If you are among them, we have got you covered for your trip planning. We created this Costa Rica 10 day itinerary covering the best highlights of the country, including some popular destinations and some not so known ones.
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Our Top Picks for Costa Rica 10-Day Itinerary from Liberia
🎟️ Best Activities and Tours:
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike – use coupon paradise to get 5% discount
- Rincon de la Vieja – Hiking, Waterfall, Hot Springs
- Monteverde: Zip-lining, Hanging Bridges, Birding, Night Walk
- Beach Time, Catamaran Sunset Sailing & Snorkeling
🚙 Ground Transportation:
- Rental Car: Adobe Rent A Car – Get up to 10% off + other freebies
- Shuttle Transfers: Bookaway
🎒 Packing Essentials: Insect Repellent, Reef Safe Sunscreen, Microfiber Towel
💼 Travel Insurance: SafetyWing | Heymondo (Get 5% off)
How to Get Around in Costa Rica?
If Renting A Car
The most convenient way of getting around in Costa Rica is to rent a car. It gives you the flexibility of timing, routes, and scenic stops.
Due to the road conditions in some parts of the country, driving here can turn out to be adventurous. However, for the destinations we covered in this Costa Rica 10 day itinerary, you do not need a 4X4.
A car with high ground clearance should suffice.
Tip: Remember to check the details of the insurance coverage you choose.
✅ Recommended: Adobe Rent A Car, a 100% Costa Rican company with transparent pricing. Reserve here and get 10% discount and other freebies
🚗 Other options: Compare deals on Rentalcars.com by Booking.com
Read this: Should you rent a car in Costa Rica?
If NOT Renting A Car
If you are not comfortable driving in a foreign country, here are your options:
For transfers between destinations:
- Check with your hotels to arrange for airport transfers and pick-up and drop-off between destinations.
- Book private or shared shuttle transfers in minivans. Browse options on Bookaway.
- Opt for public buses (not convenient, take longer hours and not available on all routes).
For commuting within the destinations, and for getting to the starting points of activities:
- Book tours with transportation and hotel pickup and drop-off included.
Costa Rica 10 Day Itinerary
To help you plan how to best spend your 10 days in Costa Rica, we shortlisted an assortment of destinations that will give you a glimpse of different diverse ecosystems.
The itinerary has been optimized in such a way that you get a taste of beaches, cloud forests, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanoes, wildlife, but without much hassle of long distance travels.
This itinerary is perfect for you if you plan to enter and exit via Liberia airport, one of the two international airports in Costa Rica.
If you plan to fly in to and out of the SJO airport instead, check out this Costa Rica 2-week itinerary starting and ending in San Jose.
If you have a shorter time window for your Costa Rica vacation, here are some ideas for 5 days in Costa Rica.
Do not forget to purchase travel insurance for your trip. We recommend:
✈️ Heymondo for short trips or long term travel (no deductibles, 24/7 worldwide support for any kind of medical assistance)
💻 SafetyWing for digital nomads (add-on options: adventure sports, electronics theft)
Exclusive for Paradise Catchers Readers: Get 5% off on Heymondo (discount automatically applied, not applicable for US residents)
Day 1: Fly in to Liberia – Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls
After flying in to Liberia airport during the first half of the day, reserve your afternoon for some relaxation and rejuvenation, typical Costa Rica style!
For the first couple of days, you can base yourself in the Rincon de la Vieja area, about 30 minutes drive from the Liberia airport.
Hotel Recommendation: Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is a good accommodation option because it is located near the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Also, the stay here includes free access to all the waterfalls of the area as well as the Rio Negro hot springs, which otherwise you would need to purchase a pass for. Book your stay here.
In the afternoon, go on a lazy nature walk to explore the Rio Negro series of waterfalls in the jungle. Then pamper yourself by soaking in the Rio Negro hot springs by the river. The setting is therapeutic. During your time at the hot springs, you can also try a volcanic mud bath, which is fun and healing at the same time.
