Costa Rica 3-week Itinerary: Ultimate Travel Guide

From lush rainforests and volcanoes to surf towns and secluded jungle beaches. In this 3-week Costa Rica itinerary you’ll get the best of the “Pura Vida” lifestyle.  This travel route will take you to rainforest, nature reserves filled with wildlife, amazing surf spots, and the best hidden waterfalls. You can adjust it to your needs! If you don’t surf, you can skip te surf towns and add those extra days in the nature reserves. I’ve been to Costa Rica twice and this is how I would plan it now!

Day 1: Arrival in San José

Most journeys begin in Costa Rica’s busy capital, San José. While many travelers rush straight out, it’s worth spending a night to ease into the country’s vibrant atmosphere. Wander the historical heart of the city, stopping at the elegant National Theater and the colorful Mercado Central for fresh tropical fruit. In the evening, head to Barrio Escalante, where creative restaurants and cozy cafés serve everything from craft beer to traditional casado plates.

Transport: Fly into San José International Airport (SJO).
Where To stay in San Jose: Stay near Barrio Escalante or Barrio Amón — perfect for food and colorful colonial houses.

Find my full guide to San Jose here.

Where to stay in San Jose?

Days 2–3: Tortuguero National Park

The next morning, trade city streets for the remote jungle of Tortuguero. The trip itself is an adventure: a bus to La Pavona dock followed by a scenic boat ride through narrow jungle canals to reach the car-free village of Tortuguero. The main draw of Tortuguera are the turtles laying their eggs. If you visit during nesting season (July–October), join a night tour to watch giant sea turtles lay their eggs under the moonlight. Besides the night tour to watch the turtles, you can do a kayak tour, where you drift along the river at dawn, spotting howler monkeys in the treetops and caimans along the banks. There’s also a lovely hike, where you can spot lots of wildlife if you’re lucky.

How to get there:

• Bus San José → Cariari (2.5h)

• Transfer Cariari → La Pavona dock (1h)

• Boat La Pavona → Tortuguero village (1–1.5h) Tip: Book the combined bus-boat ticket at the bus station.

Where to stay in Tortuguero: For great value for money, try El Icaco. The place is located on the beach and close to town. The rooms are simple, but clean and great value for the price. Mawanba Lodge is a more luxurious option. Find my full guide to Tortuguero here.

Days 4–6: La Fortuna & Quebrada Gata Waterfall

From Tortuguero, journey inland to La Fortuna, home of the iconic Arenal Volcano. Even from a distance, the perfectly conical peak dominates the skyline. Spend a day hiking Arenal Volcano National Park and another soaking in natural hot springs and the well known waterfall. The famous La Fortuna Waterfall plunges into a turquoise pool — perfect for a refreshing swim after the steep walk down.

One highlight you won’t find on every tourist list is a day trip to Quebrada Gata Waterfall. Only locals seem to have heard of this waterfall. I didn’t see any other tourists while I was there. It’s not easy to find and you have to be comfortable following a trail by yourself with little direction. I’ve written a more extensive article to describe how you get there. When you finally reach the spot, it’s overwhelming. There’s three large waterfalls thundering down!

Find my full guide to Costa Rica’s best waterfall, Quebrada Gata here.

How to get there:

• Boat + bus combo from Tortuguero (via La Pavona → Cariari → Guápiles → La Fortuna). Takes ~6–7 hours.

Where to stay in La Fortuna?

Days 7–8: Monteverde

Next, cross Lake Arenal by boat and wind your way up into the cool, misty mountains of Monteverde.  Walk the famous hanging bridges at Selvatura or Sky Adventures. For a shot of adrenaline, go ziplining through the forest canopy, flying over steep valleys and green treetops. This was one of my favorite ziplines I’ve done!

As night falls, join a guided walk to see the cloud forest’s nocturnal residents, from tiny frogs to glowing insects and sleeping toucans or even a sloth or kinkajou.

How to get there:

• Shared shuttle or jeep-boat-jeep from La Fortuna to Monteverde (3–4 hours, crossing Lake Arenal).

Where to stay in Monteverde?

Days 9–10: Santa Teresa

Leave the mountains behind and head to Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, where jungle meets beach in Santa Teresa. This was once a sleepy fishing village, but has transformed into a laid-back surf paradise. Days here follow a gentle rhythm: wake early for yoga, surf under the morning sun, relax in a hammock with an açaí bowl, then watch the sun set over Playa Carmen or Playa Santa Teresa. This is a place that many people absolutely love, but I wasn’t the biggest fan off. For me it was slightly too ‘trendy’ and touristy. However, it is great for surfing, so if you’re looking for good surfing and lots of other backpackers to hang out with, you may really enjoy it.

