Start your adventure with a city tour of San José. Visit the National Museum of Costa Rica to learn about the country's history and culture, and then head to the Jade Museum to see a collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts. End the day with a visit to Central Market, a bustling marketplace where you can taste traditional Costa Rican food and buy souvenirs.
Get your adrenaline pumping with a day of adventure. Start with a morning of waterfall rappelling at La Fortuna Waterfall, followed by lunch in a local restaurant nearby. Afterward, go for an afternoon rafting adventure down the Balsa River.
Begin the day with a hike at the Arenal Volcano National Park. The park offers trails that allow you to experience the diverse flora and fauna of the area while hiking to a viewpoint of the volcano. Enjoy a picnic-style lunch before heading to one of the natural hot springs in the area to relax.
Spend your last day at one of Costa Rica's most breathtaking beaches. Manuel Antonio offers visitors beautiful white sand beaches surrounded by lush tropical forest. Explore the area with a guided tour or relax in the sun.
For this itinerary, you will need to rent a car or hire a local driver. Costs vary depending on the car type and are estimated at $100/day. You can also take public buses or join a tour, but you may have limited flexibility on your schedule. Travel time between destinations ranges from 1.5 to 4 hours.
If you have more time, you can add a day to explore the Manuel Antonio National Park or the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. For a more relaxed trip, you can subtract one of the adventure activities and spend more time in San José or Manuel Antonio. Do not forget to bring comfortable hiking shoes and insect repellent.
Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is the main airport in Costa Rica and located about 15 minutes from San José's city center.