Costa Rica is small in size but giant in biodiversity—home to roughly 6% of the world’s species. Since abolishing its army in 1948, the country has invested heavily in education and conservation, creating a network of national parks that make wildlife watching and rainforest hikes a daily delight.

Across 14 days you’ll savor three distinct regions: San José for history and specialty coffee; La Fortuna for Arenal Volcano views, hanging bridges, and hot springs; and Manuel Antonio for white-sand beaches, sloths, and sunset seafood. It’s an easy, logical flow from highlands to rainforest to Pacific coast.

Practical notes: US dollars are widely accepted alongside colones; the dry season runs roughly December–April, while the green season (May–November) brings lush landscapes and afternoon showers. Costa Rica has no intercity trains; expect to travel by shuttle, rental car, or short domestic flights. Book national park tickets and popular tours ahead, and don’t leave valuables unattended on beaches.

San José

San José is your gateway to Costa Rica’s culture—a capital of Belle Époque architecture, street art, and third-wave coffee. Stroll between the National Theater and lively mercados, then toast your first night with inventive Costa Rican cuisine.

Getting there & around: Fly into SJO. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Airport to downtown is ~25–40 minutes by taxi or rideshare (about $25–35); rental cars are easy to collect at SJO if you plan to self-drive.

Days 1–2: Arrival, Coffee, and the Historic Core

• Amble the heart of the city: Peek into the opulent National Theater lobby, people-watch on Avenida Central, and pop into the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum for exquisite artifacts that trace indigenous craftsmanship.
• Markets & sodas: At Mercado Central, sample empanadas, fresh fruit juices, and the famed “sorbetera” ice cream at La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora. Seek out a classic casado (rice, beans, plantains, salad, and your choice of protein) at a traditional soda inside.
• Coffee stops: Cafeoteca (Barrio Escalante) curates regional beans and pour-overs; Franco serves standout brunch with locally roasted coffee; Café Miel offers cozy vibes near parks for an easy first morning.
• Dinner ideas: Silvestre crafts contemporary Costa Rican tasting menus inspired by regional stories; La Esquina de Buenos Aires grills textbook Argentine steaks in a vintage bistro setting; Restaurante Grano de Oro excels at Costa Rican-french classics in a century-old mansion.
• Optional day trip for beach lovers: Trade city streets for an island escape on the full-day cruise below, if you’d like to front-load some sun.

Featured Viator experience from San José:

Tortuga Island Full Day Tour from San José with Lunch

Island time: dolphins, snorkeling, and a sandy white beach with lunch included. A great way to shake off jet lag with sea air and warm Pacific water.

Where to stay in San José:

• Hotel Grano de Oro — Boutique elegance, beloved restaurant, and leafy courtyards.
• Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana — Steps from La Sabana Park with skyline views.
• Selina San José — Social, design-forward base in hip Barrio Escalante.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: San José | VRBO: San José

Travel to La Fortuna (Day 3 morning): Drive 3–3.5 hours via Route 1/702; private shuttle costs about $55–80 per person (4–4.5 hours). Public bus takes ~4.5–5.5 hours with a change in Ciudad Quesada. If you prefer to fly (seasonal/limited), check options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

La Fortuna (Arenal)

La Fortuna is the adventure hub of northern Costa Rica, where Arenal Volcano looms above rainforest canopies and rivers tumble into blue pools. Days here revolve around hanging bridges, waterfall swims, hot springs, and cloud-scraping ziplines.

Days 3–7: Waterfalls, Hanging Bridges, Hot Springs, and Night Wildlife

• The essentials in one go: Tackle a classic combo—La Fortuna Waterfall’s 500-step plunge, a rainforest bridge walk, and a volcano viewpoint—then soak in thermal waters by evening.
• On the water: Paddleboard or kayak on Lake Arenal for volcano panoramas; white-water raft the Balsa River (Class II–III) for a splashy half-day suited to beginners and families.
• Slow it down: Tour a bean-to-bar chocolate and specialty coffee farm; after dark, take a guided night walk to spot red-eyed tree frogs, kinkajous, and bioluminescent fungi.
• Hot springs picks: EcoTermales for intimate pools amid jungle; Tabacón for landscaped grandeur; or budget-friendly local baths by the river.

Featured Viator experiences in La Fortuna:

Arenal Volcano, Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Combo Tour

The classic trio—bridges, waterfall, and volcano—plus the option to add hot springs. Ideal if you want the “greatest hits” efficiently.

North Fields Cafe: Craft Specialty Coffee and Chocolate Tour

From cherry to cup: taste microlots, compare roasts, and hand-grind cacao into drinking chocolate. A delicious pause between adventures.

Balsa River White Water Rafting class 2/3 in Costa Rica

Ten kilometers of rolling rapids with calm sections for wildlife spotting—kingfishers, toucans, and iguanas often appear along the banks.

Night Walk Around Arenal Volcano

When the forest wakes up: spot frogs, owls, and nocturnal mammals with a naturalist guide on private rainforest trails.