If you arrive in Costa Rica during the second half of the day, treat it as your Day 0. Relax with a nice dinner and a good night’s sleep before you begin your travel adventures the next day.
Day 2: Rincon de la Vieja National Park and Oropendola Waterfall
Start early on Day 2 of your Costa Rica trip to visit the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The park has two main sectors, Santa Maria and Las Pailas. The latter is the one next to the Hacienda Guachipelin property and thus the one you can visit easily on this day.
Las Pailas sector has a few trails – the crater trail of Rincon de la Vieja volcano, trails to couple of waterfalls and a trail by the same name as the sector, Las Pailas.
However, if you have 10 days in Costa Rica, you may not want to spend multiple days hiking on different trails of the same national park. So, you need to choose a trail or two for your hikes. Here are your options:
Easy Hike
If you are looking for a nice and easy hike, choose the Las Pailas sector for your hike in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It is a circular trail of 3.2 km (2 miles) going through tropical rain forests and tropical dry forests.
While walking on the well paved trail admiring the interesting vegetation, look out for birds and animals, particularly howler monkeys and spider monkeys, hanging out discreetly around you.
But the most interesting part of this Las Pailas trail is the variety of secondary volcano activities like volcanic mud pots, water pots, fumarolic lagoon and more. It is fascinating to watch how amusing our planet is.
Difficult Hikes
If you want a tougher hike, consider one of the waterfall trails. If you are spoilt for choice between the two waterfalls, Catarata La Cangreja and Catarata Escondido, we would suggest La Cangreja waterfall. The gorgeous white waterfall tumbling into a turquoise natural pool is totally worth the effort of the 10 km (6.2 miles) hike.
Oropendola Waterfall
On your way out from Rincon de la Vieja National Park, take a quick trip to the Oropendola waterfall located just outside the boundaries of the national park. From the parking lot, you can access the waterfall by an easy walk, including few shaky minutes on a constantly swaying hanging bridge.
Enjoy the views of this wildly beautiful waterfall from the viewing deck. Or take the iron stairs to go down into the emerald pool for a swim and for enjoying the splash of the waterfall.
Again, remember access to Oropendola Waterfall is already included in your tariff if you are staying at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin.
Tour Recommendation: If you prefer organized guided tours, book this tour. They take you to Las Pailas sector of Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Oropendola Waterfall and Rio Negro Hot Springs. The tour price includes services of a guide, lunch and transportation, including pick and drop from hotels in Liberia, beaches between Tamarindo and Playa del Coco, and the popular resorts in the Gulf of Papagayo. It is a good tour to see the highlights of Rincon de la Vieja region in one day.
Day 3: La Leona Waterfall – Liberia to Monteverde – Monteverde Night Walk
On Day 3, check out early from your hotel in Rincon de la Vieja to sneak in one last activity in the Liberia region, before you head to your next destination.
La Leona Waterfall Hike
But before you go, go for a little adventure – La Leona Waterfall hike. Book the first morning slot for the hike.
Hiking to Catarata La Leona is one of our favorite things to do in the Liberia region. It involves hiking in the tropical forest, making river crossings on foot, swimming in blue river covered by canyon walls, pushing against the river current to get to the stunning waterfall hidden inside caves.
Click here to book your La Leona adventure hike and use coupon paradise to avail 5% discount.
Liberia > Monteverde
After the hike, start your journey towards Monteverde, the cloud forest haven of Costa Rica.
The drive from Liberia should take between 2 and 2.5 hours, without any stop.
If not renting a car, book a shuttle from Liberia to Monteverde.
Apart from the cloud forests of Monteverde, this mountain town is also known for several exciting activities and attractions, and hence your next couple of days in Monteverde are going to be packed. So you might as well take the first day easy.
Afternoon Relaxation and Sunset
After arriving in town, treat yourself to a good meal at one of the many nice restaurants of Monteverde.
