What your quote can include
- Round-trip flightsFrom your home airport in the US
- 6 nights of lodgingLa Fortuna (3 nights), Manuel Antonio (3 nights)
- Airport transfersArranged to match your flight times
- Tours & reservationsFor the activities in this plan
- Your day-by-day planPlus a book-ahead checklist
Pick only what you need. Each part is quoted with current prices before anything is booked.
Trip overview
The classic first trip: volcano, hot springs and hanging bridges, then rainforest wildlife and Pacific beaches. When to go: The dry season, roughly mid-December through April, is the most popular and the best for beaches. For seasonal details, see our best time to visit Costa Rica guide.
- Suggested base
- La Fortuna (3 nights), Manuel Antonio (3 nights)
- Fly into
- San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR)
- Trip style
- Adventure & wildlife
Day-by-day itinerary
A sample plan. We adjust the days, pace and activities to fit your trip.
Arrive in San José, transfer to La Fortuna
A scenic 3-hour drive, rewarded with a hot-springs soak.
- Hot springs at Arenal. Soak in pools warmed by volcanic heat. Options range from free river spots to full resorts with landscaped pools and restaurants.
Hanging bridges and waterfall
Wildlife early, a waterfall swim after.
- Arenal hanging bridges. Walk a series of suspension bridges through the rainforest canopy. Early-morning visits, ideally with a naturalist guide, are best for birds and wildlife.
- La Fortuna Waterfall. A steep staircase leads down to a 70-meter waterfall plunging into a jungle pool where you can swim at the side.
Volcano hike and zip-lining
Lava-field trails, canopy flights and a night walk.
- Arenal Volcano National Park hike. Trails cross old lava flows with views of the cone. The summit is off-limits, but the lower trails are rewarding.
- Zip-lining. Fly over the forest canopy on cables. Arenal and Monteverde both have long, well-established courses.
- Guided night walk. After dark, guides find tree frogs, tarantulas, sleeping birds and sloths. Offered in La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio.
Transfer to Manuel Antonio
Shuttle or drive to the coast; sunset on the beach.
- Pacific beach afternoon. Swim and watch the sunset at Playa Espadilla in Manuel Antonio or at the Guanacaste beaches. Mind rip currents and swim where others are swimming.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Book tickets and a guide; the park is closed Tuesdays.
- Manuel Antonio National Park. Spot sloths, capuchin and squirrel monkeys and iguanas on easy trails, then swim at beaches inside the park. Buy tickets online ahead; the park is closed on Tuesdays. A guide with a spotting scope helps enormously.
Catamaran day
Snorkeling, lunch and sunset at sea.
- Catamaran snorkel cruise. Sail along the coast with snorkeling, lunch and sunset; offered from Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste.
Departure
Return to San José for your flight, with a coffee stop if time allows.
- Coffee and chocolate farm tour. Learn how beans become coffee and chocolate on a family farm, with tastings.
Choose your comfort level
The same itinerary works at different budgets. Pick the level that fits, and we'll quote it for your dates.
Essential
- A comfortable, well-reviewed 3-star hotel
- Economy flights at sensible times
- Shared airport transfers
- The plan's must-do tours, the rest at your own pace
Area to consider: La Fortuna (Arenal)
Choose EssentialSignature
- A 4-star hotel in a well-located area
- Economy or premium economy, best-timed flights
- Private airport transfers
- Guided tours and reservations for the key days
Area to consider: La Fortuna (Arenal)
Choose SignatureLuxury
- A 5-star hotel, with room upgrades where available
- Premium cabins where available
- Private transfers and guides
- Spa, dining and special-occasion reservations
Area to consider: La Fortuna (Arenal)
Choose LuxuryPrices depend on your dates, departure city and hotel, so we quote each comfort level on request. You can mix and match, for example a Signature hotel with Essential transfers.
Where to stay
La Fortuna (Arenal)
The base for Arenal Volcano, hot springs, waterfalls and hanging bridges. Lodges range from simple to luxury hot-spring resorts.
Manuel Antonio
Hillside hotels with ocean views above a small national park full of wildlife and beaches. About 3–3.5 hours' drive from San José.
Book these ahead
These parts of the trip need reservations or timed tickets that can sell out:
- Manuel Antonio National Park
Pricing and policies, up front
Your quote shows the total trip price, per person and for your group, with taxes and the mandatory fees we can see included. Anything paid separately, such as some resort fees collected at check-in, local tourist taxes or checked bags on some fares, is listed clearly.
Many hotels, resorts, cruise lines and tour operators offer a deposit with the balance due before departure. Options vary by supplier, and we confirm them before you book.
Policies depend on the supplier and fare. We tell you the exact cancellation deadlines and any fees in writing before you commit.
Fares and rates change until they're booked. Some suppliers let us hold a rate briefly and many airfares can't be held, so we'll tell you what's possible for your trip.
You pay the travel provider directly, and RoamPlanned never takes payment for travel. How booking works.
Similar trips
Prefer a different pace? Try the 10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary: Arenal, Monteverde & Beaches, read the full Costa Rica travel guide, or build your own Costa Rica plan.