Where to eat & drink in La Fortuna:

• Breakfast/coffee: Red Frog Coffee Roasters for cold brew and banana bread; My Coffee La Fortuna for hearty breakfasts and smoothies.
• Lunch: Soda Víquez for affordable casados and fresh juices; Chifa La Familia Feliz for Peruvian-Chinese stir-fries after a waterfall hike.
• Dinner: Don Rufino serves refined Costa Rican plates (try the beef tenderloin with pejibaye purée); La Parrilla de María Bonita grills top-notch steaks and shrimp brochetas.
• Evening soak + bite: Many hot springs have on-site restaurants—aim for a later dinner after crowds thin.

Where to stay in La Fortuna: Find cabins with volcano views, family-friendly resorts with slides, or adults-only retreats.

• Browse stays: Hotels.com: La Fortuna | VRBO: La Fortuna

Travel to Manuel Antonio (Day 8 morning): Drive 5–6 hours via Route 702/34 (scenic, mountainous start). Private shuttle runs ~$60–85 per person (5.5–6.5 hours). Bus connections take 7–8 hours via San José. If you prefer to fly (La Fortuna options vary; to Quepos XQP from SJO is more common), check routes on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Manuel Antonio

On the Central Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio pairs jungle and ocean in one compact, wildlife-dense national park. Howler monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws share the canopy while coves of white sand invite lazy afternoons and technicolor sunsets.

Days 8–13: Wildlife Walks, Ziplines, Mangroves, and Beach Time

• Manuel Antonio National Park: Reserve tickets for a morning entry (the park is typically closed Tuesdays). Follow shaded trails to Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur—bring a dry bag and leave snacks outside the park (monkeys will steal them!).
• Canopy day: Zip through primary forest on one of Costa Rica’s longest twin lines; look down for titi monkeys and up for soaring raptors.
• Mangrove safari: Drift among the roots of the Damas Island mangroves, scanning for crocodiles, boas, and fiddler crabs with neon claws.
• Beach hours: Espadilla Beach offers surf lessons and parasols; Biesanz Cove is a calmer bay for snorkeling on clear mornings.

Featured Viator experiences in Manuel Antonio:

Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour with a Nature Specialist

Spot more wildlife with a scope-toting guide—sloths, iguanas, and camouflaged frogs suddenly come into view.

Manuel Antonio Canopy Tour - Longest Twin Zip Line in Central America

Paired ziplines let you race a friend through the forest—big views, bigger grins.

Mangrove Boat Tour Damas Island, Manuel Antonio

Tide-timed navigation through maze-like channels reveals a vital coastal ecosystem teeming with birds and reptiles.

Where to eat & drink in Manuel Antonio/Quepos:

• Breakfast/coffee: Cafe Milagro roasts its own beans and serves tropical bowls; Emilio’s Café pairs ocean views with excellent pastries and ceviche later in the day.
• Lunch: Falafel Bar for quick Mediterranean wraps between beach sessions; Soda Sánchez in Quepos for homestyle plates at local prices.
• Dinner: El Avión (built around a vintage cargo plane) for sunset and mahi-mahi dishes; Agua Azul for tuna towers and epic golden-hour views; Z Gastro Bar at the marina for refined seafood and craft cocktails.
• Nightcap: Head back to Emilio’s for live music nights or grab a gelato on the main drag before an early park morning.

Where to stay in Manuel Antonio: Choose jungle lodges with monkey-filled canopy views or boutique hotels near the park entrance.

• Browse stays: Hotels.com: Manuel Antonio | VRBO: Manuel Antonio

Day 14: Return to San José & Fly Home

Depart Manuel Antonio early for San José (3–3.5 hours by car; 3.5–4.5 hours by bus). Private shuttles run ~$55–70 per person. If timing’s tight, consider a short hop to SJO from Quepos (XQP)—check availability on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

If you have extra time before your flight, detour to La Sabana Park for a leg-stretch or pick up last-minute beans at a specialty roaster in Escalante.

Why this 14-day Costa Rica itinerary works

• Smart flow: City culture to rainforest thrills to beach relaxation minimizes backtracking and long transit days.
• Balance: Adventure (rafting, ziplining, hikes) meets restorative time (hot springs, coves, sunset dinners).
• Season-proof: Morning-heavy plans beat afternoon showers in green season; wildlife shines year-round.

Two weeks in Costa Rica lets you savor the country’s greatest hits without rushing: coffee and culture in San José, volcano-and-waterfall adventures in La Fortuna, and wildlife-rich beaches in Manuel Antonio. With thoughtful pacing and insider dining picks, you’ll live the pura vida from first espresso to final sunset.

Booking shortcuts

• Flights: Trip.com | Kiwi.com
• San José stays: Hotel Grano de Oro | Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana | Selina San José
• Browse all hotels/VRBOs by city: San José hotels, La Fortuna hotels, Manuel Antonio hotels | San José VRBO, La Fortuna VRBO, Manuel Antonio VRBO