Spend a cozy relaxing afternoon in your hotel room or at a coffee shop, sipping a cuppa and reading a book, while enjoying the cool climate and lush mountain views. This afternoon in Monteverde can be the epitome of your much needed tranquility.
As the afternoon progresses, head towards one of the vantage sunset points in Monteverde to see the perfect orange sun setting over the Gulf of Nicoya with the backdrop of the mountain landscape.
Monteverde Night Walk
If you are re-energized after all the day’s rest, you can still fit in a Monteverde activity on this Day 3 of your Costa Rica 10 day itinerary.
With various ongoing conservation efforts, Monteverde has retained its natural biodiversity and thus is home to several species of flora and fauna. So, you are never far from the elements of nature in Monteverde.
But, as the sun goes down, a layer of mystery seems to engulf the forests of Monteverde which come alive with all kinds of sounds in the darkness of the night. This is when you get the chance to spot several nocturnal birds, mammals, arthropods, amphibians and reptiles.
The best way to experience this night time forest of Monteverde is by going on a guided night tour. Check this out for all the details on how you can plan your Monteverde night walk.
Tour Recommendations: We did this one – Kinkajou Night Walk, but we recommend booking this small group night walk for more personalized attention, and also they seem to have better user reviews than the one we did.
Day 4: Monteverde – Zip-lining and Hanging Bridges
Day 4 of your Costa Rica 10 day trip is bound to give you the ultimate adrenaline rush.
Go on a zip-lining and hanging bridges combo tour. Experience the cloud forests of Monteverde from close quarters and get transported to a different world of solitude and serenity, while still experiencing an adrenaline boost.
Based on your preferences, you can also choose to go for either the hanging bridges walk or the zip-lining tour, if not both.
Most adventure parks in Monteverde offer both the tours, individually and as combo, which you can also pair with some other lighter activities, based on the package you purchase.
Sky Adventures and Selvatura Park are the most prominent among all the adventure parks in Monteverde.
Monteverde Hanging Bridges
Walking on the hanging bridges is a hiking activity of about 2 to 2.5 hours. You follow the well marked nature trail which also takes you through a series of high and long suspension bridges. As the bridges are constructed near the canopy level, you can enjoy unique perspectives of the forests, including eye level sightings of several birds and monkeys at the forest canopy.
Typical of cloud forests, the forests often wear blankets of passing clouds. So, when you walk on the hanging bridges, some of which are as high as 164 feet, you get the feeling of walking over the clouds!
You can go for a self-guided tour or a guided tour. While you can definitely enjoy the hanging bridges on a self-guided walk, on a guided tour, the naturalist guide can help you with better wildlife sightings. And you also get to learn more about the natural biodiversity of the area.
For comparisons of different hanging bridges tours of Monteverde, what to expect and how to prepare for the tour, read this post on hanging bridges of Monteverde.
Monteverde Zip-lining
If walking over the clouds on the hanging bridges gives you a high, how about taking the experience one notch higher?
On the zip-lining tour in Monteverde, you get the feeling of flying over the cloud forest!
The zip-lining tour also takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. Staying attached to the zip-line through a harness, you zip across from one platform to another. As you glide in air, enjoy the views of the vast expanse of the cloud forests.
Some tours include an optional Superman zip-line at an extra fee. If you opt for this, you get to experience a bird’s eye view of the forest as you slide along the zip-line in a Superman like position.
Zip-lining in Monteverde is a guided activity (of course!). The group of zip-lining tour customers is always accompanied by a professional crew. They will guide you about safety features, assist you with the gear, and help you with take-off and landing on every line.
For comparisons of different zip-lining tour providers of Monteverde, read this post on zip-lining in Monteverde.
Here are some snaps from our zip-lining adventures at Sky Adventures and Selvatura Park in Monteverde.
Day 5: Monteverde – Bird-watching and Cloud Forest Hiking
The next day in Monteverde is also filled with activities, but they are more calming than thrilling, like birding and hiking. But you will be burning a lot of calories as the day involves quite a few hours of walking.
