6 days in Costa Rica Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Costa Rica trip itinerary planner
Start: Christchurch
Fly to Liberia, Shuttle to La Fortuna de San Carlos
1
La Fortuna de San Carlos
— 1 night
Drive
2
Manuel Antonio
— 1 night
Drive
3
Monteverde
— 1 night
Taxi to Atenas, Fly to Christchurch
End: Christchurch
Mon, Jan 13 - Sat, Jan 18
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La Fortuna de San Carlos — 1 night

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.Start off your visit on the 14th (Tue): tour the pleasant surroundings at La Fortuna Waterfall, relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour, and then admire the natural beauty at Natura Eco Park Costa Rica.
To see maps, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the La Fortuna de San Carlos route site.
Christchurch, New Zealand to La Fortuna de San Carlos is an approximately 30-hour combination of flight and shuttle. You'll gain 18 hours traveling from Christchurch to La Fortuna de San Carlos due to the time zone difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Tue) so you can drive to Manuel Antonio.
Find places to stay Jan 13 — 14:
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Manuel Antonio — 1 night

The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.Start off your visit on the 15th (Wed): get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour and then kick back and relax at Playa Manuel Antonio.
For photos, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Manuel Antonio trip planner.
Traveling by car from La Fortuna de San Carlos to Manuel Antonio takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Wed) so you can drive to Monteverde.
Find places to stay Jan 14 — 15:
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Monteverde — 1 night

Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.On the 16th (Thu), stroll through Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and then stroll through Ranario Monteverde Frog Pond.
For where to stay, reviews, maps, and more tourist information, read our Monteverde trip itinerary builder tool.
You can drive from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Thu) to allow time to travel back home.
Find places to stay Jan 15 — 16:
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Costa Rica travel guide
Tiny in terms of land area, Costa Rica is astoundingly diverse when it comes to culture and natural attractions. In a country called "Rich Coast", it's no surprise most Costa Rica vacations dedicate at least a few days to picturesque Pacific and Caribbean beaches, ideal for water sports and relaxation. Few small countries offer such a range of landscapes, allowing tourists to observe towering volcanoes while soaking away their worries in a hot spring, or hike into dense rainforests in the morning and surf at a modern resort in the afternoon. A trip to Costa Rica also lets you discover pristine national parks, ensuring plenty of chances to view wildlife from the comfort of eco-friendly lodges packed with amenities even ardent nature lovers secretly desire.