Costa Rica 7 day travel guide & tips from 2 female travellers.

From the tropical jungle to the paradise beaches: Costa Rica is wildlife heaven and a must-visit for nature and adventure lovers.

With jaw-dropping landscapes, friendly locals and epic adventures to be had, it’s no wonder why tourists flock to Costa Rica. With a booming tourism industry, you won’t be the only one seeking the waterfalls, volcanoes and amazing surf in this Central American gem. But don’t worry, there are plenty of off-the-beaten-path places in Costa Rica if you know where to look!

Now If you are planning to get off-the-beaten-path, getting there is easiest if you rent a car. It’s surprisingly cheap and a really easy way to get around in Costa Rica. Plus, you’ll have total freedom and maybe even save on transportation and accomodation costs!

We went with a Nomad America 4×4 rentals as they rent out all-terrain 4×4 expedition vehicles and campervans ideal for local roads, like Toyota Land Cruisers, FJ Cruisers, 4Runners and Land Rover Defenders; all fully equipped with all the camping gear you need – ready for an unforgettable road-trip. Which makes like so easy as you have all the gear ready and waiting for you.

Climate in Costa Rica

When planning your trip to Costa Rica, it is important to know that the weather differs vastly by region. In the North Pacific, prepare for high temperatures and low humidity. On the other hand, the Northern Plains and the Caribbean coast with its dense forests is very humid with lower temperatures.

• Dry season: mid-November to April

• Rainy season: May to mid-November

Peak season for tourists is mid-December to April during the dry season. It is the ideal time to visit the beaches and explore the rainforests.

Travel Tip: During the rainy season from May to November, the unpaved roads in Costa Rica can sometimes be impassable ( having a 4wd makes this more accessible). Keep this in mind if you are planning on traveling to Costa Rica during these months.

Top Things to Do in Coast Rica

Try Surfing

Whether you are an experienced surfer or just a beginner, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is the place to be. If you are just starting out and want some direction, you will find lots of surf schools here.

How to book your surf lesson in Santa Teresa:

During our stay in Santa Teresa, we found Audrey who is originally from France but has been living in Santa Teresa for several years. You can find more information about Audrey’s company on her website, Costa Rica Surf and SUP. Contact her via the website, email or WhatsApp and she will get back to you quickly. And when you do, tell her Katie & Ben from Two Wandering Soles sent you!

Go Beach Hopping

If you love beaches, you’ll surely love Puerto Viejo. This place has a lot of beaches to explore. Some of the best ones here are Playa Punta Uva, Playa Grande, Playa Chiquita, Playa Negra, and Playa Puerto Viejo.

Hike Around Arenal

Arenal Volcano National Park has a lot of hiking with mostly flat trails. In the park, you’ll see plenty of lava rock formations and glimpse some great views of Arenal Volcano.

Learn Some Spanish

Costa Rica is one of the best places to go to if you want to learn Spanish. The country’s dialect is pretty easy to understand so a lot of people look for a homestay with a Costa Rican family for a faster learning experience.

Go Zip Lining

You can fly through the jungle on a zip line in Arenal, Costa Rica. We tried Sky Adventures because of their great reviews and half-mile zip line. It was pretty fun and definitely a must-do when you’re here!

Insider Tip: You can book tours online and the companies will send a bus to collect you in the morning. Otherwise make sure you're carrying cash on you as most places charge for parking. Be careful as locals also like to get in on this and scam tourist for tours and parking. also triple check offical sites and google makes you are parking in the correct locations.

7 Day initerary

Lush rainforest, natural hot springs, endless wildlife, and tropical beaches: experience it all within one week in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a country that has got ecotourism right as they put nature in first place. Fun fact: They reforested about 9% of their country since 1996! It’s where wild sloths can be seen at beaches and monkeys swinging trees close to your hotel. Fall in love with the ‘Pura Vida’ state of mind of the Costa Ricans and discover the best of Costa Rica in this 7-day itinerary.

Day 1: San Jose to La Fortuna

Your trip to Costa Rica most likely starts in San Jose, the country’s capital city and one of the only two international airports. San Jose itself isn’t worth visiting if you only have 7 days in Costa Rica. Therefore, it’s best to rent a car, book a shuttle or tour, or take the local bus directly to La Fortuna.