The previous day you walked over the clouds of the cloud forest and zip-lined high above the cloud forest canopy. Today, it is time to keep your feet on the ground (pun intended).
Explore the cloud forests of Monteverde from inside. Go for hiking in the cloud forest reserves, after going for (an optional) birding tour in the morning.
Curi Cancha Reserve
Around 400 species of birds have been recorded in Monteverde. Many of these birds, with their brilliant colors and amusing behavior, are a delight to watch. One such bird is the elusive Resplendent Quetzal.
Monteverde is one of the very few places in Costa Rica where you can spot this majestic looking bird. Otherwise, you can spot Quetzals in San Gerardo de Dota or Los Quetzales National Park, which are not part of this Costa Rica 10 day itinerary.
The best way to enjoy the birds of Costa Rica is by going on a bird-watching tour. Curi Cancha Reserve in Monteverde is a great birding destination as it has several nature trails including some along open landscaped spaces, which make bird sighting easier.
Go for an early morning tour for better chances of birding and also to fit in other activities for later in the day.
You can go for self-guided tour from 7:00 am onward, whereas the guided tour starts at 6:30 am. Read this post for details on the trails and viewpoints of Curi Cancha reserve.
If you are not a birding enthusiast, you can skip Curi Cancha and instead start the next activity earlier.
Tour Recommendation: This guided bird-watching tour at Curi-Cancha Reserve with a local guide includes entry tickets. If you have transport and bought the entrance tickets, here is another excellent option for guided birdwatching at Curi-Cancha.
Hiking in the Cloud Forest Reserve
There are 3 major reserves in Monteverde, each special in its own way. You can include any one of these 3 reserves in your Costa Rica 10 day itinerary. None will disappoint the nature lover in you.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Established by the Quakers, the pioneers of the Monteverde community settlement, this reserve has 8 trails of lengths varying between 0.2 km (01. mile) and 2 km (1.12 miles), with some intersections/ connections among them.
Apart from the cloud forests, Monteverde Reserve has several other attractions like diverse vegetation, wildlife sightings, river trail and waterfall. But the major highlights of this reserve are a hanging bridge and a viewpoint of the Continental Divide.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Situated at a higher elevation, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve gives you an immersive cloud forest experience. The reserve has 5 different trails covering a distance of 12.5 km (7.8 miles) in total.
One of the highlights of the Santa Elena Reserve is the observation tower. From the tower, you can see 4 volcanoes, including the Arenal Volcano on a clear day. For more details, read our complete guide to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Bajo del Tigre Reserve, Children’s Eternal Rainforest
Bajo del Tigre is a small sector of the largest reserve in Costa Rica, Children’s Eternal Rainforest. The reserve has 3.7 km (2.3 miles) of trails which are mostly flat and easy to walk on. There are also benches in some parts for resting.
This reserve is perfect for families with kids and elderly people. Bajo del Tigre reserve is positioned in a transition zone of wet to seasonal moist. Thus, you also get to enjoy the rain forest experience here.
For planning your trip to this reserve, read our complete guide to Bajo del Tigre Reserve.
Day 6: Monteverde Coffee Tour – Monteverde to Playa Avellanas
On your last morning in Monteverde, spend some time learning about the other thing Monteverde is famous for. Its coffee.
Sign up for a coffee farm tour which lasts for about 2 to 2.5 hours. On this tour, you will get to learn more about coffee farming, processing and roasting. El Trapiche and Don Juan Monteverde offer 3-in-1 combo tour of coffee, cocoa and sugarcane, while Cafe Monteverde gives a more in-depth coffee experience mapping it against social and economic context.
After wrapping up the coffee tour by afternoon, it is time to say good bye to Monteverde and proceed to your next destination.
Playa Avellanas, a less developed beach in a village of the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. The drive from Monteverde to Avellanas takes around 3 hours. So, you may reach town just in time to catch a beach sunset at Playa Avellanas.
