Costa Rica in 10 days

Ten days lets you slow down. This loop covers Costa Rica's 3 most famous areas, then adds 2 nights on the South Pacific coast, where the beaches are longer and the towns smaller. It starts and ends at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), so you only need a simple return ticket.

The route at a glance

Day 1: Arrive

Sleep near the airport in Alajuela. Driving across the mountains after a long flight, and often in the dark, is a bad start.

Days 2 and 3: Arenal

Wikivoyage puts the drive from San José to La Fortuna at about 3½ hours. Spend the first afternoon in hot springs and the next day in Arenal Volcano National Park, on the lava-flow trails, or on a hanging-bridges walk.

If you'd rather swap a volcano hike for something different, the Río Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park, north of Arenal, is famous for its milky blue water. It's a long day trip, so start early and check the park's opening hours before you go. Our Arenal and La Fortuna guide has more ideas.

Day 4: Lake Arenal to Monteverde

Take the jeep-boat-jeep across Lake Arenal, which Wikivoyage says takes about 3 to 4 hours. It's quicker and prettier than the road, and any hotel can book it. The road-only shuttle takes about 4 hours.

Day 5: Cloud forest

Walk the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with a guide in the morning, when you've got the best chance of seeing birds. Spend the afternoon on a hanging-bridges walk or a coffee farm tour, and book a night walk for after dark. See our Monteverde guide for how the reserves differ.

Day 6: Down to Manuel Antonio

Interbus's morning shuttle from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio takes about 4 hours. Drivers should leave early: the road down from Monteverde is slow, and you want to arrive in daylight.

Days 7 and 8: Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park is small but packed with wildlife: monkeys, sloths and plenty of birds, plus beaches inside the park. Two things matter for planning. It's closed on Tuesdays, and tickets are sold online only, so buy them before your trip. Hire a guide at least once; they spot sloths that most visitors miss.

On your second day, take a boat or catamaran trip, go sea kayaking, or just stay on Playa Espadilla, the public beach outside the park.

For hotels, Parador Nature Resort is a full-service resort on the Punta Quepos headland next to the park, with several pools. The Falls by Lalibela is a smaller, mid-range base near the park with an infinity pool. Our Manuel Antonio guide explains the different parts of the area.

Day 9: South to Uvita

Head south along the coast to Uvita. This stretch, often called the Costa Ballena, is much quieter than Manuel Antonio. Allow most of the morning for the drive or shuttle.

Day 10: Marino Ballena and the whale coast

Marino Ballena National Park protects the beaches and reef around Uvita, including a sandbar shaped like a whale's tail that shows at low tide. Check the tide table so you arrive while you can walk out on it. Humpback whales visit this coast, and boat tours leave from Uvita in whale season.

Local outfitters like Uvita 360 run surf lessons for all ages, whale watching, kayaking and trips to Caño Island. For a quiet, grown-up stay, El Castillo in Ojochal is a 9-room boutique hotel with a cliffside infinity pool. Danyasa in Dominical suits travellers who want yoga and a surf town on the doorstep.

Day 11: Back to San José

Wikivoyage says the shuttle from Uvita to SJO airport takes about 3½ hours. Book an afternoon or evening flight home, or stay the night near the airport if your flight leaves early.

Ways to change it

• Swap Uvita for a beach in Guanacaste. Fly home from Liberia (LIR) instead, and go Monteverde, then Guanacaste. Our 7-day itinerary shows that route.
• Add the Osa Peninsula. Uvita is the jumping-off point for Drake Bay and Corcovado. You'll need 3 more nights; see our 2-week itinerary.
• Travel in September or October. The Pacific side gets its heaviest rain then. Read our weather guide and consider the Caribbean coast.

Practical notes

• Moving days: 5 of your 10 days include a transfer, so keep those days light.
• Car or shuttle: both work. A car lets you stop at viewpoints and beaches along the coast road south of Manuel Antonio. Shuttles mean you don't have to drive mountain roads. See getting around Costa Rica.
• Packing: Monteverde is cool and often windy. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket even in the dry season.