By car:

San Jose is around 3 hours away from La Fortuna. There is a well-paved road between the destinations, so you do not need a 4×4 car for this entire itinerary if you rent a car. However, we recommend renting a slightly higher car from the ground to avoid any pothole damage.

Day 2: Hot Springs and Volcano Arenal

Welcome to La Fortuna, a town famous for its incredible surrounding nature and Volcano Arenal. In the morning, head out to the Arenal National Park for the hike over the unique Arenal 1968 trail close to the volcano. Also, it’s a great two-hour walk that takes you to a viewpoint for a good view of the volcano.

After that hike, relax at the natural hot springs of La Fortuna that are heated to a comfortable 35-38 degrees by the Volcano Arenal. Most of these springs are owned by hotels, so you have to pay for a day pass or stay at the hotel to access them. We highly recommend Tabacon Hot Springs. However, there is also a free and public hot spring for you to visit.

Day 3: La Fortuna and Driving to Monteverde

Make your way to the next town named Monteverde. However, before that, stop at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges. These unique hanging bridges are suspended among the rainforest canopy, which means you can spot amazing animals like sloths, tarantulas, and frogs. Walk across bridges, and look down onto the stunning forest, rivers, and also a waterfall from an incredible height of 45 meters (148 feet)!

By car:

There is a national park between La Fortuna and Monteverde, so although the villages are close, you have to drive around Lake Arenal to get to Monteverde. Luckily, it’s a stunning drive of about 3 hours. The roads around the lake to Santa Elena (Monteverde town) are all well-paved, but it’s recommended to have a slightly more powerful car for the steep hills and to have some clearance off the ground to avoid any damage from potholes. Which is where having a 4WD comes in handy.

Lunch tip: We had the best Italian food in Costa Rica at Los Platillos Voladores. It is in Nuevo Arenal, which is on the way to Monteverde.

Day 4: Monteverde

Monteverde is an ecologically diverse mountain area famous for its cloud forest. It’s also a protected area where you can easily spot hummingbirds, toucans, and other tropical birds. Enjoy the fresh mountain air and experience fast-changing weather with incredible fluctuating temperatures.

During your time in Monteverde, plan a hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest and a coffee or tea at the Hummingbird Cafe. When night falls, join a guided night walk to spot animals that only come out when it’s dark.

Day 5: Drive to Manuel Antonio

From the cloud forest in Monteverde, make your way down to the beaches of Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio is a coastal village surrounded by lush jungle and pristine white sand beaches. However, it’s most famous for being home to one of the world’s most beautiful national parks: Manuel Antonio National Park. Here you can spot a vast array of wildlife!

If you arrive in Manuel Antonio around midday, either relax at the beach, Playa Espadilla Norte, or opt for a Chocolate & Coffee tour.

By car:

It is an easy 4-hour drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio and the longest drive on this 7-day Costa Rica itinerary. About halfway, make a quick stop at the famous Crocodile Bridge, where you have a chance of spotting crocodiles. Please do not buy any meat from the sellers because feeding animals is a bad example of wildlife tourism. Besides: you are not allowed to feed animals in Costa Rica by law.

Day 6: Manuel Antonio National Park

Close off the 7-day Costa Rica itinerary at the wild and tropical beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is one of the world’s best national parks, famed for its many animals and biodiversity. Plus, there are lots of beautiful trails through the park. Expect to see animals like sloths, snakes, monkeys, and so much more.

The trail ends at the gorgeous beaches of Manuel Antonio Beach and Espadilla South Beach, which are also part of the protected area. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and swimming at the beach or spotting wild, colorful iguanas who are always around the beach.

Day 7: Drive back to San Jose

All great adventures come to an end, and unfortunately, this is the last day of your 7 days in Costa Rica. Make your way back to SJO airport, or if you have a flight late in the day, you could visit one more waterfall (like La Paz). If you need a hotel close to the airport, stay at Alajuela instead of San Jose.

Until next time,

Tiff x

Watch the vlog here