Alternative Destination Recommendation for Monteverde: Days 4 to 6
You can swap Monteverde with La Fortuna. It is an equally exciting destination, and takes around the same amount of time to reach from Liberia as Monteverde.
Monteverde is great for cloud forests, cool mountain climate, wildlife sighting opportunities, hanging bridges and zip-lining.
Lying in the northern plains region, La Fortuna is known for the famous Arenal Volcano National Park, Arenal Lake, rain forests, hanging bridges, zip-lining, bird-watching and sloth-sighting opportunities, La Fortuna waterfall and volcanic hot springs among others.
From La Fortuna, you can also take a side trip to the magical Rio Celeste waterfall.
La Fortuna activities and tours: You can check the tours that pack multiple activities in a day. This tour has the La Fortuna highlights or this one that includes the volcanic hot springs as well, in case your stay does not have a hot spring. Also, the coffee tour, sloth-watching tours, and night tour are other interesting activities in La Fortuna and Arenal.
Day 7: Playa Avellanas – Beach Hopping
Avellanas Beach
Although Playa Avellanas is a favorite beach among the locals of Costa Rica, organized tourism is yet to catch up here. And that is what we like the most about Playa Avellanas.
You get to enjoy a long stretch of soft sand beach, without the intervention of many beach side constructions.
Take a stroll on the beach and watch a perfect beach sunset. Also, walk on the Insta-famous Avellanas Bridge. This wooden bridge is great for photo ops and to see the mangrove marshlands up close.
Beach Hopping around Avellanas
Since this is effectively your first beach day in Costa Rica, you may consider scouting the area for other nice beaches that you can return to later. If you keep driving southwards from Playa Avellanas, you will come across a few other beaches within a distance of 10 km (6.2 miles), each having its own character.
At around 2 km (1.2 miles), Playa Lagartillo is the closest to Avellanas. With no souls in sight at this secluded beach, it turned out to be our favorite.
Playa Negra is located around 4.6 km (2.8 miles) south of Avellanas. There is a hotel property by the same name, Hotel Playa Nagra right on the beach, which makes activity at Playa Negra a little more prominent.
Located about 6.7 km (4.2 miles) from Playa Avellanas, Playa Blanca is a beautiful white sand beach. Due to the positioning of the adjacent small cliffs, you can enjoy the clifftop views of the beach. Some luxury residential project development in the area makes the facilities at Playa Blanca a little more organized, like guarded parking.
Playa Junquillal is a 4 km (2.5 miles) stretch of tan sand beach, the main beach of the town of Junquillal. There are quite a few hotels, guesthouses and eateries near this beach. But it still retains a raw beach town flavor.
Day 8: Playa Avellanas – Swimming and Surfing
Spend Day 8 of your Costa Rica trip enjoying the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Surfing is one of the best things to do at Playa Avellanas. So, if you are a seasoned surfer, just rent a surfboard and start taking on the waves. If you are a newbie or a beginner, you can sign up for surfing lessons from one of the surf schools.
Or just sit on the beach, watching the surfers hone their skills.
Swim in the ocean or laze around under the shades of the trees. When you are hungry or thirsty, grab a bite and a drink at the iconic Lola’s restaurant on the beach.
There is not much of a nightlife at Avellanas. So you can conclude the day with a dinner at a nice restaurant. Kon-Tiki near Playa Negra has great wood-fired pizza which you can pair with a glass of wine.
Read about other surfing beaches of Costa Rica:
Playa Carmen, Playa Hermosa, Playa Dominicalito, Malpais, Santa Teresa.
Day 9: Playa Avellanas / Tamarindo
To get the feel of a busier beach town, head to Tamarindo for your last night in Costa Rica.
Tamarindo also has great surf breaks, a nice beach, several other great beaches within an hour’s driving distance and great sunsets. But Tamarindo is always bustling. There are scores of hotels, restaurants, stores, souvenir shops, all packed in the town center, and spread out in the vicinity as well. That is why the nighttime is also quite active in Tamarindo.