How to get there:

• Bus Monteverde → Puntarenas (2–3h)

• Ferry Puntarenas → Paquera (1h)

• Bus/drive to Santa Teresa (~2h)

Where to stay in Santa Teresa? ICO Living Hostel: Clean hostel and spacious dorms! Staff is super friendly and it’s 5 minutes from the beach. They also have privates if you’d like a bit more privacy. Eso Santa Teresa: Eso is a lovely social place to stay in Santa Teresa: clean, spacious rooms,  yoga classes included, swimming pool, and very friendly staff Rent a luxury villa with friends: Villa Makai Santa Teresa. This stunning villa with a pool and ocean view. Just imagine you and your friends watching the sunset from here.

Days 11–12: Montezuma

A short drive (or fun ATV ride) down the coast brings you to Montezuma, a small bohemian town framed by wild coastline and jungle-covered hills. Start your visit by hiking to Montezuma Waterfalls, that consists of three different levels. Each level has its own waterfall with a natural pool at the bottom, perfect for swimming. One of these spots had a trail down that was very slippery and definitely a little sketchy. So be careful! The atmosphere in town is creative and relaxed, ideal for unwinding after more active days. My favorite activity here was horse riding on the beach during sunset!

Days 13–14: Dominical

From the Nicoya Peninsula, take the ferry back to the mainland and follow the scenic coastal highway south to Dominical, a mellow surf town with a rugged edge. Dominical’s long beach is dotted with surfers riding steady waves, and a row of artisan stalls selling jewelry, sarongs, and handmade crafts. Beside surfing, you explore the incredible Nauyaca waterfall.

• Drive or shuttle to Puntarenas → ferry → drive south via Costanera Highway to Dominical (~5–6h total)

• Or direct shuttle from Santa Teresa (longer but easier).

Where to stay in Dominical? For the budget backpacker, there is really only one option and that is the cool vibes hostel. If you’re looking for a nice central spot, with a pool and a comfortable room, you should try Rio Lindo! Great value for money and a good spot for families and couples. As a solo traveler, it will be harder to meet other backpackers here, but I loved my stay here as I met plenty of other people surfing.

Find my full guide to Dominical here. 

 Days 15–16: Uvita & Marino Ballena National Park

Continue south to Uvita, famous for the sandbar known as the Whale Tail, which reveals itself at low tide in Marino Ballena National Park. Walk along this incredible sandbank, where humpback whales can sometimes be spotted from shore. For a closer experience with whales, join a boat tour to watch dolphins and whales. Whale watching season is best Aug–Oct & Jan–March. Nauyaca waterfall is closer to Dominical, but f you skip Dominical, visiting the Nauyaca waterfall is also possible from Uvita.

How to get there:

• From Santa Teresa drive or shuttle to Puntarenas → ferry → drive south via Costanera Highway to Dominical (~5–6h total)

• Or direct shuttle from Santa Teresa (longer but easier).

• Coming from Dominical it’s only a short bus ride away.

Where to stay in Uvita? Yuli hotel: Lovely hotel with dorms available as well. It has a great location, pool and in house restaurant.

La Cusinga Lodge: Luxury lodge with incredible view!

Find my full guide to Uvita here. 

Days 17–19: Corcovado National Park & Drake Bay

The final big adventure of your journey awaits on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica’s wildest and most remote region. . Here, the rainforest grows right to the ocean’s edge. Spend a full day exploring Corcovado National Park, where scarlet macaws, tapirs, and four monkey species roam freely. Offshore, Caño Island offers incredible snorkeling among coral reefs teeming with sea turtles and reef sharks. Evenings are peaceful in Drake Bay, where jungle sounds lull you to sleep.

How to get there:

• Drive or shuttle from Uvita → Sierpe (2h)

• Boat Sierpe → Drake Bay (1–1.5h)

Find my full guide to Corcovado here.

Where to stay in Drake Bay: Budget option: Hostel Yinary: A simple, but clean private room on a property with a nice garden. I watched the beautiful birds from the deck every day. Mid range:Jacamar Corcovado Drake Bay: This beautifully located hotel is perfect for a little more comfort and great views. Luxury:Drake bay Getaway Resort: This boutique hotel is for the adventurer that loves a little luxury. All the meals are included and they have beautiful private bungalows with a view and a beautiful big comfortable beds.

Days 20–21: Back to San José

Return by boat and road to San José for your final night. Reflect on three weeks of adventure, relax in a café, and maybe pick up last-minute souvenirs before flying home.

Adjusted Travel itinerary for 2 weeks in Costa Rica

If you have 2 weeks to travel around, I’d skip Santa Teresa and Montezuma and if necessary Dominical. Unless you’re really big on surfing, because those are the surf spots!

Travel tips for this itinerary

• Book national park tours (Tortuguero & Corcovado) before arriving

• Roads can be bumpy — 4×4 rental recommended if self-driving, especially in the rainy season.

• Public transport is cheap but slower; shuttles save time

• Dry season: Dec–April (best weather); green season: May–Nov (fewer crowds, lush nature)

• Use local “sodas” for affordable meals