55 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.

When in Monteverde, make a side trip to see Finca El Paraiso CR - Cheese Farm Tour in Los Tornos, approximately Los Tornos away. And it doesn't end there: stroll through Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, snap pictures at Santa Elena Skywalk, admire the natural beauty at Monteverde Orchid Garden, and experience rural life at Hidden Valley Permaculture Farm.

To find more things to do, where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Monteverde road trip app.

Porto, Portugal to Monteverde is an approximately 16.5-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Western European Standard Time to Central Standard Time is minus 6 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 21st (Tue) so you can drive to Jaco.

A seaside resort town with plenty of entertaining distractions along its attractive coastline, Jaco has long been a major tourist destination on the central Pacific coast.

Jaco is known for adventure, beaches, and classes. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: skim along the rocks with a canyoning and rapelling tour, take a pleasant ride with a tour on horseback, indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas, and see Off-Road Tours.

To find reviews, more things to do, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Jaco travel planner.

You can drive from Monteverde to Jaco in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Manuel Antonio.

The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.

Change things up with these side-trips from Manuel Antonio: Dominical (Mama Toucan's Natural and Organic Food Store & Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary), Isla Damas (in Puntarenas) and Uvita (Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, Canyoning & Rappelling Tours, &more). The adventure continues: enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Manuel Antonio, get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour, indulge in some personalized pampering at Raindrop Spa, and see Off-Road Tours.

For more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Manuel Antonio online tour builder.

You can drive from Jaco to Manuel Antonio in 1.5 hours. Another option is to take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Drake Bay.

Step out of Drake Bay to go to Golfito and see Piedras Blancas National Park, which is approximately 1h 55 min away. Spend a day of island exploring on the 6th (Mon) at Cano Island. Spend the 10th (Fri) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour.

To find reviews, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, use the Drake Bay online travel planner.

You can drive from Manuel Antonio to Drake Bay in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and ferry; or take a bus. Cap off your sightseeing on the 10th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca offers a wealth of entertainment by the sea, attracting a lively international crowd of revelers while maintaining a bright and breezy coastal charm with a local feel.

Spend the 11th (Sat) exploring nature at Cahuita National Park. There's still lots to do: get outside with Outdoor Activities, admire the natural beauty at Finca La Isla, tour the pleasant surroundings at Gandoca - Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, and enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Punta Uva.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Puerto Viejo de Talamanca using our trip planner.

Traveling by car from Drake Bay to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of ferry and bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Wed) early enough to drive to Tortuguero.

One of Costa Rica's least accessible destinations, Tortuguero sits within an eponymous national park and remains accessible only by plane or boat.

Start off your visit on the 16th (Thu): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Tortuguero National Park.

For reviews, photos, and more tourist information, use the Tortuguero online route planner.

Traveling by car from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Tortuguero takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. In March, daily temperatures in Tortuguero can reach 34°C, while at night they dip to 24°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to San Jose.

A trip to San Jose, the capital, commercial center, and cultural hub of Costa Rica, gives you a chance to experience the lively atmosphere and rich cultural past of this vibrant country.

Venture out of the city with trips to Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz (in Vara Blanca), Else Kientzler Botanical Garden (in Sarchi) and El Toledo Coffee Tour (in Atenas). And it doesn't end there: explore the striking landscape of Irazu Volcano National Park, hit the best photo ops around with an inspiring photography tour, take an in-depth tour of Museo Nacional De Costa Rica, and take in nature's colorful creations at Jardin Botanico Lankester.

To see maps, where to stay, and tourist information, read our San Jose tour itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Tortuguero to San Jose takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. Plan for slightly colder nights when traveling from Tortuguero in March since evenings lows in San Jose dip to 21°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Wed) early enough to catch the shuttle to La Fortuna de San Carlos.

Set against the backdrop of the imposing Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna de San Carlos offers visitors a chance to explore diverse natural landscapes and sample some delicious local produce.

La Fortuna de San Carlos is known for nature, adventure, and parks. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take in the natural beauty of Tabacon Hot Springs, get outside with Outdoor Activities, scramble along the landscape with a canyoning and rapelling tour, and explore the activities along Lake Arenal.

To see photos, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, use the La Fortuna de San Carlos itinerary maker app.

You can take a shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna de San Carlos in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Playa Samara.

A beach town with just enough development to be comfortable for families accustomed to the trappings of modern life, Playa Samara has the resorts you'd expect to find in such a scenic area, but they don't hinder the relaxing atmosphere.

Venture out of the city with trips to Playa Islita (in Area de Conservacion Guanacaste), Jungle Butterfly Farm (in Nandayure) and Nosara (MAEL's ABSTRACT ART GALLERY & Playa Guiones). Spend the 3rd (Mon) exploring nature at Barra Honda National Park. And it doesn't end there: enjoy the sand and surf at Samara Beach, stroll through dondeJavitours, and take a tour of Kingfisher Sportfishing.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Playa Samara trip itinerary planner.

You can drive from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Playa Samara in 4 hours. Another option is to take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Tue) so you can drive to Tamarindo.

Surfing remains the main reason to take a trip to Tamarindo, as the beachside town is mostly known for its excellent waves.

Venture out of the city with trips to Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands & Four Seasons Golf Club), Playa Nacascolo (in Gulf of Papagayo) and Playa Conchal (Garra de Leon Golf Course & Playa Conchal). There's much more to do: enjoy the sand and surf at Tamarindo Beach, look for gifts at Urban Eclectic Jewelry, wander the wide-open spaces of Pura Aventura, and explore the galleries of Costa Rica'n Art Craft.

For maps, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Tamarindo tour itinerary planner.

Getting from Playa Samara to Tamarindo by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Tue) to allow enough time to fly back home.