Tamarindo is around 40 minutes drive from Avellanas. So, if you check out before noon from Avellanas, you can grab lunch at Tamarindo, surf and swim in the afternoon, watch sunset from a rooftop bar and then end the day with fine dining at one of Tamarindo’s finest restaurants.
But if you enjoy the slow pace at Playa Avellanas, you can skip Tamarindo. Stay back at Avellanas for another day of surf, swim and sunset.
Tour Recommendations: This sunset and snorkel tour gives you a break from the beach on a catamaran cruise in the Pacific. If you want to see a new country in one day, consider this – a full-day tour of Nicaragua.
Alternative Destination Recommendation for Avellanas Beach: Days 7 to 9
If you prefer bustling beach towns over quieter ones, replace your Avellanas days with Tamarindo.
If you prefer something in between, like not too touristy, neither lacking development, consider Nosara. Choose between Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada in Nosara. Another great beach town in Guanacaste is Samara.
Day 10: Fly out from Liberia
Keep the agenda wide open for the last day of your Costa Rica 10 day itinerary. You need not schedule any activities in advance. But depending on the time of your flight, you may be able to sneak in one last ocean swim or one last nature walk.
The duration for transfer to Liberia airport will depend on your last destination. It can take between 1:15 hours and 1:30 hours from Playa Avellanas or Tamarindo, around 2 hours from Samara and 2:15 hours from Nosara. So, plan your airport transfer accordingly.
As you conclude this Costa Rica itinerary, reflect on the experiences you have gathered from this land of Pura Vida. It is time to say goodbye for this time and start preparing for the next trip to Costa Rica!
Hotel Recommendations for 10 Days in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, you can find hotels, hostels and guesthouses of various budget ranges. But almost everywhere, you can expect decent service, clean premises and friendly staff. Here are some of our accommodation recommendations for your Costa Rica 10 day itinerary.
Rincon de la Vieja Hotels
Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin
Check prices and availability.
It is located in a big property right next to the Las Pailas sector of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
The hotel offers dozens of rooms, with varying accommodation types such as Standard Room, Superior Room, Family Superior Room, Legacy Suite and Suite. The rooms are nothing too fancy, but work fine with comfortable bed and hot shower.
The hotel has a swimming pool, a restaurant and offers secure free parking and free WiFi. But the best part about the stay at Hacienda Guachipelin is that the price of the stay includes free access to the Rio Negro Hot Springs and all other waterfalls of the region.
Monteverde Hotels
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Check prices and availability.
It is a high-end hotel with incredible views, two onsite restaurants, a spa and a swimming pool. You can choose from four different accommodation options, Deluxe Double Room, Junior Suite, Suite and Honeymoon Suite.
Rainbow Valley Mountain Lodge
Check prices and availability.
It is a mid-range option located on the highway few miles ahead of Monteverde.
The accommodation options are Chalet, Budget Double Room, Double Room with Mountain View or Balcony, Suite with Mountain View, Family Room with Mountain View and Suite with Hot Tub. Each accommodation is an independent unit with kitchenette.
Cabañas Hoja Verde
Check prices and availability.
It is a private cabin in the woods, great for isolated stays. The cabin features a living room, bedroom, balcony, fully equipped kitchen and a secure parking.
Greemount Hotel
Check prices and availability.
It is a family-run budget hotel offering basic no frills accommodation.
But you will find everything that you need for a comfortable stay. Comfortable bed, hot water, homemade breakfast, parking, WiFi, a common area with reading nooks and games. The room options are Double Room, Quadruple Room and Family Room.
Find more hotels in Monteverde: Where to Stay in Monteverde – A Selection of Best Hotels
Playa Avellanas Hotels
Drift Away Eco Lodge
Check prices and availability.
It is an eco-conscious property, around 1.6 km from Avellanas beach.
This sustainable eco-lodge offers King Room, Queen Room, Twin Room and Two Bedroom Villa, each carefully appointed with rustic furniture, sustainably made bed and bath linens and toiletries.
