7-Day Costa Rica Itinerary for First-Timers

By Lapa Trips. Last verified: October 9, 2026.

This is the 7-day version of the route we send first-time visitors on: three bases, two nights each, with a morning arrival at San Jose airport (SJO). You see Arenal Volcano and the La Fortuna Waterfall, a cloud forest at night and by day, and Manuel Antonio National Park, with a drive or shuttle between each stop.

Quick answers

Route: SJO, La Fortuna (2 nights), Monteverde (2 nights), Manuel Antonio (2 nights), back to SJO.
Best for: first-timers who want the three classic stops in one week.
Pace: moving. Days 1, 3, 5 and 7 involve a long transfer. If that sounds like too much, use the 10-day route.
Car or shuttle: both work. Details for each are in every day below.
Closed day: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed every Tuesday. Pick your dates so Day 6 is not a Tuesday.
Rain: in the green season (May to November), plan outdoor activities for the morning. See when to visit Costa Rica.

The route at a glance

Day	Where you sleep	Highlight	Transfer
1	La Fortuna	Arrive, settle in	SJO to La Fortuna, about 3 to 3.5 hours
2	La Fortuna	Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna Waterfall	Local only
3	Monteverde	Santa Elena	La Fortuna to Monteverde, about 3 to 4 hours
4	Monteverde	Cloud forest and the Night Walk	Local only
5	Manuel Antonio	Settle in	Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, about 4 to 5 hours
6	Manuel Antonio	Manuel Antonio National Park	Local only
7	Home	Fly out of SJO	Manuel Antonio to SJO, about 3 to 3.5 hours

Park hours and fees

Last verified: October 9, 2026. Foreign adult prices. Confirm on the official booking page before you go.

Place	Hours	Adult fee	Booking
Arenal Volcano National Park	8 am to 4 pm daily	USD 15 plus tax	At the park or through SINAC
La Fortuna Waterfall	Opens 7 am daily, last entry 4 pm	USD 20	At the entrance
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve	Timed slots from 7:30 am	USD 29 (self-guided trails)	Online, by date and time slot
Monteverde Night Walk	6:00 pm	USD 49	Online
Manuel Antonio National Park	7 am to 4 pm, Wednesday to Monday	USD 16 plus 13% tax (USD 18.08)	Online only, on SICORE

For one adult, park and tour fees on this route add up to about USD 131, plus tax on the Arenal fee. Hot springs, hanging bridges and other tours are extra, and their prices vary by operator.

Day 1: SJO to La Fortuna

Pick up your car or meet your driver at the airport. A morning arrival lets you reach La Fortuna in the early afternoon.
By car: Ruta 1 and Ruta 702 through San Ramon. The drive is about 2.5 to 3 hours. Plan 3.5 hours, and more on holidays and long weekends. Fog collects on the cloud forest stretch after San Ramon (Angeles Sur to Bajo Rodriguez), so use low beams and slow down.
By shuttle: shared shuttles run from early morning to about 2:15 pm and take 3 to 4 hours. Book one that picks you up 60 to 120 minutes after your flight lands, and give the operator your flight details.
Arrive in daylight, check in and walk to dinner. Confirm hotel parking before you arrive if you have a car.

Day 2: Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall

Morning: Arenal Volcano National Park, volcano sector. It is open 8 am to 4 pm, with an adult fee of USD 15 plus tax. Allow about 30 minutes to drive from town. Go early, when the summit is more likely to be clear. The trails are marked and you do not need a guide.
Afternoon: La Fortuna Waterfall. It opens at 7 am, last entry is at 4 pm, and it costs USD 20. A long staircase leads down to the pool, so allow at least 2 hours including the climb back. Swimming depends on the water, so follow the lifeguards’ signs. Parking is free.
Evening: a hot springs resort. Tabacon, Ecotermales and Baldi are the best-known options. Prices and hours vary, so check yours before you go. On a rainy day, make the hot springs your main plan.
Without a car: no public bus runs to the park or the waterfall. A taxi from town costs about USD 10 each way to the waterfall, and tours or hotel shuttles reach the park.

Day 3: La Fortuna to Monteverde

By car: Ruta 142 around Lake Arenal to Tilaran, then Ruta 145 and Ruta 606. The drive is about 3 to 3.5 hours. Plan 4 hours with stops. Do not take Ruta 605. This is a mountain road with no streetlights and few guardrails, so leave by about 9 am and arrive in daylight. A sedan can make it to Monteverde, but a 4x4 is best if you can rent one.
By shuttle: the shuttle-boat-shuttle across Lake Arenal is a highlight of the trip. A van takes you to the lake, a covered boat crosses in about 45 minutes to 1 hour, and a second van takes you to Monteverde. The total is about 3 to 4 hours. Shared service costs about USD 25 to 40 per person and private service about USD 316 to 320 per vehicle. Book at least a day ahead.
Afternoon: check in and walk around Santa Elena.

