Highlights of Costa Rica: Arenal, Monteverde & Manuel Antonio - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in San José

Welcome to Costa Rica! After arriving at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, a local representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day you'll have free to explore the city at your leisure.

Perhaps take a stroll through Mercado Central (Central Market), featuring over 200 shops, food stalls, and sodas (traditional restaurants). Then visit the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Church), whose interior combines Greek Orthodox, neoclassical, and Baroque styles, and features wood carvings and stained-glass windows. There's also a pair of popular museums in San José: Museo del Oro Precolumbino (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum) and Museo del Jade—the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts.

Be sure to explore Barrio Amón, a historic neighborhood home to cafetalero (coffee grower) mansions built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of this area’s historic buildings have been converted into hotels, restaurants, and galleries, making Amón a popular bohemian district.

For dinner, opt for a restaurant in the hills of Escazú. This elevated region on the western edge of the city offers panoramic views of the valley below. That said, San José is filled with great restaurants serving everything from traditional to forward-thinking fusion cuisine.

For more travel advice, check out 24 Hours in San José.

Day 2: San José to Arenal, Hot Springs & Dinner at night

After breakfast, it's on to La Fortuna, best known as the base for exploring the Arenal Volcano National Park. Located north of the Tilaran Mountains, the cone-shaped Arenal juts out above the San Carlos Plains. After you check into your hotel, you'll have the rest of the day to explore on your own. If you want to get up close to the volcano, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal (optional) provides spectacular views of its peak. Or, opt for a zip lining tour through the forest canopy, where you'll cross canyons, and take in the Fortuna and Pino Blanco Waterfalls, along with the majestic Arenal Volcano.

Tonight, you will soothe your muscles with a dip in the mineral-rich waters of Tabacón’s hot springs, used as therapeutic baths for more than 200 years, and enjoy a traditional dinner next to the hot springs.

Day 3: La Fortuna Waterfall, Free Afternoon

Today, you'll experience the other star of the Arenal Volcano region: La Fortuna Waterfall. If Arenal is the most famous volcano in the country, then La Fortuna is easily the most famous falls. It's located a 15-minute drive from the town of La Fortuna, at the base of the dormant Chato Volcano. The waters here plunge 210 feet into a tropical lagoon, and a 500-step downhill hike provides the opportunity to see the falls from the bottom up. Besides taking photos, be sure to swim and relax in the La Fortuna River below the falls.

Then it's back to your hotel, where you'll spend the rest of the day unwinding. If you want to indulge in the hot springs one more time, no one will blame you. If you're interested in staying in a hotel with access to hot springs, read over this list for suggestions of where to visit.

Day 4: Río Celeste Day Trip

Today you'll experience one of the country's most beautiful and mysterious natural places, Río Celeste. The river is inside Tenorio Volcano National Park. The legend says that after God painted the sky, He washed His brushes in this river, resulting in its famous electric-blue waters. The river is surrounded by rainforests and is home to many species of wildlife, including sloths, anteaters, and a variety of exotic birds. Despite Río Celeste's unparalleled beauty, this is one of the less visited locations in Costa Rica. Hence the park doesn't get too crowded and preserves its natural state.

For a day trip, you'll hike rainforest trails for approximately four hours, stopping along the way at Los Teñideros, the origins of the color, where two brooks meet, causing a chemical reaction that forms the turquoise-colored river. You'll continue the hike until you reach the Río Celeste waterfall. 

Learn more about the top nature experiences in Costa Rica.

Day 5: Boat from Arenal to Monteverde & Coffee Tour

After breakfast in La Fortuna, you'll transfer to Monteverde, but this is no ordinary route. You'll bypass the road trip and instead travel by water. After arriving at the shores of Lake Arenal, your captain will welcome you, you'll board the boat, and you'll begin the 3.5-hour journey to the other side of the lake. Upon arrival, you'll officially be in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. From the lakeshore, you'll transfer by shuttle to a working coffee farm for an educational guided tour. You'll participate in the entire farm-to-cup process, from picking the beans to roasting them. Of course, frequent coffee tastings will be provided.

After the tour, check into your hotel and relax for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe visit nearby Santa Elena, a charming town with Quaker influences known for excellent coffee and cheese. You'll find various restaurants here, including vegetarian options and those serving Costa Rican standards like ceviche and arroz con pollo (rice with chicken).

Day 6: Aerial Fun in the Cloud Forest

Sky Adventures Monteverde Park is an aerial amusement park that raises jungle excitement to the next level. Its Sky Tram network of gondolas transport visitors from one adrenaline-pumping activity to another. First, you'll start with a guided Sky Walk, which combines trails and suspension bridges that ultimately reach heights of up to 984 feet above the jungle canopy. The flora and fauna of the region will be on full display, and our specialized guides will point out the most interesting specimens. Later, you'll ride in an open-air Sky Tram gondola. During this journey, you'll ascend over the rainforest and enjoy sweeping views over the mountains.

Upon reaching the end of the line, the exhilarating adventure of whizzing down the mountain begins. You'll connect to a zipline cable that stretches over the treetops and across canyons, ultimately returning you to the starting point at Sky Adventures' main building. Sky Trek is regarded as the most thrilling zipline in the country—it makes sense, considering that Monteverde is the birthplace of the canopy tour as we know it. See this guide for the best ziplining in Monteverde for more information.

Day 7: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

This morning, you'll be picked up from Monteverde and driven to the Pacific coast at Manuel Antonio National Park, where you can take your pick and wind down on one of the park's four beautiful beaches—some of the best in Costa Rica. If you're hungry for more adventure, you can also hike on one of the park's many trails (following the signs) and get up close to capuchin monkeys, sloths, and over 200 species of birds. Snorkeling is also accessible from multiple points along the beaches.

In the evening, head to the town of Quepos for dinner at Gabriella's to watch the sunset over fresh seafood and steak. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Manuel Antonio National Park for more information.

Day 8: Snorkeling & Sunset Catamaran Cruise in Manuel Antonio

After breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours to spend however you like. You can explore the incredible biodiversity found within the park with a guided tour. A naturalist will point out the more than 300 species of mammals and birds that call the reserve home, including sloths, hawks, iguanas, and several different species of monkeys. You'll also have time to spend exploring the park's expansive white-sand beaches. Alternatively, you can visit the Damas Island Estuary on a guided boat tour through the mangroves, take a surf lesson, or relax on Playa Manuel Antonio.

In the afternoon, you'll embark on a sunset dinner cruise. Stop in a calm bay, drop anchor and swim while the crew prepares a feast. While you dine, you'll marvel at the sunset over the horizon while keeping an eye out for dolphins, sea turtles, flying fish, or even a breaching whale. 

For more travel tips and inspiration, read Top Active Experiences in Manuel Antonio National Park.

Day 9: Return to San José, Depart Costa Rica

It's time to say goodbye to Costa Rica! After breakfast, you'll be driven back to San José, where you'll depart Juan Santamaría International Airport for your journey home.