The property has beautiful landscaped gardens, a yoga center, a recreation room and a swimming pool surrounded by sculpted statues and fountains. Fair warning, Drift Away Eco Lodge may become the highlight of your days at Playa Avellanas.
Tamarindo Hotels
Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort
Check prices and availability.
It is a beachfront property offering more than 200 rooms with ocean or pool views. The resort has 4 onsite restaurants, 1 gelateria, 1 lounge bar and 2 wet bars.
There are several pools too, 1 beachfront pool, 1 children’s pool, 1 adults-only quiet pool, 1 scenic pool and 1 hydrotherapy pool.
Diria Reosrt also has a casino!
Ten North Tamarindo Beach Hotel
Check prices and availability.
It is a mid-range hotel located in the heart of Tamarindo. For your stay, you can choose from room and apartment options, some with pool view or balcony.
Jardin del Eden el Boutique Hotel
Check prices and availability.
It is an adults-only boutique hotel, with carefully curated rooms, gardens and pools. This is a great romantic accommodation option, with some rooms offering private spa tubs. The nightly tariff includes breakfast and dinner for all room types.
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas
Check prices and availability.
Located closer to Langosta Beach, it is a boutique hotel with secluded deluxe rooms, private villas with pools for families and luxury adults-only suites. With various well-being offerings like spa treatments, yoga sessions and farm-to-table dinners, you are likely to have an intimate connection with nature at Cala Luna.
Find more hotels in Tamarindo: Where to Stay in Tamarindo – A Selection of Best Hotels
What to Pack for 10 Days in Costa Rica?
Apart from clothing, footwear, accessories, gadgets and documents, do not forget to pack these three essentials for your Costa Rica trip:
For more comprehensive packing guides for Costa Rica, check out these articles:
Final Thoughts on Costa Rica 10 Day Itinerary
Costa Rica is a great destination for nature seekers. It offers exciting activities and attractions for all kinds of travelers, families, couples or solo travelers.
Ranging from tropical dry forests to tropical rain forests and cloud forests, from mountains to beaches, volcanoes to waterfalls, we explored various landscapes in this Costa Rica 10 day itinerary.
Yet there is so much more to discover in this beautiful country in Central America. So, this could be the first of your many trips to Costa Rica. Or, who knows, this trip might as well turn out to be your temptation for moving to Costa Rica!
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Excellent description. Quite precise itinerary. Nice photographs. The presentation must force people to take a trip to Costa Rica.
Thank you 🙂
This is fantastic. We are tempted to follow this almost entirely!
If we are looking to squeeze in La Fortuna, should we swap out Monteverde or Rincon de la Vieja?
Thanks Nitin. You can choose to replace Rincon de la Vieja with La Fortuna, as thematically, both have volcano, hot springs and waterfalls, whereas Monteverde is more of a cloud forest, hiking and adventure kind of destination. Hope this helps 🙂
how much for 10day ecxscursion im in liberia
Hi Russ. Welcome to Costa Rica. How much you spend during10 days in Costa Rica will depend on your accommodation type, transfer/commute modes and chosen activities. Please note, we are not a tour company – so, we do not offer any excursions ourselves but will be happy to share recommendations of noted local tour operators in Costa Rica. Please feel free to send us an email. Thank you.
we are planning a trip for this January and I wonder if you have this itinerary mapped out so I could see it on a map? Thanks – would weather be Ok in early – mid January? Assume we’d need to be prepared for rain regardless since it is a rainforest~. Thanks appreciate your response.
Hi Laurie, we haven’t created a map for this itinerary yet, but good idea – we’ll put it on our things to do for enhancing this itinerary article. Thanks to you! 🙂 Meanwhile, if you need one sooner, please feel free to send us an email with the map request and we’ll respond.
January weather should be fine. Beaches will be hot and humid, but overall lesser chances of rain all over the country. And you are right, pack a raincoat in any case and you will be fine. Enjoy your Costa Rica trip! 🙂