Day 4: Monteverde cloud forest

Morning: Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Heart of the Forest Trail. This self-guided trail includes the Preserve’s hanging bridge. Adults pay USD 29, children 6 to 11 pay USD 16, and children under 6 are free.
Reserve a date and time slot online before you travel. Slots on this trail start at 8:00 am, so take an early one and bring a rain jacket. Other options are the Essence Trail (short and easy, good for young children), the Continental Divide Trail (the longest) and the Guided Natural History Walk (USD 49).
Afternoon: rest in town, or add another stop such as Curi-Cancha or the Santa Elena reserve.
Evening: the Guided Night Walk starts at 6:00 pm and costs USD 49 (children 5 to 11 pay USD 36). Book it ahead. Choose lodging within walking distance of the meeting point or ask your hotel to arrange the ride. Do not plan to drive unfamiliar mountain roads after dark.

Day 5: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

By car: down Ruta 606, then Ruta 1, Ruta 23 near Puntarenas, Ruta 27 and Ruta 34. The drive is about 4 to 5 hours. Leave by about 8 am and do not drive after 6 pm. The road leaving Monteverde is rough in places, and a 4x4 is best if you can rent one. Check Waze before you start. If Ruta 27 is jammed, do not accept a mountain detour without checking the road and weather first.
By shuttle: shared shuttles typically leave around 8 am and take 4 to 5.5 hours. Shared service costs about USD 53 to 95 per person.
Arrive, settle in and stay near your lodging this evening.

Day 6: Manuel Antonio National Park

The park is open 7 am to 4 pm, Wednesday to Monday. It is closed every Tuesday. Choose your travel dates so that Day 6 is not a Tuesday.
Tickets are sold online only, on SICORE (serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr). Adults pay USD 16 plus 13% tax (USD 18.08). Children 2 to 12 pay USD 5 plus tax (USD 5.65). Children under 2 are free.
Enter the same details as the passport you will carry. The data is checked at the entrance. A ticket is for one entry only. Single-use plastics are not allowed.
Parking: the park has no lot of its own. Several guides recommend the lot called “Manuel Antonio National Park - Official Parking” on Google Maps, about 150 meters from the entrance. Ignore unofficial touts who try to wave you elsewhere. Never leave valuables in the car.
Arrive early and plan 3 to 4 hours inside. Spend the afternoon on the beach.
Evening: pack, fill the tank if you have a car and check your rental return time.

Day 7: Manuel Antonio to SJO

By car: the drive is about 3 to 3.5 hours. Plan 4 to 4.5 hours with a fuel stop. Be at the airport 3 hours before an international flight. Plan backward: flight time, minus 3 hours, minus the drive, minus a 1-hour buffer for traffic or accidents. Fill the tank near the airport before you return the car.
By shuttle: shared shuttles typically leave between about 8:45 am and 12:50 pm and take 3 to 4 hours. With a shared shuttle, book a flight that leaves about 3:30 pm or later. For an earlier flight, book a private transfer or spend your last night near the airport. Shared service costs about USD 69 to 95 per person.

Car or shuttle?

	Car	Shuttle
Best for	Confident drivers who want to set their own schedule	Travelers who prefer to look out the window
Main trade-off	Mountain roads, no driving after dark, rental insurance and deposits	Fixed departure times, and local trips need taxis or tours
Cost	Rental, mandatory third-party liability, fuel	About USD 200 to 315 per person for the four shared transfers

Shuttle prices are one way and change with season, demand and booking date. The same service can be listed at prices up to about USD 40 apart by different sellers, so compare before you book. If you rent a car, read our guides to driving in Costa Rica and rental car insurance first.

Where to stay and eat

Our picks for each stop are on the area pages:

La Fortuna
Monteverde
Manuel Antonio
San Jose, if you need a night near the airport

Frequently asked questions

Is 7 days enough for Costa Rica? It is enough for the three classic stops: the volcano and waterfall, a cloud forest, and the Pacific coast. You spend four of the seven days partly in transit, so expect a moving trip rather than a slow one.

Do I need a car? No. Shuttles cover every leg, including the boat crossing of Lake Arenal on Day 3. A car gives you more freedom but also means mountain driving and rental insurance.

What if my flight lands in the afternoon? You may reach La Fortuna after dark, because it gets dark around 6 pm all year and the drive takes about 3.5 hours. We do not recommend driving mountain roads at night. Consider spending your first night near the airport and starting Day 1 the next morning.

What if Day 6 falls on a Tuesday? Manuel Antonio National Park is closed every Tuesday. Move your whole trip by a day so that your park day lands on another day of the week.

What is the best month for this route? Late December through March has the most reliable weather. May, June and late November have fewer crowds. See our month-by-month guide.

Do you have a longer version? Yes. The 10-day route adds two nights in La Fortuna and one in Manuel Antonio. See the 10-day Costa Rica itinerary.

Fees, hours, schedules and prices change. Check official sources and your operator before you travel. This guide is general travel information, not legal advice.

7-Day Costa Rica Itinerary for First-Timers: La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio